A convector includes a stator made up of an array of fixed, parallel, equally spaced, equally thick, thermally conductive plates attached to a relatively thick thermally conductive plate. Convectors are provided with a rotor that is made up of an array of flat, rotatable, parallel, equally spaced, equally thick discs. The discs of the rotor are placed between the plates of the stator at relatively close proximity from the walls of the stator plates. Furthermore, the discs are keyed or held in place with the help of spacers and compression nuts to a hollow or a solid shaft. A clearance aperture, circular in shape, is provided on the stator plates. The shaft is held in place at both ends by roller bearings that provide the means for the shaft to rotate. To impart rotational motion to the rotor, the shaft is attached to an external device such as a motor.

A fluid working apparatus (100) including a housing structure (130) with an inlet (132) and an outlet (133). A working assembly positioned in the housing (130) has an inlet side and an outlet side with the at least one rotor (114) having a plurality of blades (115) positioned between the inlet and outlet sides. At least one return assembly (140, 142) is configured to return fluid flow from the outlet to the inlet side of the working assembly whereby a working fluid passes through the housing inlet (132), from the inlet side of the working assembly to the outlet side thereof while workingly engaging a first subset of the rotor blades (115), through the at least one return assembly (140, 142), from the inlet side of the working assembly to the outlet side thereof while workingly engaging a second subset of the rotor blades (115), and out of the housing outlet (133). A method of working a fluid is also provided.

One embodiment includes an air pump assembly (10) with an impeller (12), a housing (16), and a diverter (18). The impeller (12) has an axis of rotation (R). The housing (16) surrounds the impeller (12) and has an inlet passage (42) with a longitudinal axis (L.sub.1) arranged generally orthogonal to the axis of rotation (R) of the impeller (12). The diverter (18) helps reduce turbulent fluid-flow in the inlet passage (42).

In accordance with one aspect the present invention may comprise a regenerative blower comprising: a housing, a first port and second port in the housing, an airflow channel extending between the first and second ports for airflow between the ports, an impeller rotatable in an impeller channel to promote airflow in the airflow channel from the first port to the second port, a motor to drive the impeller, and an interrupter between the first and second ports to limit airflow from the second port to the first port.

In accordance with one aspect the present invention may comprise a regenerative blower comprising: a housing, a first port and second port in the housing, an airflow channel extending between the first and second ports for airflow between the ports, an impeller rotatable in an impeller channel to promote airflow in the airflow channel from the first port to the second port, a motor to drive the impeller, and an interrupter between the first and second ports to limit airflow from the second port to the first port.

A flow control device for constraining fluid flow between axial flow turbomachines in series has a flow constrainer which constrains the fluid flow downstream of the first turbomachine in the series to the blades region of the second turbomachine, preventing fluid flow from impacting the hub or nosecone of the second turbomachine and providing more uniform fluid flow to the second turbomachine. The flow control device includes connective elements for positioning between the downstream region of the first turbomachine and the upstream region of the second turbomachine. The device may be equipped with stator vanes having a variety of optional configurations to further improve the uniformity of the fluid flow load on the second turbomachine.

A side channel compressor for compressing a gas comprises a housing (3) and at least one impeller (2) which is arranged in the housing (3) and can be driven in rotation about a central axis (4). In addition, the side channel compressor has at least one seal assembly (38) which is arranged in the housing (3) and has at least one sealing device (47) which seals at least one gap (59) between the housing (3) and the at least one impeller (2) and forces said impeller (2) radially outward with respect to the central axis (4) in order to keep the at least one gap (59) small. The at least one seal assembly (38) also comprises at least one sealing-device-holding device (46) which holds the at least one sealing device (47) in an axially secured fashion with respect to the central axis (4) and has at least one main holding body (48).

A compressor of the regenerative type configured to work at pressures exceeding 50 bars includes a motor, a magnetic drive coupling connected to the motor and adapted to transmit the rotary motion to a drive shaft, which is mechanically connected to the magnetic drive coupling, and two peripheral impellers mounted on the drive shaft.

A cryogenic pump may include a housing and a drive shaft positioned in the housing. The cryogenic pump may include at least one pump stage positioned in the housing, the at least one pump stage comprising an impeller coupled to the drive shaft. The cryogenic pump may include a balance drum coupled to the drive shaft and positioned in the housing. The cryogenic pump may additionally include a motor comprising a rotor slidably coupled to the drive shaft, the drive shaft configured to rotate with the rotor and move in an axial direction relative to the rotor and the housing during operation of the cryogenic pump.

An air moving device includes a film structure, a first actuator and a second actuator. The film structure includes a flap pair, wherein the flap pair includes a first flap and a second flap opposite to each other. The first actuator is disposed on the first flap, and the second actuator is disposed on the second flap. The first actuator includes a first electrode and a second electrode, and the second actuator includes a third electrode and a fourth electrode. The first electrode receives a first demodulation signal and the third electrode receives a second demodulation signal, such that the flap pair performs a differential-mode movement. The second electrode and the fourth electrode receive a modulation signal, such that the flap pair performs a common-mode movement.