Abstract: Method and apparatus for joining a first structural element, having a passageway formed therein which opens to the exterior thereof, to a second element. A plurality of members are assembled into a joining device which is then nested inside of the passageway. The members are then moved with respect to each other to enlarge the size of the joining device so that the members engage the wall of the passageway in supporting contact therewith. The members of the enlarged joining device are then secured together into a unitary support block, with the members in supporting contact with the passageway wall. The unitary support block is connected to the second element. Unique member components, member securing means, member moving means, and the like form a new and useful apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a load-bearing frame for a chair, in particular for an office chair, which can be adjusted in terms of its height and inclination and comprises a seat carrier (1), a backrest carrier (2), a load-bearing and pivoting device (80) and a standing column (5). By means of struts (46, 32) arranged on the knee side and backrest side and supported on a spindle body, the seat carrier and backrest carrier (1, 2) are mounted on a spindle body such that they can pivot about a horizontal axis (X), oriented transversely to the seat direction, against the restoring force at least of a first spring element (40, 40'), and, in any position, can be fixed, and released again, by a second spring element.

Abstract: A positive displacement pump and thrust bearing assembly having a housing defining an internal fluid chamber having front and rear inner walls. A rotor having a front face and a rear face is positioned in the fluid chamber. Each of the faces of the rotor is spaced apart from a corresponding inner wall of the fluid chamber to define predetermined clearances therebetween. A shaft is connected at a first end to the rotor to effect rotation thereof. A sealed container surrounds and encloses a second end of the shaft and is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber. The thrust bearing assembly is positioned within the container and includes an adjusting sleeve and an adjusting plate. The adjusting sleeve is attachable to the housing and includes a central bore through which the shaft extends. The adjusting plate is connectable to the shaft such that the sleeve is located between the housing and the adjusting plate.

Abstract: A sudden expansion combustion chamber comprising a combustion chamber, an inlet port, a backward-facing step layer provided in the combustion chamber having a predetermined thickness so as define the inlet port, and an after-mixing chamber. The sudden expansion combustion chamber is characterized in that it contains at least a slot provided in the backward-facing step layer so as to increase the recirculating flow rate and turbulence of the incoming air, and thus reduce ignition delay.

Abstract: A high-efficiency turbine includes low-tensile-strength rotor blades capable of high-temperature operation (such as ceramic) which are mounted on fluid bearings between a continuous rim and a hub, the rim being connected via high-tensile-strength spokes through each blade to the hub. The fluid provides internal support to the blade structure and provides a bearing medium and force with which to maintain blade position under compression. One or more fluids may be employed as coolants in passages within the blade to establish an adequate temperature gradient between blade surface and the associated spoke to minimize spoke failure due to overheating.

Abstract: A control valve for a variable rotary vane compressor is modular. The control operates an actuator to vary the position of a rotary valve plate located between the intake chamber and the compression chamber. The control valve locates in a cavity which has a suction pressure portion, a control pressure portion, and a discharge pressure portion. The control valve has an end cap and a valve seat member connected together by a sleeve. A valve element engages a seat in the valve seat member. The spring and a bias pin urge the valve element to the closed position. A bellows located within the sleeve has a stem that contacts the valve element to move it off of the seat. The sleeve allows the distance between the valve seat member and the end cap to be varied to preset the bellows prior to installation in the compressor.

Abstract: A motor cover for ceiling fan comprises a predetermined number of flange fixed holes which are arranged concentrically and spaced equidistantly for mounting thereto four or five fan blades so that all portions of the motor cover are similar in weight and centrifugal force to one another, and that the motor cover is stable and quiet when in operation.

Abstract: A system and method for resisting thermoacoustic oscillations in systems comprised of hot and cold components is disclosed. More particularly, a combined cycle power generation system 32 having a gas turbine 40, a gas turbine discharge duct 34, and a gas turbine recuperator 36 and 38 is disclosed. The system 32 is designed to resist severe thermoacoustic oscillations over its entire load range by providing for an asymmetrical arrangement of the hot section L-l, including the gas discharge duct 34 and the plenum 36 of the recuperator, and the cold section L-l, including the heat exchange tubes 38 of the recuperator. Also disclosed is a steam generation system 42 having a plenum 46, a burner 48, and a furnace 44. The steam generation system 42 is also designed to resist severe thermoacoustic oscillations by providing for an appropriate burner length L and by providing for an asymmetrical arrangement of a hot burner section L-l and a cold burner section l within the burner 48.

Abstract: A manual pump includes first, second and third tubular members, and a restraining ring member. The first tubular member has a piston which is mounted movably in the first tubular member. The second tubular member has an upper open end which is fixed sealingly to a lower open end of the first tubular member. The second tubular member further has a first side wall that has first inflow and outflow check valves, and a lower closed end that has second inflow and outflow check valves and a first opening. The third tubular member has a top open end, a bottom constricted end, and a partition. A second opening is formed in a second side wall of the third tubular member. A third opening is formed in the partition. The second side wall has an external thread that is formed near the top open end of the third tubular member. The second tubular member is inserted rotatably into the third tubular member.

Abstract: A pulsatile pump the output of which is infinitely variable between a slow pulsatile flow and increased up to a sharply pulsed flow rate until the pulses run together and a smooth flow results, and which may be varied between wide output pressure and frequency limits. The pump is comprised of a pneumatic control circuit, at least two pneumatically isolated compression chambers, and a novel inlet/outlet pump cartridge and condition-responsive locking means. Operation of the pump is controlled by the use of novel tactile pneumatic response switches. Each compression chamber is communicated with a supply of working fluid through the cartridge. Means are provided for varying the operation of the pneumatic circuit and hence the pump. A flow of pressurized fluid, such as air or nitrogen, is used as the operating media of the pneumatic circuit, although other fluids may be used. Means for monitoring and adjusting pump system parameters are also provided.

Abstract: A turbine frame includes outer and inner coaxially disposed annular casings having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart struts extending therebetween is provided with at least one and preferably two axially spaced apart polygonal stiffening rails, a forward rail and an aft rail, circumferentially disposed on the outer annular casing. The rails have at least a first section with a constant cross-sectional area normal to the casing in a circumferential direction around the outer casing, a linear centroid distribution of the cross-sections in the circumferential direction, and the centroids lie in a first plane P1 which is parallel to and spaced apart from a second plane P2 that is tangential to the outer casing mid-way between adjacent struts.

Abstract: A reciprocating pump particularly useful in ventilator apparatus includes a piston reciprocatable axially within a cylinder and dividing its interior into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, a wall fixed within the inlet chamber, and a drive housing fixed to the wall. The drive housing includes a motor, a rotor rotatable by the motor, a nut rotatable within the drive housing, and a screw threadedly coupled at one end to the nut and fixed at its opposite end to the piston. The piston is substantially unrestrained for axial and rotary movement such that forward and reverse rotation of the nut by the motor reciprocates the screw and the piston axially of the cylinder, and also permits the screw and the piston to rotate with respect to the cylinder to thereby even out wear between the piston and cylinder.

Abstract: A fluid intensifier (10) includes an unequal-area pump piston (11) and a drive piston (14). The large-area pump piston chamber (21) communicates with the small-area pump piston chamber (29) via a communicating conduit (30) having a check valve (25) therein. The pump piston is coupled to a drive piston (14) having a lost-motion connection (18) with a two-lobed pilot valve spool (41). The pilot valve (16) controls a pilot pressure in the spool end chamber (60) of a spring-biased control valve (19). The fluid intensifier is automatically reversing as the pump piston approaches either end of its stroke, and is arranged to provide a substantially-constant intensified fluid pressure (P.sub.i) at an outlet.

Abstract: A multistage vacuum pump is achieved by utilizing a single piston and cylinder assembly having opposite end portions with substantially equal diameters and an enlarged diameter central portion. One end of the cylinder is closed by a valve and a first stage pumping chamber is defined between the valve and the piston. The enlarged diameter portion of the piston has an axial extent less than the axial extent of the enlarged diameter portion of the cylinder to define second and third stage pumping chambers on opposite sides of the enlarged diameter portion of the piston. The three pumping chambers are interconnected by passage means to an inlet and outlet to provide a sequential reduction in pressure. A single drive unit may be connected to a plurality of pumping units for reciprocating the piston in each pumping unit.

Abstract: A submersible motor-driven pump which has a jacket for the motor casing through which a coolant flows, the jacket receiving a pipe with a bent inlet for discharging the coolant and which lies against the motor casing and extends the full height of the jacket from the partition between the motor casing and the pump below the motor to the top of the jacket.

Abstract: A full-circumferential flow pump has a circumferential fluid passage between a pump casing and a motor provided in the pump casing. The full-circumferential flow pump comprises a suction-side casing having a suction nozzle, and an outer cylinder connected to the suction-side casing and accommodating the canned motor therein. The suction-side casing and the outer cylinder have flanges, respectively extending radially outwardly from an open ends thereof. The adjacent flanges of the suction-side casing and the outer cylinder are clamped by clamping flanges to connect the suction-side casing and the outer cylinder.

Abstract: A hand-held vacuum pump with an attached vacuum limiter valve is disclosed. The pump includes a cylinder coupled with a handle, a piston in the cylinder coupled with another handle, along with a suitable valving assembly for allowing a vacuum to be drawn at an inlet of the pump. More particularly, there is also disclosed a vacuum limiter which can be attached to or form an integral part of the pump. The vacuum limiter includes a valve which is attached to the cylinder outlet port and which is adjustable for allowing the limit vacuum to be set.

Abstract: A compact redundant cooling module has four fans operated by two electric motors, one electric motor serving to operate two fans at one time to cool a heavy industrial engine as required for efficient operation; the other motor and pair of fans being rotated but not operated, in order to provide a backup system.

Abstract: A joint with tapered edges allows, by means of the taper, a gradual transmission of the loads from panel to joint to adjacent panel such that the panels contribute not only as a shear web between the tensile and compressive members but also contributes to the compressive, tensile and bending loads of the corner structure and such that the combined structure of joint and panels behave as a monocoque structure. This joint allows for a lighter weight preformed panel to be used.

Abstract: An engine driven propulsion fan. The preferred use of this fan is to power aircraft. Two turbochargers are provided both driven in series by exhaust gasses from a rotary engine. A portion of the compressed air produced by the second turbocharger provides thrust for the engine and a portion is used for engine air, further compressed by the first turbocharger.