Abstract: An improved windmill includes a conical rotor unit, a frame for supporting the conical rotor unit and a base for supporting the frame. The conical rotor unit has a conical rotor with a plurality of spaced curved blades disposed thereon and a plurality of spaced slant blades located at an outer rim of the conical rotor. The conical rotor has small wind resistance and may rotate under low speed wind to generate rotor rotation. The frame is rotationable about the base to enable the conical rotor to capture wind from different directions. The conical rotor is heavier than conventional windmill rotor and may serve as a fly wheel to store kinetic energy for the windmill to produce steady rotation under different wind speed for a long period of time.

Abstract: A turbine 400 has a central duct 410 which accelerates fluid passing through it and a blade configuration which retards the flow of fluid near the tips of the turbine. This structure results in a vortex having a higher fluid pressure behind the tips of the turbine blades 408 and a lower fluid pressure behind the duct. In the present invention, this vortex is enhanced by (1) an increased acceleration of the fluid passing through the duct 410 and a deceleration of the fluid passing through the blades 408; and/or (2) by a fluid redirection device 850 for directing the fluid passing through the duct towards the outer diameter of the turbine.

Abstract: An apparatus for tensioning a subsurface float line and the like during doyment of the line and thereafter includes a capstan rotatably mounted and located in a liquid medium, the capstan having a bore extending from one end of the capstan to the other end, the bore including a plurality of pump blades for moving the liquid through the bore when the capstan is rotated, the capstan also including turbine blades located around the circumference of the capstan and adjacent both ends of the capstan, the capstan also including a circular surface interposed between the turbine blades for communicating with the line to be tensioned. The pump and turbine blades do work when the capstan is rotated thereby creating a counter rotational (drag) force that tensions the line during and after deployment.

Abstract: A pump body 10 of a drainage pump 1A comprises a pump chamber 12, inlet 15, and outlet 17. A rotary vane 300 mounted in the pump body 10 is coupled to a motor mounted above the pump body 10, and comprises a shaft 310 and four large-radial blades 320. Formed below the large-radial blades 320 are small-radial blades 350 to make a liquid at the inlet rise. Lower edges of the large-radial blades 320 are connected together by a disk 350 having an opening at the center and interceptively dividing the surface of the liquid rising from the inlet. Thus the amount of the liquid in contact with the large-radial blades 320 above the disk 350 decreases, and the load to the rotary vane decreases. At the same time, bubbles, noise and vibrations caused by bubbles also decrease. By surrounding the outer circumference of the large-radial blades 320 with a ring member, return water W5 moving back from the outlet 17 when the pump stops is damped by the wall member 360 and returns smoothly to the inlet 15.

Abstract: A pump body 10 of a drainage pump 1A comprises a pump chamber 12, inlet 15, and outlet 17. A rotary vane 300 mounted in the pump body 10 is coupled to a motor mounted above the pump body 10, and comprises a shaft 310 and four large-radial blades 320. Formed below the large-radial blades 320 are small-radial blades 350 to make a liquid at the inlet rise. Lower edges of the large-radial blades 320 are connected together by a disk 350 having an opening at the center and interceptively dividing the surface of the liquid rising from the inlet. Thus the amount of the liquid in contact with the large-radial blades 320 above the disk 350 decreases, and the load to the rotary vane decreases. At the same time, bubbles, noise and vibrations caused by bubbles also decrease. By surrounding the outer circumference of the large-radial blades 320 with a ring member, return water W5 moving back from the outlet 17 when the pump stops is damped by the wall member 360 and returns smoothly to the inlet 15.

Abstract: A drainage pump 1 comprises a pump housing 40 defining a suction inlet 42, a pumping chamber 44 and a delivery outlet 46, and a cover 32. An impeller 50 accommodated in the pump housing is driven by a motor 10. The impeller 50 comprises a shaft 52 coupled to an output shaft of the motor 10, large-radius vanes 60 in form of flat plates radially extending from the shaft 52, and small-radius vanes 54 continuous from the large-radius vanes 60. Outer circumferential edges of the large-radius vanes 60 are connected by a cylindrical wall member 64, and outer circumferential parts of lower edges of the large-radius vanes 60 are connected by an annular member 62. The cylindrical wall member 64 has a rounded portion 70 at its upper end, and the small-radius vanes 54 also have rounded portions 57 at their lower ends.

Abstract: A high specific speed fan propeller is provided which has a hub, at least two main blades and at least two auxiliary blades. The hub has an attachment device for connecting the propeller to a turning part. The at least two main blades are attached to the hub and extend radially a first distance therefrom. The at least two auxiliary blades are also attached to the hub and extend radially a second distance therefrom. The first distance is greater than the second distance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mixing impeller including a plurality of blades circumferentially mounted to a frame around the mixing impeller with adjacent blades being opened from one another. The blades are secured to the frame in a manner such that at least part of each blade extends outwardly of the frame to guide discharge of fluid passing through the impeller away from the frame and substantially eliminate any turbulence that the frame might otherwise create. In addition, the frame has a rearwardly inwardly tapering configuration with each of the blades having the same inward rearward taper as that of the frame. This combination of features substantially reduces turbulance of the outward flow of liquid from the impeller relative to conventional impeller designs.

Abstract: The invention concerns reduction of tip vortices in aircraft propellers, wherein a fence having anhedral or dihedral is attached to the blades of the propeller. Another form of the invention is applicable to counterrotating propeller systems, wherein a fence is attached to the blades of the forward propeller of the system, and no fences are attached to the aft propeller.

Abstract: Impellers and impeller systems are described which enable liquids and liquid suspensions to be mixed and blended where the size of the impeller and the viscosity of the liquid may require operation in the turbulent and laminar flow regimes, as well as in the transitional flow regime therebetween. The impellers have a plurality of fluidfoil blades and have camber and twist. The angle at the tip of two diametrically disposed blades of a four blade impeller may have a different blade angle at the tip than the other pair of blades. A pair of impellers may be used. These impellers may be of different diameter and disposed in close proximity so that they are in dependent relationship (preferably spaced apart by less than the diameter of the larger impeller).

Abstract: Impellers and impeller systems are described which enable liquids and liquid suspensions to be mixed and blended where the size of the impeller and the viscosity of the liquid may require operation in the turbulent and laminar flow regimes, as well as in the transitional flow regime therebetween. The impellers have a plurality of fluidfoil blades and have camber and twist. The geometric pitch or blade angle increases from the tip of the blade towards their axis of rotation in a manner to provide an over pitched condition so that the pitch ratio of the blades at 40% of the blade radius from the axis is greater than the pitch ratio at the tip. The blades are preferably smoothly tapered and increased in width from the tip towards the axis. The impeller blades are mounted on a hub connected to a drive shaft. The blades may decrease in width where they connect to the hub. The pitch angle at the tip is in the range of 18.degree. to 30.degree. (preferably about 20.degree.).

Abstract: A boat propeller drive with double, counter-rotating propellers is distinguished by the after propeller having one more blade than the fore propeller as well as a smaller diameter than the fore propeller.

Abstract: In a fan with a fluid friction clutch wherein the housing of the clutch is connected with the fan or has fan blades attached thereto and wherein the surface of the clutch housing facing the air intake opening of the fan is provided with cooling ribs to carry off slippage heat, the improvement comprises flow direction means for reducing the effects of the secondary air flow around the clutch housing. The flow directing means comprise either the cooling ribs on the surface of the clutch housing facing the air intake opening of the fan which ribs are curved at the outer edges thereof in a direction reverse to that of the rotation of the fan; cooling ribs of construction angled in reverse direction to that of the direction of rotation of the fan; annular cooling ribs; or cooling ribs of conventional radial arrangement covered by a flow directing intake housing.