Abstract: A gas turbine engine of a ducted-fan bypass type includes a fan with a plurality of circumferentially spaced airfoils thereon each including first and second portions thereof defining a forward thrust airfoil having a chord to blade spacing ratio greater than one. Each of the first and second portions are rotatably supported on the fan hub and are movable from a forward thrust position when the trailing edge of the first portion is juxtaposed against the leading edge of the second portion to a reverse thrust position wherein the first and second portions are corotated so as to locate the leading edge of the first portion in juxtaposed relationship to the trailing edge of a second portion to define a reverse thrust airfoil for producing a reverse flow of air through the fan duct passage with a resultant reverse thrust action on the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A turbine wheel on a horizontal shaft is coaxially mounted within a primary nozzle, for support in a river current below a platform carrying electrical power generation equipment. The turbine shaft and primary nozzle are submerged and oriented to enable flow of a portion of river current through the nozzle and past the turbine wheel.The external surface of the nozzle is shaped and has structure to accelerate and/or direct the flow of the adjacent surrounding maintstream river current in a manner to generate a sheath which aids the efflux of that portion of the river current which has passed through the turbine. Part of the said structure is a secondary nozzle surrounding the primary nozzle; the secondary nozzle is arranged to accentuate the control of the surrounding mainstream river current. Bearing means, support means, power take-off means, speed control means and blade shapes are disclosed.

Abstract: A stator structure for a gas turbine engine comprises abutting segments sealed together at their abutting edges. Each segment comprises a plate spaced from a peripheral surface to form a groove in the edge, and the grooves in abutting edges correspond to form a channel in which a sealing member is positioned.

Abstract: A device whereby water leaking through the guide vanes while the water-wheel is in spinning reserve can be drained through leak drain pipes which open in the fixed member near the outer periphery of the runner.

Abstract: An axial flow compressor or turbine includes a stator case with a plug which is removable from outside the case, together with one or more stator vanes attached to the plug, to provide access to an adjacent part of the rotor. Such access may be used to add balance weights to the rotor as part of a rotor balancing procedure, or for inspection of rotor blades.

Abstract: An impeller shaft turning device is disclosed, for use in rotating the shaft of an impeller within a housing in a revolving machine, to aid in impelling material into a bag, the impeller shaft turning device comprising motor means operative to rotate the shaft of an impeller and hydraulic means operative to control the motor means.

Abstract: A radial-flow turbomachine (centrifugal compressor or centripetal turbine) is provided with a lip extending along the free edge of each rotor blade from the inlet to the outlet end of the blade. The lip extends from the pressure face of the blade and serves to minimize leakage between the edge of the blade and the adjacent fixed shroud past which it is rotated.

Abstract: A low pressure multi-stage axial flow steam turbine comprises an outer housing and an inner housing structure constituting a carrier for the rows of guide blading of the various stages. A steam inflow housing located within the inner housing structure forms the boundary of a crescent-shaped intake duct which surrounds and admits steam to the first stage guide blading which flows through the duct in the same direction as that in which the turbine rotor rotates, and the cross sectional area of the intake duct decreases progressively in the direction of steam flow therethrough such that the tangential components of the steam velocity conform to a predetermined function. The curvature of the intake duct at the inner periphery thereof increases progressively in the direction of steam flow therethrough such that the radial components of the steam velocity conform to a second predetermined function.

Abstract: Thermal matching of compounds in a gas turbine engine is achieved by providing the component with the highest rate of thermal expansion with an insulating sheet which is dimpled to contact the surface of the component at discrete spots leaving air spaces in between. The sheet is attached to the component by spot welding at a pre-determined number of areas to provide the necessary heat conducting paths between the insulation and the component to enable the expansion of the component to be matched with that of another component. Seal clearances can be reduced by matching the expansions of seal carrying components in this way.

Abstract: A water pump for motor vehicles having a pump wheel arranged at the end of a shaft. A belt driven pulley is connected to the shaft for rotating the shaft and a bearing journals the shaft. The bearing has a fixed race, a rotatable race and two rows of roll bodies located therebetween. The shaft and the pulley are integrally connected to the rotatable race and the pulley has a rim for receiving a drive belt extending about the bearing so that the line of application of the force acting on the bearing lies between the two rows of roll bodies.

Abstract: A multiple outlet, constant flow pitot pump comprising: a rotary casing; means for delivering fluid to be pumped to the casing; a plurality of discharge ducts generally coaxial with the rotary casing; and a plurality of circumferentially spaced pitot tubes in and extending radially of the rotary casing, the pitot tubes respectively having adjacent their outer ends inlets facing in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the rotary casing, the pitot tubes respectively having radial passages and having adjacent their inner ends outlets respectively connecting the inner ends of such radial passages to the discharge ducts, the pitot tubes further respectively having circumferentially rearwardly extending passages connecting the inlets to the outer ends of the radial passages, the upstream ends of the circumferentially rearwardly extending passages having divergent portions diverging rearwardly from the inlets, and the ratio of the area of the inlet of each pitot tube to the area of the circumferentia

Abstract: A nuclear steam supply system wherein each of a plurality of centrifugal pumps begins to operate with full cavitation in response to an abrupt drop of system pressure in the event of leakage. This is achieved by influencing the net positive suction head of each pump over the entire range of fluid flow and/or by influencing the net positive suction head upstream of the pumps. The first mode of causing the pumps to operate with full cavitation includes an appropriate selection of the inlet angle and/or inlet diameter of the pump impeller, the provision of auxiliary impellers which are located upstream of the pumps and can circulate the fluid in or counter to the direction of rotation of the respective pump impellers, or the provision of suitably curved guide vanes in the pumps. The second mode includes interrupting the admission of undercooled fluid into the system upstream of the pumps.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for pumping gases laden with abrasive particles. The pump comprises a cylindrical outer housing within which there are three axially adjacent sections, namely; an inertial bypass inlet; a powered rotor midsection; and an annular exhaust diffuser. The inertial bypass inlet consists of an axially symmetric cone which diverts the heavier sand and dust particles toward the outer walls. Behind the conical deflector is an axially symmetric circular shroud. A rotor within the shroud draws in and accelerates partially clean air from the lee side of the cone while the majority of the sand and dust laden air passes between the shroud and the outside wall. Recombination of the entire airstream occurs at an ejector nozzle serving as an output of the powered rotor midsection. Contaminated air from the ejector nozzle experiences a pressure rise in the annular exhaust diffuser.

Abstract: A variable liquid discharge flow rate pump with a discharge float valve the opening of which is controlled according to the discharge pressure and flow rate by a hydraulic power ram actuator with a resiliently biased piston slidable in a cylinder communicating with or forming a container space for transit of liquid from a first cavity in which prevails the discharge pressure to a second cavity in which prevails the inlet pressure, the hydraulic circuit comprising at least one passageway providing a head loss variable according to the discharge flow rate and pressure.

Abstract: A barrel assembly for an axial flow fan comprises a sheet of flexible material, a body portion and a vane assembly. The body portion has a circular inlet and a barrel seat extending downstream from the periphery of the inlet. The vane assembly has a plurality of evenly spaced-apart radially extending vanes. The vanes are of equal radial length and each has a free end. The longitudinal axis of the vane assembly is coincident with the central axis of the inlet. The circumference of the circle containing the free ends of the vanes is substantially equal to the circumference of the barrel seat. The sheet of material wrapped around the free ends of the vanes is also wrapped around the barrel seat. Means for retaining the sheet of material in position is provided. A cabinet may be provided for the barrel assembly. The closed cavity between the barrel assembly and the interior surfaces of the cabinet may be filled with vibration absorbing material for supporting the barrel assembly.

Abstract: A multiple-stage centrifugal compressor without a horizontal joint wherein the stator consists of a package of interconnected diaphragms with cylindrical holes for the installation of the labyrinth seal holders. The cylindrical holes vary in diameter along the longitudinal axis of the compressor, said diameter increasing in steps towards end of the diaphragm package.

Abstract: A centrifugal fluid pump includes a casing housing an impeller having a suction eye, an axial fluid inlet to the impeller eye, a fluid discharge, and a recirculation line for recycling leakage liquid from the casing to the fluid inlet to minimise the risk of cavitation occurring at the impeller eye. A heat exchanger is located in the recirculation line for cooling the recycled leakage liquid and has control means associated therewith. The recycled liquid is introduced by a duct into the fluid inlet close to the impeller eye with an axial component of flow so that disturbance to flow in the inlet is reduced. In particular, the recirculation line may discharge into an annular velocity stabilising chamber at the fluid inlet, and a frusto-conical passage delivers the liquid from the chamber to the fluid inlet.

Abstract: A two part metering adapter ring, for providing bleed air from the compressor of an aircraft engine, having a plurality of metering air flow passages. The adapter ring is secured to the outer casing stator support member and has a movable seal engaging a member on the inner casing stator support member. A pair of spring members hold the seal in contact with the seal engaging member on the inner casing stator support member.

Abstract: Apparatus forming a portion of the outer wall of the flow path for working medium gases in the turbine section of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The vanes of each turbine stage are grouped into a plurality of vane clusters which are circumferentially disposed in adjacent relationship about the flow path. A shroud which surrounds the tips of the rotor blades immediately upstream of the vane clusters is segmented in integral ratio to the number of vane clusters. The gap between each pair of adjacent vane clusters is circumferentially positioned in axial alignment with one of the gaps between adjacent shroud segments.

Abstract: An arrangement for sealing the joints formed between the facing ends of turbine stator segments arranged in an annular array to form a turbine diaphragm is disclosed, the arrangement basically consisting of seal strips formed by at least two bimetal ribbons fastened along their longitudinal centerlines and adapted to deflect away from each other with increasing temperatures, the opposite edges of the strips being disposed in grooves in the facing ends of the stator segments.