Abstract: A wave energy converter apparatus includes a platform that is configured to float below an upper liquid surface of a liquid responsive to the wave energy converter apparatus being disposed in the liquid. The wave energy converter apparatus further includes support structures mounted to an upper platform surface of the platform. The wave energy converter apparatus further includes a supporting shaft coupled to the support structures, the supporting shaft being disposed along an axis. The supporting shaft is configured to be oriented with the axis substantially perpendicular to direction of waves of the liquid. The wave energy converter apparatus further includes a helical member rotatably coupled to the supporting shaft and configured to rotate about the axis. The wave energy converter apparatus further includes an electrical rotary generator coupled to the helical member. The electrical rotary generator is configured to generate electricity responsive to rotation of the helical member.

Abstract: A turbomachine includes a turbine section including a turbine, the turbine having a plurality of turbine rotor blades spaced along the axial direction, each turbine rotor blade extending generally along the radial direction between a radial inner end and a radial outer end. The plurality of turbine rotor blades includes a first turbine rotor blade; and a second turbine rotor blade spaced from the first turbine rotor blade along the axial direction, the radial outer end of the first turbine rotor blade coupled to the radial outer end of the second turbine rotor blade. The plurality of turbine rotor blades additionally includes a third turbine rotor blade spaced from the second turbine rotor blade along the axial direction, the radial inner end of the second turbine rotor blade coupled to the radial inner end of the third turbine rotor blade.

Abstract: An automobile storage container assembly. The automobile storage container assembly includes a first compartment and second compartment each having a base, a plurality of sidewalls extending therefrom, and an open upper end defining an interior volume. The first container includes a first strap and a second strap connected to first and second sidewalls, and each of the first and second straps are securable to the innermost post of an automobile seat headrest. The second compartment includes third and fourth straps that are securable to the outermost posts of an automobile headrest. The first and second compartments are positioned in a stacked configuration between the seats of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vertical-axis wind turbine system includes a novel wind turbine having helical shaped blades with serrated edges that exhibit unique airfoil characteristics. Such innovative designs of blades improve the efficiency of the turbine. Airfoil characteristics of such blades make it effective at lower wind speeds than conventional wind turbines. The exemplary system is expandable for more efficiency when the number of turns in the helical shape of blades is increased. Such a design of blades in a wind turbine generate airflow and drag in the upward direction affecting other wind turbine(s) located vertically above in close proximity. This system is modularized with many smaller wind turbines sharing the same vertical axis arranged one above another in close proximity to each other. Such an incremental design of modularized wind turbines is uniquely used to scale up for increased power generation needs.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a shaft defining an axis of rotation. An outer turbine rotor directly drives the shaft and includes an outer set of blades. An inner turbine rotor has an inner set of blades interspersed with the outer set of blades. The inner turbine rotor is configured to rotate in an opposite direction about the axis of rotation from the outer turbine rotor. A splitter gear system couples the inner turbine rotor to the shaft and is configured to rotate the inner set of blades at a faster speed than the outer set of blades.

Abstract: An Archimedean Modular/Multi-Axis Rotor (AMR) is a wind/fluid driven electrical generating device as described which utilizes a single foil rotor and appears in an elongated Archimedean curve tapering at its ends. A plurality of AMR's can be assembled in a multiplicity of tetrahedral or other 3-dimensional type structures that generate electric power. These structures would be manufactured to facilitate easy shipping, handling, assembly, erection and maintenance. The AMR is quiet (no prop buffeting), bird friendly, can accommodate any varying orientations to the wind/fluid direction and continues to operate even when in the direct shadow of adjacent AMR rotors.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a first shaft defining an axis of rotation and a second shaft rotatable about the axis of rotation and spaced radially outwardly relative to the first shaft. A speed change mechanism is driven by the second shaft. A fan includes a fan rotor driven by the speed change mechanism such that the fan and the first shaft rotate at a slower speed than the second shaft. At least one inducer stage is positioned aft of the fan and is coupled for rotation with the fan rotor.

Abstract: The invention provides a heat-dissipating system and a control method thereof. The heat-dissipating system has a plurality of fans and is configured for adjusting rotation-speeds of the fans. The control method includes following steps: obtaining a plurality of rotation-speed values of the fans; computing out a rotation-speed reference value according to the rotation-speed values; when the rotation-speed reference value is greater than a first threshold value, decreasing the rotation-speeds of the fans through a corresponding fan control signal; when the rotation-speed reference value is less than a second threshold value, increasing the rotation-speeds of the fans through the corresponding fan control signal.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan section including a fan rotatable about an axis. A speed reduction device is connected to the fan. The speed reduction device includes a planetary fan drive gear system with a planet gear ratio of at least 2.5. A bypass ratio is greater than about 11.0.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan section including a fan that is rotatable about an axis. A speed reduction device is connected to the fan. The speed reduction device includes a star drive gear system with a star gear ratio of at least 1.5. A bypass ratio is greater than about 11.0.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan section including a fan rotatable about an axis and a speed reduction device in communication with the fan. The speed reduction device includes a star drive gear system with a star gear ratio of at least 1.5. A fan blade tip speed of the fan is less than 1400 fps.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan section including a fan rotatable about an axis and a speed reduction device in communication with the fan. The speed reduction device includes a planetary fan drive gear system with a planet gear ratio of at least 2.5. A fan blade tip speed of the fan is less than 1400 fps.

Abstract: The ribbon drive generation apparatus is comprised of a ribbon-like curved shape, composed either of metal or other suitable material, attached to a containment tube, peripheral rings, shaft, or porous central tube, with the complete apparatus being contained in a tube having a constant diameter for the length of the tube. The ribbon can be peripherally mounted to the containment tube and optionally to a central porous tube. In this form the containment tube rotates and can form part of a rotor for a generator apparatus. The optional central porous tube can also be used as a bearing surface or, if attached to the inside edge of the ribbon, a power take-off shaft.

Abstract: The ribbon drive generation apparatus is comprised of a ribbon-like curved shape, composed either of metal or other suitable material, attached to a containment tube, peripheral rings, shaft, or porous central tube, with the complete apparatus being contained in a tube having a constant diameter for the length of the tube. The ribbon can be peripherally mounted to the containment tube and optionally to a central porous tube. In this form the containment tube rotates and can form part of a rotor for a generator apparatus. The optional central porous tube can also be used as a bearing surface or, if attached to the inside edge of the ribbon, a power take-off shaft.

Abstract: A turboprop having at least one propeller formed by a set of variable pitch blades. Each blade is swivel-mounted on a rotary support and carries a gearwheel meshing with an actuator annulus rotating on the rotary support and coupled to a control annulus via an epicyclic mechanism.

Abstract: A counter-rotatable low pressure turbine includes counter-rotatable outer and inner drum rotors. The outer drum rotor is connected to a sole shaft for transmitting torque and power out of the low pressure turbine. Low pressure outer drum turbine blade rows extend radially inwardly from an outer shell of the outer drum rotor. Low pressure inner drum turbine blade rows extend radially outwardly from the low pressure inner drum rotor. The outer drum turbine blade rows are interdigitated with the inner drum turbine blade rows. The drum rotors are geared together through an epicyclic gearbox for transmitting all the torque and power produced by the drum rotors to the shaft. The gearbox may be located aft of the drum rotors. A differential thrust bearing is disposed between the drum rotors. A single stage fan section of an engine is connected to the turbine by the shaft.

Abstract: A wind driven generator includes a rotor disposed in a cylindrical duct and supported by a frame for rotation in response to wind flowing through the duct. The rotor includes plural circumferentially spaced paralleled rotor blades supported for rotation about a generally horizontal axis. Each blade is supported for pivotal movement to change blade pitch, angle of attack or camber as the rotor rotates. A pitch or camber control motor, self-governing wind vane mechanism, or governing mechanism is operable to move a circular cam to vary blade pitch or camber to control rotor speed. The duct is mounted on a mast having a base supported on a foundation for pivotal movement to face the wind for maximizing air flow through the duct. Electric power generators are connected to opposite ends of the rotor at respective power output or drive shafts.

Abstract: An accelerator for a wind power electrical generating system which mounts at least one wind turbine and which defines an air passageway capturing and delivering wind to the turbine. The accelerator comprises a cage-like support structure of thin sturdy members which defines in three-dimensional outline the air passageway. A cover which is mounted on and about the support structure in a floating relationship therewith may be injection-molded or thermo formed plastic. Connecting members between accelerators are provide with labyrinth seals.

Abstract: A pump assembly including a pump, a pump frame and a motor, the pump including a pumping member which is mounted in a pump housing, relative rotation of the pumping member with respect to the pump housing causing pumping of fluid, and the motor including a rotor and a stator, operation of the motor causing rotation of the pumping member relative to the pump housing, wherein one or two of the stator, pumping member and pump housing is fixed relative to the pump frame, a resilient support part being provided between the pump frame and each of the other two or one of the stator, pumping member, and the pump housing, the resilient support part or parts permitting movement of the stator, pumping member or pump housing with respect to the pump frame.

Abstract: A pair of vertical axis wind turbines are arranged in close proximity to each other so that their vortices interact with each other to provide enhanced aerodynamic efficiency. The wind turbines are spaced as closely as possible while providing for machine and personnel safety. Adjacent wind turbines rotate in opposite directions to enhance the coupled vortex effect. The vertical axis wind turbines may be located underneath a row of horizontal axis turbines in a “bush-tree” configuration to provide greater energy extraction from a parcel of land. The vertical axis turbine includes a simple, redundant, fail-safe braking system that self-resets after a fault condition clears. The braking system includes mechanical and aerodynamic braking and also includes a speed governor that stops the wind turbine even in the event that the primary brake fails.

Abstract: An energy conversion device which comprises a stacked array of alternating yawable and fixed toroidal modules about a central core structure. The yawable toroids have typically four impact impellers mounted in their peripheral flow regions for the purpose of capturing flow energy. The fixed toroids are mounted to complement and further enhance fluid flow impact impeller energy capture and to provide housing means for a variety of matter both associated and unassociated with the energy system. The stacked array of a toroid with impellers, designated a Toroidal Rotor Amplifier Platform (TRAP.TM.), and a toroid without impellers, designated a Toroidal Wind Frame (TWF.TM.), is referred to in aggregate, when used for wind energy conversion, as a Wind Amplified Rotor Platforms (WARP.TM.) system. Under wind energy conversion use, a WARP.TM.

Abstract: A mixing blade assembly having two vertical shafts oriented parallel to one another, each shaft carrying two blades, wherein an upper (horizontal) element of each blade is rectilinear and shorter in length than a bottom "S" shaped curved element of each blade, the upper and bottom elements of each blade of one shaft are connected by curved side elements that are the inverse of the curved side elements connecting the upper and bottom elements of the blades of the second shaft.

Abstract: A device for converting a rotational movement for directing displacement of a flowable medium is provided with a mount and two rotatably mounted fixed axles which are arranged at a distance from one another on the mount and on which are articulated two end portions of a half cube-linkage chain having two lateral members and a middle member, the two lateral members being connected to the fixed axles and to the middle member by means of pivot axles which are successively offset relative to one another by in each case 90.degree.. The device is characterized in that the middle member and at least one of the two lateral members of the half cube-linkage chain cooperate to form sheet-like driving elements for displacing flowable substances.

Abstract: A rotorcraft having four symmetrically disposed intermeshing rotors coupled to a common drive unit, each rotor having a single blade which is formed with a lifting surface and an oppositely projecting balance arm. The four rotors are coupled to the drive unit by respective rotor shafts and the shafts are inclined with respect to one another such that the path surface traced by each blade is inclined with respect to the path surface traced by each other blade. Each rotor is connected to its associated rotor shaft by way of a universal joint which provides for torque transmission and which permits blade flapping and blade pitch adjustment, and actuators are provided for applying differential collective pitch to the rotors by way of pitch control shafts.

Abstract: A wind turbine with two rotors equipped with wings, which are mounted on horizontal shafts rotatably mounted in a bearing unit. The rotors are displaced 180.degree. in relation to each other. The bearing unit is connected to a rotatably mounted vertical output shaft with the rotor shaft projecting substantially radially on diametrically opposite sides of the output shaft, gear wheels of the rotor shafts engaging a gear ring mounted coaxially with the output shaft stationarily in relation to the output shaft. A second pair of rotors of the same type as the first pair are mounted on shafts which are rotatably mounted in the bearing unit perpendicularly to the shafts of the first pair of rotors and are displaced 180.degree. in relation to one another and 90.degree. in relation to the first pair of rotors. A gear train interconnects the rotors for position-synchronized rotation.

Abstract: A wind-powered prime mover comprising a pair of elongate, vertically extending, laterally spaced parallel rotors with a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially outwardly projecting circumferentially and longitudinally extending vanes. The rotors are arranged so that the vanes of each rotor projects between adjacent pairs of vanes of the other rotor as the rotors rotate. The rotors are rotatably supported atop a turn-table which turns to dispose the lateral plane on which the axes of the rotors occur at right angle to prevailing wind. Wind directing shrouds are engaged about the lateral outside halves of the rotors and function to direct wind from said outer halves of the rotors laterally inward toward and between the lateral inner halves of the rotors. The windward sides of the shrouds define a wind gate through which wind moves into engagement with the rotors and are pivotally movable to increase and decrease the lateral extent of the wind gate to throttle the wind, as desired.

Abstract: Energy is extracted from a free-stream fluid flow of wind or water by means of a multi-turn helicoid structure with a relatively small pitch angle. The axis of the structure about which the helicoid turns is making an angle with the flow vector in the order of or slightly larger that the pitch angle. Several such helicoid structures are combined with their radii overlapping, for the most effective interception of a certain cross sectional area of the fluid flow. Mile-long helicoid walls may be erected in this fashion. Using groups of helicoids which alternately turn clockwise and counter-clockwise all gyroscopic forces, which appear when the structures are turned to follow changes in the direction of the flow, are internally balanced. An omni-directional structure is also described which need not be turned when the flow direction changes. It is obtained by adding flow-diverters surrounding a helicoid structure with vertical axis.

Abstract: To generate power from wind economically, a feathering vane is pivotally mounted perpendicular to a tail vane and shifts the orientation of a sprocket assembly controlled by the tail vane in response to wind velocity. The sprocket assembly changes the orientation of blades which orbit about and rotate the main power shaft so that, as wind velocity changes, the blade orientations are shifted in a compensating direction under the control of the tail vane. A lever shifts the position of the blades to positions that balance wind power and brake the rotation for maintenance purposes. The speed-control mechanism includes a damper to avoid being excessively affected by wind gusts. The main shaft is connected through a speed increaser which has less mass at the high-speed end than the low-speed end to an induction generator when used for cogeneration, the field of the induction generator being excited by the cogeneration frequency.

Abstract: Apparatus for converting the energy of the wind into mechanical energy for use in the generation of electricity comprises an upstanding column a fan which is freely rotatably mounted on the column and which comprises circumferentially spaced, radially extending blades and, supported by and freely rotatable about the axis of the column, a turbine which surrounds and is radially spaced from the column and which comprises circumferentially spaced blades extending lengthwise with respect to the column. Preferably, an annular body is supported by the column and has an upper surface of such a shape as to encourage laminar flow of the wind over its surface. Preferably, also, over an upper part of its length immediately below the fan the column has circumferentially spaced, helically extending fins 4 defining passages wind being caused to flow upwardly within the passages to form a vortex.

Abstract: A self cleaning attachment for a propeller shaft having a gear box mounting parallel stub shafts driven in the same direction by a common gear, screw propeller surfaces on the shafts with teeth on the outer edge of each propeller surface and having weed shearing clearance with the shaft of the other surface, and stub shear bars supported in fixed relation to the box and disposed radially outward and parallel to the shafts with which the teeth also have weed shear clearance with the bars.

Abstract: A water driven engine comprising a frame and two vertical rotors which are rotatably mounted in the frame. The water drive engine is mounted in a stream of water. If desired the engine may be mounted in a low dam. The blades of the vertical rotors overlap. A water diverter is centrally mounted in front of the rotors so as to divide the stream of water and divert the water onto the outer blades of the rotors. The water diversion produced contradirectional rotation of the rotors, i.e., one rotor rotates clockwise and the remaining rotor rotates counterclockwise. The contradirectional rotating rotors are mechanically joined to an energy system and to each other so as to be substantially self-timing and torque-free.

Abstract: A wind driven engine comprising a base, a housing which is rotatably mounted on the base, and two vertical rotors which are rotatably mounted in the housing and which are substantially enclosed by the housing. The blades of the vertical rotors overlap. An air diverter is centrally mounted inside the housing and in front of the rotors so as to divert air entering the housing onto the blades of the rotors which are adjacent the sides of the housing. The air diversion results in contradirectional rotation of the rotors, i.e., one rotor rotates clockwise and the remaining rotor rotates counterclockwise. An air vent is centrally placed in the housing above the air diverter to evacuate air from behind the air diverter. The vent is enclosed by an air shield which aids the evacuation of air through the vent. The contradirectionally rotating rotors are mechanically joined to an energy receiving system so as to be substantially self-timing and torque-free.

Abstract: First and second windmill wheels are mounted on and non-rotatably connected by shaft means, which define a vertical axis. Each of said windmill wheels has rigidly interconnected vanes, which are adapted to return opposite to the direction of the wind. Said two windmill wheels define axially outermost flight circle planes which intersect at an acute angle. The vanes of each of said windmill wheels are adapted to describe an orbital line, which is tangent to a corresponding orbital line described by the vanes of the other windmill wheel at an apex, which is disposed between said flight circle planes. Control means are operable to move said windmill wheels relative to each other so as to move said apex about said vertical axis and thus to vary said angle when measured in a vertical plane that is at right angles to the direction of the wind.

Abstract: A wind power converter comprising: a pair of rotatable turbines with elongated curved blades disposed within a rotatable housing on axially parallel shafts, the curvature of the blades of one turbine being opposite to the curvature of the blades of the second turbine so that wind passing between said turbines will rotate the turbines in opposite directions; the housing comprising shaft-supporting sections at the ends of the turbines, lateral sections connecting the end sections, a pair of wind deflectors disposed between the end sections and extending from adjacent edges of the lateral sections toward the midpoint between the turbines and terminating approximately the same distance from each other as the distance between the turbine shafts, and a pivotally mounted vertically disposed vane extending from a portion of the housing opposite to the wind deflectors; said rotatable housing being supported on a vertically disposed central shaft and on a plurality of beams radiating therefrom with the free end of each

Abstract: A helical blade is provided for a mixing or conveying apparatus which can be used for heating or cooling or in general effecting a thermal treatment such as drying, evaporating calcining or crystallizing a product fed to the apparatus. The blade comprises a pair of pressed ring shaped discs welded together. One disc is shaped with its inner margin curved into or nearly into the axial direction, and the other disc is welded to it at its inner and outer margins. The blade may be welded directly to a shaft, mounted freely thereon or welded to blocks on the shaft to provided spaces between the flights of the blade and the shaft.