Abstract: A hollow airfoil (10) for a gas turbine engine having a leading edge (12), a trailing edge (14), a pressure side (20), and a suction side (22) includes a plurality of internal spanwise stiffening ribs (31-35) that are arranged in a logarithmic pattern. The particular arrangement of internal fibs (31-35) optimizes stiffness of the airfoil (10) without significantly increasing the weight thereof.

Abstract: A centrifugal fan includes a housing that defines an air inlet leading to an air chamber defined within the fan impeller and an air exit port coupled to an air passageway. The housing includes a shroud that defines a two zone air passageway in the housing. The first zone, commencing adjacent to the base of the exhaust port, is a conformal portion that is conformal to the exterior diameter of the centrifugal fan and spaced slightly apart therefrom. The second zone of the shroud is a scroll portion wherein the angle of expansion is capable of expanding between 10.degree. and 15.degree.. An air restrictor plate is supported inside the air chamber of the centrifugal fan. At the greatest width of the air restrictor plate, the air restrictor plate subtends an arc that is substantially coextensive with the arc subtended by the first conformal zone of the shroud. The restrictor prevents the flow of inlet air through the centrifugal fan in the region of the conformal shroud.

Abstract: A ram air turbine power system is provided with a deployable ram air turbine mounted in-line with a power supply unit such as an electrical generator and/or an hydraulic pump. The ram air turbine includes a turbine shaft supported for rotation by bearings within a generator housing, wherein a rear end of the turbine shaft and a generator shaft are supported by a common bearing, and further wherein the forwards ends of the turbine and generator shafts are supported by a pair of bearings separated by a resilient bearing mount. In addition, the in-line ram air turbine and related power supply unit are supported from a hollow strut with hydraulic and electrical lines and related mechanical linkages extending therethrough.

Abstract: A turbine shroud includes an annular shroud support joined to an annular outer casing and spaced radially inwardly therefrom to define an annular flow duct for receiving compressor bleed air. A plurality of shroud panels are joined to the shroud support and have a radially inner surface positionable radially above turbine rotor blades to define a tip clearance therebetween. An isolation shield is joined to the shroud support radially above the panels and includes a plurality of open-ended cells facing radially outwardly in the duct toward the outer casing for inducing drag in the bleed air flowable axially through the duct to thermally isolate the shroud support from the bleed air for controlling the tip clearance.

Abstract: An electric fan having unidirectional and opposed-directional wind shifting modes is disclosed. The wind shifter of the fan has a drive shaft and an output shaft set in a housing. A unidirectional rotating unit of the wind shifter has a first pinion and a pinion gear. The pinion gear is rotatably fitted over the output shaft and selectively coupled to this shaft by a clutch. An opposed-directional rotating unit of the wind shifter has a second pinion, a crank gear gearing into the second pinion, and a reciprocating rotation disc rotatably fitted over the output shaft and selectively coupled to the output shaft by clutch. The unidirectional or opposed-directional rotating force of the output shaft is transmitted to the head of the fan through a revolving pulley cooperating with a sun pulley of the neck of the fan.

Abstract: A high pressure blower assembly includes a spiral-type blower housing, impeller wheel and a baffle arrangement disposed proximate the inlet of the blower housing. The baffle arrangement includes a first baffle segment extending from the inlet into the inner periphery of the impeller wheel, a second baffle segment having a generally curved portion that terminates at an apex region located proximate the cut-off point of the blower housing, and a generally curved third baffle segment, disposed proximate the impeller wheel, that joins the second baffle segment.

Abstract: A pumping device is provided having a housing comprised of an inlet housing (70) and a discharge housing (98). The inlet housing (70) contains an impeller device (80) that is comprised of a conical structure (82) rotatable about a rotational axis (86). The conical structure (82) has disposed thereon six vanes (84) that extend outward from the direction of the rotational axis (86). Helical vanes (74), (76) and (78) are disposed on the interior surface of the inlet housing (70). The impeller (80) is operable to rotate and force fluid outward against the interior surface of the housing (70), the vanes (74), (78) directing the fluid along the surface. The discharge section then redirects this to the outlet to prevent cavitation.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved spillstrip ring for use in forming a tip seal in an axial flow elastic fluid turbine having one or more stages. Each turbine stage has a diaphragm and a rotor. The spillstrip ring consists of an arrangement of spillstrips mounted in a circumferentially groove formed in the diaphragm. Each spillstrip includes a body portion having a longitudinal extent, a vertical extent, and a horizontal extent, and is particularly adapted for mounting in the circumferential groove in the diaphragm. At least one projection extends from the body portion substantially parallel to the vertical extent thereof, and along the longitudinal extent of the body portion. Such projection has tapered side walls which converge to a tip seal that continuously extends along the longitudinal extent of the body portion.

Abstract: Notches in the impeller cooperate with balancing holes therein, and a liquid-receiving slot, to direct liquid across the leading edges of impeller vanes to flush away any accreted substances therefrom. In addition, a large diameter deflector coupled to the hub of the impeller also cooperates with the notches to deflect the flushing liquid in the direction of the main liquid flow through the impeller.

Abstract: A blower fan assembly is provided which includes a blower housing, an exhaust port having an air passage connected to the housing and an impeller assembly rotatably received within the housing. A sound attenuator is also provided to be received in the exhaust port. The attenuator includes at least one edge which extends into the housing to provide a gradual cutoff point. Air moving ahead of the rotating impeller vanes is partially redirected through the exhaust port by the attenuator. Remaining air is directed over and around the attenuator and is forced out of the housing at the cutoff point created where the exhaust port joins the housing. The redirection of air alleviates compression/decompression at the cutoffs thereby reducing the pulsing noise associated therewith.

Abstract: A high power, closed cycle photolytic atomic iodine laser system having a high molecular weight gas as a laser fuel and which requires a high velocity flow of the laser fuel, the laser fuel to be in a selected low pressure range, and the laser fuel to be of very high purity. The laser system has a turbo-molecular blower for circulating the laser fuel. The turbo-molecular blower provides the high velocity flow, the selected low pressure through the laser gain cell, and a high compression ratio. The velocity is in a range of about 1 m/s to 100 m/s, the compression ratio being in a range from about 10:1 to 1000:1, the selected low pressure in a range of about 5 to 60 Torr, and the turbo-molecular blower not contaminating the laser fuel of the closed cycle fuel system by the use of ferrofluidic rotary seals. The turbo-molecular blower has a blower assembly that provides a continuous, high velocity and pressurized gas flow.

Abstract: A variable pitch fan for a helicopter equipped with a NOTAR.TM. mechanical antitorque directional control system comprises a plurality of blade assemblies. Each blade assembly includes a blade portion, which is molded from a blended material which includes fiber reinforced polypropylene. A key to the invention is the use of long fibers, having a length of at least approximately one-half inch, for reinforcement, the long fibers providing for about twice the pull-out strength of short or chopped fibers. Another key aspect of the invention is the use of a blowing agent in the blended material, which serves to reduce weight and warpage by creating a foamed structure having a variable density, the structure retaining considerable strength because of the fiber reinforcement. The blade portion is molded about a spar which has holes therethrough, the holes providing a mechanical interlock between the blade and the spar.

Abstract: In a rotary turbine having inlets for mixtures of gas and liquid, and a rotary shaft, the combination comprising a separator to receive the mixture of gas and liquid, and to separate the mixture into a stream of gas and a stream of liquid; first structure to receive the stream of gas for generating torque exerted on the shaft; the separator including a rotating surface to receive the stream of liquid to form a liquid layer, and for generating torque exerted on the shaft; there being generally radial outflow passages for the separated liquid stream, and liquid nozzles terminating liquid outflow passages to pass the liquid stream and to convert the induced pressures of the radial outflow of the liquid to velocity of liquid jets, and to convert the reaction forces of the liquid jets to shaft power. Gas nozzles may be provided to receive the separated gas stream which is centrifugally pressurized and expanded through the gas nozzles to produce gas jets directed to produce torque acting on the shaft.

Abstract: A wind turbine for converting wind energy to useable energy having a plurality of overlapping sail members. The sail members extend radially outward from a vertically disposed shaft in three columns positioned equidistantly around the shaft. The overlapping sail members hang downwardly in a naturally biased, vertical orientation so as to block rotational movement of each other in one direction. This configuration allows the wind to engage with the sail members on one side of the shaft to rotate the shaft, and blow past the sail members on the other side of the shaft. Rotation of the cylinder is thus achieved while wind resistance is greatly minimized, regardless of the wind direction. A generator can be rotatably intercoupled with the cylinder to thereby convert the kinetic energy of rotation to useable energy. Each sail member is preferably positioned such that a gap resides between the sail member and the shaft, the gap being at least as wide as the sail member.

Abstract: In a process for operating a fluid flow engine, a conditioning medium is conducted through the rotor, which consists of several shaft parts (1, 2) welded together; this medium is capable of evening out the temperature difference established between the stator (3) and the rotor in the transient operating ranges, depending on whether heating or cooling of the rotor is suited to the characteristic curve of the stator temperature course.

Abstract: A fan device for dissipating heat from an electronic component includes a base having a number of upward extending fins. The fins on the side portions are higher than the middle fins. A board is secured above the shorter fins and engaged between the higher fins, and includes a number of orifices for air circulation purposes. The board includes a support engaged in an opening and coupled to the board for securing a fan. Alternatively, the board may be engaged on top of the higher fins, or, the fins may have identical height and include a depression formed in the middle portion for engagement with the fan.

Abstract: The present invention provides an air box throttle assembly for improved characterization of a combustion system in which an arrangement of three air shutters is used to maintain a fairly constant air to fuel ratio as the combustion system is driven from low fire to high fire. A high fire shutter and a main air shutter each comprise two vanes and are rotatably mounted within an air intake box for a combustion system. A low fire shutter is provided with a single vane and is fixed above the main air shutter. The high fire shutter is the principal regulator of large volumes of air entering the combustion system when operating at high fire. At high fire, the main air shutter is fully open and low fire shutter has little effect on the flow of air through the air intake box. Low fire shutter is the principal regulator of small volumes of air entering the combustion system when operating at low fire.

Abstract: Each fan blade of a fan blade assembly for a ducted fan gas turbine engine is provided with a key which cooperates with the fan blade root and fan hub to axially lock the fan blade to the fan hub. Each key is deformable under excessive axial loading of its associated fan blade to minimize damage to the fan hub.

Abstract: Turbomachinery rotor component, which may be a disk or drum rotor, having an annular rim disposed about a centerline for securing the blades to the rotor and that is subject to a tensile stress field due to centrifugal and thermal growth induced forces generated by the rotor when the rotor is rotating. An annular channel slot is cut around the rim, has outer annular overhanging rails, and has at least one stress riser in the form of a three sided slot cut in the radial direction through one of the rails. A region around rounded corners of the stress riser has deep compressive residual stresses imparted by laser shock peening and extends inward from a laser shocked surface of the component encompassed by the region.

Abstract: A track mounting fixture for an electric fan includes a sliding member adapted to be mounted in a track lighting fixture and constructed to retain an electric fan. Contact members on the sliding member contact conductive strips within a channel on the track member and supply power to the fan at any desired position along the channel length. The fan position may be adjusted easily by sliding the sliding member along the channel and by pivoting the fan about a joint on the sliding member.