A gas delivery augmenter may include a pump mechanism for facilitating inflation of an inflatable. The pump mechanism is generally configured to be driven/powered by pressure-volume energy from a primary gas received by the gas delivery augmenter, and the pump mechanism of the gas delivery augmenter is configured to entrain a secondary gas deliver the entrained secondary gas (and any remaining primary gas) to the inflatable. The pump mechanism, as described in greater detail below, enables secondary gas to be pumped/delivered to the inflatable even as the inflatable backpressure increases, thus providing improved inflation over conventional aspirators.

A gas delivery augmenter may include a pump mechanism for facilitating inflation of an inflatable. The pump mechanism is generally configured to be driven/powered by pressure-volume energy from a primary gas received by the gas delivery augmenter, and the pump mechanism of the gas delivery augmenter is configured to entrain a secondary gas deliver the entrained secondary gas (and any remaining primary gas) to the inflatable. The pump mechanism, as described in greater detail below, enables secondary gas to be pumped/delivered to the inflatable even as the inflatable backpressure increases, thus providing improved inflation over conventional aspirators.

The present invention discloses a novel apparatus and methods for augmenting the power of a gas turbine engine, improving gas turbine engine operation, and reducing the response time necessary to meet changing demands of a power plant. Improvements in power augmentation and engine operation include additional heated compressed air injection, steam injection, water recovery, exhaust tempering, fuel heating, and stored heated air injection.

A hot-air engine (10) includes a compressor (12), a heating chamber (14), a rotary displacement type working engine (16) and a drive means (22). The compressor (12) has an inlet (12a) and an outlet (12b). The heating chamber (14) has an inlet (14a), in fluid communication with the outlet (12b) of the compressor (12), and an outlet (14b). The working engine (16) has an inlet (16a), in fluid communication with the outlet (14b) of the heating chamber (14), and an output shaft (16a). The drive means (22) connects the working engine (16) to the compressor (12) such that operation of the working engine (16) causes operation of the compressor (12).

A hot-air engine (10) includes a compressor (12), a heating chamber (14), a rotary displacement type working engine (16) and a drive means (22). The compressor (12) has an inlet (12a) and an outlet (12b). The heating chamber (14) has an inlet (14a), in fluid communication with the outlet (12b) of the compressor (12), and an outlet (14b). The working engine (16) has an inlet (16a), in fluid communication with the outlet (14b) of the heating chamber (14), and an output shaft (16a). The drive means (22) connects the working engine (16) to the compressor (12) such that operation of the working engine (16) causes operation of the compressor (12).

Scroll fluid machine (1) in which the dislodgement of a slide bush (56) and a spring (61), which are provided in an eccentric bush (36), is prevented. Provided in receiving hole (58) of eccentric bush (36) are slide bush (56), which is movable in the direction of eccentricity, and spring (61), which biases slide bush (56) in a moving direction. A spring holding section (56b) and engagement projections (56a) are formed on slide bush (56). After slide bush (56) is placed in the receiving hole (58), engagement projections (56a) engage with eccentric bush (36) in a state in which slide bush (56) has been moved by the biasing force of spring (61), thus preventing slide bush (56) from falling off the receiving hole (58), and the spring holding section (56b) prevents the spring (61) from falling off the receiving hole (58).

Scroll fluid machine (1) in which the dislodgement of a slide bush (56) and a spring (61), which are provided in an eccentric bush (36), is prevented. Provided in receiving hole (58) of eccentric bush (36) are slide bush (56), which is movable in the direction of eccentricity, and spring (61), which biases slide bush (56) in a moving direction. A spring holding section (56b) and engagement projections (56a) are formed on slide bush (56). After slide bush (56) is placed in the receiving hole (58), engagement projections (56a) engage with eccentric bush (36) in a state in which slide bush (56) has been moved by the biasing force of spring (61), thus preventing slide bush (56) from falling off the receiving hole (58), and the spring holding section (56b) prevents the spring (61) from falling off the receiving hole (58).

A gas-cycle system operable using a Bell-Coleman cycle, the gas-cycle system comprising an expander (23) and a compressor (27) incorporated in a flow path (13). The expander (23) and compressor (27) are integrated in a rotary machine (41), and each comprises a rotor assembly (70) configured to define one or more zones (80) each of which changes continuously in volume during a rotation cycle of the rotor assembly. The expander (23) and compressor (27) are drivingly interconnected whereby rotational drive applied to one is transmitted directly to the other. Each rotor assembly (70) comprises an inner rotor (73) and an outer rotor (75) adapted to rotate about parallel axes at different rotational speeds. The inner rotors (73) are each drivingly connected to a common shaft for rotation therewith. The two outer rotors (75) are coupled together such that rotational drive applied to one is transmitted directly to the other. An air-cycle system and an air conditioning system (10) based on the gas-cycle system are also disclosed.

A gas-cycle system operable using a Bell-Coleman cycle, the gas-cycle system comprising an expander (23) and a compressor (27) incorporated in a flow path (13). The expander (23) and compressor (27) are integrated in a rotary machine (41), and each comprises a rotor assembly (70) configured to define one or more zones (80) each of which changes continuously in volume during a rotation cycle of the rotor assembly. The expander (23) and compressor (27) are drivingly interconnected whereby rotational drive applied to one is transmitted directly to the other. Each rotor assembly (70) comprises an inner rotor (73) and an outer rotor (75) adapted to rotate about parallel axes at different rotational speeds. The inner rotors (73) are each drivingly connected to a common shaft for rotation therewith. The two outer rotors (75) are coupled together such that rotational drive applied to one is transmitted directly to the other. An air-cycle system and an air conditioning system (10) based on the gas-cycle system are also disclosed.

A system for pumping hydrocarbon bulk fluids includes an air-driven rotary or reciprocating positive displacement pump in fluid communication with a tank containing the hydrocarbon bulk fluid. The pump contains an inlet and an outlet. A filter or strainer is contained within the inlet for removing debris from the bulk fluid. An oiler is provided for injecting an oil and/or antifreeze mixture into an air stream provided to the air-driven positive displacement pump. A method of pumping a bulk fluid such as a hydrocarbon fuel, from one tank to another, is also presented.