Abstract: The operation of quickly taking a turbocompressor off-line from a parallel configuration, of a gas pipeline compressor station, may encounter increased mechanical action (in particular, vibration) upon recycle piping and the additional risk of compressor surge. For these reasons, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for decreasing vibratory loads and for increasing surge prevention effectiveness, while initiating an off-line operation, by (1) altering the surge control line's location, at a preset rate, from its initial location to a predetermined new location; and (2) decreasing the turbocompressor's deceleration rate when the operating point intercepts the surge control line before the control line reaches its new location. Upon completion of the off-line activity, the control line returns to its initial location; and the reduction of compressor speed will cease on reaching a preset value.

Abstract: A turbine, disposed in water flowing therethrough, includes a hub and associated runner blades. Each blade comprises an inner surface and a distal outer surface, a leading edge and a trailing edge separated by a water directing surface. Each blade is rotatable relative to the hub about a blade rotational axis. The hub includes a spherically-shaped outer surface in a region of the hub swept by the inner surface of the blades when the blades are rotated from maximum to minimum pitch. The hub may also be associated with blades in which the chord is reduced in the root region of the blade. The turbine may also include seals attached to the blade inner surface and an essentially spherically-shaped discharge ring to improve certain turbine parameters such as cavitation, efficiency, flow disturbance, and fish survivability.

Abstract: Driven turbomachinery for use in centrifugal and mixed flow pump overcomes operational for overcoming difficulties, such as flow separation and generation of surge at low flow rates, often encountered in similar machines of the conventional design. The turbomachinery is provided with variable-angle inlet guide vane and variable-angle diffuser vanes, and the diffuser section is constructed according to a fluid dynamic principle, and the vanes having a wing shape are distributed tangentially so that the diffuser section acts as a centrifugal diffuser. A convenient operational parameter, chosen from such variables as input current to the drive motor, rotational speed or torque of the drive motor, inlet/exit pressures, and fluid velocity, is monitored during the operation by means of sensors strategically attached to parts of the operating system.

Abstract: A turbine, adaptable to improve the survivability of fish present in water flowing therethrough, includes a hub and associated runner blades. Each blade comprises an inner edge and a distal outer edge, a leading edge and a trailing edge separated by a water directing surface. Each blade is rotatable relative to the hub about a blade rotational axis. The turbine is provided with features designed to shield a gap formed between the hub and the blade inner edge as the blade is rotated about its axis.

Abstract: A method of testing an actuation system for positioning an inlet guide vane, the actuation system including a primary electronic system, a secondary hydro-mechanical system is disclosed.

Abstract: A sea/river powered power plant that harnesses the movement of sea waves and river currents to convert them into useful electrical energy. The power plant contains turbines which rotate about a horizontal axis as the waves and currents strike a lower portion thereof, so to turn a shaft, which eventually operates a driven shaft of an electric generator.

Abstract: An electronic governor (34) to control a main steam valve (22) of a steam turbine (10) for controlling the rotational speed of a main drive shaft (16). The electronic governor (34) has a housing (36) in which an electric generator (104) is mounted to supply electrical energy to an electronic module (100) mounted on the housing (36). A hydraulic fluid pump (52) is mounted on the housing (36) and supplies fluid to a fluid operated piston (62) to effect a predetermined rotation of an output control shaft (32) and movement of main steam valve (22). Output signals from a microprocessor (116) to solenoid operated valves (96, 98) control the movement of fluid operated piston (62). Pump shaft (46) and generator shaft (48) are in axial alignment with and driven by the main drive shaft (16) to provide all of the power for operation of the electronic governor (34).

Abstract: A method and system for optimizing performance of a Kaplan turbine power generating unit are provided wherein an optimal "N-dimensional" virtual cam is populated with gate and blade positional settings producing maximum power output for a set of N operating parameters. The preferred parameters include head, flow, power generation level, physical situation of the unit, operating state of neighboring units, trash rack loss and a parameter indicative of cavitation (such as relative submersion level). When the system detects a unique set of operating conditions for which optimization is needed, an iterative optimization search is performed for the best gate and blade positional settings, which are then saved in memory (populating the cam matrix) for subsequent use when the same operating conditions are encountered. The optimal matrix divides parameters having ranges into range segments and treats other parameters as having discrete states.

Abstract: An air turbine flow restrictor comprises a sensor for determining the rotational velocity of the turbine wheel. In response to a detected speed above a predetermined threshold, particles are injected into the inlet airstream. In one embodiment of the invention, the particles are metal disks. The disks, carried by the airstream become lodged in the nozzles of the air turbine, thereby restricting the flow of air to the turbine wheel.

Abstract: A converter assembly for providing a liquid in a measuring line includes a stationary housing and a component being rigidly connected to the housing. A journal is slidingly supported in the stationary housing and defines a gap disposed between the component and the journal forming a throttle. The journal has an axis of rotation, an end, at least one transverse bore formed in the journal, and a journal bore formed in the journal from the end along the axis. The housing has a groove formed therein surrounding the journal and communicating with the journal bore through the at least one transverse bore. A liquid flow path communicates with a reservoir at a primary pressure and a pressureless sump and includes the throttle, the groove, the transverse bore and the journal bore. A measuring line branching off from the path between the transverse bore and the throttle carries the liquid at a measurement pressure corresponding to a rotational speed of the journal rotating about the axis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling the rotational speed of gas and steam turbines, and hot gas expanders, with each of these drivers driving a rotational load by way of a shaft. To accomplish this control technique, it is necessary to easily and accurately calculate the amount of power which must be shed by the driver(s) to maintain a constant speed, i.e., neither accelerating nor decelerating. Action must be taken to reduce the power applied to the shaft by this amount. The method incorporates an open-loop approach and uses a time derivative to moderate the open-loop action accordingly.

Abstract: According to the invention there now is provided a method of producing a sintered titanium based carbonitride alloy with 325 weight-% binder phase with extremely good properties at extremely fine machining with high cutting speeds and low feeds. The method relates to the use of a raw material comprising a complex cubic carbonitride containing the main part of the metals from groups IV and V of the periodic system and carbon and nitrogen to be found in the finished alloy whereby said alloy has the composition0.87.ltoreq.X.sub.IV .ltoreq.0.990.66.ltoreq.X.sub.C .ltoreq.0.76where X.sub.IV is the molar ratio of the group IV elements of the alloy and X.sub.C is the molar ratio of carbon.

Abstract: A turbine device and a method of driving the turbine device are disclosed. The turbine device includes an admission channel, a turbine, and an injection channel. The turbine device may also include a regulator. The turbine is driven by injecting a primary fluid into the admission channel at a given velocity and simultaneously causing a secondary fluid to flow into the admission channel at a lower velocity. The primary fluid and the secondary fluid form a mixture in the admission channel, which flows toward the turbine. The velocity of the mixture is less than that of the primary fluid, while the mass flow of the mixture is approximately equal to the sum of the mass flows of the primary and secondary fluids. The regulator compares the rotational speed of the turbine to a target speed and regulates parameters associated with the turbine device if the rotational speed of the turbine and the target speed differ by more than a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of a centrifugal compressor in a water chiller system. The compressor's capacity is variable by modulating its speed of rotation or by modulating its inlet guide vane's position. The water chiller includes an evaporator having a leaving water temperature. The method comprises the steps of: monitoring the leaving water temperature; determining if the leaving water temperature is in a steady state; modulating the compressor capacity by modulating speed of rotation if the leaving water temperature is in a steady state; and modulating the compressor capacity by modulating inlet guide vane position if the leaving water temperature is not in a steady state.

Abstract: A lubricant pump (24) for supplying pressurized lubricant to the main bearings (14) of a drive shaft (12) for a steam turbine (10) as shown in FIG. 1. A lubricant pump (24) is positioned between a governor (18) and an adjacent bearing (14) with the governor (18) and lubricant pump (24) being driven from the turbine shaft (12). The lubricant pump (24) has an outer housing (56) with a pair of opposed parallel mounting faces (58, 60) for mounting against a planar end face (48) of a bearing housing (44) on one side of lubricant pump (24) and an opposed planar face (38) of governor (18) on the other side of lubricant pump (24). Lubricant pump (24) comprises a rotary gear pump and may be easily installed on an existing turbine (10) having a governor (18) mounted on a bearing housing (44). Lubricant pump (24) includes gears ( 90, 92) to supply pressurized fluid through lubricant lines (30, 32) to bearings (14).

Abstract: A system and method for regulating the speed of a steam turbine by operating a steam valve rack assembly to adjust the flow of steam to the turbine by controlling the position of the turbine valve rack actuator in response to high pressure oil fed, reacting to signals from a speed control system, through a proportional valve to the valve rack actuator. High pressure oil is fed to the proportional valve from a hydraulic oil accumulator, charged with an inert gas, in which high pressure oil is stored. A source of low pressure oil directed to a pressure intensifying device increases the oil pressure to a high pressure and circulates the high pressure oil to the hydraulic oil accumulator and the proportional valve to stroke the turbine valve rack actuator in response to signals from the speed control system. The system further includes an emergency stop valve system which operates to close the turbine valve rack assembly very rapidly in the event of a serious turbine condition.

Abstract: A rotating speed control system for a pneumatically driven spindle used in a machine tool, comprises a spindle possessing a male-threaded part, a turbine mounted on the spindle by a nut with a convexo-concave portion being formed in one face thereof, a casing for accommodating the spindle and the turbine, an air supply line connected to the casing so as to supply air to drive the turbine, a valve disposed in the air supply line so as to adjust the flow rate of the air to be supplied to the turbine, a sensor facing the convexo-concave portion of the nut so as to detect the rotating speed of the turbine, and a control circuit for comparing a sensor detected rotating speed with a predetermined rotating speed and for adjusting the valve in accordance with the difference between two rotating speeds, so as to reduce the difference.

Abstract: Combination trip and throttle valve steam controls for a steam turbine include manual controls to actuate the trip mechanism and shut the turbine down and a trip/reset, with a single control to regulate the steam delivered to the turbine and to reset the trip mechanism to provide simplified and reliable controls.

Abstract: Pneumatic starters including a housing formed in sections interfit in telescopic and abutted relation, a cap forming its upstream end, a nozzle unit at the open end of said cap defining therewith a shallow chamber constructed to receive a flow of fluid under pressure to power said rotor and provide for its content a substantial pressure head, said end cap and nozzle unit being coaxially extended by a turbine assembly section, the rotor of which positions outwardly of the end thereof immediately adjacent said nozzle unit, positioning its buckets in coaxially aligned relation to its nozzles, said rotor nesting in a relatively axially extended portion of a cylindrical wall structure which forms a shroud for said nozzle unit, lines the inner wall of said housing and peripherally shrouds the buckets of said rotor, said nozzle unit being separable and interchangeable, said inlet chamber and required interrelation of the nozzles of said nozzle unit and the buckets of said rotor being achieved in assembly of said hou

Abstract: A compressor with a rotary driven centrifugal impeller which receives inlet air from an inlet passageway and this discharges compressed air through a radially extending diffuser passageway. Moveable vanes are provided both in the inlet passageway and diffuser passageway for varying the pressure and flow output from the compressor while maintaining the rotary speed of the centrifugal impeller substantially constant. In the preferred form of the invention, the centrifugal impeller and an electrical generator are rotatably driven at a constant speed and in synchronism with each other and, together, form an electrical and pneumatic power system.

Abstract: A pump with a canned motor (1) comprises a hollow shaft (4) open at the ends (5, 6) and provided with shaft ends (7, 8) and made of a relatively thin-walled tube. The portions (7, 8) of the shaft (4) are of a reduced diameter (d.sub.1, d.sub.2). A reciprocating ball (12) is situated in the cavity between a first shaft portion (8) and a second shaft portion (7), said first shaft portion forming a shaft end and provided with a spline (17). This ball abuts seats (13, 14) resulting from the reduction of the diameter of the shaft portions (7, 8), whereby the ball (12) and the seats (13, 14) form a valve. In this manner the valve of the hollow shaft (4) is provided in a particularly simple manner as the seats (13, 14) can be provided simultaneously with the manufacture of the shaft portions (7, 8) of a reduced diameter. The shaft portion (8) carrying the impeller (10) is provided with a spline which provides the hollow shaft (4) with the necessary torsional strength.

Abstract: A surge control system for dewatering press felts on a papermaking machine which includes a suction pipe, a variable speed drive motor, a centrifugal exhauster driven by the variable speed drive motor and connected to the suction pipe to provide vacuum to a felt passing over a slot for dewatering thereof. A surge valve is provided and is opened to admit air to the centrifugal exhauster so as to prevent surge when the centrifugal exhauster is operating at a predetermined level at which the centrifugal exhauster will surge.

Abstract: A turbine shutdown control system for controlling a turbine powering two load groups. Upon loss of one load group, a first control valve will close to interrupt the fluid flow to the turbine. A second modulating valve in parallel with the first valve remains open to provide sufficient fluid flow to the turbine to power the second load group.

Abstract: A steam turbine governor system including two governor electronic sections for producing a turbine valve opening command to control the opening of steam valves thereby controlling a flow of steam into the turbine in dependence upon a difference between an actual turbine speed and a target turbine speed and a target turbine load. One governor electronic sections is actually used for controlling the opening of the steam valves, while the other governor electronic section is a stand-by. A first value relating to the turbine speed acceleration rate based on the turbine valve opening command produced by each of the governor electronic sections is obtained so that the first values are obtained parallelly and independently of each other in the two governor electronic sections. Turbine valve opening commands produced by the respective governor electronic sections are compared with each other and produce a start signal when the difference between them exceeds a predetermined level.

Abstract: A turbocharger control device for use in conjunction with an internal combustion engine includes a turbine driven by exhaust gases; a compressor connected with the turbine by having a shaft having a hole through the diameter; a photo projector and photo receiver facing each other across the shaft at the location of the through-hole for generating a light pulse signal proportional to the rate of rotation of the shaft; a photo-voltage converter connected optically with the photo receiver for converting the light pulse signal to an electrical pulse signal; an engine control unit connected electrically with the converter for generating a control signal in response to the electrical signal; an actuator connected with the engine control unit for movement in response to the control signal; an exhaust gas bypass passage connected between upstream and downstream portions of the turbine; and a bypass valve operatively connected to the actuator and associated with the bypass passage for controlling the flow through the

Abstract: Apparatus associated with a component part of the drive system of a turbine assembly reduces the power applied to its drive rotor in a direct and substantially instantaneous response to the speed of its rotation rising to a predetermined level. A turbine starter for an engine embodying this apparatus comprises a housing for its rotor and the drive system of which it forms a part, a flow path for a gaseous fluid, delivered from a source, to power the rotor and a control device in connection with the drive system a component part of which moves radially thereof and, when its speed of rotation rises to a predetermined level, triggers a substantially simultaneous restriction of the flow path through which fluid can be applied to power the turbine rotor, thereby to produce a resulting reduction of the speed of rotation of the turbine drive system. If under such conditions the starter is engaged with a related engine, it will automatically disengage.

Abstract: An increment speed per unit time from the detected rotation speed of a water turbine or a pump turbine with an inlet valve is compared with a prescribed increment to deliver a close order to the inlet valve, when the increment becomes greater than the prescribed increment, for closing the inlet valve to a prescribed opening. Then, a fully open order to the inlet valve is delivered under the condition that neither an emergency shutdown order nor a quick shutdown order is issued to the water turbine or the pump turbine, when a speed governor performs a normal operation.

Abstract: In a pneumatically powered portable tool there is provided a speed governor and an overspeed safety device the purpose of which are to ensure a predetermined maximum speed by controlling the air inlet flow to the motor. A cup-shaped shell insert (28) is detachably mounted in the housing (10) to form with the latter an air supply passage (58) and to support the valve means (51,53) of the overspeed safety device. The top surface of the shell insert (28) is exposed through an aperture (57) in the housing (10) and carries the maximum speed marking of the tool.

Abstract: A governor control linkage assembly to be connected between the governor and a valve to be controlled by the governor such as the inlet valve for a steam turbine upstream from a venturi type safety trip valve therein in one preferred form with Woodward T.G.-10 governors has a main lever arm connected at one end to the governor for actuation thereof and to the opposite end to a pivot arm on a fulcrum assembly which permits the pivot arm to be moved by a manually operable threaded assembly connected thereto so as to move the inlet valve from open to closed position and from closed to open position when the turbine is shut down to aid in the restarting thereof. In another preferred form with Woodward P.G.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for reducing the level of noise emitted by air turbine machinery, particularly a pneumatically driven hydraulic pump for an airplane, wherein a modulating valve meters the flow of air from a source of pressurized air through a conduit to an air turbine to control the speed of the turbine. A pressure regulating valve is located in the air conduit upstream of the modulating valve to regulate and maintain the upstream pressure on the modulating valve at substantially the minimum pressure required in order to permit operation of the air turbine over its full range of speed as the amount of airflow is varied with the modulating valve. Reducing the pressure across the modulating valve in this manner minimizes the production of supersonic airflow and attendant noise by the modulating valve, which noise is otherwise propagated to the atmosphere through the turbine exhaust stream and is additionally radiated by the turbine casing.

Abstract: A speed governor for engines which comprises a rotary hollow shaft receiving exhaust fluid at one end, a conduit and nozzle assembly connected at the other end of the rotary hollow shaft and including a needle valve, a turbine housing in which at least one turbine disposed on after another in the flow path of said exhaust fluid, a turbine drive shaft associated with said turbine, respectively, a movable annular member disposed about said rotary hollow shaft for movement in the axial direction of the rotary hollow shaft and a spring-loaded link connected to said needle valve at one end and engaging said annular member at the other end.

Abstract: A centrifugal governor comprises a bar member pivotally mounted on a rotatable bearing member. The bar member is provided with an inclined ramp against which a follower bears which is connected to a device which is to be regulated. First and second resilient forces, which may be overcome by the centrifugal force generated by rotation of the bar member, urge the bar member into its rest position and the follower member into contact with the bar member. The governor is generally applicable, one of the preferred fields of application being the control of the flow through a channel associated with a ventilator.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing a turbine from exceeding a predetermined value of a monitored physical magnitude, the apparatus including an over-center toggle lever (3) pivotally mounted on a pivot point (6) on a stationary frame (7), the lever being capable of occupying a tripped position or a released position. In the cocked position, one arm (4) of the lever (3) presses against a stop (8) provided with a unit (20) which controls steam admission units to the turbine, the lever (3) moves away from the stop, steam is cut off, while the end (14) of the other arm (5) is pivotally mounted on the end of a connecting rod (10) which is pivotally mounted at its other end on a pin (11) which is integral with a piston (12) which a spring (16) pushes away. A mass (2) strikes the lever (3) which moves to the tripped position if the monitored magnitude exceeds the predetermined value.

Abstract: A method of controlling a pump-turbine having an S-section in its characteristic curve. The behavior of the operation point tracing up the S-section is judged and discriminated through detection of the rotation speed N of the pump-turbine or the acceleration dN/dt of the same. More specifically, it is judged that the operation point of the pump-turbine is tracing the S-section in the flow-rate reducing direction, through detections of the conditions that the acceleration dN/dt is materially negative and that the rotation speed N is greater than a predetermined speed. At the same time, it is judged that the operation point has commenced to trace the S-section in the flow-rate increasing direction, through detecting that the rotation speed has come down below the predetermined speed.

Abstract: The improved shut-off apparatus for pneumatically driven tools includes an auxiliary shut-off valve located in the flow passageway. The valve is controlled by a control rod which extends through the air motor into engagement with a latching device. The latching device is held in the latched position with the valve open by a movable weighted control member. The movable weighted control member is responsive to inertia so that as the speed of the air motor decreases due to a torque load imposed thereon, the shaft slows causing the inertial movement of the weighted member to release the latching device permitting the auxiliary shut-off valve to close.

Abstract: A compressed-air dental motor includes a housing, a rotor, a compressed air inlet conduit supplying compressed air for placing the rotor into rotation, and a rotor shaft in the rotor connectable with a work tool, such as a drill. A valve member in the housing associated with the compressed-air inlet conduit is adapted to vary the inlet of compressed air for each unit of time, and an adjusting device is provided for controlling the valve member. The rotor shaft includes an axially displaceable component for controlling the valve member in direct mechanical dependence upon the torque at the work tool so as to form the adjusting device into a torque-dependent adjusting device.

Abstract: A method of controlling the wicket gates of a pump-turbine having in the turbine operation area S-section where discharge per unit head and torque per unit head reduce with the reduction of speed per unit head. The pump-turbine is incorporated in a hydraulic system together with at least one of other pump-turbines. A penstock includes a plurality of pipelines each extending from the upstream side of each of the pump-turbines, while a tailrace includes a plurality of pipelines each extending from the downstream side of each of the pump-turbines; and at least one of the upstream ends of the pipelines of the penstock and the downstream ends of the pipelines of the tailrace are connected to a common pipeline. Upon sudden removal of load from the pump-turbine having the S-section, the wicket gates are closed at an earlier timing so that the hydraulic pressure in the penstock may reach the maximum value before the pump-turbine initiates to operate in the S-section.

Abstract: A governor for a steam operated engine by which the steam valve opening for any selected engine speed can be varied to accommodate different steam pressures, or conversely with a constant steam pressure, the steam valve opening may be varied to produce any selected engine speed.

Abstract: A shutoff mechanism for a pneumatic tool such as a nut runner senses both the instantaneous speed and the instantaneous rate of change of speed of the drive components of the tool. The mechanism controls the flow of air to the motor and terminates such flow as the drive speed decreases while approaching a stall condition. The mechanism comprises a main air valve operated by a centrifugal governor having a plurality of pivoted weights with their pivot axes oriented at acute angles to radial lines intersecting the centers of the weights rather than oriented at right angles to such radial lines as in conventional governor assemblies. So oriented, the weights sense both instantaneous speed and instantaneous rate of change of speed of the drive components.

Abstract: An electronic speed error signal processing circuit is provided which attenuates rapid fluctuations ocurring in the speed error signal used to control the fluid inlet valve of a fluid driven prime mover. Such fluctuations contribute greatly to valve wear by causing "valve flutter," the continual rapid opening and closing of the inlet valve as the speed control system of a prime mover instantaneously responds to any small speed error signal fluctuation. By attenuating these rapid fluctuations, valve flutter is reduced.

Abstract: A microprocessor-based control system for controlling the speed of a steam turbine by governing the steam supplied thereto from a steam supply source using one or more hydraulically operated servomotor throttle valves is disclosed. The operation of the speed controller is characterized by a plurality of permanently pre-programmed read-only memories containing sets of instructions and data words arranged in an addressable order. The instructions and data words are synchronously processed by the microprocessor as governed by a system clock. Apparatus is provided to initialize the status of the speed controller under the control of the microprocessor in accordance with the processing of one portion of the sets of programmed instructions and data words thereby.

Abstract: A regulation system for a steam turbine installation comprising a steam generator and a multi-stage turbine installation incorporating a high-pressure stage. The regulation system comprises a regulation valve arranged between the steam generator and the high-pressure stage of the turbine installation and a by-pass valve connected in parallel with said high-pressure stage, as well as control devices with associated control circuits for said valves. The control device for the by-pass valve is influenced by the signal from the control circuit of the regulation valve such that when the opening of the regulation valve exceeds a predetermined magnitude the control device for the by-pass valve opens such by-pass valve to a predetermined magnitude. Further, the control circuit of the by-pass valve is connected in parallel with a differentiation element which influences the degree of opening of the by-pass valve as a function of variations in the signal received from the control circuit of the regulation valve.

Abstract: A steam turbine control system comprising a primary and an auxiliary manual turbine controller, each said turbine controller including a set of valve position setpoint controllers for close-loop control of the turbine steam admission valves, is disclosed. Each valve position setpoint controller operates, at times, on a position error signal to generate a valve position control signal which controls the rate of valve position movement of a corresponding turbine steam admission valve. The steam admission valves are closed-loop controlled by a selected set of said primary and auxiliary valve position setpoint controllers. The set of valve position control signals corresponding to the selected set of position setpoint controllers are coupled to their respective turbine steam admission valves for controlling the rate of position movement therein. The valve position error and position control signals of the unselected set of said controllers are maintained at approximately zero potential.

Abstract: A time modulated position controller is provided comprising a hydraulic actuator having a cylinder and a piston slidably disposed in the cylinder thus defining a chamber within the cylinder. An electric solenoid valve functions upon actuation to permit fluid communication from a source of fluid pressure to the cylinder chamber while, conversely, upon deactuation of the solenoid valve, the valve functions to exhaust fluid from the cylinder chamber. A position transducer, which generates a signal in response to the axial position of the piston within the cylinder, is coupled to one input of a differential amplifier while a control line, having an analog signal is coupled to the second input of the differential amplifier. The error output from the differential amplifier is time modulated to produce a square wave with a variable duty cycle which in turn is used to activate the solenoid valve.

Abstract: A pressure gas engine such as a compressed air turbine having a variable speed device for controlling the speed of a rotor and also having an overspeed safety device to prevent damage to the engine in the case of excess speed through malfunction. The overspeed safety device includes speed responsive elements that force the rotor against braking elements that are successively operated to brake the rotor to a complete stop in successive gentle braking actions and with the speed responsive elements including means for preventing resumed rotation of the rotor until the engine has been partially dismantled and the cause of the malfunction corrected.

Abstract: A pressure gas engine such as compressed air turbine in which gas flow to a pressure responsive rotor is controlled by a movable valve that is operated by a bellows with means connecting each side of the bellows to the gas in the turbine for substantially equal gas pressure on both the inside and the outside of the bellows. There is also provided a speed control member that closes the gas inlet but that can be opened to any desired degree to achieve a desired speed. A bleed line leads from one side of the bellows so as to regulate the pressure on that side and a speed responsive throttle valve is provided to meter the amount of flow through the bleed line thereby maintaining the desired speed dependent upon the setting of the main supply valve.

Abstract: In a wicket gate protecting device for hydraulic machines, a pair of link plates transmitting a force between a gate control ring and a gate lever, is connected to the gate lever through a shear pin. The gate lever disposed between the link plates, and rotatably supported about the shear pin. When the movement of the wicket gate is restricted by obstacles entered between adjacent gate vanes, the shear pin is cut and a part of the shear pin supporting the gate lever moves along between the link plates for a distance and is stopped by friction between the link plates and the shear pin, thereby preventing damage to the neighboring gate vanes.

Abstract: A turbine type air motor including a rotor and driven spindle having automatic speed regulation. The spindle and rotor have cooperating ports to control the flow of air to the rotor, and the spindle has provision for limited twisting movement within the rotor for moving the ports into and out of register. A biasing spring interposed between the spindle and rotor urges the ports normally out of register when the tool is lightly loaded. An increase in the load imposed upon the spindle causes the spindle to retreat relative to the rotor and against the force of the spring to bring the ports into register, thereby to increase the flow of air so that the torque developed by the rotor increases in step with the torque loading imposed on the spindle to maintain speed. In the preferred embodiment the spindle is of hollow construction and compressed air is fed axially into the hollow for transmission into the rotor through radial ports.

Abstract: A fluidic governor system for controlling the speed of a drive shaft output of a prime mover, comprising a fluidic governor, a reciprocating or vane compressor, a fluidic RC filter, and a valve. The compressor is mechanically coupled to and driven by the drive shaft output of the prime mover, and generates both pneumatic power and a pulsating fluidic signal which has a frequency proportional to the rotation of the drive shaft output of the prime mover. The fluidic RC filter blocks the passage of the pulsating fluidic signal and converts the power output to a steady pneumatic power supply which powers the fluidic governor, while the pulsating fluidic signal is acoustically sensed by the governor.