Abstract: The conventional fan blade is replaced by a frame over which any of a wide range of decorative fabrics or other similar materials is drawn and secured by a clamping method to form a lightweight fan blade of any surface design desired by the user. The decorative fabric replaces the heavy fan blade while still providing its function of air circulation. The same decorative fabrics or other similar materials are also used as coverings or trim for the body of the fan motor housing. The fan blade frame may take any shape suitable for causing the circulation of air as by a conventional fan blade. Elimination of the fan blade mass of conventional designs makes possible significant reductions in power consumption, and significant reductions in stress, wear, and tear on the fan's ceiling mountings.

Abstract: A metallic component is by at least one peripheral edge. The component includes at least one elongated treated zone having a length substantially greater than its width. This treated zone is spaced away from and disposed generally parallel to the peripheral edge of the component and the entire thickness of the component within the treated zone is in a state of residual compressive stress. Crack growth from the edge due to fatigue or damage is resisted.

Abstract: A separable blade for a wind turbine, the separable blade being divided at a center part thereof in a longitudinal direction into an inner blade portion corresponding to a blade root side and an outer blade portion corresponding to a blade end portion, wherein the separable blade is structured by joining the inner blade portion and the outer blade portion with a joining member made of metal, the separable blade includes: a metal plate placed between the inner blade portion and the outer blade portion and electrically connected to the joining member; and an in-blade electrical conduction wire arranged to extend from the metal plate through a blade root part of the inner blade portion to outside of the blade.

Abstract: In a high turning airfoil capable of being suitably applied to each of blades constituting a blade row of an axial flow-type compressor, both of an intrados generating a positive pressure and an extrados generating a negative pressure exist on one side of a chord line, and the curvature of the extrados made non-dimensional by a chord length has a maximum value between a position corresponding to 10% of the chord length and a position corresponding to 35% of the chord length, and a minimum value in the rear of the position of the maximum value and between a position corresponding to 30% of the chord length and a position corresponding to 50% of the chord length. Preferably, a difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the curvature is equal to or larger than 0.5, and a turning angle is equal to or larger than 40°.

Abstract: A fan blade assembly for a ceiling fan has lightweight, oversized blades formed by a support frame with a blade covering material stretched over the frame. A lighting fixture attached to the support frame rotates with the fan blades. The fan blades are contoured to provide airfoil characteristics having an optimal compromise to maximize air circulation when rotating in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction. In a ceiling fan, the fan blade assembly can be used singluarly or used in combination with conventional fan blades on the ceiling fan.

Abstract: A pultruded composite blade for a Darrieus-type vertical axis wind turbine is disclosed, along with a method for fabricating such a blade. The blade is a composite structure with a uniform cross-section with reinforcing fibers at least some of which extend parallel to a lengthwise central axis and run continuously from end to end. The composite blade is pultruded straight and, when installed on the tower, the blade is elastically bent into a curved shape that approximates a troposkein. The composite structure includes a skin composed of multiple layers of resin-coated glass fabric that define an airfoil shape. The composite structure also includes one or more internal ribs or spars composed of multiple layers of resin-coated glass fabric.

Abstract: A composite axial flow rotary machine blade (50) and method of blade construction is disclosed. A partial-length, spanwisely-disposed hollow spar (20) partially captures a shaped foam core (30) which extends from within the spar's cavity (26) along a substantial length of the blade (50) in a spanwise fashion. A resin-impregnated high strength, high modulus cloth (34) and graphite (32) composition overlays the spar-core assembly (36) and forms the casing (50) with airfoil regions (52, 54) of the propeller blade (10). This construction results in a rotor blade (50) with enhanced natural frequencies thereby providing for an enhanced operational speed range.

Abstract: A rotor blade for a horizontal axis wind turbine wherein a multiplicity of sucker rods are utilized internally of the blade root for securing the blade to the rotating hub of the turbine including the method of attaching the blade root to the hub and the method of making the blade root.

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: A hot gas impinged turbine blade suitable for use under super-heated gas operating conditions has a hollow ceramic blade member and an inner metal support core extending substantially radially through the hollow blade member and having a radially outer widened support head. The support head has radially inner surfaces against which the ceramic blade member supports itself in a radial direction on both sides of the head. The radially inner surfaces of the head are inclined at an angle to the turbine axis so as to form a wedge or key forming a dovetail type connection with respectively inclined surfaces of the ceramic blade member. This dovetail type connection causes a compressive stress on the ceramic blade member during operation, whereby an optimal stress distribution is achieved in the ceramic blade member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to turbine blades and in particular to turbine blades for use in gas turbine engines. Tensile stresses are introduced into turbine blades when they rotate at high speeds on a turbine rotor. In order to minimize the stresses in an outer skin of an aerofoil of the turbine blade, the outer skin is secured to a platform and an inner core, and in operation a temperature difference is set up between the outer skin and the inner core. The temperature difference produces a thermal compressive stress in the outer skin which opposes the tensile stress produced due to the rotation of the turbine blade. The extremities of the outer skin may be secured to the platform with either a tensile or compressive prestress depending upon the temperature difference between the outer skin and inner core at normal operating conditions.

Abstract: A rotor blade, for example for a windmill, comprises a plurality of blade ctions between a blade root and a tip. The sections are interconnected by tensioning members such as steel cables or the like, preferably extending through the blade sections. Thus, each section may be manufactured individually and all components may be assembled at the construction site, whereby relatively large windmill rotors may be constructed.

Abstract: A transpiration cooled blade for a gas turbine engine is assembled from a plurality of individual airfoil-shaped hollow ceramic washers stacked upon a ceramic platform which in turn is seated on a metal root portion. The airfoil portion so formed is enclosed by a metal cap covering the outermost washer. A metal tie tube is welded to the cap and extends radially inwardly through the hollow airfoil portion and through aligned apertures in the platform and root portion to terminate in a threaded end disposed in a cavity within the root portion housing a tension nut for engagement thereby. The tie tube is hollow and provides flow communication for a coolant fluid directed through the root portion and into the hollow airfoil through apertures in the tube. The ceramic washers are made porous to the coolant fluid to cool the blade via transpiration cooling.

Abstract: A blade mounting having journal and thrust bearings locating the blades in a hub to relieve load and therefore friction by a torsionally flexible tension member secured within each blade so that centrifugal forces of the blade are transmitted directly to the hub, instead of thru the thrust bearing. Also, each blade is located in the hub so that the aerodynamic torque and thrust on the blade are transmitted directly to the hub as components of the centrifugal force.