GB485080A - Improvements in or relating to gearing for turbines - Google Patents

Abstract

485,080. Epicyclic gearing. LAMMEREN, W. P. VAN. Aug. 13, 1936, No. 22278. [Class 80 (ii)] [Also in Groups XXVI and XXIX] In a turbine, or a hydraulic torque converter of the turbine type, in which two vane elements are adapted to be alternatively braked to cause them to exchange functions and thereby produce forward or reverse running, the two vane elements are connected respectively to the sun and annulus of an epicyclic train, the planet carrier of which is carried by the driven shaft. Thus, when one of the vane elements is held against rotation a reduced speed of the driven shaft relative to the rotating element is obtained. As applied to a hydraulic torque converter, Fig. 1, of the kind described in Specification 458,143, driven and guide vane elements 4, 5 are connected to the sun and annulus 10, 11 respectively of an epicyclic train the planets 12 of which are carried on the driven shaft 2. The vane element 3 is the impeller element and is connected direct to the driving shaft 1. By holding either the guide element 5 or the normal driven element 4 by brakes 17 normal forward running or reverse running at reduced speeds is obtained of the driven shaft 2. A one-way braking device 15, 16 may be provided for the guide vane wheel 5 so that, whilst for forward running it is held against backward rotation, when the load torque diminishes it can rotate in a forward direction with the element 4 and drive the annulus 11 forwardly. If the torque is sufficiently reduced the forward speed of the guide element and the annulus 11 may equal that of the driven element and sun 10 to give an approximately direct drive from the shaft 1 to the shaft 2. By suitable design of the vanes of the guide element it may rotate at a higher speed than the driven element 4 and the impeller 3 to give an overdrive of the shaft 2. As applied to a steam turbine, Fig. 4, driven vanes 20 and guide vanes 23 are mounted on drums 21, 24 connected to the sun 25 and annulus 26 of an epicyclic train, the planets 28 of which are carried by the driven shaft 31. By holding either the drum 24 or 21 by means of brakes 32, normal forward or reverse running of the driven shaft at reduced speeds through the epicyclic train is obtained.