Abstract: A centrifugal slurry pump includes wear resistant inserts on the wear faces of the first impeller shroud and the wear face of the front pump housing in the impeller chamber. The preferred embodiment provides hardened ceramic material inserts mounted in compression.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for reducing the effects of draft tube pressure fluctuations acting on a runner in a hydraulic reaction turbine or the effects of suction tube pre-rotation acting on the impeller in a centrifugal pump. A closed surge suppression chamber is mounted about the exterior of the turbine draft tube or pump suction tube. A plurality of openings are provided about the exterior of the draft tube or pump suction tube communicating with both the interior of the draft tube or pump suction tube and the interior of the chamber near its bottom thereof. An air inlet is provided leading into the chamber at the top thereof. In operation, and during operation of the turbine or pump where a rotating helical vortex of water has formed in the draft tube or pump suction tube, water flows from the draft tube or pump suction tube through the openings and into the bottom of the chamber while air is injected into the top of the chamber.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump with hydraulic thrust balance and tandem axial seals. The centrifugal pump has an impeller with front and rear axial seals operating in unison to either reduce or increase the size of gaps therebetween. The gaps are of a minimal dimension to minimize leakage. The rear axial seal is located at the tip of the impeller with the front axial seat located either at the impeller eye or radially outwardly thereof. Hydraulic thrust balance is achieved and continuously maintained by axial movement of the impeller shaft and impeller to modulate the gap at the rear axial seal and, thus, control the value of an effective pressure acting on the back side of the impeller whereby an outward thrust force resulting therefrom counterbalances an inward thrust force resulting from pressure acting on the front shroud of the impeller. A clearance at the rear of the impeller communicates with suction pressure through a restricted passage.

Abstract: A windmill is provided having a flywheel attached to the fan shaft and an upwardly extending crank link which is cranked by crank pin mounted off-center on the face of the flywheel. The crank link rocks a rocker beam which may, for example, actuate a pump. The crank link and pump are pivotably attached by sleeves on the rocker beam whereby the amplitude of the rocking motion imparted to the beam and the pump may be adjusted by adjusting the positin of the sleeves along the beam. Counterweights may be provided on the rocker beam for giving the crank link a pulling or a pushing function.

Abstract: A main helicopter rotor on which a rotary tubular shaft supports, at its top end, an annular hub integral with the tubular shaft itself. The assembly consisting of the tubular shaft and the hub is closed off at the top by a bell connected in removable manner to the hub and enclosing an oscillating plate assembly supported on a fixed shaft extending inside the aforementioned tubular shaft. A rotary ring on the oscillating plate assembly is connected to blade pitch change levers via respective rocker arms connected in articulated manner to the aforementioned rotary ring via respective pins extending radially in relation to the aforementioned bell and accessible via respective radial holes formed through the same.

Abstract: In a turbomachine having stationary and rotating bladed stages, the blades of the rotating bladed stage are cooled by ducting cooling fluid into an interior cavity formed in each blade. Each rotating blade has a tip portion which is closely adjacent an annular shroud to avoid hot gas products bypassing the blades. The required close clearance between the blade tips and the annular shroud has caused manufacturers to provide a recessed blade tip cap and an open plenum at the blade tip to improve cooling flow. This invention minimizes the height requirements of sidewalls to the open plenum by providing an opening in the blade sidewalls whereby cooling air can be discharged from the interior blade cavity and the blade plenum without regard to the clearance between the blade tip and the annular shroud.

Abstract: A pump, for example, a centrifugal slurry pump, has a casing (10) with an inlet (12) and an outlet (14). The casing (10) and a separate backliner (28) define a chamber (16) in which an impeller (18) is arranged to be rotated by way of a drive shaft (20) which extends axially with respect to the casing (10). Fine running clearances are defined between the front and rear surfaces of the impeller (18) and the adjacent surfaces of the casing (10) and the backliner (28). In order to compensate for increases of the running clearances, for example, due to erosion, the backliner (28) may be moved axially relative to the casing (10). The backliner (28) is connected to an annular flange (38) which is bolted to an annular flange (36) connected to the casing (10) and the spacing between the flanges (36, 38) may be adjusted by removing one or more shims (40) provided therebetween.

Abstract: A blade of the fan wheel of a diagonal-flow fan, which blade should ideally have a shape of a twisted double-curvature or undevelopable surface, is formed from a portion of a cylinder, which has a single-curvature or developable surface. To realize the formation of a blade from the single-curvature surface, lines of intersection between a cylinder and a number of coaxial imaginary conical surfaces representing streamlines in the fan wheel are used as a basis for design.

Abstract: An omnidirectional turbine providing a rotational output of one sense in response to fluid flow approaching the turbine from any direction parallel to its plane of rotation. The invention is contemplated for use in conjunction with electric generators or power generating systems in general capable of utilizing power output from said turbine.