A turbo compressor assembly, a vehicle including such a turbo compressor assembly, and a method for manufacturing such a turbo compressor assembly. The turbo compressor assembly includes an air intake channel, a compressor wheel, an insert unit and an actuator unit. The air intake channel is configured to draw air to the compressor wheel and the compressor wheel is configured to rotate for compressing the drawn air from the intake channel. The insert unit is arranged between the air intake channel and the compressor wheel and configured to control an airflow to the compressor wheel. The actuator unit is connected to the insert unit and configured to move the insert unit at least partially along the air intake channel.

The present invention relates to an adjustment mechanism (100) for variably adjusting the cross-section of a compressor inlet (22) and further relates to a corresponding compressor (20) including such an adjustment mechanism (100). The adjustment mechanism (100) comprises a plurality of rotatable orifice elements (110) and an actuation ring (120). The actuation ring (120) is mechanically coupled to the plurality of orifice elements 110 such that rotation of the actuation ring 120 causes movement of the orifice elements 110. The movement of the orifice elements (110) thereby adjusts the cross-section of a compressor inlet (22). The adjustment mechanism (100) further comprises a plurality of support members (140) which are arranged axially between the plurality of orifice elements (110) and the actuation ring (120). Additionally, the adjustment mechanism (100) comprises a spring (130), more specific a ring-shaped wave spring. The spring (130) is adapted to axially preload the plurality of orifice elements (110) and the actuation ring (120) when being in a mounted state.

A rotating thrust-producing apparatus having a control system includes a rotatable foil having opposite first and second faces and a plurality of spaced apart fins occupying a periphery thereof. A pressure control assembly includes a first adjustable control surface disposed adjacent to a first face of the foil so as to be selectively movable over the fins of the foil. The pressure control assembly may include a second control surface disposed adjacent to the second face of the foil and which may be adjustable. As the foil is rotated, and the at least one adjustable control surface is moved over fins of the foil, a fluid pressure imbalance is created, causing a thrust in the direction of the pressure deficit.

A centrifugal compressor and a method of operating a centrifugal compressor. The centrifugal compressor includes: an impeller configured to suction a gas to be compressed; a diffuser disposed downstream of the impeller to pressurize the gas, the diffuser comprising a movable ring, a main passage in which the gas flows past the ring, and an openable branch passage; and a circulation loop comprising an inlet and an outlet, the outlet being in communication with an inlet of the impeller; the branch passage is disposed to be in communication with the main passage and the circulation loop when the ring moves into the main passage so that a portion of the gas in the main passage passes through the circulation loop and returns to the impeller so as to be suctioned, and to be closed when the ring is withdrawn from the main passage.

First and second towers may discharge air. An airflow guide or converter may change a direction of the air discharged from the first tower and the second tower by moving a gate inside and outside of at least one of the first or second towers so as to block discharged air flowing forward and selectively facilitate an upward air flow. The airflow converter may include a guide motor to provide a driving force, the gate, which may reciprocate between the inside and the outside of the first and/or second towers; and a board guider connected to the gate to transmit a driving force of the guide motor to the gate as a linear motion force.

A blower assembly for advancing the flow of air in an air flow device at a selected one of a plurality of air flow rates. The blower assembly includes a blower housing defining a body thereof and a wall of the blower housing moveably secured to the body, a blower wheel rotatably mounted to the blower housing and a motor for rotating the blower wheel at a selected one of a plurality of rotational speeds. The blower assembly further includes a motion device secured to the body and to the wall. The motion device moves the wall relative to the body to a selected one of a plurality of distinct wall positions. The motor rotates the blower wheel at a selected one of a plurality of rotational speeds. A controller calculates an optimum wall position and rotational speed to provide for minimal energy usage rate.

A centrifugal compressor for a chiller system includes a casing having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, a recirculation structure including a recirculation path and a recirculation discharge cavity, an impeller disposed downstream of the recirculation discharge cavity, a plurality of recirculation discharge guide vanes disposed to surround the recirculation discharge cavity, and a diffuser disposed in the outlet portion downstream of the impeller. The recirculation structure is configured to impart a swirl to a flow of refrigerant into the inlet portion. The recirculation path supplies the refrigerant from the diffuser to the recirculation discharge cavity. The recirculation path includes a recirculation pipe that introduces the refrigerant toward the plurality of recirculation discharge guide vanes. An annular groove is disposed between the recirculation pipe and the plurality of recirculation discharge guide vanes. An annular plate is disposed between the annular groove and the recirculation discharge cavity.

A radial compressor having a specially designed iris diaphragm mechanism is described. This mechanism includes only a single (main) blade that is driven directly by an actuating element, while the other blades are driven by the respective preceding blade via the movement of the main blade. This results in a particularly simple embodiment of the iris diaphragm mechanism. A blade for an iris diaphragm mechanism of this type and a charging device having a radial compressor of this type are furthermore described.

A draft inducer blower assembly includes a blower having a fan, a dilution air intake passage, an exhaust gas intake passage, and a discharge passage. The blower is configured to operatively connect to a heater system in a manner to facilitate flow of combustion air into a combustion chamber and to draw dilution air into the blower and to mix the dilution air with the exhaust gases and to facilitate flow of the mixed air and exhaust gases through the vent. The dilution air intake passage is positionable in at least a low flow configuration and a high flow configuration. The dilution air intake passage is more restrictive of intake of dilution air in the low flow configuration than in the high flow configuration.

Centrifugal compressors can incorporate a side stream flow of intermediate pressure vapor between stages of that compressor. The side stream flow can be controlled by a side stream injection port controlled by a throttle ring disposed between stages of the compressor. The throttle ring can allow or obstruct flow through the side stream injection port. The throttle ring can extend and retract in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow from the first stage impeller to the second stage impeller. A method of operating a centrifugal compressor can include actuating a throttle ring by rotating a drive ring to adjust a flow of interstage fluid into the second stage impeller.