Abstract: A rotor is distinguished by parts including a radially innermost part and a radially outermost part which is actually a separate element. The two parts are normally coupled for their conjoint rotation by pins anchored to project radially from the innermost part and freely into apertures in the radially outermost part. The pins provide a bearing mount thereon of the outermost part which is fabricated to radially expand and contract in correspondence with the speed of rotation of the rotor and to have a benign failure in the location of one of the apertures upon excessive speed of the rotor. By virtue of such failure the radially outermost part opens and expands to be braked by engagement with the particular surface most adjacent its outer periphery. This rotor is particularly advantageous for use in providing a turbine drive unit, in which event its power transmitting outer peripheral portion is formed by turbine buckets.

Abstract: A tip turbine type fan particularly adapted for use to effect a substantially instantaneous inflation of an emergency lifesaving device such as an escape slide or life raft. It features a housing having an improved unitized construction which defines an axial flow passage. A rotor within and transverse to said passage is operated under the influence of fluid under pressure directed from a chamber formed within and circumferentially of the wall structure of said housing. Drive of the rotor induces air from the environment surrounding the housing to enter the flow passage at one end to co-mingle with the fluid furnishing the motive power for the rotor and to move therewith from the passage to the interior of a connected article to be inflated.It is a feature of a preferred embodiment of the invention that the entrance to the flow passage is bridged by a platelike closure device which is normally biased to a position to seal the entrance to said flow passage.