초록 ▼

A tip turbine type fan particularly adapted for use to effect a substantially instantaneous inflation of an emergency lifesaving device such as an escape slide or life raft. It features a housing having an improved unitized construction which defines an axial flow passage. A rotor within and transve

A tip turbine type fan particularly adapted for use to effect a substantially instantaneous inflation of an emergency lifesaving device such as an escape slide or life raft. It features a housing having an improved unitized construction which defines an axial flow passage. A rotor within and transverse to said passage is operated under the influence of fluid under pressure directed from a chamber formed within and circumferentially of the wall structure of said housing. Drive of the rotor induces air from the environment surrounding the housing to enter the flow passage at one end to co-mingle with the fluid furnishing the motive power for the rotor and to move therewith from the passage to the interior of a connected article to be inflated. It is a feature of a preferred embodiment of the invention that the entrance to the flow passage is bridged by a platelike closure device which is normally biased to a position to seal the entrance to said flow passage. Means are included to provide that this plate will be axially displaced from the entrance to the flow passage to permit the inflow of air under the influence of the operation of said rotor substantially simultaneously with the energizing of said rotor. In moving to its axially displaced position the closure plate is adapted to also serve as a buffer plate or shield to inhibit and limit water from entering and being sucked through said flow passage where the device to be inflated and consequently the fan may be exposed to or partially immersed in water. A pair of fans such as here described may be employed in a reversely oriented generally parallel relation to achieve improvements in systems for controlling the lift, flotation and let down or braking of airborne, terrestrial and marine vehicles with reference to a surface defining a base plane.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for producing a flow of air under pressure having particular advantage for use in inflating inflatable articles, particularly those applied to safety purposes, comprising a housing having an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom, a portion of said housing defining a flow passage interconne

Apparatus for producing a flow of air under pressure having particular advantage for use in inflating inflatable articles, particularly those applied to safety purposes, comprising a housing having an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom, a portion of said housing defining a flow passage interconnecting said inlet and said outlet, a rotor in said flow passage the operation of which will induce a through flow of air under pressure, said rotor including peripherally projected blade segments positioned adjacent and in following relation to a shoulder defined in said flow passage in facing relation to said outlet, the portion of said housing defining said flow passage having formed therein immediately preceding said shoulder a chamber receiving a fluid under pressure from whiCh chamber pressure fluid is directed to drive said blades and thereby to drive said rotor, means in connection with said housing for normally sealing said inlet, the wall structure of said housing embodying means defining axially extended pockets opening from the inlet thereof, in which pockets are contained piston means in connection with said sealing means, said piston means having in connection therewith means for biasing the same in a direction to cause said sealing means to maintain a seal of said inlet and passages defined in said housing communicating said chamber with said piston means to influence the axial displacement of said sealing means substantially simultaneously with the drive of said rotor.