Abstract: A ram air turbine (RAT) prevents release of its turbine blades due an over-speed condition by detecting an over-speed condition with a turbine hub-mounted centrifugally operated trigger mechanism and rotating the blades to a fixed coarse pitch position with a release mechanism that responds to the trigger mechanism.

Abstract: A disbond resistant multi-laminate composite product is provided having, a first member; a second member of composite material bonded to the first member; a third member of composite material bonded to at least the second member and being so positioned and arranged such that when the second and third members are stressed at least a portion of the third member will have higher stress than the adjacent second member. The third member preferably has a terminal portion adjacent the second member in which terminal portion the strain energy release rate is higher than in the adjacent second member when the second and third members are stressed. The second and third members are preferably so positioned and arranged such that the third member initiates delamination from the second member before the second member initiates delamination from the first member when the first, second and third members are under stress.

Abstract: A fluid flow engine comprises: a turbine housing including at least one supply channel for supplying a driving fluid; at least one turbine rotor rotatably supported in the turbine housing about an axis of rotation; and a guiding grid of variable turbine geometry radially outside and surrounding the turbine rotor. The guiding grid comprises a nozzle ring forming one end limitation of a vane space and a plurality of guiding vanes each being pivoted about a pivoting axis and being supported by the nozzle ring so as to supply an adjustable amount of fluid from the supply channel to the turbine rotor. At least one spacer is connected to the nozzle ring for securing an axial distance for enabling the vanes to wove freely. The spacer includes at least one bolt or pin tat penetrates into the nozzle ring.

Abstract: A unitary component for retaining a vane ring in a gas turbine engine comprises a retaining plate portion to restrain axial vane movement, a retaining ring portion to restrain circumferential vane movement, and a baffle portion to split a cooling air flow between the vane and an adjacent rotor.

Abstract: A damping arrangement for a blade (20) of an axial turbine, in particular a gas turbine, includes a damping element (17) which is arranged in a recess (16) in the blade aerofoil (10) of the blade (20) and frictionally dampens the vibrations of the blade (20). In such a damping arrangement, simplified manufacture and assembly and a reliable and effective function are achieved by the recess being configured as a cavity (16) extending in the radial direction through the inside of the blade aerofoil (10), the damping element (17) being inserted in the radial direction into said cavity (16).

Abstract: The invention provides a rotary wing aircraft helicopter vehicle rod end and method of making a rod end. The rotary wing aircraft rod end includes a nonelastomeric inner member having an outer bonding surface segment and an axial bore with a center bore axis, a nonelastomeric outer member having an inner bonding surface segment and an axial bore center bore axis, and molded in place alternating elastomeric shims and nonelastomeric shims connecting the nonelastomeric inner member to the nonelastomeric outer member. The rod end includes a first inner elastomeric shim bonded to the nonelastomeric inner member outer bonding surface segment and to a first inner nonelastomeric shim and a second outer elastomeric shim bonded to the nonelastomeric outer member inner bonding surface segment and to a second outer nonelastomeric shim. The nonelastomeric inner member has a molded misalignment rotary wing aircraft rod end orientation with the outer nonelastomeric outer member.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump includes plural pump stages, each comprising an impeller assembly, a stationary disc assembly and a diffuser assembly, all disposed about an impeller shaft. A floating impeller hub seal is supported by a diffuser assembly to minimize fluid recirculation. A thrust washer is disposed around the impeller shaft and is engageable with an impeller hub and the hub seal. A wear ring is secured to a disc assembly and engageable with a wear surface on the impeller.

Abstract: A retaining arrangement for joining together two components such as a rim coverplate 10 and a rotor disc 12 in a gas turbine engine. The arrangement comprising a channel 54 formed by respective formations 26, 52 on the disc 12 and coverplate 10, which channel 54 locates one or more annular ring member 66 which prevents relative axial movement therebetween. Engageable abutment formations 18, 46 are provided respectively on the disc 12 and coverplate 10, to prevent relative pivotal movement.

Abstract: A clearance control device for controlling clearance between rotary blade tips and a stationary bushing of a gas turbine having a casing that is provided with at least two annular ridges, the clearance control device including a circular tuning unit that includes air circulation means for circulating air, said means being made up of at least three ducts; air supply means for supplying air to the air flow ducts; and air discharge means for discharging air on the ridges in order to modify the temperature, the air discharge means for each duct being made up of at least one top row having a number N of perforations disposed facing one of the side faces of the ridges and of at least one bottom row having a number 2N of perforations disposed facing a connection radius that connects the ridges to the casing.

Abstract: A centrifugal fan is described. The centrifugal fan is suitable for a portable electrical apparatus. A tongue shape is formed from a volute sidewall of a casing of the centrifugal fan and non-parallel to a rotational axis of blades. Therefore, when the blades rotate to generate a wake flow to blow on a surface of the volute sidewall at the tongue shape, noise generated by the centrifugal fan can be decreased.

Abstract: Low-noise airfoils and methods of reducing noise. One embodiment provides an aerodynamic member that includes two body portions coupled to each other. The second body portion includes a plurality of airfoil members in a fixed relationship with each other. Optionally, the airfoil members may define an open end of the second body portion. In the alternative, the member can include a third body portion that has an airfoil shape and that is coupled to the second body portion opposite the first body portion. Preferably, the first portion, the airfoil members, and third portion are 12%, 8%, and 2% thickness/chord airfoils respectively. Further, the aerodynamic member may be a rotor blade on a tandem helicopter. Another embodiment provides a cambered airfoil with two coupled body portions one of which has air foil members. One of the body portions includes a slot there through with airfoil members on opposite sides of the slot.

Abstract: A turbine blade of a turbomachine, having at least a bottom platform connected to the base of the blade by a bottom connection zone, and a cooling circuit consisting of at least one cooling cavity, of a plurality of evacuation slots arranged along the trailing edge of the blade, said blade having a bottom evacuation slot that is disposed near the blade base, the bottom evacuation slot including an end wall provided with an opening that opens into the cavity, a setback wall, a bottom wall disposed beside the blade base, a bottom edge formed between the setback wall and the bottom wall, and a bottom shoulder formed between the bottom wall and the bottom connection zone, both the bottom edge of the bottom evacuation slot and the bottom shoulder of the bottom evacuation slot having respective right sections of substantially rounded shape, thereby avoiding any protruding angles between the opening of said slot and the bottom connection zone.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine blade comprises a housing, a composite core located within the housing, and a gas damper located within the housing for damping vibration of the blade.

Abstract: Pelton bucket, Pelton wheel and a method of making and using the Pelton bucket. The Pelton bucket includes at least one exit edge. The at least one exit edge includes one of at least one partially concavely curved portion and at least one straight portion. The method of making provides for arranging at least one exit edge on the Pelton bucket. The method of using provides for causing rotation of a Pelton wheel with a Pelton turbine wherein the Pelton wheel utilizes a plurality of Pelton buckets and wherein the method provides for directing a jet from the Pelton turbine to the Pelton bucket to cause the Pelton wheel to rotate.

Abstract: Steam turbine bucket covers have forward and aft clearance surfaces on a pressure side edge of the cover, a contact surface between the clearance surfaces and an undercut fillet between the forward clearance surface and the contact surface. The adjoining bucket cover has forward and aft clearance surfaces, a contact surface between the clearance surfaces and an outside radius between the forward clearance surface and the contact surfaces along the suction side edge of the cover. The undercut fillet includes two different radii to minimize or eliminate fretting damage caused by high stresses in the interference fit between the contact surfaces of adjacent covers.

Abstract: A hanger assembly for depending a ceiling fan from a overhead includes a hanger bracket securable a support member integral with the overhead. A down rod suspended from the hanger bracket has a lower end adapted for engagement with the ceiling fan. A canopy has a central opening through which the down rod is received and an upper rim which receives the sidewall of the hanger bracket. The upper rim of the canopy is secured to the hanger bracket by a plurality of screws having heads exposed on the outside of the upper rim of the canopy. A rim cover which fits over and encapsulates the screw heads is engagable with the canopy in snap engagement.

Abstract: A tip shroud rail for a tip shroud of at least one turbine rotor blade, the tip shroud rail comprising a base integrally attached to the tip shroud, a top distally positioned from the base, an upstream surface, and a downstream surface, wherein the tip shroud rail has a height, h, as measured from the base to the top, and a width, w, as measured from the upstream surface to the downstream surface, wherein the width, w, of the tip shroud rail, as measured at the top, is greater than the width, w, of the tip shroud rail, as measured at one-half the height, h/2, of the tip shroud rail.

Abstract: An exemplary vane for a radial turbine assembly includes a hub end and a shroud end that define vane height, a leading edge and a trailing edge that define vane length along a camberline and an inner surface and an outer surface that extend from the hub end to the shroud end and meet at the leading edge and the trailing edge and that define vane thickness wherein, for at least a portion of the vane, vane length and vane thickness vary with respect to vane height. Other exemplary vanes, assemblies, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a gear unit for use in wind turbines and of the kind with a planetary gear stage, and an integrated main rotor bearing that is adapted to provide location for the rotor hub relative to the wind turbine nacelle and to locate the planet carrier relative to a low speed ring gear, the forces due to bending moments acting between the rotor hub and nacelle are transmitted substantially directly from the rotor hub to the nacelle via the main bearing and substantially none of the bending moments are transmitted to the nacelle via the ring gear of the planetary gear stage.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement for a compressor that compresses a gaseous mixture of air and fuel includes a pressurized air supply duct for supplying pressurized air into a leakage pathway defined between a compressor wheel and a housing of the compressor, which leakage pathway leads from the main gas flow path into a bearing area of the compressor, the pressurized air being supplied at a pressure sufficient to ensure that air and gaseous fuel cannot flow from the main gas flow path through the leakage pathway into the bearing area. A portion of the pressurized air flows into the bearing area, while the remainder of the air flows outwardly and is either fed back into the main gas flow path or is combined with air and gaseous fuel that leaks past an outer seal and is recirculated back to the compressor inlet.