Abstract: A high-strength hybrid component including a relatively soft first part made of a composite material including an organic matrix reinforced with fibers, a relatively hard second part made of metal, metal alloy, or ceramic, and a transition layer made of a composite material including a matrix of a material that is weldable to the hard part and fibers that are extensions of the fibers of the soft part. The transition layer matrix and the hard part may be formed by deposition of molten material on to the fiber preform of the soft part using flame, electric arc, or plasma. The resin matrix of the soft part is impregnated into the preform and polymerized afterwards. Alternatively, the hard part may be machined to shape and welded to the transition layer before completing the soft part.

Abstract: In injection-molding first and second blade bodies (2, 3), convex parts (23, 32) are formed on the surfaces of the first and second blade bodies (2, 3), respectively. Then, a horn (16) of an ultrasonic welding device is placed at a position of crossing both the convex parts (23, 32) to come into contact with the top surfaces of the convex parts (23, 32) while pressing them at the same time, and in this state, the ultrasonic welding device is operated. Contact surfaces of the first and second blade bodies (2, 3) are welded at their portions corresponding to a pressing direction of the horn (16) and concurrently, both the convex parts (23, 32) are deformed by melting under pressure through the horn (16) to trickle melting resin of both the convex parts (23, 32) into a clearance (10) between the first and second blade bodies (2, 3), so that both the blade bodies (2, 3) are joined to each other.

Abstract: A pump has a rotor made of synthetic resin in a fixed housing which are adjacently arranged while forming a gap between the housing and the rotor to force-feed a medium containing water moisture, in which the rotor is made of a resol-type synthetic resin so that a dimensional change rate of the rotor is 0.15% or less for a medium having a moisture content rate of 10 wt % or less, whereby a sufficient pump performance can be obtained while relatively increasing the degree of freedom of the moisture content rate of the medium to reduce the corrosiveness of the medium.

Abstract: An impeller includes a vane component integrally molded with a plurality of vanes having predetermined tilt angles that change continuously from a central portion of rotation, and a bottomed cylindrical component formed with a rotating shaft body, so that the vanes have an ideal shape with tilt angles that match the rotational peripheral velocity. For this purpose, the impeller of an axial fan serves as a rotor arranged to be rotatable with respect to a stator fixed to a main body of the axial fan. The impeller includes a bottomed cylindrical component formed by injection molding from a predetermined resin material such that a shaft body axially supported by a rotary bearing of the main body is formed at a central portion of rotation thereof, and a vane component formed by injection molding from a predetermined resin material such that a plurality of vanes are equidistantly formed thereon.

Abstract: Co-molded fan vanes on a propeller. The vanes provide a soft, flexible material guard along the leading edge of each vane. This obviates the use of a propeller edge guard without concern for injury.

Abstract: This invention provides a compact, flat axial fan which is not limited by the shape of an incorporated rotor magnet and ensures a sufficiently large air flow and wind pressure, wherein the slide (under) piece of a mold that forms the under-molding portions of the vanes of the impeller of the axial fan is pulled out while being twisted (while performing a helical motion) in the direction of central axis of the base portion of the impeller, so that the mold can be formed simple to realize a multi-cavity mold, and the vanes can be formed into an ideal form by setting vane angles depending on different rotating peripheral velocities of the vanes, so that air can be supplied form the under-molding portions of the vanes to the vanes on the outer circumferential side during rotation of the impeller and a method of manufacturing an impeller for the axial fan.

Abstract: A paper-making machine includes a wet end associated with a wet fiber web, a headbox having an outlet gap, and a forming fabric positioned adjacent to the outlet gap and moving in a direction of web travel. An air/water separator is positioned in association with the forming fabric and downstream from the headbox relative to the direction of web travel. The air/water separator is configured for receiving liquid from the fiber web. A blower having a housing and an impeller is fluidly connected with the air/water separator. The impeller is rotatably carried by and within the housing and has a rotating hub with a periphery. The impeller also has a plurality of vanes attached to and extending from the hub and substantially equally spaced around the periphery. The vanes are formed of a non-metallic, composite material and have a coating of a layer of hydrophobic material substantially covering the composite material.

Abstract: The invention relates to an impeller of a rotary pump having an annular upper part defining a central inlet opening, a drive-adjacent disk-shaped lower part, and a plurality of blades secured between the upper and lower parts. The upper and lower parts are separate parts which secure together. Each blade is integrally formed with either the upper part or the lower part. Every other blade is formed with the upper part, and the remaining blades are formed with the lower part. Each blade has a free edge, remote from a base thereof, which has a projection which extends into a recess or opening formed in the part to which it is not integrally molded. After the upper and lower parts are assembled together, free spaces around the projections are filled with injected plastic, thereby securing the upper and lower parts together and securing the free ends of the blades.

Abstract: A fan blade includes a metal airfoil having first and second opposite sides extending radially between a root and tip, and axially between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The airfoil further includes a plurality of pockets disposed in the first side and separated by corresponding ribs. A filler is bonded in the pocket, and is coextensive with the airfoil first side. Radial and diagonal ribs respectively intersect solely each other for selectively increasing torsional and bending stiffness to increase frequency margin between adjacent torsional and bending resonant modes of vibration.

Abstract: A device for vacuuming organic materal, comprising an impeller constructed from an elastomer such as polyurethane and shaped so that at operating speeds, the impeller deforms under the centripetal forces into a shape commonly found in such devices having rigid impellers. In an alternative embodiment, the device further comprises a housing and an outlet duct constructed from high density polyethylene. The outlet duct may be directed in at least two directions. In yet another alternative embodiment, the device further comprises a vacuum wand having a flared entrance and may have a riser section which is preferably 18 inches long.

Abstract: A radiator fan of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle is provided in the form of a one piece injection molded combination of radial fan blades and axial fan blades supported on a conical annulus for increasing air pressure flow across the radiator. The conical annulus has the same axis as that of the hub of the fan. The radial blades connect the interior face of the conical annulus to the hub of the fan. The axial blades are connected to the exterior surface of the conical annulus and extend radially outward. The fan is coupled to the engine through a fluid friction clutch. An air guide ring is positioned upstream of the fan for deflecting axial incoming air flow to help improving efficiency of the fan.

Abstract: A one-piece injection molded arm and blade unit for a ceiling fan, or the like, in which a blade forms an extension of an arm. At least one web formed on the arm, and at least one other web is formed on the arm and extends at an angle to the first web. The webs serve to add strength to the unit to counteract the various stresses placed on the unit during operation.

Abstract: A composite article comprising of a non-metallic composite core, a fluoroelastomer adhesive layer which has a curing temperature substantially similar to the composite core, and a metallic structure which overlays the fluoroelastomer adhesive layer, wherein the composite article can be formed by co-curing the core and the fluoroelastomer adhesive layer.

Abstract: This process consists in making separately a set of individual plies consisting of rods impregnated with thermoplastic resin, in assembling several individual plies in order to form a rod bundle, in encasing at least the rods in at least one elastomer and in curing the injected elastomer. The ends of the rods have a rectangular shape, the rods having central parts joined to the ends by transition zones such that the surface area of the cross-section of the rods is constant and the length of the transition zone is very small. Cut pieces consisting of fibers, arranged on each side of the ends of the rods comprise fibers oriented at more or less 45 degrees to the longitudinal fibers of the rods.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for forwarding a medium in the form of a gas, liquid, or loose particles. The medium can contain additives and/or contaminants in an aggregate state other than that of the medium itself. The device's major components are form-fit and force-fit together and comprise at least one supporting component along with blade-like components fastened to it. The supporting component is, or the supporting components are, made of a fiber-filled composite. The device is in particular an impeller for a pump, turbine, or similar mechanism. It is characterized in that the supporting component is, or the supporting components are, made of a lattice of essentially continuous fibers of carbon and/or ceramic and of a matrix that contains carbon and in that the fibers are sheathed with silicon carbide resulting from the infiltration of liquid silicon and from its reaction essentially with the carbon in the matrix.

Abstract: A fan blade includes a metal airfoil having first and second opposite sides extending radially between a root and tip, and axially between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The airfoil further includes a plurality of pockets disposed in the first side and separated by corresponding ribs. A filler is bonded in the pocket, and is coextensive with the airfoil first side. Radial and diagonal ribs respectively intersect solely each other for selectively increasing torsional and bending stiffness to increase frequency margin between adjacent torsional and bending resonant modes of vibration.

Abstract: The turbine comprises a plurality of blades disposed around a hub between two end plates, with the blades, the hub, and the end plates being made of thermostructural composite material. The hub is made by stacking plane annular plates of thermostructural composite material along a common axis. Each blade is made individually by shaping a two-dimensional fiber fabric in plate or sheet form to obtain a blade preform, by densifying the preform with a matrix to obtain a blade blank made of thermostructural composite material, and by machining an outline for the densified preform. Each end plate is obtained by making an annular preform by means of a two-dimensional fiber fabric in plate or sheet form, and by densifying the preform with a matrix to obtain a part made of thermostructural composite material. The blades are assembled to the hub between the end plates, with each blade being connected to the hub by a portion forming a blade root.

Abstract: A method for dynamically balancing a centrifugal blower fan wheel is disclosed. The method includes the steps of determining an amount and location of change in the fan inlet ring of the blower wheel which is required to balance the blower wheel. Once this determination is made, the radial thickness of the inlet ring is increased at a predetermined location to provide the proper amount of balance to the blower wheel. A mold is described for accomplishing this method.

Abstract: A plastic fan is composed of a plastic-made fan portion and a metal-made insert portion integrally embedded in the plastic-made fan portion. The fan portion is formed of fan blades and a fan boss. The insert portion is formed of a ring-shaped flat base portion and a bent portion extending upright from an outer peripheral edge of the base portion and having a substantially ring-shaped configuration in plan and a flattened U-shaped configuration in cross-section. The insert portion defines lock holes arranged at predetermined intervals in an outer peripheral portion of the metal-made insert portion and extending through the metal-made insert portion from an outer side thereof to an inner side thereof. The inner peripheral edge portion of each of the lock holes is formed of a smooth flat surface on at least one of the outer side and the inner side of the metal-made insert portion.

Abstract: An aircraft with supporting wings including wing shells with good shear strength made of fibrous composite materials, particularly fiber-reinforced plastics, having members taking up tensile and compressive forces on the inside of the wing shells. The members have unidirectional fibers extending longitudinally of the wing, and fixing elements which can be joined detachably to fuselage attachments are provided on the members at the root end of the wing. Stringers are constructed on the inside of the wing shells and spaced longitudinally of the shells, their fiber component being formed by a fiber layer joined to the fiber layer of the wing shell. Fiber bundles are arranged between spaced stringers as unidirectional stiffening elements. The fiber bundles are embedded in the synthetic resin matrix of the plane load-bearing structure and extend longitudinally of the supporting wing.

Abstract: A fan blade includes a metal airfoil having first and second opposite sides extending longitudinally between a root and a tip, and laterally between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The airfoil further includes a plurality of fine striations spaced laterally apart between the leading and trailing edges in the airfoil first side, and extending longitudinally between the root and the tip. A viscoelastic filler is bonded in the striations for damping torsional vibrations of the airfoil.

Abstract: A method for compression molding a resin-impregnated preform to fabricate an impact-resistance, fiber-reinforced composite fan blade for use in a high bypass turbofan engine. The method is compatible with the use of high viscosity resin systems that contribute greater impact resistance to the fan blade, but whose flow through the fan blade during molding would cause unacceptable movement of the reinforcing fibers. The method entails restricting the flow of the resin system within the preform through selective placement of a resin-impervious material on certain surfaces of the preform, so as to prevent resin loss and fiber movement during the compression molding operation.

Abstract: The turbine comprises a plurality of blades disposed between two end plates and defining flow passages between an inner ring and an outer ring. The turbine is formed by first and second parts, each part made as a single one-piece part out of thermostructural composite material, the first part forming both a first end plate and the blades, while the second part forms the second end plate which is applied against the blades of the first part. The first part and the second part are preferably assembled to each other solely by being clamped together via their central portions.

Abstract: A turbine wheel for a torque converter for an automatic transmission is formed of fiber-reinforced plastic resin molded about a powder metal hub having a disc formed with corrugations extending radially from a central axis, and slots extending through the thickness of the disc at angularly spaced intervals. The plastic resin of the turbine wheel fills the spaces between the tabs, extends through the slots formed through the disc, and forms a bond to the surfaces of the disc on which it is molded.

Abstract: A lightweight, impact-resistant gas turbine blade, such as an aircraft engine fan blade, includes attached-together first-metal and second-composite segments together defining an airfoil portion. The first segment includes entirely the suction side, leading edge, and trailing edge from the blade root to the blade tip and further includes partially the pressure side near the leading and trailing edges from the blade root to the blade tip. The second segment includes partially the pressure side from near the leading edge to near the trailing edge from the blade root to near the blade tip.

Abstract: A fan for a vacuum cleaner has a fan housing, motor and impeller. The fan housing has an inlet and outlet. The impeller has a overmolded hub and multiple flexible blades. This flexible blade fan provides better air performance, less noise, better durability, and easier impeller installation than conventional vacuum cleaner fans.

Abstract: A lightweight, impact-resistant gas turbine blade, such as an aircraft engine fan blade, has a metal solid section, composite or structural/syntactic foam segments, and metal solid spars all attached together to define an airfoil portion. The solid section includes the leading edge, blade tip, and trailing edge. The segments together are bounded in part by the solid section near the leading edge, blade tip, and trailing edge. The solid spars separate and are attached to the segments.

Abstract: Stator vanes located between compressor stages in a gas turbine engine are fabricated with a composite outer shell made of graphite fibers in an epoxy binder that is laid-up over a core of felt-like material selected to have an elongation velocity that is greater than the elongation velocity of the shell.

Abstract: An air moving device such as an axial cooling fan comprises a rotatable shaft assembly and a plurality of fan blades coupled to the rotatable shaft assembly, each of the fan blades having a trailing edge when the rotatable shaft assembly is rotated in a given direction. In accordance with one illustrative embodiment of the invention, at least one of the fan blades has a sound reducing material attached thereto alongside the trailing edge thereof. The sound reducing material reduces aeroacoustic noise by reducing the aerodynamic effect that occurs when turbulence produced by the pressure differential between the two sides of one blade comes into contact either with the trailing edge of the given blade which created it, or, more significantly, with the following blade, at or near that blade's trailing edge.

Abstract: A fan for a cooling system of a motor vehicle has a radial impeller with multiple vanes which are arranged between an impeller bottom and a cover disk. A stationary intake nozzle extends axially into a cover disk intake, forming an annular gap between the cover disk intake and the intake nozzle. The impeller bottom, the vanes and the cover disk of the radial impeller are made in one piece of a plastic material. A separate air guide ring is arranged on the cover disk at the cover disk intake.

Abstract: A magnetic pump is provided which is especially useful for pumping corrosive agents, having simplified components made of a hard ceramic, preferably silicon carbide, which form ceramic-on-ceramic axial and radial bearing surfaces. The pump has an impeller and magnetic rotor, each being mounted on an opposite end of a ceramic shaft by a respective ceramic bush. The shaft rides in ceramic first and second plain bearing bushes, each of which forms a radial bearing surface and an axial bearing journal end face. The ceramic impeller bush is secured to the shaft by a form fit and provides an axial bearing surface against the first bearing bush end face. Similarly, the ceramic rotor bush is secured to the shaft by a form fit and forms an axial bearing surface against the end face of the second plain bush.

Abstract: According to this invention, there is provided a centrifugal blower wheel with backward curved comprising a disk, a shroud and a plurality of airfoil shaped blades. By separating the blades into "vane members" which assume the function of a fluid device and "vane attachment members" which assume the function of a rotating device, there is a greater degree of freedom of design, so optimum materials and shapes can be assigned to these different functions. The disk, the shroud and the vane attachment members are therefore constructed of metal and provided with beads so as to give a highly rigid structure, while the vane members are constructed of non-metal. This makes it possible to provide a blower wheel which is more lightweight and quieter in operation than a conventional blower wheel.

Abstract: A molded impeller fan assembly has a backing plate and a plurality of blades extending generally orthogonally upwardly therefrom. A V-shaped buttress is formed at the transition of each blade to the backing plate. Each buttress is defined by a pair of opposed walls which are formed where the backing plate curves gradually upward toward the blade apex. A V-shaped indentation is disposed between the walls in a side of the backing plate opposite the blades. The walls of the buttress serve to transfer centrifugal and impact forces from the blades to the backing plate.

Abstract: A composite stator vane for a gas turbine engine comprising a plurality of compression molded, heat cured plies, the plies including a plurality of centrally located internal plies of reinforcement material of unidirectional yarns of para-aramid fibers, a plurality of plies of resin impregnated graphite fiber material on each side of the centrally located plies of reinforcement material, and an external steel wire mesh ply on the leading edge of the vane.

Abstract: A carbon fiber covered on the surface with an aromatic polysulfone resin and then heated at 300.degree.-400.degree. C., a heat-resistant resin composition with excellent mechanical strength comprising 5-50% by weight of the carbon fiber and 95-50% by weight of a heat-resistant resin, and an internal combustion engine part, particularly an impeller of centrifugal compressor produced in one step, using the resin composition.

Abstract: A pump rotor for displacing fluids includes a cover and a bottom part having blades. Both the bottom part and the cover are formed by injection molding of thermoplastic materials, preferably reinforced by fillers. The bottom part and the cover are joined together by welding. The walls of the bottom part and cover are sufficiently thin to replace similar metal parts and to provide maximum benefit of the skin effect resulting from the specific surface qualities of the molded material forming the bottom part and the cover. A mold for molding the bottom part and the cover is equipped with a cap which is angularly and vertically adjustable making it possible for a balancing weight to be fitted on the molded parts. The balancing weight is also angularly adjustable and has an adjustable mass.

Abstract: A variable pitch fan for a helicopter equipped with a NOTAR.TM. mechanical antitorque directional control system comprises a plurality of blade assemblies. Each blade assembly includes a blade portion, which is molded from a blended material which includes fiber reinforced polypropylene. A key to the invention is the use of long fibers, having a length of at least approximately one-half inch, for reinforcement, the long fibers providing for about twice the pull-out strength of short or chopped fibers. Another key aspect of the invention is the use of a blowing agent in the blended material, which serves to reduce weight and warpage by creating a foamed structure having a variable density, the structure retaining considerable strength because of the fiber reinforcement. The blade portion is molded about a spar which has holes therethrough, the holes providing a mechanical interlock between the blade and the spar.

Abstract: Stator vanes located between compressor stages in a gas turbine engine are fabricated with a composite outer shell made of graphite fibers in an epoxy binder that is laid-up over a core of felt-like material selected to have an elongation velocity that is greater than the elongation velocity of the shell.

Abstract: A coating for protection of airfoil surfaces from erosion caused by the impingement of particles in the incoming air stream of a gas turbine engine or on helicopter blades. The coating consists of an epoxy film toughened with hard particles to improve the erosion resistance and softer particles which impede the progression of cracks through the coating. A method for applying the coating is also described.

Abstract: A rotor blade is made of fibre-reinforced synthetic resin and comprises a moulded core with central, front and rear elements and a foot end fastening element, a unidirectional fibre layer being wound longitudinally of the core, a first cross-binding lying over the fibre layer and a second cross-binding forming a covering for the entire assembly.

Abstract: An impeller for a radial fan comprises a hub, a plurality of rotor blades each curved three-dimensionally at least within some areas, each of the rotor blades having a center part which extends substantially straight and radially from the hub, a curved primary part into which the center part merges tangentially and which extends in a radial direction around an axis extending substantially perpendicular to an impeller rotary axis, and a secondary part in which the center part merges tangentially in a radial direction and which is curved about an axis extending parallel to the impeller rotary axis and a guide ring located at an inflow region of the rotor blades. The impeller can have a frame, and an additional guide ring arranged at the axial distance from the guide ring and rigidly arranged with respect to the frame. The center part of the impeller can extend within a plane which is inclined at an angle to a radial line passing through the inner periphery of the center part.

Abstract: A centrifugal blower wheel is provided with forward-curved multi-blades comprising a pair of end rings, a plurality of blades and a disk. By separating the blades into "vane members" which assume the function of a fluid device and "vane attachment members" which assume the function of a high speed rotating device, there is a greater degree of freedom of design, so optimum materials and shapes can be assigned to these different functions. The end rings, vane attachment members and disk are therefore constructed of metal and provided with beads so as to give a highly rigid structure, while the vane members are constructed of non-metal. This makes it possible to provide a blower wheel which is more lightweight and quieter in operation than a conventional blower wheel.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an axial fan having a hub and including an annular flange and a plurality of fan blade units distributed in spaced relationship about the periphery of the annular flange. Each of the fan blade units includes a base portion defining a hub component and a fan blade extending outwardly from the base portion. The hub components are disposed in spaced relationship one next to the other around the periphery of the annular flange to define the hub of the axial fan and so as to cause each two mutually adjacent ones of the hub components to be separated from each other and to define a gap therebetween. Each of the fan blade units is a single piece injection molded onto the annular flange.

Abstract: For use in rear turbine stabilized helicopters, a air foil blade comprising an integrally formed and readily replicated spar and blade in which the blade is created from compounded plastic having cellular structure and adherent to the spar. The air foil blade is produced by a unique adaptation of an injection molding process using a foamed polypropylene thermoplastic material.

Abstract: A fan hub is disclosed which has a hub insert for securing a shaft against relative rotation in a secure manner. The hub insert can be manufactured simply through injection molding the hub to a non-circular hub insert so that the plastic flows around the hub insert to hold the insert securely within the shell. The central aperture of the hub has inner and outer coaxial cylinders forming an annular space that accommodates the front plate of a motor. Radial, curved vanes on and conforming to the inner surface of the hub also are provided for engine cooling and on the other side of the hub, a shallow, depressed region reduces undesirable turbulence.

Abstract: A multibladed propeller shaped agitator includes a plurality of impellers having made blades, blade roots and hub segments made of plastic material. A metallic hub element is inlaid only in the hub segment. The impellers are connected to the hub segment such that stress peaks, imparted from a driving force, in the region of the blades, blade roots and hub segments are substantially prevented.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite airfoil particularly useful as a fan blade, having a high degree of twist, in a large high bypass ratio turbofan engine. The composite airfoil of the present invention has a progression of filament reinforced airfoil laminations of varying span, arranged in order by span, and interrupted by at least one filament reinforced airfoil lamination having a span out of height order to form what is called a confused or broken shear plane where radially outer tips of the laminations end.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of making an integral structure comprised of inner and outer coaxial shells mutually supported so as to define an annular passageway between the shells. The integral structure may be an air inlet housing for a gas turbine engine and the inner shell may be a hub member having a generally cylindrical passage extending therethrough for rotatably receiving a drive shaft. The inner shell is formed by braiding on a shaped mandrel a plurality of fibers such as fiberglass, boron, carbon, or the like, to form an inner shell preform having an outer surface of revolution. A plurality of duct preforms are similarly formed on a conical mandrel, then removed, and administered onto an outer peripheral surface of a duct mold so as to define a modified shape.

Abstract: A plastic fan with several fins attached to a hub. The fins are formed in a mold in order to reduce the difference between themselves to a minimum. The fins are attached to the hub so that each of them is retained at an angle from the adjacent one. The fan so produced is well balanced during rotation. Each fin has a male engaging device which is engaged in a female engaging device formed in the hub. The fins are welded to the hub by ultrasonic waves.

Abstract: A small, compact, relatively low cost, long life and very high speed hydraulic turbine drive. Typical power of this turbine is in the range of 5 to 20 horsepower with operating speeds of 50,000 to 200,000 RPM. The turbine blades are produced at low cost as a part of a thermoplastic turbine wheel and the strength needed for very high centrifugal forces is provided by compressing substantially all of the plastic turbine wheel, except for the blades, within a metal sleeve. A preferred embodiment is driven by a hydraulic pump geared mechanically to a motor vehicle engine and drives a compressor for supercharging the engine.