Abstract: This invention relates to a blower of a centrifugal turbomachine type for producing fluid pressure from mechanical energy. The invention relates to the guide vane rows or vaned diffuser used in centrifugal blowers. The vaned diffuser is located downstream by the impeller. The impellers of the centrifugal blowers can have blades which are backwardly curved, radially ending or forwardly curved. Each of these impellers can have a vaned or vaneless diffusing system following the impeller. During operation of the impeller blades at the design point, the average outlet relative velocity is equal to or greater than 0.6 times the inlet relative velocity at the hub of the impeller portion of the impeller blades and the angle of flow deflection within the impeller blades is at least equal to approximately 50.degree. or more. The centrifugal turbomachine also includes a series of guide vane rows, each of said guide vane rows, including at least a forward row of blades and an aft row of blades.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing fluid pressure from mechanical energy. The apparatus is of the turbomachine type and includes blowers, compressors, pumps, turbines, fluid motors, and the like. This invention also relates to a method of generating pressurized fluid in which the flow of fluid is first deflected by a substantial amount while simultaneously maintaining the relative velocity following said deflection approximately equal to the relative velocity prior to said deflection fluid at least at one location between hub and tip followed by generating pressure by turning back the flow of fluid by an amount approximately equal to the amount of deflection of the fluid while simultaneously decelerating the flow of fluid and keeping the ratio of the axial through flow velocity through the fluid flow path to the outlet velocity following the generation of said deflection equal to approximately 0.66 or less.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrodynamic transmission for ship propulsion comprising a prime mover driving an axial flow pump in combination with an open, water-powered turbine for driving propeller blades. The power plant and the propeller are not mechanically connected, and power is transmitted through the hydrodynamic transmission. The invention also provides for a thrust-reversing mechanism specially adapted to the hydrodynamic transmission described herein.