US1529631A - Hydraulic machine - Google Patents

Description

March 10. 1925.

1,529,631 w. H. LIEBER HYDRAULIC MACHINE Filed April 10, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 10, 1925. LEiZQfiFiE W. H LJEBER HYDRAULLC MACHINE Filed April 10 192.2 2 Sheets-Shes:

T if i 5 5 Patented Mar. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT'OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. LIEBER, OF WEST ALLIS, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO ALLIS-CHALMERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

HYDRAULIC MACHINE.

Application filed April 10,

To all whom it 11m 1 concern:

Be it known that. "WILLIAM H. LIEBER, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Allis, in the county of Milwaukee and State of lVisconsin, has invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Hydraulic Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to improvements in hydraulic machines, and relates morejpecifically to improvements in the construction and operation of hydraulic energy converting apparatus such as bydraulic turbines and pumps.

A general object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic machine which is simple in construction and efiicient in operation.

Some of the more specific objects and advantages of the present invention are as follows:

To provide an exceedingly simple, compact and ellicient hydraulic machine of the rotary type.

To provide a hydraulic machine of extremely compact construction and of relatively great capacity, in which undesirable obstructions to flow of operating fluid are eliminated.

To provide a turbine installation especially adapted for hydraulic sites in which the available water supply is relatively small, wherein the flow control mechanism is reduced to its simplest form.

To provide a vertical hydraulic installation in which the thrust induced by the tluid flowing upwardly through the rotor is utilized to partially or completely counter balance the weight of the rotating parts, thereby eliminating necessity of providing special thrust bearings.

To provide a highly etlicient turbine operable under relatively low heads and at relatively high specific or characteristic speeds, in which the costs of installation, and operation are a minimum.

To provide a hydraulic energy converting machine comprising a minimum number of elements or parts all of which are readily accessible for inspection or removal, and which may be quickly assembled.

To provide means for eliminating danger of interruption in the continuity of the pro- 1922. Serial No. 551,087.

pelling stream of a h draulic turbine operable under relative] ow head.

To provide an e cient flow decelerating structure cooperable with the discharge'of a hydraulic machine.

To provide a hydraulic turbine unit of the type which is operable under relatively low heads to produce relatively high specific or characteristic speeds, in which retardation of the flow due to the action of centrifugal force, is substantially eliminated, and in which such force is utilized in order to augment the flow through the unit.

To provide improved rotor structures for hydraulic machines operable at high specific or characteristic speeds.

To provide other improvements in the construction, arrangement and operation of hydraulic machines such as rotary pumps and turbines.

Some of the novel features of hydraulic rotor construction, disclosed but not specifically claimed herein, form the subject of a divisional application Serial No. 754,915, filed December 10, 1924.

Fi 1 is a central vertical section through a hydraulic turbine unit embodying a rotor of the axial flow type in which the whirling actuating stream advances axially through the rotor.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section looking downwardly throiwh the h draulic turbine unit illustrated in i ig. 1, tie section being taken through the turbine discharge passa e.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through a hydraulic turbine having a mixed flow rotor in which the whirling actuating stream has both axial and radial components of flow.

, Fig. 4 is a central vertical section throu h a hydraulic turbine having a rotor of tie radial flow type in which the major components of llow of the whirling actuating stream, are radial.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a mixed flow rotor of the type capable of producing high characteristic or specific speeds.

Fig. 6 s a bottom view of the mixed flow ype of rotor shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a radial outward tlow rotor of the type capable of producing high specific or characteristic speeds.

Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the radial outward flow rotor illustrated in Figs. 4 and 7.

Each of the hydraulic turbine units illutrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, comprises generally a lower casing 12 forming a vanefree spiral inlet chamber 5, a transition space 6, and an axial upwardly directed conduit portion 7 communicating with the chamber 5; an upper casing portion 15 cooperating with substructure to form an annular vane-free diffuser or flow decelerating (passage 8; a turbine rotor 2, 20, 30 locate between the communicating conduits 5, 8; a vertical main shaft 3 having its lower end secured to the turbine rotor; and a d namo electric machine or generator 4 having a rotary element directly connected to the upper end of the vertical main shaft 3. The spiral inlet conduit 5 receives operating fluid from a source of supply through a vertically extending inlet pipe 10 having control means such as a butterfly valve 11 therein, and communicates with the inlet chamber 5 in a generally tangential direction, as shown in Fig. 2. The spiral inlet chamber 5 communicates inwardly with the symmetrical annular passage or transition space 6 having a central symmetrical conoidal core 13, 23, 33 therein and providing a vane-free guiding and conducting passage for gradually changing the direction of flow of fluid passing therethrough from inward to axial. The casing 12 which forms the chambers 5, 6 and the axially directed conduit 7 and which referably has the ipe 10 formed integral t erewith, may be xed in position bv embedment in concrete 14 as illustrated. Theupper casing portion 15 is preferably 5 aced and supported from the lower tur ine structure by means of an annular series of struts 16 which are located beyond the working passages and which may be formed as guide vanes in order to produce least obstruction to the flow of fluid delivered from the decelerating chamber 8, see Fi 2. The upper casing 15 is also forme to provide a suitable guiding surface adjacent to the turbine rotor and the central portion 17 of the upper casing 15 provides a bearing and packing for the main shaft 3 directly ad acent to the turbine rotor. The outer periphery of the diffusin chamber 8 communicates with a conducting cas ng 18 forming a fluid conducting chamber 9 which communicates with the usual tail-race One side of the chamber 8 may be provided with a splitter 19 for dividin the flow of the decelerated fluid delivere from the diflusing chamber 8. Upon removal of the conducting chamber 18 the upper casing15 together with the turbine rotor, main shaft 3 and dynamo electric machine 4, may be loosened and freely vertically removed to expose the entire interior of the hydraulic machine, the valve 11 serving to prevent entry of fluid from the source of fluid supply when the casing 15 is removed. u

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the specific construction of axial flow hydraulic turbine rotor 2 illustrated therein, forms no part of the present invention except in combination with the other novel features of hydraulic machine construction. In this embodiment of the invention the upper casing 15 may be rovided with a lower wall located direct y below and integrally united with the upper wall by means of the struts 16. If the upper casing is thus formed, the joint between the upper casing 15 and the lower casing 12 is preferably located in a plane dperpendicular to the rotor axis and locate directly adjacent to the rotor 2, so that the casings 12, 15 may be separated without interferring with the rotor vanes.

In this embodiment of the invention the conoidal core 13 is relatively short and may have its upper extremity formed to provide a thrust bearing for supporting the rotary elements when the machine is at rest.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 3, 5 and 6, the lower wall of the diffusing chamber 8 may be formed integral with the lower casing 12, in order to permit removal of the rotor 20. The conoidal core 23 extends upwardly through the axial passage 7 and may have its upper end formed to provide a thrust bearing for the rotary elements. The mixed flow rotor 20 illustrated in these figures, comprises an annular series of dovetail shaped vanes 21 secured to a conoidal hub 22 and extending laterally and outwardly away from the hub, the vanes 21 having free outer ends. The vanes 21 are so s aced that the edges thereof do not over ap when the vanes are projected upon a plane r iIeiiipendicular to the rotor axis, see Fi 6. e angularity of the vanes is such that the working surfaces are disposed transversely of the direction of advancement of the'individual stream lines of the whirling stream of operating liquid produced by the chamber 5. The rotor 20 is adapted to deliver its discharge into the adjacent diffusing chamber 8 at an angle of approximatel relatively to the turbine axis. Such elivery permits the centrifugal force induced in the whirling mass of liquid to assist in the delivery thereof to the diffusing chamber 8, thus augmenting the quantity of fluid passing through the machine.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4. 7 and 8, the lower wall of the diffusing chamber 8 may be formed integral with the lower casing 12 and detachably connected to the upper casing 15 by means of the struts 16, in order to permit removal of the rotor 30. The conoidal core 33 extends upwardly through the axial passage 7 and preferably has its upper extremity formed to provide a thrust bearing for the rotary elements. The radial flow rotor 30 illustrated in these figures, comprises an annular series of axially extending vanes 31 secured to a disk-like hub 32, the vanes 31 either having free lower ends as shown, or being provided with a ring connecting the lower vane ends. The vanes 31 are so spaced that the adjacent edges thereof do not overlap when the rotor 2 is viewed in a direction transversely of its axis. The angularity of the vanes is such that the working surfaces are disposed transversely of the direction of advancement of the individual stream lines of the whirling stream of operating liquid admitted to and passin through the rotor. The rotor 30 is adapter to deliver its discharge into the adjacent difl'using chamber 8 in planes substantially perpendicular to the turbine axis. With such delivery of the fluid, the centrifugal force induced in the whirling mam of li uid assists in the delivery thereof to the di using chamber 8, thus augmenting to a maximum the quantity of fluid passing through the machine.

During normal operation of a hydraulic turbine constructed in accordance with the present invention, operating fluid under pressure is admitted through the pipe 10 to the chamber 5, transition space 6, and axial conduit 7, and from thence through the rotor to the diffusing or decelerating chamber 8. The quantity of fluid admitted through the ipe 10 is controllable either automatically y means of a speed governor or manually, by manipulation of the butterfly valve 11, and the fluid flow may be cut off entirely by closing the valve 11. In assing through the spiral inlet chamber 5 tiie entering fluid is caused to whirl due to the spiral formation of the lower casing 12, in the same general direction as the direction of rotation of the rotor. The fluid is delivered inwardly from the chamber 5, toward the rotor axis to the transition space 6 wherein the direction of flow of the whirling stream is chan ed from inward to axial. The axially a vancing whirling stream of liquid then passes through the axial conduit 7 to the rotor wherein a substantial part of its velocity energy is transformed into torque in the rotating shaft 3 and produces rotation of the rotary elements at relativel high specific or characteristic speeds. e fluid is delivered from the rotor with considerable residual whirl, directly into the outwardly extending diflusing chamber 8. In the chamber 8 the remaining velocit and whirl energy is substantially converte into pressure energy and the fluid is eventually discharged into the chamber 9 with practically no whirl energy left therein and with but sufficient velocity energy left to produce a flow to the tail-race.

It will be obvious that the entire elimination of stationary vanes and other obstructions, in the energy converting passages of the hydraulic machine, eliminates friction and odd losses and permits gradual and eflicient elivery of the fluid to and from the machine. The elimination of complicated gate mechanism and valves also eliminates energy losses and reduces the cost of construction and installation to a minimum. By admitting the operating fluid from below the rotor, the axial thrust produced by the entering fluid may be utilized to either partially or completely counter balance the weight of the rotating arts. Such inverted setting also reduces t e overall height of the unit and insures continuity of the flow of working fluid regardless of variations in the head level throughout a considerable range. In the rotors 9/0, 30, the centrifugal force resulting from whirling of the stream also assists in delivery of the fluid from the rotor, and in all of the installations illustrated, centrifugal force is utilized to assist in rapid and efficient diffusion of the discharge flow. Energy losses are also reduced to a minimum in open rotors 2, 20, 30 of the type illustrated, having relatively few nonoverlapping vanes. The internal passages and mechanisms are readily accessible for inspection and removal of parts, and the entire structure is especially applicable to small hydraulic power sites wherein the available uantity of operating fluid is limited but re atively constant. While the invention has been illustrated herein as applied to vertical hydraulic turbine installations only, it will be obvious that features thereof are more generally applicable.

It should be understood that it is not dcsired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction and of operation hen-- in shown and described, for obvious Imu'liii cations within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor compris ng vanes formed to freely discharge the iquld radially of the rotor axis, means forming a vane free conduit for positively producing a whirling stream of liquid and for delivering said strea'in toward said rotor, and means providing a flow decelerating conduit for receiving the discharge directly from said rotor in a direction transverse to the rotor axis.

2. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor, comprising vanes formed to freely discharge the liquid radially of the rotor axis, means forming a vane free conduit for positively producing a whirling stream of liquid and or delivering said stream axially toward said rotor, and means providing a flow decelerating conduit for receiving the dis charge directly from said rotor in planes substantially erpendicular to the rotor axis.

3. In a hy raulic machine, a rotor comrising vanes formed to freely discharge the iquid radially of the rotor axis, means formin a vane free conduit for ositively producing a whirling stream of liquid and for delivering said stream upwardly toward said rotor, and means providing a flow decelerating conduit above said rotor for receiving t e discharge therefrom.

4. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor comrising vanes formed to freely discharge the iquid radially of the rotor axis, means forming a vane free 5 iral conduit for ositively producing a wliirlin stream of liquid and for delivering sai stream toward said rotor, and means providing an annular vane free flow decelerating conduit for receiving the discharge directly from said rotor.

5. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor comrising vanes formed to freely discharge the iquid radially of the rotor axis, means forming a vane free s iral conduit for ositively producing a w irling stream 0 liquid and for delivering said stream axially toward said rotor, and means providing an annular vane free flow decelerating conduit for receiving the discharge directly from said rotor in planes substantially perpendicular to the rotor axis.

6. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor comprising vanes formed to freely discharge the liquid radially of the rotor axis, means forming a vane free spiral conduit for positively roducing a w irlin stream of liquid an for delivering sai stream axially and upwardly to said rotor, and means providing an annular vane free flow decelerating conduit communicating with said rotor from above and adapted to receive the discharge directly from said rotor in planes substantially perpendicular to the rotor 3x15.

7. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor comprising vanes formed to freely discharge the iquid radially of the rotor axis, means formin a vane free conduit for ositively producing a whirling stream of liquid and for delivering said stream axially toward said rotor, and means providing a flow decelerating conduit communicating with said first named conduit, said rotor having vanes between said conduits past which the whirling stream of li uid flows in a direction away from the axis of said rotor.

8. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor having non-overlappin successive vanes formed to freely discharge t e liquid radially of the rotor axis, means for conducting liquid to said rotor with a whirl, means for controlling the quantity of liquid admitted to said conducting means, and flow decelerating means for receiving the discharge directly from said rotor vanes and for conductin said discharge transversely of the axis 0 said rotor.

9. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor comrising vanes formed to freely discharge the iquid radially of the rotor axis, means formin a vane free conduit for ositively producing a whirling stream of liquid and for delivering said stream toward said rotor, means for controlling the quantity of liquid admitted to said conduit, and means providing a flow decelerating conduit for receiving the discharge directly from said rotor in a direction transverse to the rotor axis.

10. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor comprising vanes formed to freely dischar e the liquid radially of the rotor axis, means formin a vane free conduit for positively producing a whirling stream of liquid and for delivering said stream axially toward said rotor, means for controlling the quantity of liquid admitted to said conduit, and means providing a flow decelerating conduit for receiving tie discharge directly from said rotor in planes substantially perpendicular to the rotor axis.

11. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor comprising vanes formed to freely discharge the 'quid radially of the rotor axis, means formin a vane free conduit for positively producing a whirling stream of liquid and for delivering said stream upwardly toward said rotor, means for controlling the quantity of liquid admitted to said conduit, and means providing a flow decelerating conduit above said rotor for receiving the discharge therefrom.

12. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor comrising vanes formed to freely discharge the liquid radially of the rotor axis, means for ositively producing a whirling vortex of iquid and for delivering said vortex upwardly toward said rotor, and means providin an annular flaring flow decelerating conduit above said rotor for receiving the discharge therefrom.

13. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor, means for positively producing a vortex of liquid and for deliverin said vortex upwardly toward and outwardly through said rotor, and means providing a flow deoeleratin conduit above said rotor for receiving the discharge therefrom.

14. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor comprising vanes formed to freely discharge the "quid radially of the rotor axis, means forming a vane free spiral conduit for positively producing a vortex of liquid and for delivering said vortex toward said rotor, means for controlling the liquid admitted to said conduit, and-means providing an annular vane free flow decelerating conduit for receiving the discharge directly from said rotor.

15. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor comprising vanes formed to freely discharge the liquid radially of the rotor axis, means forming a vane free spiral conduit for positively producing a vortex of liquid and for deliverin said vortex upwardl I toward said rotor, and means providing a ow decelerating conduit above said rotor for receiving the discharge therefrom.

16. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor, means forming avane free spiral conduit for producing a vortex of liquid and for delivering said vortex upwardly toward and outwardly through said rotor, and means for providing an annular vane free flow decelerating conduit above said rotor for receiving the .discharge therefrom.

17. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor, means forming a vane free spiral conduit for ositively producing a vortex of liquid an for delivering said vortex axially toward and outwardly through said rotor, and means providing an annular vane free flow decelerating conduit for receiving the discharge directly from said rotor and for conducting said discharge away from the axis of said rotor in planes substantially perpendicular to said axis.

18. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor, means forming a spiral conduit free from obstructions for positivel producing a vortex of liquid and for de ivering said vortex outwardly through said rotor, and means providing a flow decelerating conduit at the discharge side of said rotor.

upwardly to said rotor, and means providing an annular flow decelerating conduit free from obstructions communicating with said rotor from above.

20. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor, means formin a conduit free from obstructions for posltively producing a vortex of liquid and for delivering said vortex axially toward said rotor, means for controlling the delivery of li uid to said conduit, and means providlng a ow decelerating conduit communicating with said vortex producing conduit, said rotor having vanes located between said conduits ast which the vortex of 1i uid flows in a direction away from the axis of said rotor.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is afiixed hereto.

WILLIAM H. LIEBER.

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