Abstract: The invention relates to a radial compressor (1) for an exhaust gas turbocharger, in particular of an internal combustion engine, with a compressor housing (2) comprising an axial inlet channel (3) and a radial outlet channel (4), with a compressor wheel (6) for delivering and compressing a gas, wherein the compressor wheel (6) has an axial inlet side (7) facing the inlet channel (3), a radial outlet side (8) facing the outlet channel (4) and an axial wheel surface contour (9), which extends from the inlet side (6) as far as to the outlet side (7), with an adapter element (10) which is substantially designed sleeve-like, which can be axially introduced into a fastening section (11) provided on the compressor housing (2), wherein the adapter element (10) at least in sections has a surface contour (13), which is designed substantially complementarily to the axial wheel surface contour (9), so that by axially moving the adapter element (10) in the fastening section (11) a gap width (w) of a passage gap (14) a

Abstract: A centrifugal fan is provided, in which the value of static pressure with respect to the flow rate, namely, the flow rate-static pressure characteristic may be set to a relatively arbitrary value without increasing noise. An impeller of the centrifugal fan comprises an impeller body, a plurality of stems, a blade mounting member, a plurality of main blades, and a plurality of sub blades. The main blades are shaped to suck air into a casing through a suction port when the impeller rotates in a direction of normal rotation. The sub blades are shaped to suck air into the casing through the suction port when the impeller rotates in a direction of reverse rotation opposite to the direction of normal direction.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a structural assembly for centrifugal fan rotor housing capable of optimizing the air flow in its interior. Such optimization is due to the existence of a pneumatic circuit (5) which disposed inside said structural assembly for centrifugal fan rotor housing comprises at least one essentially spiraled virtual orientation (53).

Abstract: A pump casing for a centrifugal pump, which comprises an inlet opening, a discharge outlet, and a transition surface extending between an inner peripheral surface of the main pumping chamber and an inner peripheral surface of the discharge outlet, the transition surface arranged for separating an in use exit flow of material in the discharge outlet from an in use recirculation flow of material in the main pumping chamber. The transition surface has a cutwater having a profiled section which comprises a protrusion which extends irregularly from an otherwise generally rounded arched or U-shaped transition surface and is configured such that, in use, the velocity and/or turbulence resulting from the in use flow of the material being pumped in the main pumping chamber is reduced.

Abstract: A slurry pump component includes a base member with a cladding surface. The cladding surface includes a brazing alloy inner layer, a ductile intermediate layer and a wear resistant outer layer.

Abstract: A slurry pump component is disclosed. The slurry pump component may have a base member fabricated from white iron, and a cladding surface made of a wear resistant material disposed in a tool steel matrix on the base member. The wear resistant material may have a melting point of greater than about 3000° C.

Abstract: A modular exhaust gas assembly includes a turbocharger housing having an exhaust flange and a bearing flange receptacle, and a plurality of turbine scrolls of different sizes for selective installation into the turbocharger housing in dependence on a power of an engine. Each turbine scroll has an inlet zone and is connected to the bearing flange receptacle via a selected one of a plurality of different bearing flanges and to the exhaust flange via a selected one of a plurality of different exhaust links. The inlet zone of each turbine scroll is configured to complement a contour of an outlet zone of a standard manifold so that the turbine scrolls are selectively connectable via their inlet zone to the manifold to suit the engine power at hand.

Abstract: A fuel equalization system includes a filter box for accepting an air stream and a fuel stream, the air stream and the fuel stream mixing to form a mixed air/fuel stream. A blower is provided that has an inlet for accepting the mixed air/fuel stream from the filter box. An air deflection member is positioned in the path of the mixed air/fuel stream, between the filter box and the inlet, so as to reduce the turbulence of the mixed air/fuel stream.

Abstract: A blower having a divergence guide portion to reduce flow loss and discharge noise and an air conditioner having the same are provided. The blower includes a scroll casing, suction holes provided at opposite positions of the scroll casing, a discharge hole provided at a top position of the scroll casing, a centrifugal fan received in the scroll casing, and a divergence guide portion gently diverging air to the discharge hole after passing through the centrifugal fan to diffuse the air to both sides of the discharge hole.

Abstract: A method for forming an inclined-blade blower wheel is provided by arranging a plurality of blades about respective circumferences of first and second end caps. The plurality of blades extend longitudinally between the first and second end caps and parallel to an axis defined by respective centers of the first and second end caps. The first end cap is rotated with respect to the second end cap a predetermined amount, therein skewing the plurality of blades at a desired longitudinal pitch between the first end cap and second end cap. The first end cap and second end cap are then rotated in unison while crimping the circumferences of the first end cap and second end cap, therein securing the plurality of blades to the first and second end caps and fixing the desired longitudinal pitch of the plurality of blades from the first end cap to the second end cap.

Abstract: A vertical centrifugal pump comprises a housing, impeller, annular guiding vanes, annular outlet with outer and inner casings, forming a collector with a pressure pipe, and flow channels to lower and upper rims. Channels to the lower rim pass through the center of the pump axis. Blades direct flow between pipes into the pressure pipe. Pipes are connected with the lower rim through the lower confuser with flat radial ribs, positioned with the inner part of the confuser from the pipes and the outer part from the inner casing to the lower rim. An annular baffle is implemented between the housing and outer casing, dividing the inlet to the rims. Channels to the upper rim are created between the two annular elements, connected by radial outer ribs with a thickened, streamlined form and mated with flat inner ribs, merged in the upper confuser similarly to the lower confuser.

Abstract: A turbine housing includes an outer housing member, which has a proximal housing portion and a distal housing portion, and an inner housing member, which is provided inside the outer housing member and has a shroud surface that faces a turbine wheel in an axial direction. A distal portion of the inner housing member serves as a slide portion slidable in the axial direction. Further, a proximal portion of the inner housing member is fixed to the proximal housing portion at a part closer to a distal side than a proximal portion of the proximal housing portion. Further, a scroll portion is formed by the inner housing member and a proximal scroll portion of the proximal housing portion located closer to a proximal side than the inner housing member.

Abstract: A blower drawing air into the air path and discharging air to the discharge duct, including: a frame forming an outer shell; a fan driven by a motor and having a fan outlet, inside the frame; a duct connection part having a duct connection opening, connected to the discharge duct, outside the frame; and an in-frame blow-out part connecting the duct connection part with the fan outlet, inside the frame. The cross-section shape of the air path changes continuously and smoothly at the in-frame blow-out part and the duct connection part, from the fan outlet to the duct connection opening.

Abstract: A centrifugal blower unit comprising an impeller disposed therein and a scroll casing covering the exterior, the scroll casing having an outlet port, a tongue-like portion, a scroll portion of a volute shape and side casing plates provided with inlet ports on both sides, featuring advantages of increasing a static pressure and reducing an input power and noise while also achieving compactness in size. The scroll portion is provided with tapered scroll walls formed in anti-tongue-side wall adjacent to the outlet port by having it bent along bent lines toward the impeller and at angles to a driving shaft of the impeller such that a cross sectional area of the scroll portion in a direction of the driving shaft becomes gradually smaller toward the side casing plates.

Abstract: In a method of making a turbocharger housing surfaces of a sheet-metal shell which bound a gap towards the turbine wheel are measured, after the sheet-metal shell has been joined with a bearing flange provided for support of a turbine wheel, to generate measuring values. Subsequently, the bearing flange is machined in dependence on the measuring values for establishing a position of the turbine wheel in relation to the bearing flange and thus of the sheet-metal shell.

Abstract: Embodiments of a diffuser vane comprise a vane body with a leading edge and a trialing edge that can rotate about the leading edge to improve performance of a compressor device. This configuration maintains the position of the leading edge on the diffuser vane relative to the orientation of the working fluid. In one embodiment, the diffuser vane incorporates a support element that couples with the vane body. The support element counteracts stimulating frequencies to reduce vibration of the vane body. The diffuser vane can also comprise an armature, which couples with a force coupler to facilitate rotation of the trailing edge when in position in a compressor device.

Abstract: A compressor housing assembly can include a shell that includes a cylindrical wall portion including a fluid inlet opening at one end and a sloped mating surface at an opposing end and, extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical wall portion, a spiral wall portion that defines, in part, a volute; and an insert that includes a cylindrical wall portion including a fluid inlet opening at one end and a shroud surface at an opposing end and, extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical wall portion, an annular ring portion including a sloped mating surface and, extending from the shroud surface, a diffuser surface, where, in an assembled state, the sloped mating surface of the insert and the sloped mating surface of the shell form a sloped interface between the insert and the shell. Various other examples of devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ceiling recessed ventilating fan with illuminating device, including a body, a blower disposed horizontally within the body and an illuminating device disposed inside the body. The illuminating device is disposed around an air inlet of the blower. The illuminating device is disposed within the body, and does not protrude from the surface of the ceiling.

Abstract: A housing (410, 510, 610, 700, 800, 900) for a turbocharger (400, 500, 600) is provided. The housing (410, 510, 610, 700, 800, 900) has an impeller chamber (403, 503, 603), diffuser (450, 550, 650, 750, 850, 950) and scroll (420, 520, 620, 720, 820, 920) in fluid communication with each other. The diffuser (450, 550, 650, 750, 850, 950) can have a curved shape and/or a bend (455) in proximity to a tip (408, 508, 608, 609) of the impeller (405, 505, 605). The curved shape can be defined by one or more radii of curvature (RC, RC1, RC2). The diffuser (450, 550, 650, 750, 850, 950) can extend in a radial direction that is non-orthogonal to the center line of the turbocharger (400, 500, 600). The housing (410, 510, 610, 700, 800, 900) can be for a compressor section of the turbocharger (400, 500, 600).

Abstract: An exhaust-gas turbocharger includes a bearing flange for securement of the exhaust-gas turbocharger to a bearing housing of a turbine wheel. The bearing flange is provided with an outer circumferential fin having a base portion which terminates in a free end. The base portion is defined by a width which is greater than a width of the free end. An outer housing is welded to the outer circumferential fin of the bearing flange, and accommodates an impeller housing.

Abstract: An axial cross-sectional shape of a scroll flow path 13 is a roughly circular shape, a diffuser outlet connected to the roughly circular shape is shifted to a position which is closer to a circle center than to a position of a tangent line to the circular shape and which does not reach the circle center, the circular shape is formed from a scroll chamber 30 which juts out in the axial direction relative to the position of the diffuser outlet 11a and a shift chamber 32 that forms a remainder of the roughly circular shape in a direction opposite to the scroll chamber 30, and the shift chamber 32 is at least formed on the scroll flow path 13 of a winding end portion 19 in a circumferential direction of a spiral.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump includes a pump unit and a drive unit. The pump unit includes a volute and an impeller disposed in the volute. The drive unit includes a stator and a rotor having a shaft. The volute includes an inlet, an outlet and a chamber in communication with the inlet and outlet. The shaft of the rotor extends into the chamber of the volute and the impeller is attached to and driven by the shaft. The volute further includes a transition part connected between the outlet and the chamber and communicating the outlet with the chamber. The axis of the transition part is angled to the axis of the outlet. The transition part is configured to improve the effect of fluid turbulence to thereby reduce noise, especially in the air-water stage.

Abstract: A centrifugal blower is designed such that D/R, which is a ratio of a radius D of an air inlet to a radius R of an impeller, ranges from 85% to 87%, and such that r/R, which is a ratio of a radius r of a cross-section of a bell mouth of the centrifugal blower to the radius R of the impeller, ranges from 8% to 10%. With such a structure, a geometric size of the bell mouth is optimized, thus enhancing the blowing efficiency of the centrifugal blower. As a result, superior performance of the centrifugal blower can be ensured.

Abstract: An exhaust-gas turbocharger (1) having a compressor (2); a turbine (5) which has a turbine wheel (6) with a radial flow region (11) and a semi-axial flow region (12) and which has a turbine housing (7) which has a spiral arrangement (9), surrounding the turbine wheel (6) at its outer circumference (8), for supplied exhaust gas; and a guide grate (10) for supplying exhaust gas to the turbine wheel (6). The guide grate (10) has a guide ring (13), which is axially movable in the charger axial direction (L) and is assigned to the radial flow region (11), and a closure sleeve (14), which is axially movable in the charger axial direction (L) and which is assigned to the semi-axial flow region (12).

Abstract: A bell mouth for a scroll case according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a bell mouth which is provided on the top plate of the scroll case to form an air inlet in order to allow air flow into the scroll case by a centrifugal blower installed inside the scroll case, and the volume of two parts of the bell mouth in respect to a rotation shaft of the centrifugal blower is different from each other. According to the present invention, it is possible to minimize generation of reverse flow of inflow air by increasing or decreasing a variation of the cross-section area of the bell mouth according to an increase in the pressure of the flow rate.

Abstract: In a scroll shape of a centrifugal compressor, an enlargement rate of a ratio A/R of a cross-sectional area A of a scroll portion 12 to a radius R from an axis L1 of a compressor impeller 3 to a centroid P0 of a cross section of the scroll portion is reduced from a winding start to a winding end of the scroll portion.

Abstract: In a scroll structure for a radial turbine configured such that a turbine rotor 02 is rotationally driven by causing exhaust gas to flow from a spiral scroll portion 4 formed in a turbine housing 1 toward a rotor blade 3 of the scroll portion 4 in a radial direction, and act on the rotor blade 3, then flow out in an axial direction, a heat radiation space portion is formed in a shroud portion 11 between the turbine housing 1 and a turbine chamber provided with the rotor blade 3.

Abstract: In a scroll structure of a centrifugal compressor, there are provided a radius increase arc portion E in which a radius from the center of a scroll 12 to a scroll centroid P of the cross section of the scroll 12 is gradually increased in any range in a circumferential direction from the start of winding of the scroll, and a radius decrease arc portion F in which the radius is gradually decreased toward a scroll end point Z.

Abstract: A scroll structure of a centrifugal compressor 1 having a spirally formed scroll passage 13. The scroll passage 13 includes: a flat connecting portion A at a flow passage joint 23 where a scroll start and a scroll end of the scroll passage 13 meet, this flat connecting portion having a flat cross-sectional shape with a same height as that of an outlet passage of a diffuser; and a transition part 21 where the flat cross-sectional shape of the flat connecting portion A gradually changes back to a circular cross-sectional shape along a circumferential direction.

Abstract: An air distribution blower housing for an air handler such as a residential furnace is designed with a volute-shaped outer wall that has an exponentially increasing expansion angle in the direction of air flow through the blower housing for at least a portion of the volute-shaped outer wall length. This results in the blower housing having an enlarged air outlet opening that slows down and spreads out the air flow from the blower housing over a greater area of the furnace heat exchanger. The blower housing thereby enables less air pressure drop through the heat exchanger, which increases the efficiency of the blower motor operation. The design of the blower housing also efficiently turns the velocity head of the air flow through the housing to usable static air pressure at the housing air outlet.

Abstract: A centrifugal fan includes a casing side plate with a casing inlet, a spiral scroll, a tongue, a casing outlet, a main plate, a retaining ring, multiple blades arranged between the main plate and the retaining ring, and an air-intake space surrounded by the blades. The centrifugal fan further includes an airflow accelerator in the air-intake space for increasing an airflow speed of a gas toward the blades.

Abstract: An exemplary centrifugal fan includes a casing defining an air outlet, and an impeller in the casing. An air channel is defined in the casing between a sidewall of the casing and outermost free ends of the impeller. The sidewall includes a first curved section adjoining a second curved section. The first curved section is located at a more upstream portion of the sidewall than the second curved section along a rotation direction of the impeller. The first curved section extends along a part of an Archimedes spiral or a part of a logarithmic spiral. The second curved section is located farther away from the impeller than an imaginary extension line of the first curved section along the Archimedes spiral or the logarithmic spiral. An air guide plate is formed in the casing and extends from the air outlet to an inner region of the air channel.

Abstract: A turbine apparatus is immersed in an ambient stream of a flowing fluid, such as water, so as to encapture a portion of the flowing fluid and extract power therefrom, before returning it back into the ambient stream, which may be a tidal flow of ocean water, or a relative flow of water behind a boat. The apparatus includes a converging intake duct with an inlet opening that faces forward into the ambient stream flow, a spiral volute casing that redirects the fluid into a spiral flow, a rotor arranged coaxially on the spiral axis, and an exhaust duct that diverges and curves from an exhaust inlet coaxial with the spiral axis to an exhaust outlet that opens rearwardly into the ambient flow. The rotor has a peripheral rotor inlet around the circumference of a first stage thereof and an axial rotor outlet at one axial end thereof, and is arranged with its rotor axis coinciding with the spiral axis oriented transverse to the ambient stream flow.

Abstract: A turbine assembly for an exhaust gas turbocharger has separate first and second volutes that are sequentially activated via a valve that receives exhaust gases from an engine. In a first position of the valve, only the first volute receives exhaust gas; in a second position, both volutes receive exhaust gases. In a third position, a bypass passage is also opened so that some exhaust gas bypasses the turbine wheel. Unlike conventional twin-scroll turbines, each volute receives exhaust gases from all engine cylinders, and the first volute feeds gas into the B-width portion of the wheel, while the second volute feeds gas into the wheel after the contour portion.

Abstract: A turbine is provided. The turbine includes a housing radially extending around a turbine rotor including a first piece defining a portion of a first scroll passage boundary and a second piece having an interface wall contiguous with an interface wall of the first piece, the second piece coupled to the first piece and including a divider defining another portion of the first scroll passage boundary and a portion of a second scroll passage boundary.

Abstract: A blower fan unit includes a housing, an impeller, an outlet, and a positioning mechanism. The impeller is mounted in the housing. The impeller rotates around a rotation center axis and generates an air current in a centrifugal direction from the rotation center axis. An outlet is formed in the housing and located in a centrifugal direction from the rotation center axis. A positioning mechanism is connected to the housing and makes the position of the housing change along the rotation center axis at each angular position around the rotation center axis.

Abstract: A blower comprising: a snail-shaped base, a snail-shaped cover, blades and a motor, wherein the snail-shaped base and the snail-shaped cover form a exhaust channel, the blades are horizontally provided in the exhaust channel, the snail-shaped cover above the blades is provided with an air intake channel formed by a motor mounting chamber and a motor cover, and the motor is vertically disposed in the air intake channel and connected to the blades therebelow. The blower is structurally scientific and concise. When the blower operates, air is taken in and provides effective heat dissipation for the motor, and there is a sufficient distance between the motor and the ground surface, and waterproof designs of the sealed capacitor junction box and both ends of the motor can perform an excellent waterproof function.

Abstract: The invention is a peripheral pump (1) comprising a pump body (11) with drive shaft (41) and external magnet (4), a pump shaft (2) with an impeller (5) and an internal magnet (3) suited to be set in motion by said external magnet (4), and one volute (12) suited to house said impeller (5) comprising two half-volutes (121, 122) suited to be joined to each other and to directly support said pump shaft (2), and wherein on said pump body (11) there is at least one cover (13) suited to keep said half-volutes (121, 122) joined and closed.

Abstract: A fan housing structure including a base seat and a sideboard. The base seat has a bed section and a mating section extending along a periphery of the bed section. The bed section has a bush made of a material other than the material of the bed section. The bush is disposed on the bed section to axially protrude therefrom. The sideboard is made of a material other than the material of the base seat. The sideboard is disposed on the mating section and integrally connected with the base seat. The sideboard and the base seat together define a space therebetween. The sideboard and the bush are made of a material other than the material of the base seat and are integrally connected with the base seat by means of insert injection molding. Accordingly, the fan housing structure has enhanced structural strength and thinner thickness to save room.

Abstract: A blower housing has a discharge direction, an axis of rotation, a polar axis that intersects the axis of rotation and is substantially perpendicular to the discharge direction, an angular sweep of increasing fluid flow area, and an axial contraction located at an angularly greater value than the angular sweep.

Abstract: Provided is an air blowing unit for a vehicle which, even when a backflow prevention means which prevents the flow of air which flows back through a gap formed between a bottom surface of an impeller and an upper surface of a motor flange is adopted, optimally maintains a size of the gap thus suppressing noises and the collection of moisture and, can suitably boost a pressure of air in a scroll case portion. With respect to a case of an air blowing unit, a projecting portion is formed in a projecting manner on an inner side of a second wall portion on a side opposite to a first wall portion where an air suction port is formed as an air backflow prevention means. The projecting portion is positioned outside an impeller in the radial direction with a predetermined gap between a radial outer end of the impeller and the projecting portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a radial turbine which uses a fluid having a plurality of pressures in a single turbine wheel, to thereby reduce the number of components and lower the cost. A radial turbine (100) includes a single radial turbine wheel (15) which converts, into rotational power, swirling energy of a swirling fluid with a first pressure that flows into the radial turbine wheel (15) from a main inlet (21) formed at an outer circumferential end through a nozzle (27) with a radial flow velocity component, wherein a sub inlet (29) is formed on an outer circumferential side of the radial turbine wheel (15) at a position radially and axially apart from the main inlet (21), and the low-boiling-point medium whose pressure decreases from the first pressure as the low-boiling-point medium travels to a radial inner side flows into the sub inlet (29) through a nozzle (35).

Abstract: A turbine housing includes a first shell member and a third shell member, which are formed from metal sheets and forming a housing body, and a tongue member, which is fixed to inner circumferential surfaces of the shell members and and discrete from the shell members and. The tongue member defines an inlet port and a scroll compartment in the housing body.

Abstract: A pressure vessel including a lid, wherein the lid is fixed to a corresponding lid receptacle, wherein the lid has a first bearing surface that extends in the circumferential direction and interacts in a sealing manner with a second bearing surface on the pressure vessel, wherein fixing elements are provided for fixing the lid to the pressure vessel. The fixing elements are wedge-shaped, rest on an abutment surface of the pressure vessel and on a contact surface of the lid such that, when the fixing element is moved in a direction that causes a wider section of the wedge shape to be located between the abutment surface and the contact surface, the bearing surfaces are brought closer together or braced against each other.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus comprising an impeller, a housing that encloses the impeller, an inlet opening formed between the hosing and impeller and a projection formed on the housing that extends from the housing towards the impeller.

Abstract: Provided are a low-noise, high-performance multiblade centrifugal fan that suppresses interference between rotational flows generated within extension sections that are extended in a rotation-axis direction at upper and lower end surfaces of a scroll casing, and an air conditioner equipped with the same. In a multiblade centrifugal fan having an impeller disposed in a rotatable manner about a rotation shaft within a scroll casing having a flow path whose cross section gradually increases in a rotational direction, at least one of upper and lower end surfaces of the scroll casing serves as an inclined end surface that is extended in the extending direction of the rotation shaft such that an extended height thereof gradually increases in the rotational direction from a scroll start position, and a stepped section extending in the rotational direction is provided between the inclined end surface and an inner-peripheral side surface of an extension section.

Abstract: A scroll or torus has a variable thickness and variable radius structure rib support. The scroll or torus may be suitable in high temperature applications while avoiding the high stress found with conventional constant radii ribs and the weight penalty found in stainless steel scrolls and torus. The scroll or torus may be used, for example, on a turbo compressor machine in aircraft environmental control systems.

Abstract: An improved self-priming, centrifugal pump arrangement for mixed-media flow includes a volute housing having a suction and a discharge, a volute scroll disposed within the volute housing, an impeller disposed within the volute scroll, a suction hopper and a discharge hopper within volute housing, a back cover and a wear plate attached to the volute housing. By optimizing the geometry of these internal components, noise is reduced, efficiency of the pump is improved, and the self-priming feature is maintained.

Abstract: A centrifugal fan is provided. The centrifugal fan includes an impeller and a housing. The housing includes an upper plate, a lower plate and a side wall, wherein the upper plate axially corresponds to the lower plate, a side wall is formed between the upper plate and the lower plate, an axial inlet is formed on the upper plate, a lateral outlet is formed on the side wall, the impeller is disposed in the housing and corresponds to the inlet, and a flow path communicates the inlet to the outlet, wherein the housing further includes a guiding groove, and at least one auxiliary inlet is formed in the guiding groove.

Abstract: A volute shaped pump casing for a centrifugal pump includes a chamber for housing at least one impeller rotatable around an axis of rotation and a volute shaped chamber which forms a flow channel and which contains a splitter rib for dividing the flow channel formed wherein in a section perpendicular to the axis of rotation a mean camber line is positioned equidistantly between an inner and outer surface of the splitter rib, where the thickness of the splitter rib is varied along the mean camber line and for the mean camber line unwrapped to a straight line there is a maximum in the thickness, s, of the splitter rib, wherein said maximum is positioned at a distance L from the leading edge of the splitter rib, and wherein the distance L is in the range between 1.4 times the maximum thickness s and 6 times the maximum thickness s.