A man-portable backup power generation method including introducing a compressed nitrogen gas stream into an expander turbine, expanding the compressed nitrogen gas stream within the expander turbine, thereby producing a rotational mechanical output, and introducing the rotational mechanical output into a power generator coupled to the expander turbine, thereby producing an electrical output.

A man-portable backup power generation method including introducing a compressed nitrogen gas stream into an expander turbine, expanding the compressed nitrogen gas stream within the expander turbine, thereby producing a rotational mechanical output, and introducing the rotational mechanical output into a power generator coupled to the expander turbine, thereby producing an electrical output.

A hub assembly for use in a compressed air driven inverter generator is provided. The hub assembly comprises: a hub comprising a plate with a cylindrical protrusion centered on a bottom face and a bore hole through the center of the plate and protrusion, the protrusion sized to fit into an inner bore hole of a stator and the bore hole of the hub sized to fit around without contacting an output shaft of an air motor of the generator, the plate also a trench on a bottom face and a plurality of mounting holes; a diffuser plate configured to attach to the bottom face of the hub with a plurality of air holes extending through the diffuser plate, the air holes being centered on the trench; a ring-shaped hub spacer in contact with a side of the diffuser plate opposite the hub.

A hub assembly for use in a compressed air driven inverter generator is provided. The hub assembly comprises: a hub comprising a plate with a cylindrical protrusion centered on a bottom face and a bore hole through the center of the plate and protrusion, the protrusion sized to fit into an inner bore hole of a stator and the bore hole of the hub sized to fit around without contacting an output shaft of an air motor of the generator, the plate also a trench on a bottom face and a plurality of mounting holes; a diffuser plate configured to attach to the bottom face of the hub with a plurality of air holes extending through the diffuser plate, the air holes being centered on the trench; a ring-shaped hub spacer in contact with a side of the diffuser plate opposite the hub.

A linear energy harvesting device that includes a housing and a piston that moves at least partially through the housing when it is compressed or extended from a rest position. When the piston moves, hydraulic fluid is pressurized and drives a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor drives an electric generator that produces electricity. Both the motor and generator are central to the device housing. Exemplary configurations are disclosed such as monotube, twin-tube, tri-tube and rotary based designs that each incorporates an integrated energy harvesting apparatus. By varying the electrical characteristics on an internal generator, the kinematic characteristics of the energy harvesting apparatus can be dynamically altered. In another mode, the apparatus can be used as an actuator to create linear movement. Applications include vehicle suspension systems (to act as the primary damper component), railcar bogie dampers, or industrial applications such as machinery dampers and wave energy harvesters, and electro-hydraulic actuators.

A linear energy harvesting device that includes a housing and a piston that moves at least partially through the housing when it is compressed or extended from a rest position. When the piston moves, hydraulic fluid is pressurized and drives a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor drives an electric generator that produces electricity. Both the motor and generator are central to the device housing. Exemplary configurations are disclosed such as monotube, twin-tube, tri-tube and rotary based designs that each incorporates an integrated energy harvesting apparatus. By varying the electrical characteristics on an internal generator, the kinematic characteristics of the energy harvesting apparatus can be dynamically altered. In another mode, the apparatus can be used as an actuator to create linear movement. Applications include vehicle suspension systems (to act as the primary damper component), railcar bogie dampers, or industrial applications such as machinery dampers and wave energy harvesters, and electro-hydraulic actuators.

A shock absorber includes: a cylinder accommodating a fluid; a piston that reciprocates with respect to the cylinder while partitioning an inside of the cylinder into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber; a pump having a first port that communicates with either one of the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber and a second port that communicates with the other one of the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber, and including a flow rate change portion that changes a circulation amount of the fluid circulating between the first port and the second port; an electric rotor rotating in conjunction with the pump; and a stator forming a magnetic field between the electric rotor and the stator.

A shock absorber includes: a cylinder accommodating a fluid; a piston that reciprocates with respect to the cylinder while partitioning an inside of the cylinder into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber; a pump having a first port that communicates with either one of the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber and a second port that communicates with the other one of the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber, and including a flow rate change portion that changes a circulation amount of the fluid circulating between the first port and the second port; an electric rotor rotating in conjunction with the pump; and a stator forming a magnetic field between the electric rotor and the stator.

Gas expansion device for expanding a gas or a gas-liquid mixture, where the gas expansion device includes a gas expansion element with an inlet port for the gas to be expanded and an inlet pipe for the gas to be expanded. The inlet pipe is connected to the inlet port where the gas expansion device includes a first liquid injection point for the injection of liquid, where the first liquid injection point is at a position level with the inlet port or upstream from the inlet port.

A shaft extending along a longitudinal axis has fluid channels that increase and decrease pressure in chambers formed between the interior ends of curved pistons and adjacent closed ends of curved chambers within which the pistons reciprocate as the chamber pressure increases and decreases. The chambers and pistons are in separate cylinder block segments extending outward from opposing sides of the shaft. Each segment may have two sides extending along radial planes and joined by a curved outer surface. Pistons may be provided in pairs and have an interior piston end of each piston in a different cavity in different segments. Exterior ends of each piston in a pair of pistons are connected to a piston connector that extends inwardly from a housing so the housing rotates with the pistons.