Casing With Nonradial Flow Runner (e.g., Circumferential Flow, Etc.) Patents (Class 415/224)
  • Patent number: 11952976
    Abstract: A runner for a hydraulic turbine configured to reduce fish mortality. The runner includes a hub and a plurality of blades extending from the hub. Each blade includes a root connected to the hub and a tip opposite the root. Each blade further includes a leading edge opposite a trailing edge, and a ratio of a thickness of the leading edge to a diameter of the runner can range from about 0.06 to about 0.35. Further, each blade has a leading edge that is curved relative to a radial axis of the runner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Natel Energy Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Abraham D. Schneider, Sterling Marina Watson
  • Patent number: 10738647
    Abstract: A burst protection device for a gas radial turbo engine configured annularly around a central axis in the circumferential direction and like a box in a cross sectional direction, to grip a turbine housing in the area of the turbine wheel. The burst protection device includes at least one axial wall section extending in an axial direction and at least one radial wall section extending in the radial direction are indirectly interconnected via an intermediate wall section lying in between. A partial area of the intermediate wall section in the axial direction runs inclined and/or curved relative to the orientation of the axial wall section and radial wall section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: MAN Energy Solutions SE
    Inventors: Steffen Braun, Daniel Albrecht, Harald Denkel, Stefan Weihard, Bernd Haas, Johannes Niebuhr, Urban Spatz
  • Patent number: 10603678
    Abstract: An apparatus for collection of heavier particles such as gold flowing in a river includes a support frame with legs for mounting in the river spaced from the bed with a series of drum mounted on the support frame one behind the other for rotation about an axis transverse to the river flow. The drums have a plurality of blades mounted so that flow of water in the river causes a rotation of the drum, a plurality of water entry openings and a plurality of discharge openings in the drum with the drum shaped such that rotation causes a centrifugal action such that the heavier particles remain within the drum against escape from the drum while lighter particles and water are discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Inventor: Kenneth M Klyne
  • Patent number: 9169828
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for converting wind power into electrical energy. One or more blades are attached by one or more struts to a vertical or central shaft, wherein each strut mechanically couples at least one of the blades to the shaft. One or more blades may be laminar. An optional method of fabricating a wind turbine blade, or fluid turbine blade, wherein the blade may be manufactured by a pultrusion process; may present a constant blade twist along a central axis of the blade itself; and/or may present a cross-section along the blade central axis. Alternatively or additionally, an airfoil is provided may be laminar and/or uncambered. According to a still additional optional aspect of the method of the present invention, a Darrieus-type vertical-axis wind turbine is provided, the turbine having a shaft that defines a rotation axis with a plurality of substantially rigid blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Inventor: Stefano Mangano
  • Publication number: 20150016975
    Abstract: A fan assembly includes a motor-driven impeller for creating an air flow, a casing including an interior passage for receiving the air flow, and a plurality of air outlets for emitting the air flow from the casing. The casing defines and extends about an opening through which air from outside the casing is drawn by the air flow emitted from the air outlets. The fan assembly also includes at least one heater for heating at least a first portion of the air flow, and means for diverting at least a second portion of the air flow away from said at least one heater. The plurality of outlets includes at least one first air outlet for emitting the relatively hot first portion of the air flow and at least one second air outlet for emitting the relatively cold second portion of the air flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: DYSON TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: John David WALLACE, Chang Hin CHOONG
  • Publication number: 20140377100
    Abstract: An improved bearing and shaft assembly for jet assemblies is disclosed. The improved bearing and shaft assembly includes a bearing assembly having an outer bearing member and an inner bearing member, and a shaft assembly having a shaft member, a shaft protection member, and a locking mechanism. Also, a jet assembly that includes the improved bearing and shaft assembly is disclosed. The jet assembly may be coupled to a motor assembly. The jet assembly further includes the housing that includes at least one inlet aperture and at least one outlet aperture, and an impeller positioned within a cavity of the housing. In addition, a pump comprising a motor assembly and a jet assembly that includes the improved bearing and shaft assembly is disclosed. Furthermore, a method for displacing a fluid using the improved bearing and shaft assembly is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Luraco Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: KEVIN LE, Thanh LE
  • Patent number: 8888450
    Abstract: The described embodiments relate generally to optimizing airflow in a computer system. By modifying the external surface of centrifugal cooling fan enclosures the pressure drop associated with airflow moving around the enclosures can be reduced. This is generally accomplished by rounding off hard edges from the outside of the cooling fan enclosure as well as forming cover surfaces rather than simply using flat cover surfaces. In some cases this can also involve modifying the shape of the fan inlet, or even contouring the shape of the cooling fan blades to allow air to flow more easily through the computer enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Jay S. Nigen, Jesse T. Dybenko
  • Patent number: 8794904
    Abstract: A water wheel impeller blade type electric power generating apparatus with which, on the forward motion side, the hydraulic pressure applied to the impeller blade is reduces, and the mud, sand, dirt, and the like will not be collected into the water wheel. The impeller blade is rotatably disposed on the rotor, and has a stopper part and a fluid receiving part extending from this stopper part and being longer than the stopper part, the fluid receiving part being provided with a length large enough that when the impeller blade is thrust down the fluid receiving part covers the stopper part of an adjacent impeller blade. To a top plate constituting a frame body of the apparatus, a fluid guide plate inclined inward being fixed for guiding the fluid to the impeller blades positioned under the rotating shaft of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Japan System Planning Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Kumano
  • Patent number: 8757969
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a system includes a turbine engine including an axial-radial diffuser section disposed about a first longitudinal axis downstream in an exhaust flow path from a turbine section. The system also includes an exhaust plenum including a first plenum portion disposed about the axial-radial diffuser section, wherein the first plenum portion includes a curved wall portion that diverges away from a circumference of the axial-radial diffuser section. The exhaust plenum also includes a second plenum portion extending away from the first plenum portion downstream along a second longitudinal axis of the exhaust plenum approximately crosswise to the first longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rohit Pruthi, Deepesh D. Nanda
  • Patent number: 8695162
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electric blower having a stator, a rotor, a bracket, a rotary fan, an air guide and a fan case. The air guide comprises a partition plate, a diffuser disposed around outer periphery of the rotary fan in the air guide, a partition-plate sloped portion and a guide vane. The fan case has a fan-facing portion, a fan case shoulder bent at the outermost part of the fan-facing portion, and a cylindrical portion extending cylindrically in an axial direction from the fan case shoulder. The fan case shoulder is so bent that it forms substantially a right angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shizuka Yokote, Michihiro Kurokawa, Akira Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20140062092
    Abstract: A waste-watermill for generating electrical energy from a flow of waste water running through an underground waste-water conduit. The flow of waste water defines a free surface and a flow direction inside the waste water conduit. The waste-watermill comprises 1) a water wheel for being driven by the flow of waste water in an undershot configuration, 2) an axle for defining an rotational axis for the water wheel, where the flow of waste water passes below and transverse to the rotational axis in the undershot configuration, 3) a wheel support for rotationally supporting the water wheel in the undershot configuration and in a stationary position relative to the underground waste-water conduit, and 4) an electric generator operatively connected with the water wheel and the axle for being driven by the water wheel to produce electrical energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: E-Mill APS
    Inventor: Carsten Stausgaard
  • Publication number: 20130292945
    Abstract: Inventive systems (e.g., turbines) for harnessing hydroelectric energy are described. The turbines include: (1) a central longitudinal shaft configured to mount and to rotate on a central axis perpendicular to a direction of fluid flow; (2) a plurality of substantially circularly arcing blades designed to couple to the shaft, each of the substantially circularly arcing blades having defined at one end one or more blade apertures; and (3) a fastening sub-assembly including fasteners, the fastening sub-assembly used for coupling the circularly arcing blades to the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: Lucid Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Roderic Alan Schlabach, Mark Rydell Cosby, Edward Kurth, Igor Palley, Greg Smith, Jacob J. Brenneman
  • Patent number: 8556571
    Abstract: A wind-powered turbine has a housing with an inlet and an outlet. Located in the housing is a cylindrical stator array having a plurality of spaced-apart stators located in it. An annular cylindrical rotor array having a plurality of cups rotates about a central axis, fits inside of the stator array. The stators are positioned to cause air which flows around the outer periphery of the stator array to impinge on the rotors and an air handling system causes air entering the housing to be distributed substantially around the periphery of the stator array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Zephyr International, Inc.
    Inventor: Joe C. Cassidy
  • Publication number: 20130263911
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for harvesting energy from an air current, the device comprising: a) one or more wind turbines, each wind turbine comprising a vane assembly rotatably mounted on a shaft, the vane assembly comprising a plurality of vanes; and b) an aerodynamic deflector mounted FIG. 1A over the one or more turbines, the deflector comprising an opening associated with each wind turbine; wherein the deflector shields the vane assembly from upwind drag, and the opening channels the air current onto a portion of the vane assembly. The deflector can further comprise a plurality of photovoltaic solar cells for harvesting solar energy. Similarly, each of the plurality of vanes can comprise one or more photovoltaic solar cells for harvesting solar energy. The device can be mounted on a mobile body or stationary body. The vane assembly can be mounted on a horizontal shaft or vertical shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas Patrick Bryson
  • Patent number: 8517708
    Abstract: A fuel pump includes an impeller and a cover. The impeller includes a ring portion, which is annular and is placed radially outward of blades. The cover has an arcuate pump flow passage. An enlarged space is formed in a cover side slide surface of the cover. The enlarged space is communicated with the pump flow passage and has an axial gap size, which is axially measured between an axial bottom surface of the enlarged space and an axial end surface of the ring portion and is larger than that of an axial slide gap between the slide surface and the axial end surface of the ring portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushige Kobayashi, Yoshitaka Wakamatsu
  • Patent number: 8491261
    Abstract: A blower includes an impeller and a housing. The housing has an accommodating portion, a throat portion and a concave portion. The impeller is disposed within the housing and rotates via the shaft. A first axial line and a second axial line are perpendicular to each other, and both intersect at a position where the shaft is located to divide the housing into four regions. Both of the throat portion and the concave portion are disposed adjacent to the outlet and disposed in the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Hsin-Chen Lin
  • Patent number: 8485781
    Abstract: An axial flow fan includes an impeller rotatable about a central axis with a plurality of rotor vanes, a motor that drives the impeller, a base portion that supports the motor, a housing that includes an intake vent, an exhaust vent, and an inner peripheral surface surrounding the impeller and the motor, and a plurality of stator vanes that respectively connects the base portion and the housing, wherein the inner peripheral surface includes a first inner peripheral surface arranged to increase a distance from the central axis toward the intake vent or the exhaust vent in an axial direction, and a recess provided between the first inner peripheral surface and a stator vane included in the plurality of stator vanes and facing the first inner peripheral surface. Thus, airflow is allowed to smoothly pass through the housing, resulting in a decrease in noise generated in the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Yoshida, Yoshiaki Oguma
  • Patent number: 8403640
    Abstract: A fan assembly for creating an air current includes an air inlet, an air outlet, an impeller and a motor for rotating the impeller to create an air flow passing from the air inlet to the air outlet. The air outlet includes an interior passage for receiving the air flow and a mouth for emitting the air flow. The air outlet defines an opening through which air from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the air flow emitted from the mouth. The motor has a rotor which, in use, is capable of rotating at a speed of at least 5,000 rpm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Peter David Gammack, James Dyson
  • Publication number: 20130072105
    Abstract: A ventilating fan includes a sirocco fan disposed in a box-shaped body and an adapter connected to an air outlet of the sirocco fan. The sirocco fan is composed of two opposite scroll plates with scroll shapes and a casing plate sandwiched between the two scroll plates. An overall air inlet of the sirocco fan is disposed on the first scroll plate and a central line of the air outlet of the adapter is offset towards the second scroll plate. The present invention is advantageous in that no turbulence is generated at the adapter and the wind amount of the ventilating fan is thus ensured and noise is reduced. Therefore, the present invention can provide a small air blowing device with high efficiency and improve stability of performance of the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicants: PANASONIC CORPORATION, PANASONIC ECOLOGY SYSTEMS GUANGDONG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhenjian Yang, Shouyong Gao, Jingtao Yang, Min Long, Zewei Rao, Jianrong Zhu
  • Patent number: 8360720
    Abstract: A generally spherical turbine configured to rotate transversely within a cylindrical pipe under the power of fluid flowing either direction therethrough is operatively coupled with a rotating machine or generator to produce electricity. In one embodiment, the blades of the spherical turbine curve in an approximately 180 degree arc in a plane that is at an inclined angle relative to the rotational axis of a central shaft. In another embodiment, a deflector is provided upstream of the spherical turbine and within the cylindrical pipe to control flow through the spherical turbine by shielding a part thereof. The blades of the spherical turbine are airfoil in cross section to optimize hydrodynamic flow, to minimize cavitation, and to maximize conversion from axial to rotating energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Lucid Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Roderic A. Schlabach, Mark Rydell Cosby, Edward J. Kurth, Igor Palley, Greg Smith
  • Publication number: 20130022449
    Abstract: A turbomachine that includes a radial-flow impeller and one or more of a variety of features that enhance the performance of machinery in which the turbomachine is used. For example, when the turbomachine is used in a dynamometer, the features enhance the useful shaft horsepower range of the dynamometer. One of the features is a variable-restriction intake that allows for adjusting flow rate to the impeller. Other features include a unique impeller shroud and a shroud guide each movable relative to the impeller. Yet another feature is an exhaust diffuser that facilitates an increase in the range of shaft power and the reduction of deleterious vibration and noise. The turbomachine can also include a unique impeller blade configuration that cooperates with the adjustable intake and the exhaust diffuser to enhance flow through the turbomachine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: CONCEPTS ETI, INC.
    Inventors: David Japikse, Kevin D. Fairman, Tsuguji Nakano, Douglas M. DeBenedictis, Frederick L. Zink, Daniel V. Hinch
  • Publication number: 20120240550
    Abstract: A vehicle propulsion system having a manifold in fluid communication with a cross flow fan which adjusts to control an amount lift generated by a plurality of airfoils providing lift from air from the cross flow fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Gordon S. Kolacny, Bruce A. Kolacny
  • Patent number: 8262338
    Abstract: A wind-powered turbine has a housing with an inlet and an outlet. Located in the housing is a cylindrical stator array having a plurality of spaced-apart stators located in it. An annular cylindrical rotor array having a plurality of cups rotates about a central axis, fits inside of the stator array. The stators are positioned to cause air which flows around the outer periphery of the stator array to impinge on the rotors and an air handling system causes air entering the housing to be distributed substantially around the periphery of the stator array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Inventor: Joe C. Cassidy
  • Publication number: 20120207596
    Abstract: An advection-type fan includes a frame, an impeller and a cover plate. The frame has a bottom plate mounted with a shaft seat. The bottom plate has a lateral wall on a periphery thereof that surrounds the shaft seat. The lateral wall has an air-guiding portion, a partitioning portion and an air-separating portion. An air inlet is formed between the air-guiding portion and the partitioning portion, and an air outlet is formed between the air-guiding portion and the air-separating portion. The partitioning portion comprises a first end defining the air inlet and a second end extending towards the air outlet. The air-separating portion is arranged on the second end of the partitioning portion. The impeller is rotatably mounted on the shaft seat. The cover plate is disposed on a top of the lateral wall of the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Wen Nan Chou, Yu Lun Shih
  • Publication number: 20120171032
    Abstract: A centrifugal blower including a hollow housing and an impeller having a plurality of blades disposed in the hollow housing, wherein the impeller causes a fluid received in a fluid inlet of the hollow housing to flow in a radially outward direction to a fluid outlet of the hollow housing. A guide device for directing the flow of the fluid in the blower is disposed in the fluid inlet of the hollow housing, the guide device including a shroud configured to militate against turbulence, noise, a recirculation of flow of the fluid at the fluid inlet, and interference between the guide device and balance weights of the blower during an assembly of the blower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Lakhi Nandlal Goenka
  • FAN
    Publication number: 20120163972
    Abstract: A fan assembly for generating an air flow within a room includes an air inlet section having an air inlet, an impeller, and a motor for rotating the impeller about an impeller axis to draw an air flow through the air inlet, and an annular nozzle having an inner wall, an outer wall extending about the inner wall, an air inlet for receiving the air flow, an air outlet for emitting the air flow, and an interior passage located between the inner wall and the outer wall for conveying the air flow to the air outlet, the inner wall defining a bore through which air from outside the nozzle is drawn by the air flow emitted from the air outlet. A support assembly supports the air inlet section and the nozzle on a ceiling of the room.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: James DYSON, Neil Andrew STEWART, Rodney James BROWN, Mark Niall O'RIORDAN
  • Publication number: 20120156065
    Abstract: An air cycle machine has a housing which holds a compressor section, and a turbine section having an expansion area, and a fan section disposed outside of the housing. A shaft, which attaches to and is coaxial with the compressor section, the turbine section and the fan section, is supported by an air journal bearing and an air thrust bearing. The shaft has a hollow core for porting cooling air from the air journal bearing and the air thrust bearing, and a tube that extends into said expansion area and communicates cooling air from the turbine expansion area to the thrust bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Darryl A. Colson, Seth E. Rosen, Eric Chrabascz
  • Publication number: 20120128486
    Abstract: A centrifugal fan includes an impeller, a motor and a case. The impeller includes a hub and multiple blades. The hub has a center. The blades are connected to the hub and have all respective outmost edges collectively define a circle with the center and a radius R. Each blade has at least one concave cutout. Each concave cutout is equipped with a depth of greater than 0.5 millimeters and an obtuse angle of less than 170 degrees, wherein the obtuse angle is an included angle between an inner edge of the concave cutout and an outer edge of the blade. The motor is secured to the huh and drives the impeller to rotate. The case houses the impeller and the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Hsin-Chen LIN, Hsiang-Jung HUANG
  • Publication number: 20120099964
    Abstract: A turbocharger turbine having a double-layer flow passage and a variable cross-section, including a turbine housing, a volute diffuser channel, a power turbine, a volute gas feeding passage, and a partition wall. The volute gas feeding passage is arranged in the turbine housing. The partition wall is arranged in the volute gas feeding passage and divides the volute gas feeding passage into an external volute gas feeding passage and an internal volute gas feeding passage. The external volute gas feeding passage is located outside the internal volute gas feeding passage. The combination of the external and internal volute gas feeding passages forms different flow areas, sufficiently utilizing the waste gas energy of engines in a segmented mode. The variable cross-section turbine has a simple structure, is easy to upgrade at low cost, and can be easily mass-manufactured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Hang Wang, Yanzhao Li, Xilu Guo, Hengxing Yang, Lunhai Guo
  • Patent number: 8157520
    Abstract: Vehicle propulsion systems and methods of propulsion are disclosed, as well as embodiments of fans and airfoils, technology that in some applications of the invention can provide both lift and thrust, and propulsion via cross flow fan, manifold and a plurality of airfoils. In some embodiments the invention is directed to the production of lift and thrust, and propulsion generally, based from air produced by a cross flow fan in accordance with the invention disclosed herein. In still further embodiments, lift and thrust may yet be generated from air produced from the cross flow fan even when unpowered, such as in a loss of power or in a stall condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Inventors: Gordon S. Kolacny, Bruce A. Kolacny
  • Publication number: 20120070277
    Abstract: An integrated fan includes a centrifugal blade unit and a frame. The centrifugal blade unit has a hub. The frame is used for accommodating the centrifugal blade unit. The frame includes a first casing, a second casing and at least one airflow-guiding plate. The first casing includes a main plate and an airflow inlet, wherein the airflow inlet is disposed in the main plate and aligned with the hub. The second casing is opposed to the main plate of the first casing. The at least one airflow-guiding plate is aslant and externally extended from an edge of the main plate. The airflow-guiding plate, the first casing and the second casing collectively define an airflow output channel. An included angle between an airflow-leaving direction of the airflow output channel and an airflow-entering direction of the airflow inlet is ranged between 90 and 180 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Lee-Long Chen, Zse-Hsin Wang, Chien-Hsiung Huang
  • Patent number: 8128337
    Abstract: A two-stage, omnidirectional vertical axis wind turbine includes a first chamber in which a plurality of angularly spaced horns guide wind from any side of the wind turbine into a chamber to rotate a first rotor. Wind exiting the first rotor passes through a diverter to produce laminar flow. A fan attached to the shaft intercepts this laminar flow to add additional torque to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Inventor: Constantine D Pezaris
  • Publication number: 20120051904
    Abstract: A radial fan assembly for use in a powered air purifying respirator includes at least an impeller, a printed circuit board and a scroll casing. The scroll casing has a first and a second scroll casing element. The second scroll casing element includes at least a portion of the printed circuit board. When the radial fan assembly is used in a powered air purifying respirators, the respirator may also include components such as a filter assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Ronald A. Hagen, Keith K. McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 8113775
    Abstract: The present invention provides an axial flow fan including an impeller that has a plurality of rotor vanes and is rotatable about a central axis, a motor that rotary drives the impeller, a base portion that supports the motor, a housing that has an intake vent, an exhaust vent, and an inner peripheral surface to surround the impeller and the motor, and a plurality of stator vanes that respectively connects the base portion and the housing, wherein the inner peripheral surface has a first inner peripheral surface formed to increase a distance from the central axis toward the intake vent or the exhaust vent in an axial direction, and there is formed a recess between the first inner peripheral surface and a stator vane that is included in the plurality of stator vanes and faces the first inner peripheral surface. According to the above described configuration, airflow is allowed to smoothly pass through the housing, resulting in a decrease in noise generated in the axial flow fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventor: Yusuke Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8105012
    Abstract: An adjustable bleed apparatus and method for bleeding air to or from the impeller inlet region of a centrifugal compressor through a segmented annular bleed slot. An annular support member, connected to the fixed intake casing, supports a downstream annular shroud segment and an upstream annular shroud segment such that the downstream end of the downstream shroud segment is unconstrained. The spaced-apart distance between the shroud segments defines an annular bleed slot, which is segmented by bridge members. The connections between the shroud segments and the annular support member are configured such that the spaced apart distance of the annular bleed slot is adjustable. The connections between the annular support member and the fixed intake casing are configured such that the running clearance between the downstream shroud segment and the impeller is adjustable independently from the width of bleed slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Opra Technologies B.V.
    Inventor: Atte Anema
  • Publication number: 20120014789
    Abstract: An air blowing device includes a housing with a suction port and a blow-off port, and a fan placed in the housing. The fan includes a fan case with a tongue section, an impeller, and a motor. The fan case includes an inlet and an outlet, and is shaped such that a space between the impeller and an inner wall of the fan case increases along a rotary direction of the impeller up to a cross section cut along a line between the tongue section and its opposite section. An opening area of the fan case at the tongue section is kept equal or decreases up to the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Shirahama, Munetada Satou, Masayuki Takada, Kazuhiro Muromachi
  • Publication number: 20120009059
    Abstract: To provide a multiblade fan that enables an improvement in noise characteristics or blowing performance. The multiblade fan includes a scroll type casing that has a bell-mouthed inlet and an impeller housed in the casing. The impeller includes a plurality of blades and a rotation axis m oriented toward the inlet of the casing. The blades are annularly arranged. In the multiblade fan, a center axis of the inlet and the rotation axis of the impeller are arranged at a tilt angle to each other and in any one of an intersecting positional relationship and a skew-lines positional relationship so that a space between the inlet and the impeller increases from the rotation axis of the impeller toward an outlet of the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuki Okamoto, Kenichi Sakoda, Hitoshi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8038391
    Abstract: In the present invention, a partition wall which partitions a discharge port and a suction port provided on a static passage, in the rotating direction, has a discharge side shape which is identical with the shape of blades, and has a positional relationship in which the partition wall does not overlap with the discharge port in view of such a fact that the pressure variation on the suction side is higher than that of the discharge side, and noise on the suction side is dominant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shizu Ishikawa, Hiroshi Asabuki, Satoshi Takeda
  • Patent number: 8033783
    Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a diagonal flow fan or a silencer for the diagonal flow fan, which have the same outer shape as a suction port and are compact, and can also obtain an effective sound absorbing effect of a moderate frequency range. In the diagonal flow fan comprising a diagonal flow impeller 1 disposed with a blade 1a so as to obliquely send an air to an axis of rotation 21, a fan casing 2 for covering this diagonal flow impeller 1, and a suction port 3 for sucking the fluid in the direction to the axis of rotation of this fan casing 2, the open front side of the suction port 3 is provided with a silencing portion comprising a shield 4 and a punching metal 5, so that the noise of the moderate frequency range of 500 to 1000 Hz generated in the diagonal flow fan was suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shizu Ishikawa, Fumiaki Ishida
  • Publication number: 20110142616
    Abstract: A nacelle for a wind turbine comprises a plurality of walls connected with each other to define an internal space of the nacelle. A support beam is disposed at an inner surface of the connecting area of at least one set of contiguous walls of the plurality of walls, and a portion of the support beam contacting the contiguous walls has a shape mating with that of the inner surface of the connecting area. The nacelle for a wind turbine is simple in structure, convenient to transport, easy to assemble and strong in the mechanical connecting strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventor: Jonas Bojer Christensen
  • Publication number: 20110129326
    Abstract: An outlet plate of an impeller pump is provided, the outlet plate having an outlet port disposed in the outlet plate, the outlet port being defined by a first outlet port and a second outlet port each extending through the outlet plate; a separator wall located in the outlet port, the separator wall separating an inlet of the first outlet port from an inlet of the second outlet port; and a groove located only on a first surface of the outlet plate, the groove having a first distal end and a second distal end, the first distal end terminating at the first outlet port, wherein the separator separates the groove from the second outlet port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventor: John G. Fischer
  • Patent number: 7866938
    Abstract: The instant invention deals with the solution to technical flaws of existing vertical axis windmills in which the wind strikes simultaneously on inward and outward facing sides of rotor blades which reduce efficiency. Hence, this invention, i.e., the vertical axis windmill with wind guiding device, includes vertical plates which are fixed from the bottom of a base structure to the top of a rotor in an annular array. In between any two vertical plates, inclined plates are fixed from the bottom of the base structure to the top of the base structure. These plates are tilted towards the concave side of the rotor blades. The vertical and inclined plates are fixed in angular and radial directions so that whenever the wind blows from any direction, it gets compressed and then is diverted towards the wind receiving blades. Also the vertical plates protect the convex side of the rotor blades from wind while diverting the wind towards the wind receiving blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Inventor: Vinod Kumar Chamanlal Kariya
  • Publication number: 20100329841
    Abstract: The CWE Concepts are designed to extract the maximum possible wind energy passing through a given square footage area of influencing machine interface at given calculated velocities, to deliver that energy to two power take off shafts for end user's useful work (electrical power generation and other requirements). A multi-bucket “S” rotor, airfoils, baffles and cowling combined, utilize one hundred percent of that moving air volume most efficiently. Our strategies are to use smaller units, yielding more power than existing designs while being installed at much lower levels, urban friendly, less visible, nearly-enclosed rotating machinery, quieter, and safer for indigenous wildlife populations. We plan to market for commercial and residential customers, in turn providing HVAC and electrical power augmentation to utility companies—a reliable and robust addition to the national power grid. Our goals—reduce dependency on foreign oil and provide a clean alternative.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventor: John Lee O'Neil
  • Patent number: 7850426
    Abstract: The present invention broadly comprises a torque converter including a cover arranged to accept torque from a drive unit and an impeller. The cover and the impeller are joined by a crimped connection. In some aspects, the converter includes a sealing element disposed between the cover and the impeller and the sealing element is selected from the group consisting of an o-ring and a gasket. In some aspects, the cover is a cast piece. In some aspects, the cover is formed by a process selected from the group consisting of: molding, compression molding, and pressed metal forming. In some aspects, the cover is a stamped metal piece. The present invention also broadly comprises a torque converter including a cover, an impeller, and an induction brazed connection joining the cover and impeller. In some aspects, the cover further comprises axially disposed fingers engaged with the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wei Wang, Nigel Gurney, Michael Van Sickle, David Avins, Michael Buck, Christopher Hensel, Aaron J. Schley
  • Publication number: 20100303621
    Abstract: Devices and methods of manufacturing important parts of a Benkatina Turbine are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: Daniel Farb
  • Patent number: 7832984
    Abstract: A housing for a blower, fan or pump or turbine, the housing adapted to be associated with a rotor adapted in use to cooperate with fluid flowing through the housing wherein the housing comprises a shroud for guiding the fluid moving in association with the rotor, the rotor having at least one vane adapted to cooperate with the fluid to drive or to be driven by the fluid, wherein the shroud is configured to promote vortical flow of the fluid through the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Caitin, Inc.
    Inventor: Jayden David Harman
  • Publication number: 20100253081
    Abstract: A generally spherical turbine configured to rotate transversely within a cylindrical pipe under the power of fluid flowing either direction therethrough is operatively coupled with a rotating machine or generator to produce electricity. In one embodiment, the blades of the spherical turbine curve in an approximately 180 degree arc in a plane that is at an inclined angle relative to the rotational axis of a central shaft. In another embodiment, a deflector is provided upstream of the spherical turbine and within the cylindrical pipe to control flow through the spherical turbine by shielding a part thereof. The blades of the spherical turbine are airfoil in cross section to optimize hydrodynamic flow, to minimize cavitation, and to maximize conversion from axial to rotating energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Roderic A. Schlabach, Mark Rydell Cosby, Edward Kurth, Igor Palley, Greg Smith
  • Patent number: 7758299
    Abstract: A wind turbine for generating electricity is configured as a drum with a housing that has adjustable shutters to control the amount of wind reaching the turbine blades. Alternatively, the turbine blades can be pivotably mounted and opened and closed using a cam follower, cam track system to minimize wind exposure to downstream turbine blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Inventor: Frank Jarecki
  • Publication number: 20100166555
    Abstract: Pumping units are known to have an inlet channel, opening out into a pumping channel and tapering from an inlet cross section to an outlet into the pumping channel with an outlet cross-section. The flow is deflected through ninety degrees on entry to the pumping channel which induces strong swirling. The transition from the inlet channel into the pumping channel is not optimal for flow. This effect reduces the efficiency of the pumping unit. The inlet flow into the pumping channel is improved in the pumping unit according to the invention and hence efficiency is improved. According to the invention, the outlet is essentially provided in a first quadrant with relation to the inlet cross section and the tapering of the inlet channel essentially occurs in the other three quadrants. The tapering wall of the inlet channel is formed by a plane-generating shape which goes around from one side of the outlet to the other side of the outlet and is shaped to be increasingly flat relative to a plane of the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Benjin Luo, Joerg Silgrist, Andreas Gutscher
  • Publication number: 20100150714
    Abstract: Vehicle propulsion systems and methods of propulsion are disclosed, as well as embodiments of fans and airfoils, technology that in some applications of the invention can provide both lift and thrust, and propulsion via cross flow fan, manifold and a plurality of airfoils. In some embodiments the invention is directed to the production of lift and thrust, and propulsion generally, based from air produced by a cross flow fan in accordance with the invention disclosed herein. In still further embodiments, lift and thrust may yet be generated from air produced from the cross flow fan even when unpowered, such as in a loss of power or in a stall condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Gordon S. Kolacny, Bruce A. Kolacny