Method of and arrangement for reducing clearance losses in axial and semi-axial flowmachines

Claim 1

IN AN AXIAL AND SEMI-AXIAL FLOW MACHINE, A ROTATABLE HUB, A PLURALITY OF BLADES HAVING STUDS ON SAID BLADES INSERTED INTO AND SUPPORTED BY SAID HUB FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, SAID BLADES HAVING AN INNER AND OUTER PERIPHERY, SAID INNER PERIPHERY FORMING A CLEARANCE WITH SAID HUB SO AS TO CONFINE THEREWITH FIRST GAP MEANS ADAPTED TO ALLOW THE PASSAGE OF FLUID THERETHROUGH, MEANS SURROUNDING SAID OUTER PERIPHERY OF SAID BLADES WITH CLEARANCE SO AS TO CONFINE THEREWITH SECOND GAP MEANS ADAPTED TO ALLOW THE PASSAGE OF FLUID THERETHROUGH, MAIN SUPPLY CONDUIT MEANS LEADING FROM THE OUTSIDE OF SAID HUB INTO THE LATTER AND ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO A SUPPLY SOURCE OF A FLUID MEDIUM CONTAINING AT LEAST ONE GAS, BRANCH CONDUIT MEANS LEADING FROM SAID HUB THROUGH SAID STUDS INTO EACH OF SAID BLADES, AND DIVIDING CONDUIT MEANS IN SAID BLADES COMMUNICATING WITH SAID BRANCH CONDUIT MEANS AND LEADING TO DIFFERENT AND SPACED POINTS ON EACH OF SAID BLADES ALONG THE SAID INNER AND OUTER PERIPHERIES THEREOF FOR THE DISCHARGE OF SAID FLUID MEDIUM DIRECTLY INTO SAID FIRST AND SECOND GAP MEANS AND SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE PLANE OF THE RESPECTIVE BLADE.