Combined fluid impellers and self-sealing closures

Claim 1

A combined fluid impeller and self-sealing closure, comprising, in combination: a. a rotor member having a supporting disc adapted to be firmly connected to an impeller shaft having an axis of rotation and a rotor ring defining a circumference and attached to said supporting disc; b. a plurality of blades each having an inner end and pivotally supported along the circumference of said rotor ring and mounted to be pivoted about a radial axis between a closure position in which said blades act together to bar the passage of fluid through the impeller, and an open, fluid impelling position; c. a centrally arranged pivot pin provided at the inner end of each of said blades, said pivot pin pivotally connected to said rotor ring and extending inside the same; d. a control disc arranged inside said rotor ring and pivotal concentric to the axis of rotation of said rotor, said control disc defining an opening for each of said blades, and each of said pivot pins being provided with a lateral pin arranged inside said rotor ring and extending through a corresponding one of said openings in said control disc; e. a rotating mass arranged within said rotor ring, said rotating mass comprising a lever and a fly-weight attached to one end of said lever, said fly-weight and said lever together forming an angle member opening away from the axis of rotation of the impeller shaft; f. pivot means pivotally connecting said lever near its end opposite said fly-weight to said supporting disc for pivoting movement parallel to said supporting disc, said lever being provided between said pivot means and said fly-weight with a lateral control pin, said control disc being further provided with a substantially radially extending slot or groove, and said control pin engaging said slot or groove; and g. return spring means interconnecting said rotating mass and said supporting disc for urging said rotating mass toward its position adjacent the impeller shaft, and for maintaining said control disc in its position corresponding to the closure position of said blades.