Abstract: A means for improving the aerodynamic efficiency of the compressor of an axial flow turbomachine is disclosed. The compressor includes an airfoil relatively rotatable with respect to a radially disposed surface which bounds a flowpath for aft moving fluid. The surface has a circumferentially extending recess radially disposed relative to the airfoil. The recess has a generally aft facing wall and a generally forward facing wall. The aft facing wall is oriented so as to provide a barrier to the forward flow of fluid in the clearance between airfoil and surface. The forward facing wall is oriented so as to provide an aerodynamically smooth transition from the recess into the flowpath.

Abstract: A variable pitch propeller is provided with a blade cuff, with a radially inner portion of the cuff formed in closely surrounding relation to the cylindrical shank of the blade, and with a nose portion of the cuff extending radially outwardly and smoothly flaring to the full cordwise dimension of the cuff, through the conventional blade opening in a spinner. The arrangement eliminates regions for ice entrapment or build-up, and permits a heater boot to be applied to the leading edge down to or even into the blade opening.

Abstract: A hollow thermally-conditioned turbine stator nozzle 12 is set forth to distribute and guide combustion gases from a forward inlet 15 to the turbine rotor blades 18. The nozzle includes a plurality of vanes 20 arranged annularly in the turbine. Each vane 20 has a body 22 to guide the fluid, the body being supported by outer and inner ends 34,64. The outer and inner ends each have a forward lug 44,74 and a rear lug 46,76. A floating support is provided for the vanes and includes forward shoulders 110,136 to engage the forward lugs and prevent rearward movement of the vanes and rear shoulders 114,142 having notches 116,144 to receive and confine the tangential movement of the vanes. Each vane also includes a hollow core 152 to pass a portion of fluid and reduce thermal stresses on the vane. The vane is preferably made of silicon nitride ceramic.

Abstract: A position sensor mounting apparatus for fluid operated, expansible chamber cylinders includes a housing which receives and supports a position sensor. A coupling member is threadingly engageable with a bore formed in the cylinder. The coupling member is rotatably mounted about the housing such that the position sensor is disposed within the cylinder for detecting the position of the piston within, and the housing and position sensors are rotatable with respect to the coupling member and the cylinder. Seals are provided between the coupling member and the cylinder and between the housing and the coupling member.

Abstract: A centrifugal main fuel pump (10') for a gas turbine engine has a housing (18') in which a centrifugal impeller (12') is mounted for rotation. The impeller discharges flow to a collector (20') and diffuser (22'). A low flow diffuser (26) has its inlet opening positioned closely adjacent the outer periphery of the impeller. Proper design and placement of the low flow diffuser ensures that a high percentage of the fluid energy available in the high velocity flow adjacent the impeller outer periphery is recovered as pressure rise. The low flow diffuser produces adequate fuel flow at the pressure necessary for engine light-off while the first mentioned diffuser recovers a lower pressure rise but is adapted to supply higher engine fuel flow demand in the normal range of operation. A check valve (34) prevents flow from the low flow diffuser from returning to the impeller. The check valve opens to allow the first mentioned diffuser to supply fuel when its discharge pressure exceeds that of the low flow diffuser.

Abstract: A structural component which is coolable for use under high thermal load conditions, such as a turbine blade, has a metallic support core with cooling ducts separated by lands in its surface. The core and its cooling ducts and lands are enclosed by an inner layer of metal felt and an outer layer of heat insulating ceramic material which partially penetrates into the metal felt to form a bonding zone between the felt and the ceramic material. Thus, any heat passing through the ceramic layer is introduced into the large surface area of the metal felt enabling the latter to efficiently introduce the heat into a cooling medium flowing in the ducts, thereby preventing thermal loads from adversely affecting the metal core to any appreciable extent.

Abstract: An aeroplane propeller assembly comprising a pair of hub members made of nylon with glass fibers interspersed therein forming an undulant gripping surface for clamping the root ends of wooden propeller blades and embedding the raised areas of the hub surfaces into the wood to obtain a firm and shakeproof purchase thereon as the hub members are bolted to each other and to the blades. The hub members are in the form of discs and have root-end-confining pockets formed to clamp the end portions and hold them under compression tightly within the pockets, each pocket having sharp pins molded therein and strategically located not only to pierce into the wood but also to swell the wood and contour it against the enclosing surfaces of the pocket. The propeller blade root ends are adapted to be cut at different angles to obtain different pitch upon being fitted into the same pockets.

Abstract: A means for improving the aerodynamic efficiency of the compressor of an axial flow turbomachine is disclosed. The compressor includes a first airfoil relatively rotatable with respect to a radially disposed surface and a second airfoil, aft of the first airfoil, and fixed with respect to the surface. The surface bounds a flowpath for aft moving fluid. The surface has a circumferentially extending recess radially disposed relative to the airfoils. The recess has a generally aft facing wall, a generally axially directed wall, and a generally forward facing wall. The aft facing wall is oriented so as to provide a barrier to the forward flow of fluid in the clearance between airfoil and surface. The forward facing wall is oriented so as to provide an aerodynamically smooth transition from the recess into the flowpath.

Abstract: A centrifugal blood pump has a tapered seal between a pump housing wall and a hub of an impeller which provides a fluid tight seal interface surrounding a drive shaft which is connected to the impeller and which extends through the pump housing wall. The tapered seal has a maximum radial dimension adjacent to the wall and a minimum radial dimension adjacent the hub so that air bubbles (which seek the smallest shaft diameter) will not insulate the seal interface edges from fluid flow. The seal interface, which is perpendicular to the drive shaft axis, is located in a high flow area between the wall and the hub to increase cooling effects.

Abstract: A turbine airfoil for high temperature applications has a spanwise trailing edge slot and a cut back pressure side wall. The pressure side wall has a thickness t at its downstream end. The slot is divided into channels which discharge a film of cooling air over the exposed back surface of the suction side wall downstream of the cut back pressure side wall. Each channel tapers from a throat at its upstream end (which meters the flow of cooling air) to the slot outlet of width s. The airfoil is designed with a ratio t/s of no more than 0.7 which significantly improves cooling of the trailing edge, reduces required cooling air flow, and permits greater cut back distances.

Abstract: An impeller for an axial fan, this impeller comprising a hub transversally split into two parts each defining recesses into root portions of a plurality of impeller blades are inserted and locked by means of key-pieces when the two parts are joined together. Each key-piece has two spaced projections on one side for engaging two corresponding recesses diametrically located in the end surface of the root of each impeller blade close to the periphery of this end surface, and two equally spaced projections on its other side for engaging two corresponding recesses provided in the bottom surface of the recess in the hub. These pairs of projections on both sides of the key-piece which is preferably ring-shaped, are advantageously shifted from a certain angle along the circumference of the ring. The amount of angular displacement of the projections can be determined by mere adjustment of the mold in which the key-pieces are produced.

Abstract: Inadvertent slot opening in a circulation controlled rotor due to plenum valve leakage is averted by venting duct pressure below a control minimum. A vent valve is disclosed.

Abstract: A reciprocating engine comprising a cylinder, a piston performing reciprocating movement within the cylinder, a crank shaft performing rotational movement, a connecting rod connected rotatably at its one end to the crank shaft and at its the other end to the piston, and rollers each mounted on the side portion of the piston, in which the piston is in rolling contact with the cylinder through the rollers.

Abstract: A compressor disc assembly with an integral centripetal accelerator for the exhaustion of air for use in a cooling device of a gas turbine, the bleeding of air at the surface of the compressor drum being effected by orifices situated in the platforms of the blades and in the median plane of the compressor disc. The assembly is formed from two half discs. The centripetal accelerator includes several sectors detachably mounted in the space defined between the two half discs of the compressor, each sector being formed from two half shells having on their internal face ribs in the form of centripetal blades by which the half shells are assembled together. The invention is utilized for cooling a gas turbine by bleeding air from the compressor.

Abstract: An elevated and elongated boom is centrally pivoted for rocking movement in a vertical plane through the horizontal plane. Provision is made to align such plane with the direction of the wind. A pair of free wings are mounted on the fore and aft ends of the boom with control panels being oscillatably mounted on such wings for determining, by their relative positions and aerodynamic equilibrium reaction thereto, the angle of attack of such wings. Provision is made to control the relative positions of the control panels with respect to their respective wings so that the wings have angles of attack of opposite sense, with such senses being reversed as the boom approaches each predetermined limit of its rocking motion. The fore (canard) and aft wings are positioned and sized relative to each other to equalize their moment contributions to the rocking motion of the boom. Alternative wing structures are disclosed.

Abstract: A centrifugal blood pump has an impeller with a hub, a blade support ring and alternating long and short blades. A tapered seal between a pump housing wall and a hub of an impeller which provides a fluid tight seal interface surrounding a shaft. The long blades of the impeller have rear edges which are closer to the wall than is the seal interface and inner edges which extend from the rear edges to the hub. This provides high flow in the vicinity of the seal interface to enhance heat dissipation from the seal interface.

Abstract: A blower for an air spray bath massaging apparatus, which blower is operated by an electric motor and is enclosed in a housing having a suction air fitting and a compressed air fitting. To effectively reduce the suction noise of the blower, the suction air fitting is provided with a closure wall having a plurality of suction sleeves with suction inlets. The suction air current is divided into several smaller air currents by which considerably less suction noise is generated.

Abstract: A spacer extends between and engages the rear face of a first disk and front face of a second disk of co-rotating rotors of a two stage turbine. The spacer engages the disks radially inwardly of the blade root slots of each disk and defines an intermediate cooling air compartment between the disks, radially inward of the spacer. Each disk includes blade root slots, each having a blade root disposed therein and defining a cooling air passageway across each slot from the front to rear face of each disk. Cooling air from a compartment upstream of the first disk is directed downstream through the passageways across the slots and thence radially inwardly into the intermediate compartment between the disks. From the intermediate compartment the cooling air travels radially outwardly and then axially through the cooling air passageways across the second disk blade root slots.

Abstract: A mechanical seal mounting assembly for a centrifugal high solids concentration slurry pump is disclosed. A rotating seal ring adapter is secured to the pump's impeller drive shaft for rotation with the shaft. A stationary seal ring adapter is secured to a first end of a seal carrier which extends through the pump's back plate. A split gland ring is attached to a second end of the seal carrier and is supported by gland nuts threadedly carried on gland bolts. The gland bolts are attached to a bearing assembly for the pump shaft. Axial movement of the pump shaft to effect impeller clearance seal adjustment is possible without disturbing the mechanical seal adjustment. An O-ring is interposed between the pump back plate and the seal carrier and is held in place by an O-ring retainer secured to the back plate of the pump.

Abstract: An upper head assembly for the top of a wind turbine comprising a guy wire coupling vertically displaceable by fluid below the coupling.