Provided is a turbofan including a shroud, a main plate, and a plurality of blades. A main plate-side shoulder surface portion is curved so as to be distanced from the rotational center axis while approaching the blade trailing edge as the main plate-side shoulder surface portion is distanced from a main plate-side blade tip portion, and has a convexoconcave shape including a blade tip section and the main plate-side blade tip portion. An inner peripheral-side leading edge section includes the inner peripheral-side blade leading edge section main plate-side portion and an inner peripheral-side blade leading edge section tip-side portion including curves that protrude rearward in the rotational direction.

This impeller is provided with: an impeller body having a disk-like shape and rotating about an axis together with a rotating shaft; and compressor blades (25) provided so as to protrude from the hub surface (31b) of the impeller body, the hub surface (31b) being formed on the front surface side of the impeller body, the compressor blades (25) each having a pair of side surfaces (26) which faces the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft and along which fluid flows. Each of the compressor blades (25) is formed in a tapered shape so that, within a range in which stress in the direction of the axis of at least the rotating shaft is maximum, the pair of side surfaces (26), when viewed in a cross-section perpendicular to the axis, approach each other as the pair of side surfaces (26) extends radially outward of the rotating shaft.

This impeller is provided with: an impeller body having a disk-like shape and rotating about an axis together with a rotating shaft; and compressor blades (25) provided so as to protrude from the hub surface (31b) of the impeller body, the hub surface (31b) being formed on the front surface side of the impeller body, the compressor blades (25) each having a pair of side surfaces (26) which faces the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft and along which fluid flows. Each of the compressor blades (25) is formed in a tapered shape so that, within a range in which stress in the direction of the axis of at least the rotating shaft is maximum, the pair of side surfaces (26), when viewed in a cross-section perpendicular to the axis, approach each other as the pair of side surfaces (26) extends radially outward of the rotating shaft.

An impeller for use in a fan system includes a hub extending along an axis of rotation and having a hub outer surface. There also are a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly of the hub outer surface. The blades have a unique cross-section at several different locations that result in relatively thin blades. A fan system and method are also disclosed.

An impeller for use in a fan system includes a hub extending along an axis of rotation and having a hub outer surface. There also are a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly of the hub outer surface. The blades have a unique cross-section at several different locations that result in relatively thin blades. A fan system and method are also disclosed.

An electric motor assembly includes a stator, a rotor, a motor housing, a rotatable shaft, a radial fan, and an air scoop. The motor housing at least partly houses the stator and rotor and presents an exterior motor surface. The rotatable shaft is associated with the rotor for rotational movement therewith, with the rotatable shaft extending along a rotational axis. The radial fan is mounted on the rotatable shaft exteriorly of the motor housing and is rotatable with the shaft to direct airflow in a radially outward direction. The air scoop extends radially outwardly relative to the radial fan and axially to receive radial airflow from the radial fan and turn the airflow axially to flow along the exterior motor surface. The air scoop includes spaced apart axially extending airflow vanes to guide the airflow as the airflow is turned axially.

In accordance with certain presently disclosed embodiments, a multidirectional fan is provided. In certain embodiments, the multidirectional fan comprises a back plate having an interior surface and a central opening; a hub located around the central opening and projecting from the interior surface of the back plate; a plurality of flexible fan blades extending radially from the hub, wherein each flexible fan blade comprises a base and a blade, and wherein the base of each flexible fan blade is attached to the hub and the interior surface of the back plate; and a plurality of fasteners located at least partially on the interior surface of the back plate, wherein each fastener secures the blade of at least one flexible fan blade to the interior surface of the back plate at a predetermined position.

A rotor for a machine under this disclosure could be said to include a hub having a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly of the hub. At least one of the hub and the plurality of blades is formed of at least two metal materials. The two metal materials are selected to have different thermal expansion coefficients such that the overall rotor will be more resistant to forces it may experience as temperature or speed increases. There are layers of each of the two metal materials, with an intermediate gradient wherein the two materials are mixed. Alternatively, a shape memory alloy may be used. A method is also disclosed.

A turbomachine comprises a hub and a plurality of blade elements. Each blade element comprises a blade, a platform, and a tang. The plurality of blade elements are arranged circumferentially around the hub, each interlocking or affixed with an adjacent blade element and retained in position by the hub. Each blade elements formed from a single stamped blank to provide an inexpensive method of manufacture, for low cost turbomachinery.

A turbomachine comprises a hub and a plurality of blade elements. Each blade element comprises a blade, a platform, and a tang. The plurality of blade elements are arranged circumferentially around the hub, each interlocking or affixed with an adjacent blade element and retained in position by the hub. Each blade elements formed from a single stamped blank to provide an inexpensive method of manufacture, for low cost turbomachinery.