Abstract: A hydraulic vehicle brake system of the type having a high system return pressure is provided. In order to minimize the size and strength of brake return springs required, the invention provides a device to be interposed between the brake and the brake control valve. Preferred embodiments of the device include an inlet port communicating with a brake valve and an outlet port communicating fluid pressure to a vehicle brake. A control assembly is provided intermediate the inlet and outlet ports and includes mechanisms for amplifying the hydraulic pressure effect in the direction from the outlet port to the return pressure system so that the brake return pressure exerted by the brake return springs can be substantially less than the hydraulic system return pressure.

Abstract: A regenerative rotary pump in an automotive fuel pump assembly. The rotary pump has a disc-shaped impeller in a circular cavity of a housing, vanes around the circumference of the impeller separated by pockets, a donut-shaped pumping chamber in the housing enveloping the vanes and the pockets on the impeller, a two-stage stripper between a discharge at a high pressure end of the pumping chamber and an inlet at a low pressure end of the pumping chamber, and a vent chamber between a high pressure stage and a low pressure stage of the two-stage stripper. The vent chamber is connected to the fuel tank removed from the inlet. High pressure gasoline carried by the pockets between the vanes flashes to vapor in the vent chamber to minimize the vapor jet stream effect at the inlet end of the pumping chamber.

Abstract: A rotor attachment assembly for securing a rotor, such as a compressor impeller, to a rotor shaft. The assembly comprises a locking nut, a rotor having a flush mounting surface for the flush mounting of the locking nut, and a nut-receiving rotor shaft. The shaft comprises a smooth body and a threaded end which is of less diameter than the shaft body. The nut includes an unthreaded bore portion and a threaded portion. When the rotor is in place on the shaft, part of the smooth body extends beyond the nut flush mounting surface of the rotor. The bore portion of the nut is deeper than the length of the part of the smooth body extending beyond the rotor. Accordingly, when the nut is tightened onto the shaft to press against the rotor, a gap is left between the body of the shaft and the threaded portion of the nut. Coaxiality of the shaft and the rotor is assured by this construction which provides against bending of the shaft.

Abstract: A fan assembly has variable pitch blades adjustable from outside the assembly while the fan is operating so as to alter the volume and direction of the induced airflow. The fan blades have an airfoil configuration such that air is moved by a fan in either direction with equal efficiency. The fan assembly includes a non-rotating secondary shaft axially moveable in a main shaft. The secondary shaft has a spider interconnected with the crank arms of the blade arms by a snugly fitted universal joint assembly. The airfoil configuration of the blades is neutral and the blades are straight. The fan assembly is lubricated by a pick-up non-rotatably mounted in a reservoir formed by the pulley hub and blade hub. The pick-up feeds lubrication directly to the bearing assemblies on which the spider and pulley hub are mounted.

Abstract: An extendable cylinder of elastically variable length and substantially invariable circular cross section is combined with another such extendable cylinder or a movable separating organ to form an operating unit. One of the extendable cylinders of the operating unit is arranged for two or three dimensional motion of a free one end as it extends. For example, symmetric, concentric elastic cylinders between common plates at opposite ends of the cylinders extend together two dimensionally.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing fluid pressure from mechanical energy. The apparatus is of the turbomachine type and includes blowers, compressors, pumps, turbines, fluid motors, and the like. This invention also relates to a method of generating pressurized fluid in which the flow of fluid is first deflected by a substantial amount while simultaneously maintaining the relative velocity following said deflection approximately equal to the relative velocity prior to said deflection fluid at least at one location between hub and tip followed by generating pressure by turning back the flow of fluid by an amount approximately equal to the amount of deflection of the fluid while simultaneously decelerating the flow of fluid and keeping the ratio of the axial through flow velocity through the fluid flow path to the outlet velocity following the generation of said deflection equal to approximately 0.66 or less.

Abstract: Centrifugal pump for the delivery of hot media, in particular of hot water with at least one shaft passage through the pump housing (1,2) to the outside, which passage is provided with a mechanical seal (5). The sealing space is separated from the pump housing by a spacer zone (8) with close shaft play. For the avoidance of sealing disturbances by accumulated gas, the sealing space contains first means (12, 20, 21) for the generation of a liquid circulation in the sealing space with intensive impingement of the sliding surface area of the mechanical seal, second means (12, 18,21) for the stabilization of the liquid circulation away from the mechanical seal and thirdly a large-volume, flow-stabilized, ventable receiving space for separated gas. The gas fractions are thereby reliably isolated from the mechanical seal, separated from the liquid circulation and accumulate in the upper region of the sealing space, so that they are extracted from the liquid circulation and can be drawn off.

Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade including NASA LS (1) - 04xx airfoil sections having a twist not greater than 8.degree. and a construction for such a blade which includes no parting line along the leading edge. The bond between a rectangular spar and the outer skin is reinforced by channels of "C" shaped cross section affixed to the skin and the spar. A method for manufacturing a rotor blade of this construction.

Abstract: A control system 30 for measuring the clearance "x" between the tip 26 of a blade 24 and wall 28 in a turbine engine8. A series of probes 32, 32' and 32.sup.N located in the wall 28 each have a reference orifice 52 and a sensing orifice 54. Fluid from a source flows through the reference orifices 52 into the turbine engine. This fluid flow is substantially unrestricted and as a result a fluid pressure P.sub.2 is established in a reference chamber 44. Fluid flow from the sensing orifice 54 is restricted by the relationship of the tip 26 of each blade 24 and as a result fluid pressure P.sub.2 ' is created in chamber 48. A multiplexer 62 sequentially provides transducer 92 and 94 with fluid pressure P.sub.2 from the reference chamber 44 and P.sub.2 ' from sensing chamber 48. The transducers 92 and 94 convert the pneumatic signals into electrical signals which are supplied to a computer 116.

Abstract: A time multiplexed hydraulic control system in which a multiple section dog valve is multiplexed among a plurality of channels. An electrical actuator on the dog valve controls pilot means. The pilot means is associated with a plurality of followers, one for each channel, and each follower controls the flow rate through an associated output port. Multiplexing means in the dog valve sequentially supplies fluid to the pilot means for sequentially positioning then locking the respective followers. Thus, each channel has continuous hydraulic flow based on the position of its dedicated follower, with the followers being repositioned on a multiplexed basis in associated time slots.

Abstract: A double dam seal in a reactor coolant pump includes an internal mechanism in the seal to pressurize its annulus. In one form, the mechanism is an inclined flow passage incorporated in the rotating runner of the seal having an outlet in communication with the seal annulus and an inlet in communication with reactor coolant water flow within the pump housing and being located on a smaller radius of rotation that the passage outlet. Rotation of the runner causes rotational movement of the passage and any water therein, turning the passage and rotating runner into a centrifugal pump, causing a pressure differential along the passage due to centrifugal effects, and feeding water via the passage outlet to the seal annulus at a pressure above that at the passage inlet. In another form, the mechanism is a tube projecting at an angle from the rotating runner, or a recessed scoop defined in the runner at an angle to, and communicating with a passage having an inlet and outlet at generally the same radius of rotation.

Abstract: A circular hole through which a main shaft of a fuel pump is inserted is defined at the central portion of an impeller, one or plural pin holes are so defined around the circular hole that the centroidal position is not deviated from the rotational central axis, a first engaging portion is formed at an end of the main shaft to be inserted into the impeller, and a coupler provided with a second engaging portion which engages with the first engaging portion and a pin or pins to be inserted into the pin holes is used to secure the impeller to the main shaft. These members are so arranged that the impeller and the coupler are located respectively in point or line symmetry with respect to the rotational central axis of the armature in the pump or the main shaft, i.e. the respective centers of gravity of the main shaft, impeller and coupler are positioned on the rotational central axis of the armature in the pump so that the armature keeps its balance.

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 sheet folder is convertible to a booklet maker by mounting a stapling and sheet guide unit at the inlet side of the folder. The stapling and sheet guide unit has a pair of laterally aligned staplers above a sheet guide which includes holders for engaging the stack of sheets along their opposite side edges and a retractable front stop engaging the leading edge of the stack of sheets to be stapled. A vibratory jogger on one of the holders aligns the edges of the sheets in the stack. After the stack of sheets is stapled, the front stop is retracted and a kicker plate strikes the stapled set of sheets from below, causing the stapled set of sheets to slide down into the folder. The folder has rollers which advance the leading edge of the stapled set of sheets against a stop and then continue to pull the stapled set of sheets, causing its stapled centerline to fold into a fold gap between rollers. The size of this fold gap is selectively adjustable.

Abstract: A gas turbine of the type having turbine vanes retained in a cylinder and utilizing torque pins to transmit the torque load on the vanes to the cylinder is provided with improved structure for enabling insertion and withdrawal of the pin from engagement with the outer vane shroud in the vicinity of the cylinder flanges.

Abstract: A reactor coolant pump has an outer casing with an internal cavity holding a coolant and a rotor rotatably mounted in the cavity within the coolant. An assembly for permitting inservice inspection of the pump rotor without first draining the coolant from the casing cavity is attached to an end of the pump. A cylindrical bore is defined through the casing in axial alignment with an end of pump rotor and opening into the internal cavity. An extension attached on the rotor end and rotatable therewith has a cylindrical coupler member extending into the bore. An outer end of the coupler member has an element configured to receive a tool for performance of inservice rotor inspection. A hollow cylindrical member is disposed in the bore and surrounds the coupler member.

Abstract: An improvement in the inner tip support of variable inlet guide vanes in an axial flow compressor. Each of the guide vanes is rotatably mounted on a spindle at its radially outer end so that it can pivot between an open and a closed position. The improvement comprises a bushing disposed in the casing radially inward of each of said guide vanes, and a button on the end of each of said guide vanes contained within and forming clearances with the bushing walls, the button being eccentrically offset with respect to the guide vane spindle by a preselected amount and in a preselected direction to cause the button to provide restraining force on the vane inner ends when the vanes are in an open position.

Abstract: A hydraulic system having multiple actuators is provided with positive pressure flow equalization for both advancing and retracting movements of the system by means of first and second flow divider elements for each actuator. The flow divider elements are cross-coupled between the actuators, a controllable source of pressurized fluid and a reservoir. The flow divider elements are positive-displacement gear or vane pump units that are connected by a common shaft for coordinating fluid flow to the various actuators. Two or more of the actuators can be connected for lifting a load such as an automobile, the system being provided with safety latches at each actuator, the flow dividers not only coordinating the actuator movements during normal raising and lowering operation, but also preventing loss of synchronization of the actuators in case of engagement of a subset only of the latches.

Abstract: The Pelton turbine includes a wheel disc with buckets mounted within a casing on a rotatable drive shaft. At least one nozzle is provided for expelling a fluid jet tangentially of the disc onto the buckets. A partition divides the interior of the housing into a spray fluid and outlet region and an upper ventilation region. The driving fluid falls from the buckets into a sump in the outlet region while residual fluid is wiped off the turbine wheel by the partition. The ventilation region allows ventilation of the casing and also produces a flow of gas for increasing the pressure in the sump to improve the outflow of fluid.

Abstract: A pressure fluid cylinder without a piston rod and of the kind having a slotted cylinder tube (1) and a piston displaceable therein, said piston being connected to a movement transfer device, which extends radially through the slot. The slot is sealed axially on each side of the piston by means of internal and external sealing strips (31,32) consisting of a flexible sealing band (37,38) as well as retention means (44,45) extending into the slot and securing a releasable mechanical engagement with each other or, by friction, with the side walls of the slot.