Abstract: A turbine for a turbo-machine is proposed in which, at a gas inlet for a turbine wheel, vanes extend from a nozzle ring though slots in a shroud. The nozzle ring and shroud are relatively rotatable about a rotational axis of the turbine by at least 0.1 degrees. In use, the nozzle ring and shroud are relatively rotated to bring one side of the vane into close contact with one surface of the slot, to inhibit leakage of gas between the vane and the slot surface. For this purpose the respective surfaces of the nozzle and slot can be configured to closely conform to each other. If there is differential thermal expansion of the shroud and nozzle ring, the nozzle ring and shroud can relatively rotate, to withdraw the vane from the edge of the slot to relieve the pressure between them.

Abstract: A turbine for a turbo-machine is proposed in which, at a gas inlet for a turbine wheel, vanes extend from a nozzle ring though slots in a shroud. The vanes are formed with a leading portion which is arranged to contact a leading portion of a corresponding slot, and a trailing portion which is shaped, when the leading portion of the vane and slot are together, to be spaced from a corresponding trailing portion of the slot with a substantially constant spacing at room temperature. The contact may be a point contact, e.g. close to the leading edge of the vane. Alternatively, the vane may include a leading surface portion which conforms closely with the shape of a corresponding leading surface portion of one of the slots.

Abstract: A turbine for a turbo-machine is proposed in which, at a gas inlet for a turbine wheel, vanes extend from a nozzle ring though slots in a shroud. The nozzle ring and shroud are relatively rotatable about a rotational axis of the turbine by at least 0.1 degrees. In use, the nozzle ring and shroud are relatively rotated to bring one side of the vane into close contact with one surface of the slot, to inhibit leakage of gas between the vane and the slot surface. For this purpose the respective surfaces of the nozzle and slot can be configured to closely conform to each other. If there is differential thermal expansion of the shroud and nozzle ring, the nozzle ring and shroud can relatively rotate, to withdraw the vane from the edge of the slot to relieve the pressure between them.

Abstract: A turbine for a turbo-machine is proposed in which, at a gas inlet for a turbine wheel, vanes extend from a nozzle ring though slots in a shroud. The vanes are formed with a leading portion which is arranged to contact a leading portion of a corresponding slot, and a trailing portion which is shaped, when the leading portion of the vane and slot are together, to be spaced from a corresponding trailing portion of the slot with a substantially constant spacing at room temperature. The contact may be a point contact, e.g. close to the leading edge of the vane. Alternatively, the vane may include a leading surface portion which conforms closely with the shape of a corresponding leading surface portion of one of the slots.

Abstract: A tool for stripping the outer layer of insulation on a multi-wire cable such as romex, comprises a jaw and a claw, each being mounted to the rotating members of a plier-like apparatus. The claw has a sharp cutting edge, and the jaw holds the cable in position while it is being pierced by the sharp cutting edge of the claw. The plier-like apparatus closes the claw and jaw together, thus causing the claw to pierce the cable's outer insulation layer as it is held in the jaw. A user then pulls the cable through the jaw, causing the outer insulation layer to be slit as it moves past the claw. The jaw that holds the cable is in an offset position relative to the plier-like apparatus, such that the cable lies off to the side of the plier-like apparatus while a user pulls the cable through the jaw.

Abstract: An apparatus for sanding and collecting sanded particles. The particle collecting sander includes a base member having a negative pressure chamber contained within. The base is secured to a cover member which is provided with a multiplicity of grooves extending across the outer surface of the cover member. A plurality of ports are provided in the grooves to create a fluid connection between the grooves and the negative pressure chamber. A pourous abrasive material overlays the cover member. In operation a series of negative pressure zones are created across the surface of the pourous abrasive material.