US2350933A

US2350933A - Hydraulic apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2350933A
Application number: US454887A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry F Schmidt
Original assignee: Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: CBS Corp
Priority date: 1942-08-15
Filing date: 1942-08-15
Publication date: 1944-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 1961-06-06

Description

June 6, 1944. SCHMIDT 2,350,933

HYDRAULIC APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Wv G5 1% ATTORNEY June 6, 1944.

HENIQY'FT SCHMIDT,

W I M ATTORNEY pressure-balancing principle.

PatentedJune 6, 1944 HYDRAULIC APPARATUS Henry F. Schmidt, Lansdowne, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 15, 1942, Serial No. 454,887 12 Claims. (01.188-90) The invention relates to hydraulic brakes and it has for an object to provide apparatu of this character having increased stability. A further object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic brake including circulation chambers formed by cooperating buckets on stationary and rotary annular structures, and which chambers are furnished with liquid by a centrifugal device including runner vanes carried by the rotary annular structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a self-pumping hydraulic brake in which circulation chambers are provided by cooperating stationary and rotary buckets and wherein an atmospheric pressure condition is maintained at the inlet of the centrifugal device and centrally of each of the circulation chambers to provide for balanced liquid columns. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic brake from which motive liqui is tapped to entrain leakage liquid to a suitable drain space to prevent such leakage liquid from escap ing to the exterior of the brake.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic brake wherein rotor and stator annular structures have opposed buckets forming circulation chambers and wherein liquid is applied to the circulation chambers by a centrifugal device including runner vanes formed on the rotor annular structure at the side thereof opposite to the buckets.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic brake wherein the stator includes axially-spaced annular structures, and the rotor has annular structures arranged between the stator annular structures and which ar axially spaced to provide for the admission of liquid therebetween for supply to the circulation chambers provided by cooperating buckets formed in the stator and rotor annular structures.

These and other objects are effected by the invention as will be apparent from the followin description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing the improved brake;

2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the brake;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IVIV of Fig. 2; and, 4

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the Referring now to the drawings more in detail, the brake comprises a rotor, at i0, and a stator, at ll. As shown in Fig. 1, the stator is provided with an arm l2 which cooperates with the weighing scale l3 in order that the torque applied to the stator may be measured.

The stator has an outer pair of axially-spaced annular structures M, II and the rotor has an inner pair of axially-spaced annular structures l5, IS. The annular structures l4 have laterally open buckets l6 which cooperate with buckets l I of the inner annular structures is to form the circulation chambers, at i8, there being two annular rows of circulation chambers, as shown in Fig. 2.

Liquid is supplied from the central annular space 20 of the brake by means of centrifugal pressure-developing devices, at 2i, to the circulation chambers, each device including runner vanes 22 carried by a rotor annular structure 15 and cooperating with a radial surface 23 formed on a suitable element of the stator. Each stator pocket Ilihas a discharge port 24 and the discharge ports open into the belt chambers 25 connected by passages 26 to the discharge conduit 21. Liquid is supplied to the central annular space, at 20, from an elevated constant level reservoir 28, the latter having a conduit 29 for supplying liquid to the central annular space 20.

As shown in Fig. 1, the supply conduit 29 and the discharge conduit 21 are provided, respectively, with valves 30 and 3| for controlling the flow into and the discharge of liquid from the hydraulic brake. With the maintenance of an atmospheric pressure condition in the central annular chamber 20 and in each of the circulation chambers, the valves 30 and 3| may be adjusted for flow requisite to give the braking effort required for a given speed.

As shown, an atmospheric pressure condition ismaintained'in the central annular chamber 20 by means of a circumferential series of radial tubes 32 whose outer ends communicate with the atmosphere externally of the stator, and the central space of each circulation chamber is placed in communication with the atmosphere externally oi the stator by mean of tubes 33, there being a circumferential series of the latter tubes associated with the stator buckets I 6 cream annular row of circulation chambers.

As liquid supplied to the central chamber 20 is under atmospheric pressure and as the central portion of each circulation chamber is also under atmospheric pressure, it will be apparent that the pressure of liquid discharged from each cencirculation chambers.

trifugal device is due entirely to the latter; and the p'ressure-of'liquid due to centrifugal force developed in the pumpis balanced by the pressure of liquid in the associated circulation chambers and due to centrifugal force.- While the pressure-developing devices, at 2|,

resemble, centrifugal pumps, they operate only incidentally asfpu'rnps, the principal function thereof being to provide a rotating column of liquid whose centrifugal force is balanced by that of the circulation chamber column, as may be seen from Fig. 5.. The radial dimension A of the centrifugal device column is greater than the radial dimension B of the circulation chamber column, for the reason that the radius R of the pressure-developing device column is greater than the radius r of the circulation chamber column, it being remembered that centrifugal force varies as the square of' the velocity and inversely as the radius. As' each centrifugal device has relatively wide runner vanes 22 and the liberal clearance thereof with respect to the wall surfaces; as atmospheric pressure is maintained centrally of each pressure-developing device and of the circulation chambers, and as the inner portions of the spaces between runner vanes are never fllled with liquid, it is assured that the device will operate as a load-balancing or equalizing one. The rate at which liquid is supplied to the runner and the vane width of the latter are such that liquid enters as a spray. Therefore, the device functions as a centrifuge to separateair, this action being aided by the liberal clearance. While the centrifugal device functions incidentally as a pump, such functioning is not essential so far as load-balancing or equalizing is concerned, for it will be apparent that the apparatus will provide balanced columns irrespective of how liquid is supplied to form the latter.

Hence, it will be seen that the centrifugal device column of liquid is balanced by the radial thickness of circulating liquid in the associated If the rate of supply is increased by appropriate relative adjustment of valves 39 and 3|, then the centrifugal device column would tend to increase, but thelatter is accompanied immediately by an increase in the radial thickness of the circulation chamber column so thatthe device and circulation cham- I in consequence. Assuming that it is desired to determine the power of a prime mover or machine at a given speed, then the valves are adjusted open annular channel, and the latter is divided by means of radial webs 34 so as to form the pockets i1.

The stator, at ll, includes a cylindrical shell 42 whose ends are inwardly attached to the ananular structures l4. Each annular structure I4 includes inner and outer cylindrical plate elements 43 and 44, a radial plate element 45, and connecting conical plate elements 46 and .41 115V? ing their adjacent edges welded together so as to form laterally open annular channels in opposed relation to the channels provided by the rotor annular structures l5, the annular channels being divided by the radial webs 48 to form the buckets l6.

, the circulation chambers, the passages communiuntil the braking constrains the machine or prime mover to rotate at the given speed and the mageating with the latter both by means of the annular spaces 5| between the adjacent edges of the plates 39 and 44 and by means of inclined ports or passages 52 extending through the spacer rings 49 and'the cylindrical plate elements 44.

A pair of spaced plates 53 are attached peripherally to the interior of the shell 42 so as to provide a radial annular passage 54 which communicates peripherally with the central annular chamher or space 20. Liquid is supplied by the conduit 29 to the radial space 54 and from the latter to the central annular chamber 20. Preferably, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the lower portion of the space 54 is covered by means of radial and

arcuate plates

55 and 56, whereby only the upper portion of the space 54 is effective to supply liquid to the annular chamber 20 and the accumulation of liquid in the lower'portion of the space between the plates is thereby prevented.

Tubes 58 extendthrough the plates 53 and across the intervening space 54 therebetween, the tubes being distributed radially and circumferentially so as to maintain a balanced relation between the pair of centrifugal devices 2|. Thus, it is assured that not only is each device maintained in balance with respect to its circulation chambers, but, as the two devices are balanced by means of the tubes 58, the arrangement as a whole is maintained in balance. I

Sealing devices or glands 59 are arranged between the stator annular structures l4 and the spindle 35, and each gland has an intermediate leakofi space 60 communicating with a drain passage 6|. The passages 6! are connected to the entrainment chamber 62 having a jet 63 supplied with liquid from the brake under sufficient pressure to serve as motive fluid to entrain leakage, whereby the leakage may be discharged I to a suitable drain space and escape thereof l5 are formed by annular radial plates 38 whose and a conical plate 4| has its edges welded to the

plates

38 and 39. The'arrangement is such that each flange portion 36 and the associated plates from the glands and along the spindle prevented. Outwardly of the stator annular structures Hi,

the spindle is provided with journal portions 65 33, 39, 40 and 4| cooperate to form a laterally willbeapparent that the stator is cap 9 QV- ing angular-1y and the stator would be clutched hydraulically to the rotor but for the resistance to rotation of the stator'provided by thearm l2 and the scale It. Therefore, the scale may be used to determine the magnitude of the force 5 due to the resisting torque. n

As atmospheric pressure is maintained in'the annular supply chamber 20, the discharge head of each centrifugal device, at 2|, is due entirely to the centrifugal force of the latter and the del vices are, therefore, self-regulating. Also, as an atmospheric pressure condition is maintained, centrally of each circulation chamber, hydraulic balance is maintained as between each centrifugal pump and the associated circulation 1 chambers, whereby stability is maintained. As the two centrifugal devicesi are balanced by means of the cross tubes 58, it will be apparent that a condition of hydraulic balance throughout is maintained.

While the invention has been shown in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

providing for the maintenance of an atmospheric pressure condition at the inlets of thedevices 3nd centrally of each of the circulation chamers.

4. In a hydraulic brake, acylindricai casing, a pair of axially-aligned annular structures attached to the ends of said casing, a spindle, a pair of rotary annular structures carried by the spindle, opposed buckets provided on said annular structures of the casing and of the spindle and cooperating to define a pairof rows of circulationchambers, said casing encompassing the peripheries of the annular structures of the spindle and spaced therefrom so as to define annular passages communicating with the circulation chambers, a pair of spaced annular plates'attached peripherally to the casing so as to separate said annular passages and extending radially inward toward the spindle to define a radial an- 0 nular passage, said plates having their inner 1. In a hydraulic brake, a housing with a pair 30 of spaced and axially-aligned annular structures, a spindle, annular structural means carried by the spindle and arranged between the annular structures. opposed buckets provided on said annular structures and on the structural means 3 and cooperating to define a pair of rows of circulation chambers, means including an inlet conduit and centrifugal devices for supplying liquid to the circulation chambers, said devices including runner vanes carried by the annular structural means, and means providing for discharge of liquid from the circulation chambers.

2. In a hydraulic brake, a housing provided with a pair of spaced and axially-aligned annular structures, a spindle, annular structural means carried by the spindle, opposed buckets provided on said annular structures and structural means and cooperating to define a pair of rows of circulation chambers, means including an inlet condu t and centrifugal devices for supplying liquid to he circulation chambers, said devices including runner vanes carried by said structural means, means provided for discharge of liquid from the circulation chambers, glands for sealing the openings of the housing annular structures with respect to the spindle and including. leak-off connections, and means utilizing liquid under pressure tapped from the brake to entrain leakage through the leak-off connections.

3. In a hydraulic brake, a housing provided with a pair of spaced and axially-aligned annular structures, a spindle, annular structural means carried by the spindle, opposed buckets provided on said annular structures and structural means and cooperating to define a pair of rows of circulation chambers, means including an inlet conduit and centrifugal devices for supplying liquid to the circulation chambers, said devices including runner vanes carried by said annular edges spaced from the spindle to provide an inlet chamber, vanes attached to the spindle annular structures to provide runners cooperating with the adjacent plates to provide centrifugal deviceshaving their outlets open to said annular passages and having their inlets open to said inlet chamber, means providing for maintenance of atmospheric pressure in said inlet chamber and centrally of eachof said circulation chambers, means including a conduit for supplying liquid at constant head to said annular passage, inlet chamber, means including a conduit providing for discharge of liquid from each of said circulation chambers, and control valves arranged in said conduits and disposed adjacent to the brake.

5. In a hydraulic brake, a cylindrical casing; a pair of spaced and axially-aligned annular structures attached to the ends of the casing; a spindle; a pair of spaced rotary annular structures carried by the spindle; opposed buckets provided on said annular structures and cooperating to define a pair of rows of circulation chambers; said casing encompassing the rotary annular structures to provide annular passages communicatingwith the circulation chambers; a partition structure carried interiorly of the easing, having outermost radial surfaces, separating said annular passages, and spaced radially 'from .the spindle to define an annular inlet space; vanes carried by the rotary annular structures to provide runners cooperating with the; adjacent radial surfaces of the partition structure to constitute centrifugal devices having their out-lets open to said annular passage and having their inlets open to said annular inlet space; means including. a radially-extending space formed in the partition structure for supplying liquid. to said annular inlet space; means providing for discharge of liquid from the circulation chambers; and means for equalizing the pressures in said centrifugal devices including openings extending through the partition structure.

6. In a hydraulic brake, a stationary cylindrical casing, a pair of stationary annular structures attached to the ends of said casing and structural means, means including an outlet conduit providing for discharge of liquid from the circulation chambers, a constant-level tank for the inlet conduit and arranged above the brake, control valves for the inlet and outlet conduits and arranged adjacent to the brake, and means 7 having laterally-open and radially-extending pockets, a spindle extending through the central openings of the stationary annular structures, means for sealing said openings with respect to the spindle, rotary annular structures carried by the spindle and provided with laterally-open and radially-extending pockets disposed in opposed relation with respect to the first pockets to definevcirculation chambers, said casing ening inwardly to provide a radially-extending, an-

nular passage and having their inner edges spaced froin the spindle to define an annular inlet chamber open to the radially-extending annular passage, vanes carried by the rotary annular structures to provide runners cooperating with the adjacent annular plates to constitute centrifugal devices having their outlets open to said annular passages and having their inlets open to said annular inlet chamber, means for equalizing the pressures in said centrifugal devices including tubes extending through the plates and transversely across the radially-extending annular passage, means including a conduit for supplying the liquid under constant head to said radially-extending annular passage, means including a conduit providing for the discharge of liquid from each of said circulation chambers, valves for controlling the flow of liquid through said conduits, means including a circumferential series of radially-extending tubes for maintaining an atmospheric pressure condition in said inlet chamber, and means providing for the maintenance of an atmospheric pressure condition centrally of each of said circula-' tion chambers.

7. In a hydraulic brake, stationary and rotary annual structures having laterally-open and radially-extending pockets in opposed relation so as to define circulation chambers, a housing to which the stationary annular structure is attached and which encompasses the rotary annular structure so as to define an annular .passage in communication with the circulation chambers, a spindle carrying the rotary annular structure and extending through the central opening of the stationary annular structure, a gland for sealing said opening with respect to the spindle and provided with a leak-off connection, means carried by the housing and providing a radially-extending annular passage, the last-named means including an annular plate whose inner edge is spaced from the spindle to define an inlet space open to said radially-extending annular passage, vanes carried by the rotary annular structure and cooperating with said plateto provide a centrifugal device having its inlet open to said inlet space and having its outlet open to said annular passage, means including said radially-extending annular passage for supplying liquid to said inlet space, means providing for discharge of liquid from the circulation chambers, said circulation chambers and the annular passage constituting a liquid pressure space, and means utilizing liquid supplied from the pressure space to induce flow through said leak-oi! connection.

8. In a hydraulic brake, relatively rotatable annular structures, opposed buckets provided on said annular structures and cooperating to define circulation chambers, a centrifugal device including runner vanes carried by the rotatable es communicating with the fannular structure, means providing for communication of the peripheral portion of the centrifugal device with the circulation chambers,

means providing for the supply of liquid to the the inlet of the centrifugal device and centrally of each of the circulation chambers.

10. In a hydraulic brake, relatively rotatable annular structures, opposed buckets provided on said annular structures andcooperating to define circulation chambers, a centrifugal device including runner vanes carried by the rotatable annular structure, means providing for communication of the peripheral portion of the centrifugal device with the circulation chambers, means providing for the supply of liquid to the centrifugal device and for the discharge thereof from the circulation chambers, and means providing for maintenance of an atmospheric pressure condition at the inlet of the centrifugal device and centrally of each of the circulation chambers so that the centrifugal force of the rotating body, of liquid of the centrifugal device may balance that of each circulation chamber rotating body with the bodies of liquid subject to the same pressure, and means for varying the supply and discharge of liquid relatively to adjust the radial thickness of the rotating bodies of liquid in the circulation chambers to provide the torque for the speed desired.

11. In ahydraulic brake, relatively rotatable annular structures, opposed buckets provided on said annular structures and cooperating to define circulation chambers, a centrifugal device including runner vanes carried by the rotatable annular. structure, means providing for communication of the peripheral portion of the centrifugal device with the circulation chambers, means for maintaining a constant head of liquid, a valve for controlling the flow of liquid from the last-named means to the inlet of the centrifugal device, means providing for discharge of liquid from the circulation chambers, and means providing for the maintenance of an atmospheric pressure condition at the inlet of the centrifugal device and centrally of each of the circulationchambers so that the centrifugal force of the rotating body of liquid of the centrifugal device may balance that of each circulation chamber rotating body with the'bodies of liquid subject to the same pressure.

12. The combination as claimed in claim 11 with valve means for controlling the discharge of liquid from the circulation chambers.

HENRY F. SCHMIDT.