Abstract: A turbine including a radial compressor having radial blades, with the compressor supplying side channel compressors arranged at its circumference and having chamber blades. To increase the efficiency, the chamber blades and the radial blades are curved in opposite directions, with the chamber blades and radial blades having a curvature transition point at their transition area, and the blades, in the transition area, are inclined by an identical angle of less than 30.degree. and, for example, 15.degree. relative to a circumferential tangent in the transition area.

Abstract: A compact flowing gas laser, particularly a CO.sub.2 gas laser, wherein the path or paths between the outlet or outlets and the inlet or inlets of one or more optical resonators contain a turbine whose impeller or impellers are driven by heated gas and which drives the impeller or impellers of a rotor forming part of a compressor serving to compress the thus cooled and expanded gaseous lasing medium prior to reentry into the resonator or resonators. A first heat exchanger is installed between the turbine and the compressor, and a second heat exchanger is provided downstream of the compressor.

Abstract: A vacuum vane pump wherein one or more stages are installed in an annular extension of the casing for the pump motor. Each stage has a rotor which is driven by the motor shaft by way of an elastic key, and an annular housing which surrounds and is eccentric relative to the rotor. The housing is pivotable about a pintle which is installed in the end walls of the casing and is parallel to the motor shaft. The width of an annular clearance between the external surface of the housing and the internal surface of the extension can be varied by a radially disposed screw which is mounted in the extension diametrically opposite a spring-loaded abutment for the housing. The components of each stage are biased to predetermined axial positions by springs which react against the extension and bias one end wall of the casing against the adjacent housing and rotor, either directly or by way of a partition.