Abstract: A turbine installation having reduced inner and outer gaps comprises a water passageway and a turbine runner disposed in the passageway downstream of a discharge ring. The turbine runner includes a hollow hub having spaced apart inner and outer surfaces and a longitudinal axis and a plurality of runner blades. Each blade comprises a hydrofoil having an inner edge and a distal outer edge, a leading edge and a trailing edge separated by a water directing surface. Each blade is pivotally connected to the hub about a rotational axis extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis so that its inner edge is proximate the hub. Each blade is rotatable between a maximum pitch position and a minimum pitch position. The discharge ring has a spherical configuration cooperable with the outer edge of each of the blades to reduce an outer gap formed between the outer edge of each of the blades and the passageway.

Abstract: A Kaplan turbine or similar hydraulic machine has a hub body (1) fixed to the turbine shaft with radial blades attached to the hub body. The blades are fitted with oil lubricated bearings in the hub body. A sealing arrangement for the oil system has first (60) and second (61) circumferential sealing members with a circumferential space (65) between the first and second sealing members (60, 61). High pressure water from a water source is directed into the circumferential space (65) via a connecting channel (64) to block the lubricating oil from leaking into the working fluid.

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: A gas turbine engine for aircraft propulsion includes a variable pitch fan, pitch change of which is effected by providing a small D.C. excitation current to a selected one of two non-rotating field coils dependent upon the direction of pitch change desired. The field coils each form the static part of respective polyphase A.C. alternators, and the rotating armatures of the alternators connect to respective separate stator windings of a compound polyphase A.C. reversible induction motor rotating with the fan. An armature of the motor is relatively rotatable and couples with the fan blades to pivotally vary their pitch angle. An A.C. current is available from the non-excited alternator field coil, and may be rectified and controlled for use as the D.C. excitation current. Thus, all energy requirements of the pitch change apparatus may be extracted from the rotor of the fan engine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the angle of variable angle inlet guide vanes provides a non-linear adjustment schedule for a selected vane row as compared to the adjustment schedule for the IGV vane row. The non-linear schedule is conveniently achieved by providing a modified adjustment linkage utilizing a bell crank. The non-linear schedule provides improved engine stall margin at low engine speeds.

Abstract: The journals of two vanes of the wind turbine are connected with one another by a connecting rod 26 for absorption of the centrifugal forces of the vanes. Bearings with spherical faces are arranged between the ends of the connecting rod and the journals. The connecting rod is prestressed with a tensile force by means of a tubular bushing which surrounds the rod and which cooperates with threaded rings on the rod to tension the rod.

Abstract: An operating rod is connected at its one end to a runner vane rotary shaft through a link and lever mechanism. The operating rod is supported by a rotational propelling force bearing. The rotational propelling force bearing is reciprocatingly moved through a link and lever mechanism by a servomotor disposed outside of a stay ring. With such a construction, the rotational operation of the runner vanes may be smoothly attained.

Abstract: A horizontal shaft wind turbine with few blades, is provided with device for turning or twisting the blades about their longitudinal axes, comprising a power source situated outside the turbine shaft and adapted to impart axial motion to a first axially displaceable clutch mounted on the shaft, the clutch having two main parts in mutual coaction such that one part is rotationally stationary on the shaft, whereas the other part may rotate with the shaft, the part rotating with the shaft being coupled to the blades.

Abstract: A propeller runner having swivelling blades, each integral with a journal engaged in two bearings respectively in the outer portion and the inner portion of the runner, and equipped with lateral connecting rods for manipulation in rotation.The inner central portion of the hub of the runner includes a spider 29 each arm of which consists of a radial journal 31 prolonged by a threaded portion 32. Each blade journal 23 is engaged over a spider journal 31 with a bearing 26 and is held by a nut 33 screwed onto the portion 32 with the interposition of a thrust bearing 30. The spider 29 for a four-bladed runner preferably consists of a core 39 through which passes a shaft 40.The invention is applicable to propeller runners having swivelling blades for turbines.

Abstract: A stop device limits rods, such as control rods, used in helicopter flight control systems, from roll-over in selected directions, while allowing substantially unrestricted motion in other directions.

Abstract: A turbine blade indexing assembly adapted for variably adjusting the pitch of the turbine blades in a turbine wheel. The indexing assembly includes a housing secured to a turbine hub and an indexing ring contained between the housing and the hub and adapted for limited rotational movement relative to the housing. A plurality of radial bores are formed around the periphery of the housing and each bore is adapted to receive a cylindrical shank of the turbine blade therethrough. A blade retainer ring, having a transverse bore adapted to register with a transverse bore formed through the turbine blade shank, is positioned on each turbine blade shank so that a pin member inserted through the registering bores in the shank and retainer ring rotatably secures the turbine blade to the housing. One end of the pin member is received in an actuator slot formed in the indexing ring so that rotational movement of the indexing ring produces a corresponding axial rotation of the turbine blades.