Abstract: A pick up tip assembly that includes a plurality of overlapping petals defining a petal enclosure having a distal end opening A displaceable member is engagable with the plurality of petals and the size of the distal end opening is adjustable by displacement of the displaceable member.

Abstract: A produce package comprises a bag and a quantity of fresh, unfrozen produce. The bag comprises a handle for carrying the bag, a base opposite the handle for supporting the bag on a surface when the bag is full, and at least one sidewall distinct from the base and extending between the base and the handle. The base and the at least one sidewall cooperate to form an interior volume of the bag and the produce is disposed within the interior volume of the bag. At least a portion of the bag is transparent for viewing the produce. Such produce packages may form part of a produce display comprising a plurality of the produce packages arranged in a single layer on a display surface with each produce package in an upright position in which the handle of the bag is at an upper end of the produce package.

Abstract: A slitvalve that uses magnetic energy to move a door in a direction normal to the plane of the wall is disclosed. An electrically switchable magnet is used to draw the door toward the wall to seal an aperture in the wall. Compressed Dry Air or other mechanisms may be employed to move the door between a first open position and a second closed position. A method of passing a workpiece between two different environments utilizing this magnetic slitvalve is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cart having a support surface with a selectively adjustable contour for providing essentially uniform support to a load (e.g., a stack of print media sheets) during receiving and storing modes and for facilitating transfer of the load to another support surface during a transferring mode. The cart can comprise a support surface with alternating fixed and movable sections. In the receiving and storage modes, the movable sections can be top aligned with the fixed sections so that the support surface has an essentially planar contour for providing essentially uniform support. In the transferring mode, the movable sections can be dropped lower so that the support surface has a corrugated contour for facilitating transfer of the load (e.g., using an interdigitation technique). Also disclosed is a printing system sheet stacker incorporating such a cart for receiving, storing and transferring of a sheet stack as well as associated methods.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine is disclosed having a particle separator and an ejector disposed downstream of the particle separator and structured to entrain a dirty flow from the separator. A container of working fluid can be placed in flow communication with the ejector to provide an ejector flow to entrain the dirty flow from the particle separator. Alternatively and/or additionally, the ejector can be configured to use a flow of working fluid from the gas turbine engine as an ejector flow.

Abstract: An axial oil scoop for a gas turbine engine includes an outer surface with a concave profile, the outer surface includes a multiple of radial holes.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a target member, a sensor and a mounting assembly. The target member is coupled to a shaft that is disposed within an engine housing and that rotates about an axis. The target member includes a target surface that is substantially normal to the axis of rotation of the shaft. The sensor is configured to produce a signal associated with a distance between a sensor tip and the target surface. The mounting assembly is coupled to the sensor and the engine housing, and is configured to adjust the distance between the sensor and the target surface.

Abstract: A vacuum pump, in particular to a turbomolecular pump, has a pump inlet, a pump outlet and a pump space for a gas to be pumped arranged between the pump inlet and the pump outlet, and at least one cooling gas inlet for a cooling gas for cooling the vacuum pump, the pump further having one or more hollow regions for the cooling gas connected in a gas conducting manner to the cooling gas inlet and arranged outside the pump space, wherein the or each hollow region is bounded by at least one component of the vacuum pump to be cooled.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes an annular plenum defined with an outer skin and a perforated inner skin for receiving selective air flow to impinge a support case which supports shrouds of the rotor assemblies of the engine therein for active tip clearance control of the rotor assemblies. In one embodiment a bobbin-type transfer tube for supplying cooling air into the plenum, is provided between an outer case of the engine an the plenum such that the thermally induced relative movement of the outer case and the plenum is permitted.

Abstract: A run-of-the-river or ocean current turbine may comprise a hatch and a slanted block having protector ribs for directing water flow to a waterwheel. The hatch may be controlled by a plurality of Transgear™ gear assemblies for varying the amount of water flow to the waterwheel from extreme drought to flood conditions so that the waterwheel may turn at rated speeds and within a predetermined range. The Transgear gear assemblies may comprise an accumulator for accumulating a rough and a fine tuned waterwheel speed. The Transgear assemblies may comprise embodiments of power take-off switches for, for example, bi-directional or clockwise and counterclockwise waterwheel shaft rotation. The turbine may be aligned for top-feed, side-feed or bottom feed of water and may comprise a tail wing or first and second turbines facing in opposite directions to capture high and low tidal flow.

Abstract: Gas turbine engine systems involving tip fans are provided. In this regard, a representative gas turbine engine system includes: a multi-stage fan having a first rotatable set of blades and a second counter-rotatable set of blades, the second rotatable set of blades defining an inner fan and a tip fan and being located downstream of the first set of rotatable blades; and an epicyclic differential gear assembly operative to receive a torque input and differentially apply the torque input to the first set of blades and the second set of blades.

Abstract: An assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a seal and a flow diverter. The flow diverter is disposed adjacent the seal to direct a secondary gas flow that passes across the seal away from a rotor cavity such that the secondary gas flow travels back toward a main gas flow path of the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a seal ring mounting method for a turbocharger and a turbocharger with the seal ring, whereby the seal ring is less likely to be affected by other parts. An annular protrusion (12j) for restricting a position of a seal ring (16) in the radial direction is provided at a tip portion (12h) of an inner peripheral wall (12b) of a turbine housing (12), and the seal ring (16) is mounted between a side surface (36c) of a nozzle plate (36) and a first step portion (12k) of the tip portion (12h) of the inner peripheral wall (12b) so that the outer periphery of the seal ring (16) is restrained by the annular projection (12j).

Abstract: The invention relates to a compressor circuit for a pneumatic control device of a motor vehicle, including: a compressor, and a pressure regulator, the pressure regulator being arranged between an input side of the compressor and the pneumatic control device, wherein the pressure regulator is designed to measure an upstream pressure of air from the pneumatic control device present on its side facing the pneumatic control device and to supply this air at an input pressure to the input side of the compressor, the pressure regulator being designed to control the input pressure on the basis of said measurement.

Abstract: The present invention describes an aircraft gas turbine with a first rotatable shaft and a second shaft arranged coaxially thereto and which at least in an area close to the shaft end is non-rotatably connected to the first shaft. Recesses are provided in shaft areas at a distance from the connecting area between the shafts, said recesses overlapping one another at least in some areas when a defined twist of the first shaft relative to the second shaft is exceeded. The shafts are assigned at least one lever element designed rotatable and engaging in the recesses of the shafts in the radial direction in the area of an end of the shafts and swivelling about a pivot point. A second lever arm of the lever elements is, when the first lever arm is engaged in the recesses, operatively connectable to an electric sensor device, in the area of which a sensor signal equivalent to the defined twist of the first shaft can be generated.

Abstract: In at least some implementations, a fluid pump includes a drive shaft including at least one drive surface and a pumping element. The pumping element includes an opening in which a portion of the drive shaft is received so that the pumping element is driven for rotation by the drive shaft, and the opening is larger than the drive shaft to provide a clearance between the pumping element and at least part of the drive shaft. The pumping element also includes at least one engagement surface arranged to be engaged by the drive surface of the drive shaft when the drive shaft is rotated where one or both of the drive surface and the engagement surface are angled to provide a surface area of engagement between the drive surface and engagement surface that is at least 1% of the surface area of the drive surface.

Abstract: A controllable coolant pump for a coolant circuit of an internal combustion engine. The coolant pump has a hollow bearing shaft which is supported in a bearing sleeve, carries a drive wheel at one end, and is permanently connected to an impeller at its opposite end, the impeller having a stop surface at the end face thereof. The space between the stop surface and the impeller forms the pumping cross section for a coolant. A piston that can be axially displaced by an actuation unit is disposed in the hollow bearing shaft and provided at its outer end with a guide plate having a collar facing the impeller for completely or partially closing the pumping cross section in accordance with the position of the piston. The coolant pump has a second actuation unit, and the piston can be displaced by the first or second actuation unit.

Abstract: A turbine exhaust section comprises a turbine exhaust case having radially outer and inner ducts defining therebetween an annular exhaust portion for the hot exhaust gases, and an exhaust mixer projecting axially rearwardly from the turbine exhaust case for mixing the hot exhaust gases with a cooler bypass duct flow. The upstream end of the exhaust mixer surrounds a downstream end of the outer duct and defines therewith an axially extending overlap joint with a radial play between the outer duct and the exhaust mixer. A sliding attachment in the radial direction is provided between the outer duct and the exhaust mixer for accommodating differences in thermal growth during engine operation. The sliding attachment includes a circumferential array of sliding guides extending radially through the axially extending overlap joint. A resilient sealing ring seals the radial play between the outer duct and the exhaust mixer at the overlap joint.

Abstract: A controllable coolant pump for a coolant circuit of an internal combustion engine, the coolant pump including a hollow bearing shaft which is supported in a bearing sleeve, carries a drive wheel at one end, and is permanently connected at its opposite end to an impeller, the impeller having a stop surface at the end face thereof; the space between the stop surface and the impeller forming the pumping cross section for a coolant, and a piston that can be axially displaced by an actuation unit being disposed in the hollow bearing shaft and provided at its outer end with a guide plate having a collar facing the impeller for completely or partially closing the pumping cross section in accordance with the position of the piston. The actuation unit has a release lever which can be pivoted by an electromechanical actuating element about an axis of rotation, thus allowing axial positioning of the piston.

Abstract: A cooling jacket capable of improving production efficiency. The cooling jacket includes a tubular main body having a first end face and a second end face, and a groove unit defining a flow channel of a cooling medium successively disposed axially on an outer periphery of the main body. The cooling jacket includes no portion located radially outward from a bottom of the groove unit between a first end portion of the groove unit located on the axial rear side of the main body and the first end face of the main body.

Abstract: A turbocharger turbine wheel includes a hub and a plurality of blades. Both the center of mass of the hub and the center of mass of the plurality of blades are on an axis of rotation. The blades are circumferentially spaced such that they are rotationally asymmetric. Each consecutive pair of blades is characterized by a spacing angle. A line that intersects with and is normal to the axis of rotation defines a plane of symmetry, and the spacing angles are symmetric across the plane of symmetry.

Abstract: Systems and devices adapted to retain dovetail components (e.g., buckets) in a turbine drum rotor and reduce rotor component displacement are disclosed. In one embodiment, a turbine bucket includes: a bucket base portion shaped to complement a bucket shank slot in a rotor of a turbine, the bucket base portion including: a forward portion shaped to extend upstream of a first stage circumferential slot of the rotor in to a first rotor post of the rotor; a circumferential protrusion formed in an aft end of the bucket base portion and shaped to connect to the rotor, and a set of axial protrusions formed on tangential sides of the bucket base portion and shaped to connect to the rotor; and a bucket platform extending radially outboard from the bucket base portion, the bucket platform configured to complement a vane.

Abstract: Fan assemblies, and in particular fan wheels and stator assemblies for fan assemblies, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the fan wheel includes a wheel back having an outer surface forming one of a curved dome-shape and a truncated cone-shape. The fan wheel may also include a plurality of fan blades radially spaced about and mounted to the outer surface of the wheel back. In one embodiment, each of the fan blades is formed from a segment of an airfoil-shaped aluminum extrusion defining at least one internal cavity. The fan blade first ends can be provided with a compound cut profile with at least one curved cut such that the first end of the blade is mounted flush to the wheel back outer surface. The stator assembly can also be provided with a plurality of stator blades formed from airfoil-shaped aluminum extrusion segments and provided with compound cut profiles.

Abstract: An inner shell assembly for a steam turbine includes an inner shell with a plurality of grooves of preset dimensions, and a plurality of nozzle carriers respectively securable in the plurality of grooves. Each of the nozzle carriers supports at least one nozzle and bucket for a turbine stage via a dovetail, where the inner shell, the plurality of nozzle carriers and the nozzles and buckets define a steam path. A radial position of the dovetails in the nozzle carriers within its corresponding grooves is selectable according to the steam path, and an axial width of each of the nozzle carriers is selectable according to the steam path.

Abstract: Disclosed are a diffuser and a pump including a feed column extending around a diffusor axis of the pump and having a rotor housing which is arranged between an intake and a diffusor arranged in a diffusor section. During operation, fluid is sucked by the pump rotor via the intake, and is discharged from the feed column via the diffusor section, the feed tube and the outlet stub. The diffusor includes an inlet section arranged between an outlet section and the pump rotor, wherein a first part section adjacent to the inlet section is formed at the outlet section, the first part section is inclined with respect to the diffusor axis at a first angle (?). A second part section adjoining the first part section is inclined with respect to the diffusor axis at a second angle (?) different from the first outlet angle (?).

Abstract: A fuel injector comprises a swirler and the swirler comprises a plurality of vanes, a first member and a second member. The second member is arranged coaxially around the first member and the vanes extend radially between the first and second members. The vanes have leading edges and the second member has an upstream end. The leading edges of the vanes extend with radial and axial components from the first member to the upstream end of the second member and the radially outer ends of the leading edges of the vanes form arches with the upstream end of the second member. The arrangement of the swirler enables the fuel injector to be built by direct laser deposition.

Abstract: To provide a stator member that facilitates thermal radiation from a surface thereof and thermal conduction to an adjacent member, and a vacuum pump that contains the stator member. For the purpose of enhancing heat dissipation of a rotor portion, surface treatment removal processing is performed on a predetermined section of a thread groove spacer in order to efficiently release heat of the thread groove spacer toward a base and a stator blade spacer. More specifically, the surface treatment removal processing removes the surface treatment of the base and a section where the stator blade spacer comes into contact with the thread groove spacer. This surface treatment removal processing is executed simultaneously with finishing processing.

Abstract: A fluid powered turbine, such as a wind turbine (10), has a hollow column (12) in which a rotating turbine is housed. A fluid directing structure (14) is supported at or near an end of the column (12) remote from the turbine. The fluid directing structure (14) has a plurality of individual inlet openings (26) spaced around its periphery and is arranged to direct air at each inlet opening into an inner pipe (18). The incoming air is constricted both within the structure (14) and as it exits the column (12) whereby its speed is sufficient to rotate the turbine (20). The structure at the top of the column (12) generally requires no maintenance and maintenance of the turbine (20) is considerably easier than with traditional wind generators as access is easy. As the turbine is enclosed, it is safer than the traditional wind generators and less noisy.

Abstract: A wear liner for a stator vane includes a shaped member, comprising a U-shaped portion that receives a foot of a stator vane. A first end of the wear liner is biased into contact with the stator vane. A spring seal extends from the U-shaped portion and into bias contact with an inner surface of the support structure to further prevent leakage between the stator foot and case support structure.

Abstract: A fan securing device includes first and second holders. The first holder includes a first holding frame that has two holding slots located in opposite sides of the first holding frame, and two first locking units respectively formed adjacent to the holding slots. The second holder includes a second holding frame that has two connecting arms located on opposite sides of the second holding frame and extending respectively into the holding slots. Each connecting arm has a plurality of second locking units. Each first locking unit engages a selected one of the second locking units of a respective one of the connecting arms so as to clamp at least one cooling fan between the first and second surfaces.

Abstract: The invention refers to a rotary flow machine having a rotor unit, rotating about a rotational axis, around which in at least one partial axial area a stationary inner housing (IH) is provided at a radial distance. The stationary inner housing (IH) can be divided up along the rotational axis in an upper and a lower inner housing half which adjoin each other along a horizontal split plane. The inner housing (IH) is surrounded in at least one axial section by an outer housing (OH) which can be divided up along the rotational axis in one upper and one lower outer housing half. Further a method for disassembling of a rotary flow machine is disclosed. The lower inner housing half provides support means which support the inner lower housing half on the lower outer housing half. The support means are detachably mounted at the lower inner housing half at least at two opposite support positions (P1, P2) relative to the rotational axis along the split plane.

Abstract: A shaft sealing device is provided in an annular space between a rotor and a stator surrounding an outer periphery of the rotor, and divides the annular space in the direction of an axis of the rotor into a high-pressure region and a low-pressure region. The shaft sealing device includes a seal body obtained by stacking a plurality of thin plate sealing pieces in a circumferential direction of the rotor; and a high-pressure side plate that extends from the stator toward the radial inner side so as to run along the high-pressure side of the seal body, and is segmented into a plurality of portions in the circumferential direction, and includes a rigidity imparting member configured to impart rigidity in the direction of the axis to a portion of the surface of the high-pressure side plate that faces the high-pressure region.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for controlling a wind turbine based on an identified surface condition of a rotor blade may include monitoring an operating parameter of the wind turbine to obtain parameter data related to the operating parameter as an operating input of the wind turbine changes, analyzing the parameter data to identify a roughness state of the rotor blade and performing a corrective action in response to the identified roughness state.

Abstract: The invention is based on the problem of creating an additional device to act as a “secondary emergency device” in the case that one or more standard emergency devices fail to adjust the blade angle of one or multiple rotor blades into a position of power limitation. The method of braking a wind turbine in an emergency by adjusting the rotor blades for wind turbines with power control via the principle of pitch control or active stall control and of holding the position of a rotor blade for each rotor blade with at least one actuator and at least one holding brake is a redundant measure for an emergency. This enables one or more holding brakes to open depending on the rotor-blade direction that is required and to close or to be kept closed when an adjustment of a rotor-blade direction is not desired.

Abstract: A method of retrofitting vortex generators on a wind turbine blade is disclosed, the wind turbine blade being mounted on a wind turbine hub and extending in a longitudinal direction and having a tip end and a root end, the wind turbine blade further comprising a profiled contour including a pressure side and a suction side, as well as a leading edge and a trailing edge with a chord having a chord length extending there between, the profiled contour, when being impacted by an incident airflow, generating a lift. The method comprises identifying a separation line on the suction side of the wind turbine blade, and mounting one or more vortex panels including a first vortex panel comprising at least one vortex generator on the suction side of the wind turbine blade between the separation line and the leading edge of the wind turbine blade.

Abstract: There is provided a combined ceiling fan and light fitting (10) having blades (1-4) that when the ceiling fan is not in use retract and are stowed above an enclosure (12) containing a light emitting device and that when the fan is in use are extended under centrifugal force. The blades are formed in such a way as to both stow compactly above the enclosure and provide reasonable aerodynamic performance. Each blade partially overlies a neighbouring blade when in its stowed position and the blades are so formed as to permit such stacking while limiting the overall height of the assemblage of stowed blades.

Abstract: Systems and methods for increasing operational efficiency of wind turbines, especially offshore wind turbines. The invention discloses systems and methods for reducing the torque needed to rotate a rotor shaft axis with respect to the wind direction. Systems and methods for controlling the rotational speed of the rotor shaft axis are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed of a turbomachinery component having an outer part that is captured between a cap and a base of the component. In one form, the outer part is placed in compression between the cap and the base. The outer part can be formed prior to being placed between the cap and the base. In some forms, the outer part can be formed partially or completely while engaged with the component. A fugitive spacer can be placed between the outer part and an extension of the component. In various embodiments, the extension can reach into an opening of the outer part and the cap can be coupled with the extension.

Abstract: A retaining assembly for a tail rotor system is provided including a washer having a plurality of splines. The washer is configured to couple to an adjacent pitch change shaft. A retaining nut includes a self-locking feature and a flange arranged at a first end. The retaining nut is configured to threadably couple to the pitch change shaft such that the flange is in contact with the washer. The flange includes a plurality of first holes configured to at least partially align between the splines of the washer. A lock plate includes a body and a plurality of tabs extending generally perpendicularly from the body. The lock plate is slidably positioned about the pitch change shaft adjacent the flange. The lock plate is operably coupled to the retaining nut and the washer to limit rotational movement thereof relative to the pitch change shaft.

Abstract: A partly cruciform flexbeam (1) of a bearingless main rotor system of a helicopter with a hub drive and an airfoil blade. The partly cruciform flexbeam (1) comprises a flexbeam head (2) with a flat bearing laminate at one end, a root end (3) opposed to said flexbeam head (2) and a flexbeam body (6) between said flexbeam head (2) and said root end (3), said flexbeam body (6) being torsion soft with a substantially cruciform cross section. The invention is as well related to a method of manufacturing such a partly cruciform flexbeam (1).

Abstract: A shear bearing for a rotor system has a four bar linkage and a grip configured to retain a flexural yoke and the grip is connected between a first set of opposing links of the four bar linkage. A rotor system has a flexural yoke and a shear bearing configured to perform at least one of transmitting forces to the yoke and receiving forces from the yoke, wherein the yoke is free of cavities for receiving the shear bearing. A rotational system has a flexural yoke and a damper disposed on a surface of the yoke.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic axial bearing for mounting a shaft which is mounted rotatably in a bearing housing, including an axial stop of the bearing housing and a bearing comb which rotates with the shaft. A lubricating gap, which is loaded with lubricating oil and is delimited by a profiled circular ring face and a sliding face, being formed between the axial stop and the bearing comb. The profiled circular ring face and the sliding face are configured in such a way that the lubricating gap is constricted radially to the outside with regard to the axial direction. As a result, temperature deformations which occur during operation and deformations on account of centrifugal, shearing and other forces in the bearing comb can be compensated for.

Abstract: A pump side part for use with a shrouded pump impeller, comprising a side wall section rear face including an outer region with an outer edge in a plane which is substantially at right angles to the rotation axis, an inner region with an inner edge and an intermediate region between the outer and inner regions which is inclined inwardly from the said plane in a direction towards the inlet section, the inner region extending from the intermediate region in a direction away from the front face of the side wall section, wherein the outer face of the impeller front shroud and the side part rear face are arranged to be facing one another with a gap therebetween, the rear face being configured so that the cross-sectional dimension of the gap increases in a direction toward the impeller rotation axis in the intermediate region.

Abstract: A wind turbine rotor comprises: • a number of blades (5) which are rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation; • a number of blade supports (12), each blade support supporting a respective blade (5) and each blade support having a pair of legs (14) which are spaced apart along said axis of rotation; • a pair of hub supports (62) which support said legs (14), with said hub supports (62) also being spaced apart along said axis of rotation; and • a pair of bearing systems (52), each bearing system being associated with one of said hub supports (62) and each bearing system rotatably supporting its associated hub support so as to allow its associated hub support to rotate about said axis of rotation; • wherein each hub support allows the communication of forces between said blades (5), and each hub support comprises at least a pair of radially extending walls (80).

Abstract: In some examples, an apparatus may include a gas turbine engine component comprising a blade, a platform forming an airflow surface from which the blade extends on one side, and a motion weld receiving surface disposed on a non-airflow side of the platform, and a disk having a motion weld disk portion to receive the motion weld receiving surface of the gas turbine engine component and form a motion weld coupling when the disk and gas turbine engine component are coupled, wherein, prior to coupling, the gas turbine engine component further includes a blade stalk disposed on the non-airflow side of the platform and in which is formed the motion weld receiving surface.

Abstract: A turbomachine blade having a metal coupling root, and a metal airfoil-shaped oblong member cantilevered from the coupling root; the airfoil-shaped oblong member being divided into: a lower connecting fin cantilevered from and formed in one piece with the coupling root; an upper connecting fin cantilevered from a coupling head towards the coupling root and formed in one piece with the coupling head; and a main plate-like body which is shaped and positioned between the two connecting fins to form an extension of the fins, and is butt-welded to the same connecting fins to form one piece with the fins.

Abstract: A turbomachine blade of the type having a metal lower coupling root, a metal upper coupling head, and a metal airfoil-shaped oblong member designed to connect the coupling root rigidly to the coupling head; the airfoil-shaped oblong member having a substantially airfoil-shaped main plate-like element connected to the coupling root and to the coupling head, and which is divided into: a lower connecting fin cantilevered from and formed in one piece with the coupling root; an upper connecting fin cantilevered from and formed in one piece with the coupling head; and a center plate-like body, which is located between the lower and upper connecting fins, is shaped/designed to form an extension of the lower and upper connecting fins, and is butt-welded to, to form one piece with, the lower and upper connecting fins.

Abstract: A system for specifying an installation position of adjacent rotor blades of a blade row of a turbomachine is disclosed. The system has a plurality of axial securing elements, which have at least two sections with different profile areas for the arrangement in each case between a groove base of a rotor shaft and a blade root, which are joined together by a connecting web at a groove distance from one another, and which have counter-contours on the blade root side for forming in each case a positive-fit pair with the profile areas. Also disclosed are a securing element and a rotor blade for this type of system, a turbomachine having a rotor which has this type of system, and a method for manufacturing this type of rotor.

Abstract: Fan assemblies, and in particular fan wheels and stator assemblies for fan assemblies, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the fan wheel includes a wheel back having an outer surface forming one of a curved dome-shape and a truncated cone-shape. The fan wheel may also include a plurality of fan blades radially spaced about and mounted to the outer surface of the wheel back. In one embodiment, each of the fan blades is formed from a segment of an airfoil-shaped aluminum extrusion defining at least one internal cavity. The fan blade first ends can be provided with a compound cut profile with at least one curved cut such that the first end of the blade is mounted flush to the wheel back outer surface. The stator assembly can also be provided with a plurality of stator blades formed from airfoil-shaped aluminum extrusion segments and provided with compound cut profiles.

Abstract: A fluid turbine blade and method of fabrication are provided. The fluid turbine blade includes a centrally disposed longitudinal spar having a substantially circumferential cross section. The fluid turbine blade also includes at least one chord stiffener coupled to the longitudinal spar. The fluid turbine blade further includes a torsionally compliant segmented skin coupled to the at least one chord stiffener. The centrally disposed longitudinal spar and the torsionally compliant segmented skin are functionally decoupled to relieve the torsionally compliant segmented skin of one or more of a flapwise load condition, an edgewise load condition and a torsional load condition.