Abstract: A lightweight gas turbine rotor having a pair of high specific strength support ring members positioned fore and aft a center hub member. The unitary center hub member for carrying a plurality of airfoils that extend radially outward therefrom. The pair of high specific strength support ring members are connected to the blade carrying member at a location to compressively transmit the centrifugal force generated by the rotating rotor to a radially inward location on the support ring members. The support ring members being utilized to resist a majority of the centrifugal force generated by the components of the rotor. The center hub member and the pair of support ring members are made of different materials. More particularly the pair of support ring members are made of a metal matrix composite, and the center hub member when utilized in a compressor is formed of a high temperature titanium alloy, and the center hub member when utilized in a turbine is formed of a nickel alloy.

Abstract: An integrated system for controlling the positioning of a rotating rotor within a compressor to enhance the performance of a gas turbine engine. The rotor being attached to a rotating shaft that is coupled to the compressor housing by a magnetic bearing system. The magnetic bearings support and position the rotor within the high speed tubomachine. During operation of the compressor the magnetic bearings non-axially position the rotor relative to the compressor housing to provide compressor instability control. By non-axially displacing the rotor relative to the compressor housing there is a resulting local disturbance to the fluid flow field, which in turn serves as the disturbance to alter the dynamics of the aerodynamic system and displace the compressor surge line.

Abstract: In a vertical-axis waterpower machine, the shaft is mounted in a bearing-supporting star. It has a track ring for a supporting bearing. Supporting-bearing segments are supported via adjusting elements on a supporting ring firmly connected to the bearing-supporting star. To simplify the construction and improve the accessibility of the adjusting elements, the latter are designed as rocking levers. The rocking levers act as single-armed or double-armed levers and are elastic in the lever longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A shroud for a rotor assembly disposed within a case is provided. The shroud includes suspension apparatus, a control ring, and a blade outer air seal. The suspension apparatus is disposed between the control ring and the case. The control ring includes a body and a first attachment mechanism. The blade outer air seal includes a second attachment mechanism. The first and second attachment mechanisms cooperate to secure the blade outer air seal to the control ring.

Abstract: A guide apparatus for use with centrifugal pumps which transport fluids that contain foreign bodies. The guide apparatus includes a plurality of guide blades. Each of the guide blades has a predetermined width. Each guide blade has a rounded guide-blade protrusion which has a rounding radius. A ratio of the rounding radius to the width of the guide blade ranges from 0.15 to 0.5. Each of the guide blades, in an inlet area of the guide apparatus, has an approach angle. The approach angle corresponds to an angle between a direction of a tangent to a curve of the path of a fluid particle in the transported liquid and a tangent to a circle about a rotational axis of the pump. Each of the guide blades outlet edge is disposed steeper than the guide blade inlet edge by such an amount that the flow of fluid substantially always approaches the guide blade in a manner so as to represent a partial load.

Abstract: A rotor-stator assembly includes a rotor and a stator, each of which has a plurality of teeth wherein the height of the teeth is less than approximately one twentieth the diameter of the rotor-stator. According to a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the height of the teeth on the rotor-stator is approximately 1/48th the diameter of the rotor-stator. A twelve inch diameter rotor-stator having teeth 1/4" high can be rotated at 3600 rpm with 40 HP when mixing materials with water-like viscosity. The arrangement of the teeth on the rotor-stator is preferably concentric with radial grooves, but angled grooves may also be used. The teeth my have a triangular or square profile and the dimensions of the teeth, other than their height, may vary considerably.

Abstract: A double-wall airfoil for applications such as the blades and vanes of gas turbine engines. The double-wall comprises an outer airfoil skin and an inner support wall that are metallurgically bonded to one another. The double-wall contains integral channels for passage of cooling air adjacent to the airfoil skin. Airfoil skin may be a metal alloy skin or a microlaminate structure, including microlaminate composite structures. Microlaminate composites typically have a lower density than that of the material used for the airfoil support wall, and a simplified internal geometry which promote weight reductions in the airfoils and increases in engine operating efficiency.

Abstract: Disclosed is a unit, for removing rainwater from umbrellas, that can easily, effectively, and quickly remove rainwater from umbrellas. This unit comprises an umbrella insertion portion into which an umbrella that is wet with rain is inserted, a rainwater collecting portion where rainwater is held and from which it is discharged, and, with some configurations, a fan compartment from which warm air is driven into the umbrella insertion portion. With another configuration, the unit comprises a cylindrical external frame that has a handle and multiple brushes that are provided on the internal wall of the external frame. With these arrangements, the unit according to the present invention can easily, effectively, and quickly remove rainwater from wet umbrellas.

Abstract: A work reducing composite engine system that uses ambient air for a primary energy source. The device consists of a unitary turbine/compressor assembly utilizing a turbine for producing work output and a downstream compressor for receiving fluid exhaust of the turbine and for compressing the turbine exhaust. An internal heat exchanger is provided between the turbine and the compressor so that fluid in the compressor is cooled, thereby reducing compression work requirements and the turbine exhaust is heated by the compressor, thereby decreasing input heat requirements.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump system for moving hot media includes a pump section, a motor section and mounting elements holding the pump and motor sections together. A force is formed by the mounting elements that is transmitted between the pump section and the motor section. A heat barrier is positioned between the pump section and the motor section. The heat barrier includes an insulating ceramic element. The force transmitted between the pump section and the motor section is transferred through the ceramic element.

Abstract: A spiral housing with a spiral cross-section for a turbomachine, in which a disk diffuser with an upstream annular disk space is asymmetrical to the spiral cross-section. This spiral cross-section has a base circle of substantially constant diameter. The spiral cross-section also has a tongue region and a region adjacent to the tongue with circular spiral cross-sections extending to where an outside diameter of the spiral cross-section equals a specific diameter and the circular spiral cross-sections continue thereafter to increase in cross-section only axially.

Abstract: Described is a collector/reservoir made of flexible and chemically-resistant material. The collector/reservoir has an open top, and side walls which are quickly inflatable with air or some other gas or fluid. When the side walls are inflated, the collector/reservoir quickly obtains more shape and rigidity, and it may be easily placed under the source of the spill to collect the spilling material. At, in or near its bottom, the collector/reservoir is provided with one or more conduits from its interior volume to its outside surface, each provided with a quick-connect fitting. This way, the spill material from the collector/reservoir may be drained to another storage or transport reservoir connected to the collector/reservoir by the quick-connect fitting.

Abstract: A method of constructing a turbine nozzle with a plurality of nozzle segments minimizes structurally induced excitation forces. The method includes inputting structural characteristics of each of the plurality of nozzle segments, theoretically selecting a random sequencing of the plurality of nozzle segments, calculating a relative harmonic content of per revolution excitation forces of the sequence in accordance with the structural characteristics, theoretically exchanging nozzle segments in pairs to change the sequence of the plurality of nozzle segments, testing the new sequences repeatedly until all possible sequences have been tested, and selecting a sequence that best prevents structurally induced excitation forces. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the harmonic distortion caused by structural features of a particular unit design is considered as well as the swirl effect that occurs as the gas translates through the turbine.

Abstract: A turbomachinery is presented to provide stable operation at fluid flow rates much lower than the design flow rate without introducing surge in the device. This is achieved by providing a diffuser with variable angle vanes. The vane angle at low flow rates is adjusted so as to minimize the diffuser loss of the exiting fluid stream from the impeller. Since the flow angle of the exit flow of the impeller is a function only of the non-dimensional flow rates, and does not depend on the flow angle at the inlet the impeller, therefore, the vane angles can be regulated to achieve a stable operation of the impeller without producing surge of the turbomachinery at flow rates lower than the design flow rate. To optimize the performance of the turbomachinery, in addition to the variable angle vanes, an inlet guide vane having variable vane angle is provided so that the turbomachinery can be operated at the required flow rate and head pressure.

Abstract: A stationary vane assembly for a turbo-machine in which the vane is restrained against motion in the circumferential direction by first and second locking pins. The second locking pin extends radially through a turbine cylinder and engages a notch in a downstream support rail formed on the vane outer shroud. The first locking pin is affixed to the front radial flange of the cylinder and has a projection that extends into a notch in an upstream support rail formed on the outer shroud. An over-sized slot in the first locking pin allows the circumferential location at which the first locking pin is fixed to the cylinder to be adjusted, thereby ensuring that the first locking pin can be pre-loaded against the outer shroud notch at assembly in a manner that will allow it to restrain the motion of the vane.

Abstract: Electronic component cooling apparatus capable of permitting a fan to be removed from a heat sink without rotating both relatively to each other. A base section of a casing is provided at a corner thereof with a leg having an engaging section formed at a distal end thereof. The base section is also provided at another corner thereof with a terminal holder in which connection terminals are received. The terminal holder includes a terminal holding section, which is integrally provided on both sides thereof with a pair of engagement elements. The engagement elements each are provided at a distal end thereof with a hook and have an upper end formed into a length sufficient to permit it to be held by fingers. A heat sink is provided at a corner thereof with an engaged section engaged with the engaging section of the leg. The heat sink is also provided at another corner thereof with projections engaged with the hooks of the engagement elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pump for pumping fibrous pulp suspension and separating gas from the suspension, comprising a pump casing with a pump casing chamber (4) with an axial inlet (17) and a radial outlet (6) for the suspension and also a gas outlet (19); in the pump chamber part a pump wheel (3) with a hub (27), on the hub front pump vanes (30) in a front pump chamber part (4A) facing the inlet, rear pump vanes (32) in a rear pump chamber part (4B) and an annular partition (28) between the front and rear pump chamber parts, which partition is joined to the hub; and a drive shaft (10) for the pump wheel which extends through one end wall (7) of the pump casing, and also bearing members (13, 14, 15) for the drive shaft.

Abstract: Turbines having rotor blades (3, 5) fixed in dovetail grooves (14) in the rotor periphery have bridge pieces (17) which provide in effect a false floor to the inter-stage recess (8, 11) to close off the machining recess from the fluid path. This invention provides a method of fixing this bridge piece which is simple, positive and avoids loading the rotor disc rims with additional centrifugal force. The dovetail groove (14) for the blade root is continued into a raised portion or the rotor recess periphery. This raised portion is grooved circumferentially (21) and the stem (19) of the `T` section bridge piece fits snugly in the groove. A dovetail section key (23) is inserted through the blade root dovetail groove (14) and into the raised portion of the rotor, passing through a hole in the stem (19) of the bridge piece. The latter is thus positively located and locked in position.

Abstract: A device for the control of a hydraulic slide valve. The hydraulic valve being put into motion by a motor and by a draw-back spring, the device including structure for controlling the rotational direction of the motor as a function of its positional error, the control structure being, in turn, controlled by a signal given by a correction circuit, the transfer function (K(s)) of which corrects a jet effect that is exerted on the slide valve. The device has application to hydraulic systems requiring large passbands.

Abstract: In an arrangement of solenoid valves, a central plug and a printed circuit board on a control housing of a shift device of a toothed-wheel variable-speed gearbox, the printed circuit board which secures the central plug via a receptacle is clamped in directly on the control housing with the involvement of retainers for the solenoid valves.