US2161647A - Hydraulic machine - Google Patents

Description

June 6, 1939. G, c. WHISLER4 2,161,647

HYDRAULIC MACHINE Filed March l5, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. 1

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Gnome June 6, 1939. C, WH|SLER 2,161,647.

' HYDRAULIC MACHINE Filed Mroh 15, 195e a sheets-sheet 2 nven'tor GRANT C. WH ISLE R Gttorneg June 6, 1939. G. Q WHISLER 2,161,647

HYDRAULIC MACHINE Filed March l5, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 3 Inventor *GRANT C. WHISLER Bg v MAM (mmm June 6, 1939:

G. C. WHISLER HYDRAULl C MACHINE Filed March l5, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 illlllllih nventorl GRANT C. WH ISLER (Ittorneig June 6, 1939. G. c. wHlsLER HYDRAULIC MACHINE Filed March l5, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Snventor G-RANT C. WHISLER (Ittorneg4 June 6, 1939. G. c; wHlsLER HYDRAULIC MACHINE 8 Sheets-sheet e Filed Marh l5, I 1958- nnentor GRANT C. WH ISL ER WM Yr.

June 6., 1939.

G. c, wHlsLER- 2,161,647

HYDRAULIC MACHINE Filed March 15, 1958 d e sheetssheet v Bnventor GRANT C. WH ISLER (ttorneg June 6, 1939. (3,4 C;l WHISLER 2,161,647

HYDRAULIC MACHINE Filed March 15, 1938 A s sheets-sheet e I 43- Fg. s

Snventor Gttorneg Patented June 6, 1939 unimo sry-rias ajsnci time. 15, 193i,- senai No. nasse (ci,

'invention relates tov improvements hydraulic more particularly .t hydrauiic turbines of the tree the; blades. of the riinn'er are to their armie- Y and the area of the Water opening threuglir the runner Yto correspond with the angle andorre ing of .the wicket gates or venes which; control the admission 4of water te :the

An object of the invention is :to nrovide improved adjustable blade hydraulle turbine .in

which the for opera ne the. blade actuating m of the runner as' .te accessi-- bie for repair or wihout the acces- Another object of the invention is to proyide an improved adjusts-hie blade hydraulic turbine in which the strait' .isormm with tWQ semicylindrical .sections are and detachably connected together in such a, manner that the the runner shaft for Operatinsthe bl actuating means is. Supported from er; the sections: of the shaft. Y

Another object 0i the inyentionisto provide an improved shaft for adiastable 4blade hydraulic turbines inwhich means are provided for circulating currents of airthroiigh the Shaft in order to prevent overheating runner blade operating mechanisniwithill the .Shaft- The inventionconsists. in. novel sneeic details of construction. and e0., titration of ele-v ments hereinafter .describen .and claimed.

In the f Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in seticitr;l of, a hydraillieturbine having,v a runner oi Athe adjustable b tyiie arid a 1unn,` "'er shaft accor ng' to the present iavenn Fie. 2 is' an eiilasd vertical sect1 n `40I the 4o lower endo; the t thec'om struction o f the, in rs. hut. .of the runner;

Figs. 3, 4 arid-5 iertl il enlarged scale'of the chais at the end of the ruimer .shaft for operating the bladel adiiistie ir Fic. 6 is a'. ,jorilzontal section taken vIri th lirlie 5Fl-5 3; f Y Fig. 'l is a lioiiital ysettioi taken the line Eig; 9 is a detail side elevation of the' upper portion of the. runner shaftlnmy application for Letters Patent in theUnited'Sta-tes Patent Oce February 17, 1938, SerialfNo.- 19h-095, for Hydraulic machine, now 5, Ratgnt Noi; 2;132,504, dated October 1-1, 1938, there is described and .claimed mechanism for controlling the operation .of the runner blades. The present invention relates to structure shown but not claimed in the abovereferredto prior 1o patent appImation.V

Referring to the drawings, .and especially to Fig'. 1*; .thelmproved hydraulic turbine comprises s easine Il which forms a peripheral water inlet in which vare mounted series of mov- 1 able wicket gates `I-2l andan annular series of statuirraryv cuide' venes i3, the snide varies surrounding the wicket gates.

Projecting from the wicket gates lf2., are shafts M whiohiare journalled in suitable bearings cargg ried by tire .casing Il and terminate a suitable distance thereabove.

The iifclget` gates |2- a-re adapted tor be rotated simultaneously into diner-ent angular positions to. .control the ow of water into the hydraulic 25 turbine 4in a Well-known manner; and for this impose the upper ends of the shafts I4 are uilually proyided- Withgate operating arms I5 which are fixed to said shafts, and operatively comlected to agate adi-iustine ring I6. 3o lhesetc afliusting ring; I6 is connected by Il to ashaft |18 which is usually vertically as Shown at the right in Fir.Y 1, the t8y loeing operatively .connected to a gov?. ernor xneohanisin` `(not shown) `operable by varia- 35 tions zin lead on tliegturleine The lower-I end ofthe easing Il forms an axially chamber 2-.2 in which the runner 2 3 0perates,

AS KSICWVD 2, the hub of the runner 23 40 1S fixed,- to the lower end .of a hollow or tubular shaft v2li which extends upwardly through the tesine-ih iisilel marmer- ",lhiiper end of the ril-nner shaft 2 4 is connetted te the lower end of a cylindrical casing 45 titille uliieremt Q f said casing being connected to the shaiti of electric generator 2,6 which isy mounted iii silpeipos'ed position above the hydaiille tartine, ais shot/ii in Fis- 1.

,Arly suitalole type of setting may be used, a concrete setting 2 1 being shown in the present ip sjillce- This setting forms a scroll case 28 sufro ds the turbine inlet and is connested .to i water frorn a flume or other siio of sup 1y.l portion f the setting 55 below the runner forms a draft tube 29 into which the water is discharged. The electric generator 26 may rest on top of the setting as shown.

As shown in Fig. 2, a suitable number of blades 36 are rotatably supported in the hub of the runner 23 and project radially therefrom.

The inner end of each blade 30 is formed with a trunnion 3| which is journalledin bearings 32 and 33 supported in the hub. The construction is such that the blades are rotatable into different angular relationships with the axis of4 the runner.

Means are provided for simultaneously rotating all of the blades 30 and for maintaining them in equal angular relationship, such means comprising preferably an arm 34 rigidly fixed on the trunnion 3| of each blade and links 35 which pivotally connect each arm A34 to a cross head 36. The cross head 36 is guided to reciprocate in a direction axially of the runner by guide pins 31 which are mounted in the hub of the runner in the manner shown in Fig. 2.

It will be understood that the relative positions of the blades 30 govern the area of the water passages or openings between the blades, and that when the blades are rotated, the area of the water passages is increased or decreased depending upon the direction in which the blades are moved.

As shown in Fig. 1, a cap 38 is bolted or otherwise removably secured to the lower end of the hub of the runner 23. Since the hub of the runner is otherwise enclosed and the hub kis hollow, the cap 38 provides a closed chamber or reservoir for containing a supply of grease for lubricating the various working parts of the mechanism contained within the hub of the runner.

In the usual construction of hydraulic turbines the runner shaft is made of sufficient length so that said shaft can be bolted directly to the lower end of the generator shaft. However, in the present instance, the shaft 24 is made comparatively short so that the elongated cylindrical casing 4|) can be interposed between the shaft 24 and the generator shaft 25. The casing 4|] encloses elements, to be hereinafter described, for operating the runner blade mechanism within the hub of the runner 23, and said casing is adapted to be bolted to the runner shaft 24 and to the generator shaft 25 and thereby constitute a rotary portion of the main shaft of the turbine. The casing 40 is composed oftwo vertically divided semi-cylindrical sections |40 and |4|, which sections are adapted to be bolted together at intervals throughout their length, as indicated at |42 in Figs. 3, 4, 6 and '1.

The casing 40 is constructed in such a manner that the elements contained therein can be mounted on one half or one section of the casing so that the other half or section of the casing can be removed without dismantling any part of the turbine, the generator, shafts and motor operating mechanism. In this way, inspection, adjustment and replacement of the parts within the casing 46 can be readily accomplished in a minimum amount of time.

In the present instance the section |40 of the casing 40 will be referred to as the mechanism carrying portion of said casing, and the section |4| will be referred to as the cover.

Since openings are formed in the casing, these openings are also adapted to be closed by covers or plates so that the exterior surface of the casing will be smooth, as shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in Figs. 3, 4, 6, '7, 8 and 9, the outer wall of the casing is formed with a plurality of openings |43, so that the bolts |42 will be accessible to a wrench or other tool.

Covering the openings |43, are plates |44 which are detachably secured to the outer wall of the casing 40 by means of screws |45 (see Figs. 6, 'l and 9)..

rIheA upperportion of the" shaft 24 is enlarged, as indicated at 4|, Figs. 4 and 5. This enlarged portion of the shaft 24 is secured to the lower portion of both sections of the casing 46 by a plurality of bolts 42, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 7. The lower portion of the generator shaft 25 is formed with a flange 43 which is secured to the upper portion of the casing 40 by bolts 44, as shown in Fig. 3.

In this way rotation of the runner shaft 24 will be transmitted to the generator shaft 25 by the casing 4U.

Disposed within the casing 40 is an electric motor 45 which is adapted, through mechanism to be hereinafter described, to operate the runner blade adjusting4 mechanism in the hub of the runner 23.

Since the runner blades are adjusted by slowly moving thecross head 36 either upwardly or downwardly, and since it is of advantage to employ an. electric motor of standard design, which motors usually have a comparatively high speed, it is -necessary to provide means in the mechanism which is employed to operatively connect the electric motor with the cross head 35, for reducing the speed from the motor sufficiently to effect the desired slow movement of the cross head 36.

As shown in Fig. 2, the cross head 35 is bolted or otherwise xed to the lower 'end of an operating rod 46 which extends upwardly through the hollow runner shaft 24.

As shown in Fig. 5, the upper end of the rod 46 is xed to an internally threaded sleeve 41 which is slidably mounted in the bore of the runner shaft 24.

Fitted to the sleeve 41 is a screw 48, which is connected to the driven member 49 of a speed reducer 50.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 7, the speed reducer comprises a driving member in the form of a shaft 5 I, and the driven member 49.

The driving member or shaft 5|, which is connected to theshaft 52 of the motor 45 by a coupling 53, has an eccentric 54 thereon which supports a ball bearing or other anti-friction bearing 55.

The outer member or race of the ball bearing 55 is surrounded by a series of radially disposed plungers 56. The inner ends of the plungers 56 bear on the outer race of the bearing 55 and the outer ends of said plungers are arranged to cooperate with teeth 51 formed concentrically within the outer or stationary member 56. Both ends of the plungers 56 are bevelled, and the teeth 51 are bevelled.

The number of -teeth 51 differs from the number of plungers 55 so that rotation of the eccentric 54 will cause the plungers 56 to be forced outwardly in succession around the circular series of teeth 51 and in consequence will cause the plungers to creep around within the stationary meml ber 58.

The plungers 56 are guided to reciprocate in a nmember 59 which is fixed to the driven member 49 by pins 60 so that the creeping motion of said plungers around the toothed interior of the stationary member' 5'8 willl be transmitted to the driveni member 495. menen?- ef the driving F is thustransmitted to the' driven mem'- be'rde', but at a great reduction speed ratio.`

The-speedj reducer 50 is rno'ulnt'edj between upper and lower supporting members j and 62, respectively, which are xedwithin' the casing 40- by boi'ts 83 attached` tothe enlarged' portion 4 I" ofA the runner shaft 24), as slrow'n in* Figs. 4z and 8.

The upper porti-on' ofthe supporting member el is formed with a" flange |61, upon which is mounted a frange" ISZ or thev motores. 'Ilfre flanges P61 and |62' are' secured together by bolts |623,v as shown' in" Fig'. 4.A In` this" way tn'e'Y motor 45 is supported' frcmitrreinain runner' shaft 2'4. s

iier and lewe-r' roller thrust bearings 614* and 65 are, respectively, provided for the speed le'- duc'er 5'0', and above the upper thrust bearing 64 there is a ball bearing 66. ings are adapted to carry the forces imposed on the operating rod 4B by the runner blades.

'I'he driving member of the speed reducer 50 is connected to the armature or other rotating part (not shown) of the motor 45, so that the speed reducer will be actuated by said motor.

Since the driven member 49 of the speed reducer 50 and the screw 48 are directly connected together, the rod 46 will be operated by the sleeve 41 to effect changes in the angular positions of the runner blades.

For the purpose of indicating the relative positions of the runner blades, at a convenient point the runner shaft 24 is formed with an elongated slot 68 (see Figs. 1 and 5).

Disposed Within the slot 68 is a pointed pin 69 which is xed to the upper portion of the operating rod 46. In the present instance the pin 69 is shown as being carried by the sleeve 41.

As shown in Fig. 1 the exterior of the runner shaft 24 adjacent to the slot 68 carries suitable marks for indicating the several angles of runner blade positions, as determined by the position of the pointed pin 69.

Preferably the electric motor 45 is a three-phase alternating current induction motor which is adapted to be supplied with electric current from a main power line in such a manner that. the motor will operate in either direction.

When the motor 45 operates in one direction the screw 48 will, through the sleeve 41, cause a rectilinear movement of the rod 46 in one direction, and when the motor 45 operates in the other direction, the rod 46 will be moved in the opposite direction, due to the reversed movements imparted to the screw'48 by the motor.

As shown by the arrow, Fig. 2, when the rod 46 moves upwardly, the runner blades 30 are moved towards closed position, and when the rod 46 moves downwardly in a direction opposite to the arrow, Fig. 2, the runner blades are moved toward open position. The mechanism for controlling the operation of the motor 45, which is shown and described in detail in my United States Letters Patent No. 2,132,504, dated October 11, 1938, includes 4a selfsynchronous motor 1|.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 8, the motor 1| has a spur gear shaft 18 carrying a gear 19 which is in meshing relationship with a gear 80 fixed to the shaft 52 of the motor 45.

The motor 1| is bolted or otherwise secured to the section |40 of the casing 40, as indicated .at |46 in Figs. 3 and 6.

The casing 40 carries a plurality of collector rings 8| which are electrically connected to the rotation* ofV the runner shaft is clock'-wise".l The roller thrust bearf motors 45? and 1F. The collector' rings'r arie', respectively', engaged by a plurality* of brushes |011, carried' by' .a bracket |109`- suspended*l from.' the generator 261 The brushes |01 turn` are conrn'ected to a' correspond-ing number of' electric conductors so that electricl current will be sup'- pli'ed to the motors 45 and? 1|` in the manner dcscribed in detail" in'v my other patent application. heretofore referred to.

A'sshown1 in Figs.v 6, '1 and`=- 9", the casing 40' may have lower and upper inlet and outlet vent openiin'g's- I 41" and |478?, respectively,- formed." therein for inducing currents of airl toflow through' theA interior of the casing when the runner isin` operation, so as to prevent overheating of the elemen-ts ofl the appara-tus witliin the' casing. In Fig. 6` the arrow indicates thatA the directi'cnrry of.` As! shown in Fig. '1, the wall |49 at the inlet vent opening 41 is so formed that, during rotation of the runner, yair will be directed by said wall towards the interior of the casing. As shown in Fig. 6, the wall |50 at the outlet opening |48 is so formed as to permit the air to pass outwardly from the interior of the casing. Preferably the vent openings |41 and |48 are formed in the cover plate |44.

When it is desired to inspect or adjust the elements within the casing 40, the cover plates |44 are first removed, thereby exposing the bolts |42. 'Ihe nuts of these bolts can next be removed from the threaded stems of the bolts so as to uncouple the cover section |4| from the section |40 of the casing. The section |4| can then be removed and the parts will then have the appearance illustrated in Fig. 8, in which it will be noted that the motors 45 and 1| and the Vspeed reducer 50 and associated parts are readily accessible. f

As shown in Fig. 3, the collector rings 8| .are preferably mounted on vertically disposed bars 89 which are detachably connected `to the upper portion of the casing 40 by screws |5|. Only one bar 89 is shown, but it will be understood that .a suitable number of these bars can be arranged around the casing 40 to rigidly support the collector rings.

When the parts of the runner shaft are being assembled and disassembled it is the practice to secure the bars 89 to the casing at the completion of the assembly operation and to detach the bars 89 from the casing 40 at the beginning of the operation of disassembling the casing. When the bars 89 have been detached from the casing, the collector rings and the bars. can be moved upwardly a distance sufficient to expose the upper portion of the casing. For this reason the collector rings are not shown in Figs. 8 .and 9.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a hydraulic turbine, a runner having blades movable into different angular positions, mechanism within the hub of the runner for adjusting the runner blades, a hollow runner shaft connected to the hub of the runner, a rod disposed within said shaft and operatively connected to the runner blade adjusting mechanism within the hub of the runner, a hollow casing secured to the upper end of said runner shaft and having two semi-cylindrical `vertically divided sections detachably connected together, and mechanism disposed within said casing and mounted on only one of the sections thereof and operatively connected to said rod for operating said rod.

lses

2. In a hydraulic turbine, a runner having blades movable into different angular positions, mechanism within the hub of the runner for moving said blades, a hollow runner shaft connected to the hub of the runner, said runner shaft comprising a casing having two semicylindrical vertically divided sections detachably connected together, and means within said shaft connected to the runner blade operating mechanism within the hub of the runner for operating said mechanism, said operating means being supported solely by one section only of said shaft, whereby the other section of said shaft can be removed without disturbing the operating means Within the shaft.

3. In a hydraulic turbine, a runner having blades movable into different angular positions,

mechanism within the hub of the runner for moving said blades, a hollow runner shaft connected to the hub of the runner and having means mounted therein and connected to the runner blade operating mechanism for actuating the same, said runner shaft being composed of two vertically divided semi-cylindrical sections, bolts for detachably connecting the sections together, recesses formed in the shaft for said bolts, said shaft having lower and upper inlet and outlet vent openings, respectively, formed therein, a plate covering said recesses and said vent openings, and means formed on said plate and disposed within said vent openings for directing currents of air towards the interior of said shaft through one opening and outwardly of the shaft through the other opening. l

GRANT C. WHISLER.

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