Abstract: A propeller locking mechanism for an aircraft includes a mounting ring having a locking extension with an aperture. A solenoid is configured with a solenoid pin which interacts with a first arm of a lever. The lever includes a pivotable second arm configured with a spring and locking pin. The second arm is able to pivot and insert the locking pin into the aperture of the locking extension on the mounting ring. The spring biases the locking pin in the locked orientation. Upon sufficient motor torque, the spring force is overcome allowing the locking pin to be removed from the aperture and the mounting ring to be unlocked.

Abstract: A teeter flap lock for an aircraft may include at least one pair of diametrically positioned teeter flap lock plates extending from a rotor teetering hinge, spaced apart from a rotor mast of the aircraft. A teeter flap lock block is positioned about the rotor mast and is configured to fit between the teeter flap lock plates and the rotor mast. The teeter flap lock block fits between and contacts the teeter flap lock plates in an engaged position, and is movable between the engaged position and a disengaged position relative to the teeter flap lock plates. The teeter flap lock enables flapping of rotors coupled to the rotor mast via the teetering hinge when the teeter flap lock block is in the disengaged position and disables flapping of the rotors when the teeter flap lock block is in the engaged position.

Abstract: An oil-free compressor for a rail vehicle includes a compressor housing, a first low pressure piston cylinder supported in the compressor housing, a second low pressure piston cylinder supported in the compressor housing, a first high pressure piston cylinder supported in the compressor housing, a second high pressure piston cylinder supported in the compressor housing, and a crankshaft assembly supported by the compressor housing and linked to pistons of the piston cylinders by respective connecting rods. The first and second low pressure piston cylinders and the first and second high pressure piston cylinders are positioned in an X-shaped configuration around an outer circumference of the compressor housing. The first and second high pressure piston cylinders are configured as first and second lower legs of the X-shaped configuration, and the first and second low pressure piston cylinders are configured as first and second upper legs of the X-shaped configuration.

Abstract: A device controlling shifting of a propeller turbine engine into reverse mode, by acting on a shaft for controlling pitch of propellers. The device includes: at least one centrifugal weight arranged to drive the propellers into a flag position thereof under action of the centrifugal force; and an actuator that can rotate the control shaft to shift the pitch of the propellers from a traction mode to a reverse mode, passing through a zero pitch position. The centrifugal weight is in an unstable equilibrium position in relation to action of the centrifugal force when the control shaft shifts the pitch of the propellers through the zero pitch position. Further, an actuation mechanism exerts a torque on the control shaft when the centrifugal weight is in the unstable equilibrium position, to prevent it from staying in this position.

Abstract: A wear-free, self-contained control device for an aerodynamic emergency brake of a wind energy converter is presented that comprises multiple components in order to provide a most effective means to control the rotation of a vertical axis wind turbine by a brake, which is able to activate itself without external actuation in malfunction situations and is able to shut down the vertical axis wind turbine. Therefore, a mass element is utilized to store mechanical energy which in turn is used to deploy an aerodynamic braking operation. It also represents a means to control and limit the amount of torque, as absorbed by the turbine in high-wind conditions, and thus provides the ability to harvest electrical/mechanical energy, beyond the normal operational wind speeds of turbines.

Abstract: A subsurface wave action harnessing system includes a seabed mounting plate adapted for securing to a seabed, a wing having generally opposed first and second wing surfaces extending between a first and second wing ends, the second wing end being pivotably mounted to the seabed mounting plate such that pivoting motion about a pivot axis generally parallel to the mounting plate is imparted to the wing by subsurface wave action acting on the first and second wing surfaces, and a drive arm pivotably connected to the wing to convert the pivoting motion into reciprocal motion. An electrical generator, water purifier or other wave action load can be driven by the drive arm.

Abstract: Systems and methods use cyclical propellers with dynamic blade angle control to extract power from waves. A control system for such implementations can adapt pitching schedules for the blades of the cyclical propellers for efficient energy extraction and/or to control reactive forces. The cyclical propellers may be installed on the floor of a body of water or other liquid, on a submarine, or on a surface float, and blades may extend vertically or horizontally depending on the character of the waves. Several cyclical propellers can be combined into a single unit operated to minimize net reactive force or torque, to propel the unit horizontally or vertically, and/or to stabilize the unit. Such units can be installed with minimal or no moorings.

Abstract: A vertical axis wind turbine including a blade having a modular structure, comprising at least two connectable blade sections. Each section has an upper and lower panel with a cavity formed therebetween through which extends a spar.

Abstract: A rotorcraft rotor with hinged blades, includes: a hub; a plurality of blades hinged to flap relative to the hub; bottom abutments of the hub, and bottom abutments of the blades suitable for co-operating with the bottom abutments of the hub; and top abutments of the hub, and top abutments of the blades suitable for co-operating with the top abutments of the hub; the top abutments of the hub being movable between a deployed position in which they extend facing the top abutments of the blades, and a retracted position in which they are offset angularly away from the top abutments of the blades. The rotor also includes elements for locking the top abutments of the hub in the deployed position, and inertial means for releasing the top abutments of the hub and for deactivating the locking means.

Abstract: A brake system for a ram air turbine (RAT) causes the RAT to slow or lock if the RAT achieves an over-speed condition with a centrifugal force operated trigger system that actuates a compression type brake pack to slow or lock the turbine hub.

Abstract: An attachment device for attaching a blade to a turbine rotor disk in a turbomachine, the blade root forming a male portion engaged and held radially in a cavity of complementary shape in the rotor disk, with means for preventing the blade root from moving axially in the cavity, the blade axis being inclined relative to a perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotor, in a direction and at an angle that are designed to compensate at least in part for the displacement of the axis of the blade caused by the mechanical and thermal stresses applied to the rotor during operation of the turbomachine.

Abstract: A fluid energy turbine has a radial flow rotor in which fluid driven blades are peripherally distributed about a horizontal axis and in which auxiliary-biased outlet gates are provided for release of high fluid pressures to govern turbine speed such as in high windstorms.

Abstract: The device includes anti-cone stops projecting outward from at least two coaxial rings that can rotate about the rotor axis on the top face of the hub. Flyweights are each mechanically joined to one of the rings by a mechanism for driving the latter in rotation from the "ground" position, in which each anti-cone stop is facing an upper bearing shoe of the corresponding blade, to the "flight" position, in which the anti-cone stops are retracted against elastic mechanisms returning them to the "ground" position.

Abstract: A wind power generator having a plurality of wind mill blades whose pitch angles stably vary depending upon the wind power. A plurality of spokes radially extend from a horizontal power shaft. A plurality of protrusions respectively projecting from the spokes and the wind mill blades are paired with opposite protrusions by connector shaft. Each blade is rockable within a range from an extremely inclined position to a plane perpendicular to the power shaft to neary 90 degrees to the plane. One side of the wind mill blade strikes on the spoke at the above extremely inclined position. A plurality of blade springs are sandwiched in a compressed state between the spokes and the wind mill blades, surrouding the connector shafts respectively. Thus, each blade is biased toward the closing direction relative to the plane. If the wind is not so strong, each blade faces it to rotate the power shaft.

Abstract: The device comprises anti-cone stops projecting outwards from a common ring that can rotate about the rotor axis on the top face of the hub and flyweights are each individually joined to the ring for driving the latter in rotation from the "ground" position, in which each anti-cone stop is facing an upper bearing shoe of the corresponding blade, to the "flight" position, in which the anti-cone stops are retracted, returning them to the "ground" position.

Abstract: A ram air turbine is provided for use in driving electric and/or hydraulic power systems in an aircraft, wherein the ram air turbine includes primary and secondary speed control governors. The primary governor includes centrifugal flyweights for cam-actuated adjustment of the pitch angle of a turbine blade or blades, within a selected adjustment range, to achieve substantially constant turbine speed in response to varying air speed and/or load. The secondary governor preloads the turbine blade or blades to a selected midrange pitch angle in the at-rest condition, wherein the midrange pitch angle is chosen for faster turbine acceleration on deployment to the desired full-speed rotation. The secondary governor controls blade pitch angle until the turbine reaches a selected rotational speed, after which the primary governor regulates and adjusts blade pitch angle within the selected adjustment range.

Abstract: A fluid energy turbine has a radial flow rotor in which fluid driven blades are peripherally distributed about a horizontal axis and in which auxiliary biased outlet gates are provided for release of high fluid pressures to govern turbine speed such as in high storm winds. The blades additionally may be made featherable to govern the turbine speed by feathering the blades either preceding or after the gate openings or simultaneously as preset by the degree of biasing of both determined by matching to weather conditions in the area of use. In other embodiments, the gates are interconnected to the featherable blades for coordinated operation by means such as cables or rods.

Abstract: A self-actuating variable pitch marine propeller which incorporates two or more blades having cylindrical shafts which are rotatably connected to a central hub via cylindrical joints; the blades rotate about and translate radially, relative to the hub center, along the blade shaft, or shank, axis. In operation, the blades move radially outwardly from the hub center as they rotate from lower to higher pitch. The blades are biased towards the lower pitch. As the propeller rotational speed increases, centrifugal forces act on the blade mass creating a radially directed outward force. This radially outward force, upon reaching a sufficient magnitude, causes the blades to move radially outward. A blade positioning mechanism connected between each blade and the hub directs the blades to rotate to a higher pitch angle as the blades move radially outward.

Abstract: There is provided a self-actuating, variable pitch propeller having a plurality of blades. All of the blades are automatically movable between a first, relatively lower pitch position and a second, relatively higher pitch position, substantially simultaneously and equally in response to achieving a predetermined combination of propeller rotational speed and hydrodynamic loading on the propeller blades. The blades are releasably locked to prevent pivoting of the blades, at least in the lower pitch position, but preferably can be locked in both the high and low pitch positions. More preferably, a feedback force is transmitted from the blade to the locking mechanism to vary the locking force in response to the net turning moment on the blade. The locking mechanism are released in response to the combined effects of centrifugal force generated by the blades and other portions of the propeller and the hydrodynamic loading on the blades.

Abstract: Transversely mounted engine cooling fan in parallel with vehicle engine mechanically driven by straight drive and having blades whose pitch is varied in accordance with engine speed and load for optimized cooling performance. The fan has small radial dimension and extended width to match low and wide engine cooling radiator so that the front hood can be aerodynamically streamlined.

Abstract: A wind rotor assembly is constructed as a variation of a Savonious rotor with two offset compound curve rotor plate members symetrically located about an axis and including a smaller S-shaped rotor at the axis in the space between the first and second rotor members. The assembly is used singly or in composite assemblies of several rotors on a common shaft, and it produces increased torque and operates at low wind velocity for use in the generation of electricity or in conjunction with a water pump or other applications.

Abstract: There is disclosed in the present application a windmill including a wheel having a set of fixed blades and a set of movable vanes whose angular orientation with respect to the axis of the wheel is adjusted automatically for limiting the speed of the wheel to a safe level in winds of high velocity. The fixed blades may be installed to cause turning of the wheel under generally prevailing winds of a very low velocity. The movable vanes are connected to a speed sensing governor mechanism which changes their orientation from positive through neutral to negative for reducing the speed of the wheel when the wind velocity is excessive and the mill would otherwise reach damaging speeds. In addition, there is disclosed a mechanism for changing the orientation of the vanes from a remote location to stop the wheel. The mill wheel is also constructed in modular segments adapted to being shipped in sections and assembled at the operating site.