Abstract: A plastic blower impeller including an integrally formed plastic hub having three axial slots therein equidistantly located around the hub. A bore in the hub includes transverse ribs for engaging with an annular groove in the driving shaft of an electric motor. A flat surface is formed inside the bore for engaging with the corresponding flat surface on the driving shaft of an electric motor. A resilient expandable split metal sleeve engages the exterior surface of the hub.

Abstract: An axial fan construction wherein individual blade assemblies are secured within apertures in the fan hub. Fasteners extend between a retaining member and a blade base, with each blade base including a shoulder overlying a bearing surface on the hub and with resilient members positioned between the blade base shoulders and hub bearing surfaces. A spacer maintains the blade base shoulders and retaining members a preselected distance apart to allow prestressing of the fasteners while limiting the compressive force applied to the resilient member. The blade base shoulders and hub bearing surfaces are configured to cooperate with the resilient member to impart a centering force on the blade base relative to a hub aperture when the resilient member is compressed between the blade shoulder and hub bearing surface.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced thermoplastic propeller is attached to a metallic rotor by an integral shank at the base of the propeller. By virtue of the manufacture of the shank and the propeller as an integral construction, improved transmission of centrifugal forces especially where the propeller and hub have greatly different cross-sections can be effected while simultaneously reducing weight. Attachment of the shank to the hub is made through a connection by which pre-stress can be applied to the propeller to assist in resistance of lateral impact force.

Abstract: A propeller according to the invention has a hub centered on and rotatable about a hub axis and formed with a bore extending along the axis and with a plurality of identical, radially outwardly open, and angularly equispaced sockets centered on socket axes extending at least generally radially of the hub axis. Respective identical blades each have a base complementary to and snugly fittable in the respective socket and an outer part extending radially outward from the hub along the respective socket axis when the respective base is fitted therein. Respective locks are provided in the hub for releasably fixing the bases in the respective sockets against relative movement between the respective blades and the hub. The sockets and bases are normally complementarily cylindrical and both centered when the bases are in the sockets on the respective socket axes. Thus the blades can turn about the respective socket axes on the hub when released by the respective locking means.

Abstract: Apparatus for adjusting and locking the pitch of a variable pitch propeller. Within a propeller shaft, a hydraulic piston is provided which drives a rod, a plate, and levers to rotate the propeller blades in, and with respect to, the hub of the propeller. The root of the propeller within the hub has a conical portion which has a mating conical ring thereabout. This conical ring is engaged and locked into place with the conical portion of the propeller root and the propeller hub by hydraulic oil pressure, once the optimum pitch of the propeller blades is determined.

Abstract: A hydroelectric device wherein a water wheel having radial paddle boards is partially submerged in a moving stream of water, and driven by the water current to operate an electric generator. The water wheel has end discs at its respective sides to block escape of water from between the paddle boards. The paddle boards are normally disposed at right angles to the current flow, but if the water current should flow faster at one side of the wheel than at the other, the ends of the boards at the slow-current side may be shifted forwardly, or the ends thereof at the fast-current side may be shifted rearwardly, having reference to the direction of current flow, in order that a portion of the water impinging against the fast-current ends of the boards will be deflected to the slow-current side. This adjustment may be made either by shifting the position of the wheel relative to the water bodily, or by shifting the paddle boards relative to the wheel.

Abstract: There is disclosed an axial flow fan having blades which may be rotated about their axes to permit their pitches to be adjusted and which may be moved in a radial direction to adjust the clearance between their tips and the fan ring in which they rotate.

Abstract: An improved controlled droplet applicator for applying fluid in droplet form to a target area. The applicator includes a rotary atomizer for generating fluid droplets of ideal size and density. The improvement includes a fan for rotating with the atomizer and for causing the fluid droplets to move toward the target area.

Abstract: An adjustable-pitch axial fan wheel. A hub has an outer surface forming a portion of a sphere. A plurality of blades are attached to the hub, each blade having a substantial flange at the base portion, the inner surface of the flange being spherical to match the surface of the hub. A central strengthening bolt extends through the blade and projects into the hub to form a pivot axis for the blade. Arcuate holes are formed in the flange, the arcuate holes being alignable with bolt holes in the hub to bolt the flange to the hub while permitting blade pitch adjustment within about 28.degree. of rotation of each blade with respect to the hub.

Abstract: A vortex pump which has been converted from a centrifugal pump by interposing an annular spacer between the power frame and casing of the centrifugal pump to provide space for a vortex impeller which has been substituted for the centrifugal impeller. An adjustable vortex impeller consisting of a hub portion with an annular flange having a plurality of sets of holes circumferentially spaced thereon, a plurality of vanes each having a plurality of holes in its root portion, and bolts for fastening each of the vanes in a plurality of different positions on the hub by passing through different pairs of aligned holes in the flange and in the roots to provide different impeller diameters while maintaining the discharge angle of the vanes within a small predetermined range. A plurality of sets of vanes of different sizes can be selectively mounted on the hub to further extend the range of impeller diameters.

Abstract: A longitudinal extruded aluminum fan blade having an integral elongated shank extending from one blade end is connected to a pair of elongated mounting members having abutting surface portions in general conformance with and generally coextensive of respective top and bottom surface portions of the shank and having tapered portions overlying blade regions adjoining the shank with the blade regions being free of any connections extending therethrough to inhibit fatigue failure of the blade. The mounting members and the shank define a stem portion having one or more circumferential grooves and the stem portion is adapted to be attached in various pitch positions to a rotor having a flat surface. A coupling device includes a mounting saddle having a flat side abutting the flat rotor surface and an opposite side provided with curved ribs received in portions of the grooves.

Abstract: A new and improved type of rotor blade assembly is disclosed for use in a power-generating, wind-driven turbine. The present invention comprises a plurality of support blocks each mounting a rotor blade and captivated between two rings so as to form a cylindrical rotor array with radially-extending blades.The present invention offers the dual advantages of reduced fabrication costs and increased ease of manufacture.

Abstract: A hub is provided defining an axis of intended rotation to be disposed generally parallel to the direction of wind movement and the hub is hollow and include opposite ends spaced along the aforementioned axis. One end of the hub is closed and the other end is open to receive therein the wind incident upon the hub. The hub includes a plurality of elongated hollow propeller blades supported therefrom including root and tip ends as well as leading and trailing edges. The blades have their root ends supported from the hub at points spaced thereabout with the root ends opening into the interior of the hub inwardly of the open end thereof and the tip ends of the blades extending outwardly from the hub.

Abstract: A fan blade is adjustably connected to a power driven shaft by means of a hollow coupling with a flat bearing surface on its inside face, and surrounding a hole through its radially outer face. The fan blade shank extends through the hole and is captured by a split ring that has a rim which is compressed against the inside bearing surface by a shoulder on the shank. A removable yoke is held against the blade shaft or shoulder by bolts which pass through the coupling's radially outer face, span the rims and shoulder, and engage into tapped holes in the yoke.

Abstract: Marine propellers are constructed with a split-hub design, permitting adjustment of the pitch of the blades, and axial removability of the blade. By virtue of the axial removability of the blades, blades can be removed easily for repair or replacement without increasing the diametral clearance between the blade tips and a tunnel or nozzle of the type in which propellers are frequently disposed. Also, individual blades can be removed without the necessity of dropping the rudder, which is necessary in many vessels utilizing solid propellers. The blades have their spindles or roots clamped in the hub, such that axial adjustment of pitch can be achieved by reducing the clamping force. The hub preferably is formed in two sections, one section being mounted to or forming part of the propeller shaft, and including recesses which partially house the blade spindles or roots.

Abstract: An adjustable centrifugal impeller including a hub, a plurality of elongated vanes located circumferentially on the hub with each of the vanes having inner and outer portions, an annular ring mounted for circumferential sliding movement on the hub, first fasteners extending directly between the inner portions of the vanes and the annular ring for fastening the inner portions of the vanes directly to the hub, and second fasteners extending directly between each of the outer portions of the vanes and the hub for fastening the outer portions directly to the hub, and a plurality of locations on the vanes for receiving the second fasteners to thereby adjust the positions of the vanes on the hub, each of the vanes having a flat face which bears against flat faces of the annular ring and the hub to provide a rigid connection therewith through full face-to-face contact of the overlapping parts.

Abstract: This invention relates to marine propulsive devices, wherein the propeller drive shaft is dismantled outwards. The herein-proposed marine propulsive device comprises a propeller drive shaft carrying at one end a screw propeller that has a hub with radial holes to hold the propeller blade roots, the propeller hub being made as a sleeve fitted onto the propeller drive shaft extension in such a manner that a free space is defined between an end portion of the sleeve and the butt end of the propeller drive shaft, the space being communicated with the hub outside surface and adapted for feeding a liquid under pressure thereinto in the course of hub dismantling; each of the radial holes in the screw propeller hub is open-ended, and a socket coaxial with its respective hole is provided in the propeller drive shaft, the socket being adapted for holding the end of the propeller blade root.

Abstract: In the rotor of a windmill electric generator, blades are secured to a hub by means of individual tab-receiving slots and a common "knock-off" hubcap, this mounting means providing for rapid assembly and disassembly. The mounting structure itself establishes a predetermined pitch at the blade root, thus permitting the advantages of an optimum twisted blade to be obtained without the need for an excessively complex blade configuration. The result is a compact generator unit that can be used easily in remote areas and stowed with camping equipment.

Abstract: Apparatus for facilitating dismounting and remounting a removable blade of a shrouded marine propeller comprises detachable brackets that are temporarily affixed to the propeller hub and the blade to be removed and a pivot pin that is installed through aligned holes in the brackets and forms a pivot axis about which the blade is flipped back out of the shroud, the blade having previously been positioned to reside generally in a plane including the propeller hub axis.

Abstract: There is disclosed a blade and mounting means particularly useful in the construction of axial flow compressors where blades of airfoil configuration are mounted in blade carriers so as to be removable and replaceable by manipulation of nuts on adapters arranged radially, which adapters include tubular bodies having frusto-conical heads mounted in mating sockets in the carrier or carriers, the blades have portions positioned in the adapters and tightening of the nuts causes the adapters to grip the blades and fix them in adjusted positions, a seal to reduce losses being formed on the blades for use in those cases where such losses may be critical.

Abstract: In an axial flow fan impeller, the natural frequency of vibration of the individual blades is increased by mounting each blade to the annular support rim or hub for swinging movement relative to the ring about an axis, which lies generally perpendicular to a radius passing through the mounting. For a given blade, the mounting enables the fan to be rotated at higher speeds with a corresponding increase in performance. The mounting also permits the use of thinner, lighter-weight blades for a given operating speed and this permits a reduction in the cross sectional area of the rim. If the impeller includes a mechanism for controlling the pitch of all the blades during operation, the use of lighter-weight blades reduces the stresses on the mechanism so that the design and strength of the latter does not tend to be a limiting factor on the maximum permissible speed for the impeller.