Abstract: A simple structured propeller shaft assembly for a counter-rotating propeller system of a watercraft outboard drive prevents fishing line, weeds and like debris from entangling on a shaft of the propeller system and damaging the lubricant seals of the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly includes a nut which threads partially onto an end of an outer propeller shaft of the propeller shaft assembly. A thrust washer, carrier by an inner propeller shaft, includes a front hub which partially inserts into the nut adjacent to the end of the outer shaft. The nut, thrust washer and outer shaft end together define a labyrinth path into the space occupied by the lubricant seals between the inner and outer shafts. This labyrinth path inhibits weeds and like debris from wrapping around the inner shaft at a point adjacent to the lubricant seals.

Abstract: A portable electric fan including a plurality of posts connectable to form an elongated pole having first and second ends; a pedestal attached to the first end of the pole and adapted to provide support thereof on a base surface; and a clamp attached to the second end of the pole and adapted for clamping engagement with an upper surface spaced from the base surface. Also included is an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the length of the pole and a blower retained by the pole.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for eliminating the danger of inadvertent failure of a weight-bearing retraction system, such as a dryer hood retraction system. A load lifted using a fluid cylinder can be easily locked in place against gravity by using a double rod ended cylinder, where the rod end not exerting the force is permitted to move through a clearance hole while the load is being lifted, and is then blocked to prevent the return motion until the load is to be released.

Abstract: A dryer has a hopper for material to be dried and an inlet line for supplying dry air to the hopper. A heating device for heating the dry air to the desired drying temperature before introduction into the hopper is provided. A return line is connected to the hopper for removing moist air from the hopper which results from the dry air passing through the material in the hopper and absorbing moisture therefrom. The return line has a part that functions as a heat exchanger. The dry air before entering the hopper is guided through the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A method for contact drying a paper web, wherein the paper web is dried by heated smooth-faced drying cylinders by passing the web through successively arranged so-called normal groups with single-wire draw in which drying cylinders are situated in a first row and reversing suction cylinders or equivalent suction rolls are situated in a second row. Thereafter, the web is dried by passing it through a hybrid dryer group which hybrid dryer group consists of a normal portion with single-wire draw and a portion with twin-wire draw, one of the wires in the twin-wire portion constituting the wire of the portion with single-wire draw whereas the other wire in the twin-wire portion is a separate wire. The invention also relates to a dryer section of a paper machine wherein the initial part includes successively arranged so-called normal groups with single-wire draw after which one hybrid dryer group is provided, in which there is a portion with single-wire draw and a portion with twin-wire draw.

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: An automated air filtration and drying method for uncured waterborne paint and industrial coatings are disclosed that provides for the drying of a product using recycled filtered air. In particular, a drying system is used along with a series of multistage dry-type filters to continuously exhaust contaminated air from a spray booth, filter it, remove moisture therefrom, and deliver it back to the spray booth.

Abstract: Inlet bell for centrifugal fans having an impeller (15, 24) with a cover plate (14, 23), the inlet bell opening into the cover plate with an intervening gap (I) for recirculation air, wherein the inlet bell (11, 20) is provided with a conical inlet part (12, 21), tapering towards the impeller (15, 24), and a mouthpiece (13, 22) connected to the inlet part, and in that a circular flow guide (16, 23) is arranged at the intersection between the inlet part and the mouthpiece of the inlet bell.

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: The linkage system for the variable vane stators includes a pumphandle driven by the linear actuator and a cooperating pumphandle slider bracket where the slider bracket includes a machined hard coated stop for limiting travel of the pumphandle when the vanes are at the full opened position. The pumphandle through the drive link circumferentially positions a synchronizing ring that is connected through a plurality of drive links to each of the vanes circumferentially spaced in the stator for changing the angle of each of the vanes as scheduled by a control and actuator for optimizing the performance of the compressor and gas turbine engine. The steps for assembling the linkage system and actuator for synchronizing the positions of the stops on the actuator and slider bracket relative to a given position of the stator vanes defines a method for providing a rigless variable vane system.

Abstract: A heating and cooling device (10) generates a thermal difference using air and includes an impeller assembly (40) having a plurality of radial compartments (45), a channel (76) for air inlet, and an air outlet (56). Air drawn in through inlet channel (76) is compressed within compartment (45) by centrifugal force producing a pressure, temperature and density variation in the compartment (45) and a decrease in the entropy of the air. As the air is ejected through air outlet (56), work produced by the expansion is transferred to drive shaft (80) as torque, and entropy does not change more than the magnitude of the decrease in entropy during compression.

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: The apparatus and method of the invention provide a heat source adapted to direct heated air for shrinking a heat-shrinkable film wrapped around a package primarily to end seams of the package to avoid discoloration and distortion of printed central portions of film. The package is received by the apparatus with the end seams oriented transverse to the direction of travel. An arcuate conveyor section rotates the package 90.degree. and onto a shrink tunnel conveyor. A pair of upwardly directed long nozzles which are oriented parallel to the travel direction of the shrink tunnel conveyor blow hot air at the end seams only, leaving the top and bottom central film portions to shrink slowly by contact with warm ambient air in the tunnel.

Abstract: A portable electric fan including a housing defining an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening; a fan blade rotatably mounted within the housing and operable to produce air flow between the inlet opening and the outlet opening; an electric motor operatively coupled to the fan blade; a support attached to the housing; and a base retaining the support and defining a substantially planar support surface for engaging a substantially horizontal foundation surface, the base and surface adapted to stabily support the electric fan on the foundation surface. Also included with the fan is a clamp manually activatable into clamping engagement with a mounting so as to support the electric fan therefrom.

Abstract: A remote handle operating mechanism for a cut-out cock located on the back side of a pipe bracket on which the service and emergency portions of a railroad brake control valve device are mounted at the front side thereof. A push-pull rod extends from the cut-out cock actuating lever via an opening in a detent bracket to the front of the pipe bracket to facilitate operation of the cut-out cock. A locking rod affixed to the push-pull rod co-acts with the detent bracket to latch the push-pull rod in either one of two positions corresponding to the open and closed positions of the cut-out cock to prevent inadvertent operation of the cut-out cock.

Abstract: Rotary fluid handling apparatus employing a wheel to provide multi-stage compression or expansion. A wheel having a first set of vanes includes a shroud about those vanes with a second set of vanes outwardly of the shroud. One set of vanes provides for low specific speed flow while the other set of vanes provides for high specific speed flow. A transfer passage interconnects the outlet of the first stage with the inlet of the second stage. The difference in temperature between the inlet flow to the system and the outlet flow from the system may be exchanged to increase efficiency. The multistage wheel and associated passages may be configured for either compression or turboexpansion.

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 ceiling fan safety tether to be used with a conventional ceiling fan. The ceiling fan safety tether retains a fan blade in close proximity to the fan motor thereby preventing the fan blade from becoming a flying projectile should a break in a fan blade bracket ever occur. The ceiling fan safety tether comprises a body portion having a first and second securement coupled thereto. The first securement is secured to the fan motor housing and the second securement is secured to the fan blade. The ceiling fan safety tether is designed to be interposed between the fan blade bracket and the fan motor housing at a first end and interposed at a second end between the fan blade and the fan blade bracket. Additionally, the ceiling fan safety tether serves to provide a dampening effect that prevents noise and vibrations created in the fan motor housing from being transmitted to the fan blade.

Abstract: A solid impeller is disclosed having a disk-shaped impeller body having an inlet section extending along the impeller axis of rotation. A plurality of discharge passages extend radially and having inlet and discharge ports. The inlet port has an opening verge face which is oblique to the rotational axis. The solid impeller may also comprise a disk-shaped impeller body having an inlet section extending along the axis of rotation of the impeller and plural discharge passages extending radially. It further has inlet and discharge ports which have a tapered shape so that the section area of the discharge passage is gradually reduced in the outward direction. The thickness of the body is also gradually reduced in the outward direction. The solid impeller may also comprise a cylindrically-shaped center body and plural arms on a peripheral surface of the body. These extend radially in an outward direction from the body and include a discharge passage which extends along a longitudinal direction of the arm.