Abstract: In a turbojet engine of the kind having a fan, the face of the radially outer tip of each rotor blade of the fan has a radiussed profile centered at a point R situated in a position displaced on the concavely curved side of the blade relative to its radial axis and beyond the rotational axis of the engine relative to the blade.

Abstract: A propellor (10) for watercraft has a hub (11) with a pair of blades (12) with a leading portion (13) central portion (14) and trailing portion (15). The leading portion (13) of the blades are forwardly inclined relative to the hub (11) and the blades progress through the generally radial central portion (14) to the rearwardly inclined trailing portion (15), the radial height of the blades decreasing from the central portion (14) to the trailing portion (15). Both the peripheral pitch of the blades (12), and the pitch of the line of junction (16) of the blades (12) to the hub (11) increase along the propellor (10), at least from the central portion (14) to the trailing portion (15).

Abstract: A rotor blade for a horizontal axis wind turbine wherein a multiplicity of sucker rods are utilized internally of the blade root for securing the blade to the rotating hub of the turbine including the method of attaching the blade root to the hub and the method of making the blade root.

Abstract: A gas-moving device comprises (a) a rotor which comprises a plurality of fibres, filaments, tapes, ribbons, strips or sheets which are mounted such that on rotation of the rotor they move in one or more planes which are substantially transverse to the axis of rotation of the rotor and draw gas into the device and cause it to flow away from the said axis towards the radial periphery of the rotor; (b) one or more gas inlet zones; (c) one or more gas outlet zones; and (d) means of rotating the rotor. The device may be provided with delivery means through which a fluid may be charged to the rotor, which fluid reacts with and removes impurities from the gas.

Abstract: A stator vane assembly 30 for a rotary machine is disclosed. The stator vane assembly includes an array of stator vanes 44 and an inner air seal 46. Various construction details which damp vibrational stresses in the vanes are developed. In one embodiment, the stator vanes slidably engage the inner air seal. The inner air seal is urged radially into sliding contact with the vanes at the inner ends 52 of the vanes by a resilient device such as a radial spring member 70. In one detailed embodiment, the stator vane has at least two airfoils 55b,c which are circumferentially spaced at their inner ends leaving a circumferential gap therebetween.

Abstract: This invention relates to vanes for gas turbines and methods for making them. Embodiments include vanes that have internal fluid travel paths and cavities to permit the passage of fluids therethrough. Such embodiments have an internal structure member supporting an outer shell which has been formed so as to have outer surfaces in the configuration desired for a vane, and has been retentively positioned on said structural member. The outer surfaces of the support member are so configured that together with the inner surfaces of the cover, they form desired internal travel paths and cavities. Embodiments include such structures and methods for making same wherein the internal support structure is made in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,168.

Abstract: The invention comprises a turbine nozzle and nozzle support assembly in which a turbine nozzle support seating flange is positioned adjacent to a turbine nozzle mounting flange and pins are used to affix the turbine nozzle to the nozzle support. Retainer strips are installed into the nozzle support to trap the pins in engagement with the mounting and seating flanges. In the preferred embodiment of the invention seal means is provided for restricting the airflow through the completed turbine nozzle and nozzle support assembly.

Abstract: In steam turbines operated with nozzle group control (3) in part load operation, a swirl cascade (4) is fitted downstream of the control wheel (2) in the flow direction. The partial flows emerging from the control wheel (2) are provided with a distinct swirl in the swirl cascade (4) and released into the transfer duct (9). The full admission reaction blading (7, 8) of the turbine is located at the end of this transfer duct, the flow being directly admitted to a first rotor blade row (7).

Abstract: A centrifugal liquid pump including a housing section having an intake cavity and defining a rotational axis of the pump. An impeller section is in communication with and extends coaxially of the intake cavity of the housing section. An impeller is mounted in the impeller section rotatable about the pump axis. A ramp is formed in the intake cavity of the housing section about the pump axis. The ramp includes an axial slope component such that liquid rotating in the intake cavity will be given an axial component of motion toward the impeller section and a radial slope component such that liquid rotating in the intake cavity will be given a radially inward component of motion toward the pump axis.

Abstract: A turbine rotor having a ceramic turbine wheel having an improved resistance to cracking and breaking. The turbine wheel is made of a ceramic material having pores formed therein with a maximum diameter of 20 .mu.m distributed in the blade portion of the wheel at a porosity of 2 to 10 vol. %. Preferably, the volume porosity of the pores is gradually decreased from the blade surface to the interior of the blade portions.

Abstract: A vertical turbine pump comprises an assembly including a rotatable pump shaft, an impeller, and an impeller bowl. The assembly is removably mounted in a fluid flow diverter that directs fluid at a right angle to the axis of rotation of the pump shaft then to a path parallel to the axis of rotation of the pump shaft.

Abstract: A diffuser centrifugal compressor of a comprising a plurality of stator blades provided outside an impeller thereof, and which converts kinetic energy of fluid from the impeller into pressure energy by operation of the stator blade. The diffuser is provided with sub-blades near the inner ends of the stator blades, and intermediate blades near outer ends of and between the stator blades.

Abstract: A multistage rotary pump, which comprises a substantially closed pump body having a jacket surrounding the pump body in spaced relationship for the purpose of forming an annular return volume, a base element comprising suction and pressure connecting pieces and a top element comprising the driving motor. The jacket is provided in both its terminal portions with a peripheral contact shoulder which is acted upon in each case by an annular clamping arrangement, the clamping arrangement in question being connected on the other hand to the base element and top element, respectively. A coupling device of this nature is preferentially applied in the case of in-line rotary pumps.

Abstract: An improved vaned diffuser includes primary and secondary curved vanes. The secondary vanes are located radially outward of the leading edges of the primaries. A plurality of secondary vanes is associated with each pair of first row vanes. The camber or curvature of the two rows is opposed. The camber of the second row vanes varies in accordance to the individual vane's proximity to a pressure surface of a primary vane. Flutes may be provided in the hub and shroud walls of the diffuser.

Abstract: A fluid pump has a casing and a support tube mounted within the casing. A rotatably mounted drive shaft is inserted through the support tube and has a propeller mounted on one end thereof for moving fluid through the pump. A helical shaped bearing is seated between the drive shaft and the support tube for supporting the shaft and permitting fluid flow therethrough.

Abstract: A pitot pump assembly including a rotating drum 12 having a central bore 14 and a cavity 20 between its two axial ends and at least one radially extending opening 22. A stationary shaft 24 is inserted within the bore 14 and includes a plurality of fluid passages 26. The shaft 24 has one or more bearing surfaces 28 and sealing surfaces 30 between the shaft 24 and the rotating drum 12. A unitary pitot sub-assembly 32 is inserted through the radial opening 22 of the rotating drum 12 and has one or more radially extending pitot tubes 36 in which to receive fluid from within the cavity 20 of the rotating drum 12. A sleeve 48 is disposed on the rotating drum 12 for sealing the opening(s) 22 and an outer housing 52 is secured to the stationary shaft 24 and encases the rotating drum 12.

Abstract: A variable angle vane stator arrangement of relatively simple design is pided enabling widely variable angular stator vane positioning with little aerodynamic loss. This is accomplished by positioning the leading nose portion of each variable second row vane axially ahead of, and adjacent, the trailing edge of an associated fixed vane of a first row of vanes to produce a slot between the adjacent vanes through which air can flow. The axis of rotation of each variable vane is located off of the variable vane itself in a manner to maintain good slot geometry over a wide range of vane stagger angles. The variation of the rear vane stagger angle creates a variation in the direction of the exit air vector, which in turn enhances the performance of the following rotor blade row.

Abstract: A submersible centrifugal pump is disclosed. It includes a housing with a linear stack of axially mounted pumping units therein. Each unit constructed as a module with at least a first and a second impeller mounted to a central shaft. A diffuser forms an outer casing which is provided for each impeller. A thrust bearing, lubricated and cooled by the fluid being pumped is supported from and to the outer casing and is arranged to receive axial force from the upstream impellers in each modular unit. A plurality of impellers and diffusers can form a single modular unit.

Abstract: An axial-flow fan having a stepped housing defined by an inlet part and an outlet part, the outlet part having the inside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the inlet part, the inlet part adjoined to an inlet tube of an inside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the outlet part of the housing. The outlet part of the housing accommodates a rotor having blades arranged such that their forward tips are located in the inlet part of the housing and a ferrule being secured at a certain distance from the inlet tube coaxially with the housing to form with the housing an annular chamber having on the side of the rotor an inlet passage and on the side of the inlet tube an outlet passage. Rigidly affixed in this chamber are guide vanes pointing by their heels to the inlet tube. The heels of the guide vanes extend to the inlet tube and are radially curved at a portion between the inlet tube and the ferrule to form an annular radial grill.

Abstract: A Rankine cycle power plant includes a plurality of vapor turbine modules, each having a shaft rotatably mounted in a housing, and a pair of axially spaced discs coupled together and mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith. Axial flow turbine blades are mounted on the periphery of each disc such that the blades on one disc are spaced from the blades on the other disc thus defining an annular space in the housing within which a circular nozzle ring is located, the ring having a plurality of nozzles that open toward the blades on each disc for directing vapor in opposite axial directions into the blades on each disc.