Abstract: A load balancing system for a system of rotating elements such as a helicopter rotor or an airplane propeller. The load balancing system includes two or more balancing tubes rotationally attached to blades or props on the system of rotating elements. The balancing tubes are slightly curved and enclose a hollow space containing a quantity of weighted fluid such as mercury. During operation of the system of rotating elements, the weighted fluid disperses throughout the hollow space in the balancing tubes so as to counter any imbalance in the system of rotating elements. Centrifugal forces will cause different dispersal of the weighted fluid throughout the hollow space depending on the overall pulling or pushing forces resulting from any imbalance.

Abstract: A turbofan engine includes a fan that delivers air into a bypass duct and into a core engine. A fan drive gear system includes a gear carrier and at least one ring gear. The at least one ring gear is coupled to an engine case of the turbofan engine with a compliant flexure. A fan shaft couples the gear carrier in the fan drive gear system to the fan. A first bearing is forward of the fan drive gear system and supports the fan drive gear system. A second bearing is aft of the fan drive gear system and supports the fan drive gear system.

Abstract: An airfoil includes an airfoil wall that defines a leading end, a trailing end, and suction and pressure sides that join the leading end and the trailing end. The airfoil wall is formed of a silicon-containing ceramic. A first environmental barrier topcoat is disposed on the suction side of the airfoil wall, and a second, different environmental barrier topcoat is disposed on the pressure side of the airfoil wall. The first topcoat is vaporization-resistant and the second topcoat is resistant to calcium-magnesium-aluminosilicate.

Abstract: A multi-rotor Aerial Vehicle with least rotors/propellers and having single arm failure redundancy is disclosed. The AV comprises at least five arms with at least one arm having a co-axial pair of contra rotating rotors/propellers. To maintain yaw stability under normal conditions, half of rotors/propellers are rotated in one direction and other half in opposite direction. In the event of failure of any one of the rotors/propellers located adjacent to the pair of contra rotating rotors/propellers, the one propeller/rotor out of the contra rotating rotor/propeller that is rotating opposite to the failed rotor/propeller is shut off. In the event of failure of a rotor/propeller belonging to contra rotating rotors/propellers, other rotor/propeller of the pair is shut off. In the event of failure of any one of rotors/propellers not adjacent to contra rotating rotors/propellers, the RPMs of other rotors/propellers is adjusted to maintain stability and navigate the Aerial Vehicle.

Abstract: Embodiments of the inventive technology include a centrifugal fan having a damper repositionable between a closed position and a fully seated open position, and a magnetic coupler that serves to fully seat that damper it its open configuration, so as to prevent undesired effects such as slippage and/or rocking of that damper relative to rotatable componentry against which it is pressed, during operation of the fan. The coupler may be configured so that the damper may decouple from rotatable componentry, e.g., upon a certain reverse pressure differential, and translate to a closed position.

Abstract: A foldable blade assembly may include a first blade, a motor configured to rotate the first blade, a second blade of which a rotation center coincides with a rotation center of the first blade, and an actuator configured to move the second blade upward or downward to selectively couple the second blade to the first blade so that the second blade and the first blade are rotated together or configured to release the coupling between the second blade and the first blade.

Abstract: A method for ascertaining a wind direction at a wind power installation having a rotor on which at least one rotor blade is arranged. The method includes measuring first wind speeds in a predefined first measuring direction and second wind speeds in a predefined second measuring direction different from the first measuring direction in each case with a measuring frequency at a measuring point for a measuring period, wherein the measuring period is defined by a rotational distance of the rotor or by a prespecified time, wherein the rotor blade or one of the rotor blades passes the measuring point in the measuring period, and determining a wind direction by vectorial evaluation of the first wind speeds and of the second wind speeds.

Abstract: An epicyclic gear train of an aircraft powerplant is provided. The epicyclic gear train includes a sun gear having a rotation axis, a ring gear, a plurality of intermediate gears circumscribed by the ring gear and being meshed with the sun gear and with the ring gear, a carrier supporting the intermediate gears, and a torque frame attaching the carrier to a stationary structure of the aircraft powerplant to prevent rotation of the carrier and of the intermediate gears about the rotation axis of the sun gear. The torque frame is attached to the carrier at a connection. The torque frame and the carrier cooperatively define a lubricant passage extending through the connection and supplying lubricant to at least one of the intermediate gears.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a wind turbine in response to a blade liberation event. Accordingly, estimated response signatures for the wind turbine are determined. Sensor data indicative of at least two actual response signatures of components of the wind turbine to a rotor loading are collected. The actual response signatures are compared to the estimated response signatures. The two or more actual response signatures meeting or exceeding the estimated response signatures is indicative of a blade liberation event. In response to detecting the blade liberation event, a rapid shutdown control logic is initiated to decelerate the rotor at a rate which exceeds a nominal deceleration rate of the rotor.

Abstract: A rotor system for aerial vehicles where two or more rotor systems are used in a coaxial or tandem arrangement on the aerial vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fan motor. The present disclosure provides a fan motor including a motor housing receiving a motor therein, a motor bracket disposed on the motor housing, an impeller coupled to a shaft of the motor, and a diffuser disposed between the motor and the impeller and having a vane body, an axial flow vane provided to an inner circumference of the vane body, and a diagonal flow vane provided above the axial flow vane.

Abstract: A fan system includes a motor, a rotatable hub, and a plurality of fan blades. The motor is coupled with the hub by a hollow drive shaft, such that the drive system of the fan system is gearless. The motor is controlled by a PFC-based control module, which is in communication with sensors that are configured to sense parameters associated with operation of the fan system. The control module is configured to react in certain ways to certain conditions detected by the sensors, such that the fan system uses feedback-based control algorithms. A remote control panel is in communication with the control module. The remote control panel is operable to display fault conditions detected by the sensors. Blade retainers prevent fan blades from falling when a fan blade breaks free from the hub. Pins prevent the hub from falling when the hub breaks free from the rotor.

Abstract: A turbine assembly for use with a gas turbine engine includes a bladed wheel assembly and a vane assembly. The bladed wheel assembly is adapted to interact with gases flowing through a gas path of the gas turbine engine. The vane assembly is located upstream of the bladed wheel assembly and adapted to direct the gases at the bladed wheel assembly.

Abstract: A curved contour of the lateral surface of a blade arrangement includes in at least one meridian section on mutually opposite sides of a blade airfoil an intersection point that is closer to the blade airfoil front edge, and an intersection point that is closer to the blade airfoil rear edge, and a best-fit line of least square distances from the curved contour. The curved contour includes first and/or the second contour section which meet specified conditions.

Abstract: A fan module including a body and a plurality of blades is provided. The body has a rotating axis and the body is telescopic along the rotating axis to have an elongated state and a shortened state. The blades are respectively disposed on the body and rotate along with the body along the rotating axis. At least a portion of each blade is flexible and a bending state of each blade is changed along with the elongated state or the shortened state of the body. An axial size of each blade along the rotating axis when the body is in the elongated state is greater than the axial size of each blade along the rotating axis when the body is in the shortened state.

Abstract: A wind turbine apparatus has a tower and a plurality of blades rotatably mounted relative to the tower. Each of the plurality of blades has a reflective media on a surface thereof. The reflective media has at least a pair of primary colors. Each primary color is different from each other. The reflective media on one of the plurality of blades is arranged in an order different than in order of the reflective media of an adjacent blade. The reflective media can further include a mixed color of white. The reflective media comprises bands extending across a surface of the blade.

Abstract: A rotor system includes a rotor duct; at least one rotor blade that includes an outboard end; a tip extension mechanism affixed at the outboard end of the at least one rotor blade, the tip extension mechanism including at least one shim, the at least one rotor blade with the tip extension mechanism affixed thereto including an extended rotor blade; and a blade tip affixed to an outboard end of the extended rotor blade, wherein the blade tip is affixed to the extended rotor blade via at least one removable fastener.

Abstract: A system for retaining stators and reducing air leakage in a gas turbine engine having an axis includes a stator having an inner platform, an outer platform, a low pressure side, a high pressure side, and at least one foot, and designed to turn air. The system also includes a case positioned radially outward from the stator and having at least one recess designed to interface with the at least one foot to resist movement of the stator relative to the case. The system also includes a bladder positioned between the outer platform of the stator and the case and designed to receive pressurized fluid having a greater pressure than ambient pressures experienced at the low pressure side of the stator and to further resist movement of the stator relative to the case in response to receiving the pressurized fluid.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of a compressor includes an inlet defining an intake passage, a plurality of lateral inlet guide vanes in the intake passage, and a plurality of medial inlet guide vanes in the intake passage. The lateral guide vanes are selectively oriented to alter an amount of fluid flow through a first, lateral portion of the intake passage. The medial inlet guide vanes are selectively oriented to alter an amount of fluid flow through a second, medial portion of the intake passage.

Abstract: A device for damping vibrations in a structure including a first (or inner) element rotatably mounted around a rotational axis and a second (or outer) element rotatably mounted around said rotational axis. A radius (R1) of a circle portion delimitating the first element with respect to the rotational axis, being smaller than a radius (r2) of a circle portion delimitating the second element with respect to the rotational axis.