Abstract: A shroud for a gas turbine engine rotor stage is divided into a number of arcuate segments each of which is a trapezium. The segments are urged together by compression springs which attempts to make the assembly lengthen peripherally, by virtue of the chamfered ends 30 of the segments riding up each other. The completely circular shape of the shroud prevents that movement but as a result, a hoop load is generated which tends to move the segments radially outwards, thus achieving the same effect, along with a consequent increase in diameter. A cam ring and pins are used to control and reverse the movement, as desired. The shroud diameter can thus be altered to suit rotor expansion and contraction.

Abstract: A forage blower having an upwardly extending, tangential blower outlet transition member which is hinged along one of its sides so as to be moved to thereby expose the inside of the blower housing. The blower housing includes a two-portion rim sheet. A wear liner is secured in one portion of the rim sheet and is located generally in the lower part of the blower housing; this wear liner can be replaced by circumferentially shifting the rim sheet and the wear liner together to an area where the wear liner can be replaced when the blower outlet transition member is moved. The construction of the side walls, rim sheet portion and liner is such that a smooth and unobstructed inner surface of the liner and rim sheet is provided for the material being handled.

Abstract: In a hand held hot air hair dryer, wherein air is pulled in by a fan in a direction axially to the fan and then moved about the axis and through a heating mechanism to exit through a nozzle, air flow adjusting mechanism is provided to leak air flowing about the axis and thereby selectively adjusting the hot air flowing out the nozzle, without inducing any substantial changes of load to the motor driving the fan.

Abstract: A casing support structure for a gas turbine engine is provided with means for reducing the effect of distortions such as are produced by differential heating of the structure on shut-down. To this end the casing is mounted from supporting structure by links which are arranged to be individually heated by associated heaters. The degree of heating of the links is arranged to provide differential expansion which moves the casing so as to reduce the effect of eccentricities on the clearance between the casing and its associated rotor structure.

Abstract: A shroud assembly is pneumatically operated to adjust the clearance between the shroud segments and the tips of the rotor blades of an associated rotor. The assembly comprises a casing to which is secured a wall member which defines a chamber whose pressure may be varied by a valve. The wall member carries shroud segments some of which define the static wall with which the rotor blades co-operate. In order to allow proper movement of the shroud segments the support means which carry the segments from the wall are arranged to be small in axial extent compared with that of the wall.

Abstract: Centrifugal high-pressure machine comprising an impeller blade rotor positioned within a housing and a spiral chamber surrounding the housing and forming with the blade rotor a diffuser chamber. The machine is provided with an axially movable piston member which with an outer wall and an enclosure member constitutes a chamber of various volume. The chamber is arranged to be connected to the inlet of the machine and to the spiral chamber respectively. The piston member is positioned against a side wall of the blade rotor and has a lateral face congruent with that of the blade rotor. The axial movement of the piston member constitutes diffuser chambers of various geometry and volume.

Abstract: A turbine exhaust hood has a flow passage (2) which accommodates a guide member (6) and a deflector (8). The deflector (8) is made from a resilient material and has, when in initial position, a form of a ring with a radial slit, with the axis of said ring being substantially aligned with the turbine axis (7). The deflector (8) is mounted for free movement along the turbine axis (7), which movement is enabled by a mechanism (10) connected with the deflector (8) so that with turbine operating at reduced loads, the deflector (8) forms, together with the guide (6) and the wall of the casing (1), a volute-shaped channel (11). The outlet section (11a) of the channel (11) is disposed at the place of the slit (9) of the ring (8).

Abstract: A system for use in a gas-turbine engine, for controlling the clearance between the tips of the blades and a surrounding shroud, has a probe mounted in the shroud. A microwave oscillator supplies microwave energy to the probe which propagates energy towards the blades and receives energy reflected from the blades. A mixer is mounted remote from the probe and mixes the energy reflected from the blades with a reference signal derived either from energy transmitted by the oscillator or from the energy reflected by the tip of the probe. This produces interference dependent upon the phase difference between the energy reflected by the blades and the reference signal. From this phase difference, the system derives an indication of the separation of the blades from the probe and uses this to displace the shroud along its length, thereby altering the clearance between the tips of the blades and the shroud.

Abstract: A static shroud for a rotor comprises a shroud ring having a frustoconical inner surface adapted to co-operate with a peripheral portion of the rotor to define a small clearance therebetween. A plurality of actuators are provided to move the ring axially to vary the clearance in a predetermined manner. In order to compensate for eccentricity, the actuators are adapted to tilt the ring out of a radial plane when required.

Abstract: Circumferential gap seal for axial-flow machines including a metallic retaining flange mounted within the machine casing and which is connected to a metallic ring through flexible side walls, wherein the side walls, the metallic ring and the retaining flange are subdivided into a plurality of segments in the circumferential direction. The thereby formed radially directed gaps are sealed over the radial height of the side walls through flexible radial walls. The radial height is variable in dependence upon the measured size of the circumferential gap between the tip of the rotor blades of the machine and the metallic ring.

Abstract: A rotor tip clearance control apparatus for a gas turbine engine comprises an annular shroud member which forms part of the static structure of the apparatus. The shroud member has an internal frusto-conical surface which co-operates with the outer extremities of the rotor to define a small clearance. In order to control this clearance the shroud member is mounted from fixed structure by rotatable eccentrics which can move the member axially and thus affect the clearance in a predetermined manner.

Abstract: A centrifugal turbomachine including a discharge port having a center line intersecting the axis of a rotatable shaft and the center line of the suction port so that the center line of the suction port is aligned with the axis of a rotatable shaft, and those center line axis and the center line of the discharge port lie within a plane, and an outer casing concentrical with the rotatable shaft and in the form of cylinder or consisting of discs serving as support means. The centrifugal turbomachine provides the following advantages in use:(1) The machine can be installed by steplessly changing the discharge direction of fluid in a range of about 180.degree.

Abstract: An inherent eccentricity between the rotor bearings and the stator shroud is reduced by intentionally fabricating into each of a pair of frame annuluses, outer and inner surfaces which are relatively eccentric, and then rotating the annuluses with respect to each other until the inherent eccentricity is substantially offset. A method is provided to determine the optimum relative rotational positions as a function of the measured inherent eccentricity, and restrictions in the number of possible rotational positions are considered.

Abstract: Wind turbine apparatus is mounted on a stationary tower and disposed to intercept wind currents. An air intake member is mounted thereon having a frusto-conical shape for accelerating the velocity of the wind intercepted by the intake unit or member. A turbine unit is mounted on a stationary frame to rotate in relation to the frame about its longitudinal axis. The turbine unit is disposed at the output of the air intake unit to receive the air intercepted by the air intake unit. The turbine has a plurality of ducts each having an input facing the output of the air intake unit. The ducts extend substantially longitudinally and curve about the longitudinal axis of the turbine. The duct outlets are disposed about the periphery of the turbine at a substantially right angle to the longitudinal axis to emit air jets tangential to the turbine unit. A power shaft is attached to the output of the turbine to connect to a generator or any mechanical driven machine.

Abstract: A pump unit is disclosed which is used in feeding liquid in pipe line. The unit comprises a motor section and a pump section axially coupled with each other. The pump section includes a volute casing in which an impeller is rotatably mounted on an extended shaft of the motor and a cover plate having suctioning opening is attached to the volute casing in such a manner that it is radially adjustable to the casing at the time of installation, whereby the alignment of the suctioning opening with the impeller is made easy. The construction of the casings and parts related thereto are designed so that the elements involved are possible to be produced out of sheet metal stock. Further, the air ventilation system of the motor section is designed so as to prevent the entrance of liquid, rain or water droplets into the inside of the motor.

Abstract: A gas turbine having a rotor and a stator, the stator defining a blade channel which is of generally conical configuration and being axially movable relative to the rotor. A thermal responsive means which is heated in accordance with the temperature of the gas in the turbine moves the stator and rotor axially relative to each other to vary the gap therebetween so as to maintain the clearance between the rotor blades and the stator housing within predetermined values. The gap is subject also to the rotational forces acting on the rotor blades.

Abstract: Portable lawn care apparatus is disclosed which includes attachment assemblies for converting to a mobile vacuum, a shredder/chipper, a blower or a stationary vacuum with a hand-operated flexible hose.

Abstract: The clearance between the outer air seal of a gas turbine engine and the tip of the turbine rotor is controlled by selectively turning on and off or modulating the cool air supply which is directed in proximity to the air seal supporting structure so as to control its thermal growth. The cooling causes shrinkage thereby holding the clearance low and effectively reducing fuel consumption.

Abstract: This invention relates to a self-adjusting spacer mechanism for being interposed in a centrifugal pump between a volute and a barrel end surface for regulating the spacing therebetween. The spacer includes a first inclined surface and an outer surface coupled with an inside surface of the barrel cover. A second sliding plate has an outer surface coupled with an end surface of the volute and a second inclined surface generally parallel to and in sliding communication with the first inclined surface of the first sliding plate. A bias spring is coupled between the first and second sliding plate for advancing the sliding communication therebetween in a preferred direction for increasing the separation between the outside surfaces responsive to a separation between the volute and the barrel end surface.