EP1027530A1 - An air turbine motor - Google Patents

An air turbine motor

Info

Publication number
EP1027530A1
EP1027530A1 EP98952402A EP98952402A EP1027530A1 EP 1027530 A1 EP1027530 A1 EP 1027530A1 EP 98952402 A EP98952402 A EP 98952402A EP 98952402 A EP98952402 A EP 98952402A EP 1027530 A1 EP1027530 A1 EP 1027530A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
air
elements
turbine
drive
motor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP98952402A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1027530B1 (en
EP1027530A4 (en
Inventor
Kenneth Douglas Horner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP1027530A1 publication Critical patent/EP1027530A1/en
Publication of EP1027530A4 publication Critical patent/EP1027530A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1027530B1 publication Critical patent/EP1027530B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01D—NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES
    • F01D1/00—Non-positive-displacement machines or engines, e.g. steam turbines
    • F01D1/02—Non-positive-displacement machines or engines, e.g. steam turbines with stationary working-fluid guiding means and bladed or like rotor, e.g. multi-bladed impulse steam turbines
    • F01D1/06—Non-positive-displacement machines or engines, e.g. steam turbines with stationary working-fluid guiding means and bladed or like rotor, e.g. multi-bladed impulse steam turbines traversed by the working-fluid substantially radially
    • F01D1/08—Non-positive-displacement machines or engines, e.g. steam turbines with stationary working-fluid guiding means and bladed or like rotor, e.g. multi-bladed impulse steam turbines traversed by the working-fluid substantially radially having inward flow
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01D—NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES
    • F01D1/00—Non-positive-displacement machines or engines, e.g. steam turbines
    • F01D1/02—Non-positive-displacement machines or engines, e.g. steam turbines with stationary working-fluid guiding means and bladed or like rotor, e.g. multi-bladed impulse steam turbines
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01D—NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES
    • F01D1/00—Non-positive-displacement machines or engines, e.g. steam turbines
    • F01D1/02—Non-positive-displacement machines or engines, e.g. steam turbines with stationary working-fluid guiding means and bladed or like rotor, e.g. multi-bladed impulse steam turbines
    • F01D1/06—Non-positive-displacement machines or engines, e.g. steam turbines with stationary working-fluid guiding means and bladed or like rotor, e.g. multi-bladed impulse steam turbines traversed by the working-fluid substantially radially
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01D—NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES
    • F01D15/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of engines with devices driven thereby
    • F01D15/06—Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, hand-held tools or the like control thereof

Definitions

  • This invention relates to air turbine motors.
  • the invention has been particularly developed for use in a pneumatic starter motor and will be primarily described with reference to this application.
  • the motor is however suitable for use in other applications where pneumatic motors are used due to the nature of the operating environment or otherwise.
  • Pneumatic starter motors are used for cranking internal combustion engines for starting purposes and are typically used for large engines and engines operating in environments where electric starting systems can be hazardous such as in mines.
  • Some known pneumatic starter motors have utilised a arrangement in which a flow of air generally parallel to the axis of rotation of a turbine wheel interacts with turbine elements to drive the wheel in rotation.
  • air is directed radially with respect to the axis of rotation of a turbine wheel to interact with radially oriented elements which drive the wheel in rotation. Whilst both arrangements have been used to provide satisfactory air motors for pneumatic starters and other applications, improvements in output and operating characteristics are continuously sought.
  • this invention provides an air turbine motor including a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about an axis, a first set of elements displaced around said turbine wheel and arranged to drive said turbine wheel in rotation about said axis in a first direction in response to an axial flow of air generally parallel to said axis, a second set of elements displaced around said turbine and arranged to drive said turbine wheel in rotation about said axis in said first direction in response to a radial flow of air generally perpendicular to said axis, and means to direct drive air to said first set of elements in an axially directed flow and to direct drive air to said second set of elements in a radially directed flow.
  • the drive air is firstly directed to the first or axially driven set of elements and is subsequently directed to the second or radially driven set of elements.
  • the axially driven set of elements is arranged around an outer circumferential edge of the turbine wheel and the radially driven set of elements is arranged on a face of said turbine wheel.
  • the radially driven set of elements are preferably arranged in two consecutive stages whereby the drive air passes through one stage and then the other stage.
  • the consecutive stages are preferably formed by arranging the elements in two concentric circular arrays.
  • the turbine wheel is preferably mounted between two stator arrangements.
  • the first of the stators directs drive air axially toward said axially driven elements whilst the second stator re-directs air emerging from said axially driven elements in a radial direction to said radially driven elements.
  • This preferred turbine stator configuration prevents a high side thrust loading on the turbine wheel. This is because the inlet air through the first stator exerts force which is opposite to the axial force developed by the air passing through the radially driven elements on the remote side of the turbine wheel. Additionally, the configuration allows a very compact and easily assembled air turbine motor to be produced.
  • the air turbine motor according to this invention has been found to provide a superior power output for a given drive air input. This allows a corresponding reduction in the size of the motor to produce a given power output.
  • the air turbine motor of this invention also as a higher stall torque, that is, torque at zero ⁇ m. This is particularly important for applications to pneumatic starter motors since start load is frequently very high.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of an air turbine motor according to this invention
  • Figure 2 is an elevation of the turbine forming part of the air motor of Figure 1 ; and Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the turbine shown in Figure 2.
  • the air turbine motor 1 comprises a housing 2 in which a turbine wheel 3 is mounted for rotation between an air inlet stator 4 and a second stator 5.
  • An air inlet manifold 6 is provided in the housing in a known way.
  • Stator 4 has a series of sequentially arranged elements or vanes 7 which direct air flow from manifold 6 toward turbine wheel 3.
  • the outer circumference of turbine wheel 3 supports an array of axial turbine elements 8 evenly distributed around the circumference of the turbine wheel.
  • Two concentric rings of radial turbine elements 9, 10 are formed on a face 11 of wheel 3 remote from the inlet stator 4.
  • the second stator 5 is provided with circular arrays of elements or vanes 12, 13 which respectively fit between axial elements 8 and 9 and radial elements 9 and 10.
  • An exhaust manifold 14 is provide in housing 2.
  • Stators 4 and 5 support turbine wheel 3, for rotation about its axis.
  • the turbine 3 is supported by the interengaging formations and does not require the use of supporting bearings. This is made possible by the above configuration in which the turbine wheel 3 is similarly loaded in opposing axial directions by the drive air pressure thus avoiding any axially longitudinal loading.
  • Arrows 15 show the path of the air through the air turbine motor.
  • the air is admitted to manifold 6 by an appropriate control valve (not shown) in the known manner.
  • the air passes through elements 7 of stator 4 which direct the air generally axially into axially driven elements 8.
  • the air exiting elements 8 is turned through 90° by elements 12 of stator
  • the air exiting elements 9 is directed into the second stage of radially driven elements 10 (or third stage of the motor) by elements 13 of stator 5. The air then passes into exhaust manifold 14 for exhaust to the atmosphere in the usual manner.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Connection Of Motors, Electrical Generators, Mechanical Devices, And The Like (AREA)
  • Lens Barrels (AREA)
  • Control Of Electric Motors In General (AREA)
  • Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)
  • Supercharger (AREA)
  • Valve Device For Special Equipments (AREA)
  • Turbine Rotor Nozzle Sealing (AREA)

Abstract

An air turbine motor (1) has a turbine wheel (3) mounted for rotation in a housing (2). A first set of elements (8) distributed around the circumference of the turbine wheel (3) drive the wheel (3) in rotation in response to an axial flow of drive air. A second set of elements (9, 10) on a face (11) of the wheel (3) drive the wheel (3) in rotation in response to radial flow of drive air. Stators (4, 5) direct drive air to the first elements (8) in an axial direction and to the second elements (9, 10) in a radial direction.

Description

AN AIR TURBINE MOTOR Field of the Invention
This invention relates to air turbine motors. The invention has been particularly developed for use in a pneumatic starter motor and will be primarily described with reference to this application. The motor is however suitable for use in other applications where pneumatic motors are used due to the nature of the operating environment or otherwise.
Background Art
Pneumatic starter motors are used for cranking internal combustion engines for starting purposes and are typically used for large engines and engines operating in environments where electric starting systems can be hazardous such as in mines.
Some known pneumatic starter motors have utilised a arrangement in which a flow of air generally parallel to the axis of rotation of a turbine wheel interacts with turbine elements to drive the wheel in rotation. In some other known pneumatic starter motors, air is directed radially with respect to the axis of rotation of a turbine wheel to interact with radially oriented elements which drive the wheel in rotation. Whilst both arrangements have been used to provide satisfactory air motors for pneumatic starters and other applications, improvements in output and operating characteristics are continuously sought.
Disclosure of the Invention
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved air turbine motor.
Accordingly, this invention provides an air turbine motor including a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about an axis, a first set of elements displaced around said turbine wheel and arranged to drive said turbine wheel in rotation about said axis in a first direction in response to an axial flow of air generally parallel to said axis, a second set of elements displaced around said turbine and arranged to drive said turbine wheel in rotation about said axis in said first direction in response to a radial flow of air generally perpendicular to said axis, and means to direct drive air to said first set of elements in an axially directed flow and to direct drive air to said second set of elements in a radially directed flow.
In the preferred form of the invention, the drive air is firstly directed to the first or axially driven set of elements and is subsequently directed to the second or radially driven set of elements. Although this is the currently preferred configuration there are applications in which the path of the drive could be reversed.
Preferably, the axially driven set of elements is arranged around an outer circumferential edge of the turbine wheel and the radially driven set of elements is arranged on a face of said turbine wheel.
The radially driven set of elements are preferably arranged in two consecutive stages whereby the drive air passes through one stage and then the other stage. The consecutive stages are preferably formed by arranging the elements in two concentric circular arrays.
The turbine wheel is preferably mounted between two stator arrangements. The first of the stators directs drive air axially toward said axially driven elements whilst the second stator re-directs air emerging from said axially driven elements in a radial direction to said radially driven elements.
This preferred turbine stator configuration prevents a high side thrust loading on the turbine wheel. This is because the inlet air through the first stator exerts force which is opposite to the axial force developed by the air passing through the radially driven elements on the remote side of the turbine wheel. Additionally, the configuration allows a very compact and easily assembled air turbine motor to be produced.
The air turbine motor according to this invention has been found to provide a superior power output for a given drive air input. This allows a corresponding reduction in the size of the motor to produce a given power output. The air turbine motor of this invention also as a higher stall torque, that is, torque at zero φm. This is particularly important for applications to pneumatic starter motors since start load is frequently very high.
The use of multiple stages through the respective axial and radial elements also allows speed control of the turbine motor.
The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of an air turbine motor according to this invention;
Figure 2 is an elevation of the turbine forming part of the air motor of Figure 1 ; and Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the turbine shown in Figure 2.
Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention
As seen in the drawings, the air turbine motor 1 according to this invention comprises a housing 2 in which a turbine wheel 3 is mounted for rotation between an air inlet stator 4 and a second stator 5. An air inlet manifold 6 is provided in the housing in a known way. Stator 4 has a series of sequentially arranged elements or vanes 7 which direct air flow from manifold 6 toward turbine wheel 3. The outer circumference of turbine wheel 3 supports an array of axial turbine elements 8 evenly distributed around the circumference of the turbine wheel. Two concentric rings of radial turbine elements 9, 10 are formed on a face 11 of wheel 3 remote from the inlet stator 4. The second stator 5 is provided with circular arrays of elements or vanes 12, 13 which respectively fit between axial elements 8 and 9 and radial elements 9 and 10. An exhaust manifold 14 is provide in housing 2.
Stators 4 and 5 support turbine wheel 3, for rotation about its axis. The turbine 3 is supported by the interengaging formations and does not require the use of supporting bearings. This is made possible by the above configuration in which the turbine wheel 3 is similarly loaded in opposing axial directions by the drive air pressure thus avoiding any axially longitudinal loading. In this regard the inlet air directed through element 7 of stator
4 exerts a net force to the right as viewed in Figure 1 whilst the longitudinal loading by virtue of the air directed through elements 9, 13 and 10 is to the left as viewed in Figure 1.
Arrows 15 show the path of the air through the air turbine motor. In use, the air is admitted to manifold 6 by an appropriate control valve (not shown) in the known manner. The air passes through elements 7 of stator 4 which direct the air generally axially into axially driven elements 8. The air exiting elements 8 is turned through 90° by elements 12 of stator
5 to become a radially directed flow into the radially driven elements 9. The air exiting elements 9 is directed into the second stage of radially driven elements 10 (or third stage of the motor) by elements 13 of stator 5. The air then passes into exhaust manifold 14 for exhaust to the atmosphere in the usual manner.
The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the invention and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. An air turbine motor including a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about an axis, a first set of elements displaced around said turbine wheel and arranged to drive said turbine wheel in rotation about said axis in a first direction in response to an axial flow of air generally parallel to said axis, a second set of elements displaced around said turbine and arranged to drive said turbine wheel in rotation about said axis in said first direction in response to a radial flow of air generally peφendicular to said axis, and means to direct drive air to said first set of elements in an axially directed flow and to direct drive air to said second set of elements in a radially directed flow.
2. An air turbine motor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drive air is first directed to said first set of drive elements and is subsequently directed to said second set of drive elements.
3. An air turbine motor as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said first set of elements is arranged around an outer circumferential edge of said turbine wheel.
4. An air turbine motor as claimed in claim 3 wherein said second set of elements is arranged on a face of said turbine wheel.
5. An air turbine motor as claimed in claim 4 wherein said second set of elements is arranged in two consecutive stages whereby the drive air passes through one stage and then the other stage.
6. An air turbine motor as claimed in claim 5 wherein said two consecutive stages are formed by arranging the elements in two concentric circular arrays.
7. An air turbine motor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said turbine wheel is mounted between two stators.
8. An air turbine motor as claimed in claim 7 wherein a first stator directs drive air axially toward said first set of elements and a second stator re-directs air emerging from the first set of elements to said second set of elements in a radial direction.
9. An air turbine motor substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
EP98952402A 1997-10-27 1998-10-27 Pneumatic starter motor Expired - Lifetime EP1027530B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPP003397 1997-10-27
AUPP0033A AUPP003397A0 (en) 1997-10-27 1997-10-27 An air turbine motor
PCT/AU1998/000890 WO1999022117A1 (en) 1997-10-27 1998-10-27 An air turbine motor

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1027530A1 true EP1027530A1 (en) 2000-08-16
EP1027530A4 EP1027530A4 (en) 2004-05-12
EP1027530B1 EP1027530B1 (en) 2006-08-02

Family

ID=3804309

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98952402A Expired - Lifetime EP1027530B1 (en) 1997-10-27 1998-10-27 Pneumatic starter motor

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1027530B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE335124T1 (en)
AU (1) AUPP003397A0 (en)
DE (1) DE69835439T2 (en)
WO (1) WO1999022117A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9714637B1 (en) 2013-09-04 2017-07-25 Carl A. Stacey Pneumatic starter for a chainsaw

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE262119C (en) *
GB237611A (en) * 1924-07-24 1925-10-15 International General Electric Company Incorporated
GB361772A (en) * 1930-03-24 1931-11-26 Aktiebolaget Milo
DE689593C (en) * 1934-01-21 1940-03-28 Phil Ulrich Meininghaus Dr Ing Centrifugal machine, preferably a steam or gas turbine
DE720938C (en) * 1940-06-20 1942-05-20 Siemens Ag Radial centrifugal machine, preferably steam or gas turbine
DE869969C (en) * 1951-04-14 1953-03-09 Wagner Hochdruck Dampfturbinen Radial steam or gas turbine
US4573870A (en) * 1984-10-26 1986-03-04 Elliott Turbomachinery Co., Inc. Solid turbine wheel with guided discharge
RU2008435C1 (en) * 1991-02-11 1994-02-28 Нижегородский государственный технический университет Radial-flow turbine

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE262119C (en) *
GB237611A (en) * 1924-07-24 1925-10-15 International General Electric Company Incorporated
GB361772A (en) * 1930-03-24 1931-11-26 Aktiebolaget Milo
DE689593C (en) * 1934-01-21 1940-03-28 Phil Ulrich Meininghaus Dr Ing Centrifugal machine, preferably a steam or gas turbine
DE720938C (en) * 1940-06-20 1942-05-20 Siemens Ag Radial centrifugal machine, preferably steam or gas turbine
DE869969C (en) * 1951-04-14 1953-03-09 Wagner Hochdruck Dampfturbinen Radial steam or gas turbine
US4573870A (en) * 1984-10-26 1986-03-04 Elliott Turbomachinery Co., Inc. Solid turbine wheel with guided discharge
RU2008435C1 (en) * 1991-02-11 1994-02-28 Нижегородский государственный технический университет Radial-flow turbine

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO9922117A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1027530B1 (en) 2006-08-02
DE69835439D1 (en) 2006-09-14
ATE335124T1 (en) 2006-08-15
DE69835439T2 (en) 2007-02-01
WO1999022117A1 (en) 1999-05-06
EP1027530A4 (en) 2004-05-12
AUPP003397A0 (en) 1997-11-20

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