US3044837A - Turbine construction - Google Patents

Description

w. E. BEANEY 3,044,837

TURBINE CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 3. 1959 July 17, 1962 INVE-NTOR. MATE/Q E. BEANEY BY M9 A TTORNEYS United States Patent Ofitice 'Patented July 17, 1962 3,044,837 TURBINE CONSTRUCTION 7 Walter E. Beaney, New London, (301111., assignor to The Whiton Machine Company, New London, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Sept. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 837,816 1 Claim. (Cl. 308-364) This invention relates to turbines and, more particularly, to turbines utilizing superheated steam as a propellant.

In steam turbines of conventional construction, the turbine shaft is usually supported by one bearing located in or near the turbine chamber and subjected to the high temperatures of the superheated propellent steam and by one or more additional bearings isolated from the propellent steam and subjected to much lower temperatures. Due to excessive differences in the environmental temperatures of the support bearings, considerable difficulty with the bearings is encountered and unacceptable shaft runout may be a serious problem.

lI't is the general object of the present invention to provide a turbine construction wherein all of the bearings which support the turbine shaft are isolated from the propellent steam and are in turn supported by a single member clamped between two sections of the turbine housing.

The drawing shows a preferred embodiment of the invention and such embodiment will be described, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction disclosed, and that the drawing and description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claim forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

The single FIGURE of the drawing is a side elevation partially in section of a steam turbine embodying the invention.

The steam turbine shown in the drawing is of the verti cal type and is particularly adapted for shipboard installation and for use in driving a feed pump for a steam boiler. The invention, however, is not to be construed as limited to turbines of this or other specific types. An upright turbine housing indicated generally at 10 encloses a turbine rotor 12 and a shaft 14. The shaft 14 extends substantially vertically within the housing 10 and the rotor 12 is mounted on an upper end portion thereof for substantially horizontal rotation in a turbine chamber 16.

In accordance with the invention, the turbine housing 10 is of multi-section construction and comprises upper and lower sections 18 and 20. 'The upper housing section 18 is generally cylindrical in form and the aforementioned turbine chamber 16 is defined therewithin. A transverse partition 22 is preferably provided in the housing section 18 between the upper and lower ends thereof and said partition has a central opening or aperture 24. The substantially vertical turbine shaft 14 extends upwardly through the opening or aperture 24 in the partition 22 and supports the turbine rotor 12 in the chamber 16, the said chamber being defined above the partition 22 when said partition is provided as described.

The turbine chamber 16 is further defined by a cover or end plate 26 secured to the upper end of the upper housing section 18 by suitable screws 28, 28. A passageway 30 formed in an integral extension 32 of the cover plate 26 is adapted to receive a supply of propellent steam, said extension 32 being provided with a flange 34 for connection with a suitable steam supply conduit (not shown). Communicating with the passageway 30 is a distributor passageway or chamber 36 which communicates with and supplies the propellent steam to one or more nozzle supply passageways 38 (one shown); The nozzle supply passageway or passageways 38 communicate with one or more suitable nozzles 40 (one shown) formed in a partially circular nozzle ring or plate 42, said plate being substantially less than 360 in length and being secured to the cover 26 by suitable screws 44, 44. The nozzle or nozzles 40 in the plate 42 direct the propellent steam against a first set of rotor blades 46, the steam thereafter passing through a set of stationary blades 48 held by a partially circular support ring 49 and through a second set of rotor blades 50. Spent steam discharged from the second set of rotor blades 50 passes upwardly in the space adjacent the ends of the partially circular nozzle ring 42 and the partially circular support ring 49 and thence upwardly and outwardly from the housing manner between the ends thereof and with bearing meansv therefor disposed on opposite sides of the rotor, an upper 4 bearing means being disposed in the turbine chamber and a lower bearing means being disposed below said chamber and isolated from the propellent steam. Instead, the turbine rotor 12 is rnountcd on the upper end portion of the shaft 14, as mentioned, and may be secured thereto by means of a suitable nut 54 and a key connec tion, a keyway 56 being shown in the said end portion of the shaft 14. As will be explained more fully 'hereinbelow, the shaft 14 is rotatably supported by two vertically spaced bearing means disposed below the turbine rotor 12 and both of said bearing means are isolated from the propellant steam in the turbine chamber 16. In consequence, the aforementioned detrimental effects of excessive difference in bearing environmental temperatures, usually encountered in vertical steam turbines of conventional construction, are avoided.

The lower portion 20 of the turbine housing 10 is shown as being generally cylindrical in form and is provided at its upper end with a connecting flange 58 which is secured by suitable screws 62, 62 to a mating connecting flange 60 provided :at the lower end of the upper housing section 18. A generally cylindrical and substantially flat transverse bearing support plate 64 has its peripheral portion secured by and between the connecting flanges 58' and 60 and is preferably substantially fiat as shown with an opening 66 formed centrally therein. The shaft 14 is received in the central opening 66 of the bearing support plate 64 and is rotatably supported by vertically spaced first and second or upper and lower bearing means indicated generally at 68 and 70 respectively. The upper and lower bearing means 68 and 70 are supported by the plate 64 and are preferably disposed respectively above and below the said plate as shown. A sealing means 72 disposed above the upper bearing means 68 prevents the downward flow of propellent steam from the chamber 16 along therotor support shaft 14 whereby to provide for the isolation of both of the bearing means 68 and 70 from the steam.

' The sealing means 72 may take various forms within the scope of the invention, but is shown as comprising a support ring 74 which is disposed about the shaft 14 and secured to an annular member 75 on thepartition 22 by suitable screws 76 (one shown). The annular member 75 is disposed within the aforesaid opening 24 in the partition 22 and may be secured to said partition as by suitable welding. The ring 74 is prefer-ably of the segmented or split type and carries a series of axially spaced sealing rings 78, 78 which engage the shaft 14 to prevent the downward flow of steam therealong.

The upper bearing means 68 preferably comprises a first or upper generally cylindrical bearing support member which is of the axially split or segmented type. The generally cylindrical member 80 is disposed about the shaft 14 and is secured to the plate 64 at its lower end by suitable screws '82 in an annular flange 84. A first or upper sleeve bearing 86, which may be babbit lined and which is preferably of the split or segmented type, is secured within and supported by the member 80 and engages the shaft 14 to rotatably support the same. A cover 88 secured to the upper end of the member 80 by suitable screws 90 carries a ring seal 92 which engages the shaft 14 to further insure against the introduction of steam downwardly to the region adjacent the sleeve hearing 86. Any steam condensate leaking downwardly through the sealing means 72 is dispersed outwardly and and away from the bearing means 68 by a slinger 94 fixedly connected to the shaft 14 above the cover 88 of said bearing means.

The lower bearing means 70 preferably comprises a second or lower generally cylindrical bearing support member 96 which is also of the split or segmented type. As shown, the said member comprises a first part 98 which has a cylindrical upper portion 98a and an integrally formed partially cylindrical lower portion 98b. A second part 100 of the support member 96 is partially cylindrical and is adapted to be secured to the lower portion 98b of the part 98 by means of suitable screws or the like not shown. The upper end of the part 98 of .the support member 96 may be rigidly secured to the support plate 64 as by suitable welding at 102. Secured within and supported by the parts 98 and 100 of the support member 96 is a second or lower sleeve bearing 104 which may be babbit lined and which is preferably of the segmented or split type. The said bearing cooperates with the sleeve bearing 86 to rotatably support the turbine shaft 14.

There is preferably also provided within the lower support member 96 thrust bearing means and said means are shown as comprising first and second or upper and lower thrust bearings 106 and 108. The thrust bearings 106 and 108 are preferably of the split or segmented type and are spaced axially and on opposite sides of a central portion 110 of the sleeve bearing 104. An upper thrust ring 112 is fixedly secured to the turbine shaft 14 as by means of a key connection, a keyway being indicated at 114. Disposed beneath the thrust ring 112 and between the said ring and the upper thrust bearing 106 is a spacer ring 116 and disposed above said thrust ring and between the same and a shoulder 118 formed on the shaft 14 is a second spacer ring 120. The thrust ring 112 cooperates with its associated spacer rings and with the upper thrust bearing 106 to prevent downward movement of the shaft 14. A second or lower thrust ring 122 is fixedly secured .to the shaft 14 as by a suitable key connection, a keyway being indicated at 124. Said ring engages the lower thrust bearing 108 and prevents upward movement of the shaft 14. Associated with the lower thrust ring 122 is a cap or cover 126 carrying a ring seal 1 28 which extends around and engages the thrust ring 122. The cover or cap 126 is secured to the lower support member 96 as by means of suitable screws 130.

Lubrication of the bearings supporting the shaft 14 may be provided for in various ways within the scope of the invention. As shown, a lubrication passageway 132 is provided and said passageway extends substantially vertically through the bearing support plate 64, upwardly into the upper support member 80, and downwardly in the part 98 of the lower support member 96. Connecting passageways 134 and 136 communicate with the passageway 132 and respectively supply lubricating fluid to the sleeve bearings 86 and 104. A force lubrication system (not shown) may be connected to the passageway 132 by a suitable supply passageway not shown.

Fixedly secured to the turbine shaft 14 below the lower thrust ring 122 is a gear 138. The said gear is secured to the shaft by a nut 139 and a key connection, the keyway indicated at 124 being of sufiicient lengts so as to be utilized for this purpose. A gear 140 meshes with and is driven by the gear 138 and forms part of the control system for the turbine. Said control system forms no part of the present invention and is therefore not shown.

An oil slinger 142 is disposed beneath the gear 138 and its securing nut 139 and above a partition 144 provided in the lower housing portion 20. The shaft 14 extends through a suitable aperture 146 in the partition 144 and may be connected therebelow to a boiler feed pump or the like, an excess opening 148 being provided in the housing portion 20 beneath the partition 144.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that a turbine construction particularly well adapted for the isolation of all of the shaft bearings from the propellent steam in the turbine chamber has been provided. As a result of such isolation of the bearings, the difference in bearing environmental temperatures may be reduced to a minimum and the aforementioned detrimental effects of excessive differences in such temperatures are avoided. All of the necessary bearings for the turbine shaft are supported from the transverse support plate 64 in the desired positions of isolation and a simplified arrangement of parts is thus permitted.

As previously mentioned, the sealing means 72 as well as the upper and lower bearing means 68 and 70 comprise segmented or split elements. In consequence, the said sealing means and bearing means may be conveniently removed and replaced without disturbing the turbine shaft. To further facilitate the removal and replacement of the sealing and/or bearing means, access openings may be provided in both the upper and lower housing portions as indicated at 150 and 152.

The invention claimed is:

For use in a steam turbine having a vertical turbine shaft and turbine and bearing chambers in top to bottom order; a steam immune bearing assembly adapted for use in the bearing chamber and comprising a generally cylin' drical and substantially flat transverse bearing support plate having a central portion provided with an opening for receiving the turbine shaft, an upper generally cylindrical bearing support member fixedly connected with and supported by and above said support plate about the shaft, an upper sleeve bearing carried by said upper support member engaging the shaft and rotatably supporting the same, a cover element fixedly secured to said upper support member and carrying a ring seal engaging said turbine shaft, a steam condensate slinger element secured to the turbine shaft above said cover element, a lower generally cylindrical bearing support member rigidly connected with and supported by and below said support plate about the shaft, a lower sleeve hearing carried by said lower support member engaging and rotatably sup porting said shaft, thrust bearing means carried by said lower support member, upper and lower thrust rings fixedly connected with said shaft respectively above and below said thrust bearing means and rotatable with the shaft in engagement with the said bearing means to prevent axial shaft movement, and sealing means between said lower bearing support member and the shaft below said thrust bearing means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 779,771 iDodge Jan. 10, 1905 876,422 Zvonicek Jan. 14, 1908 972,327 Brien 'Oct. 11, 1910 1,099,392 Norling June 9, 1914 1,477,360 Junggren Dec. 11, 1923 1,796,325 Flanders Mar. 17, 1931 2,095,128 Doran Oct. 5, 1937 2,300,284 Gayer Oct. 27, 1942 (Other references on following page) 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 'Kenney Dec. 25, 1945 Johnson Jan. 28, 1947 Fisher et a1 Apr. 10, 1951 Bourgeois Feb. 5, 1952 Le Bus Mar. 16, 1954 Christian Apr. 9, 1957 A-udemar July 22, 1958 6 Egli Nov. 18, 1958 Varadi Dec. 1, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Ian. 27, 1905 Switzerland Aug. 16, 1924 Switzenland Dec. 1, 1950 Germany Feb. 4, 1926 Germany Jan. 22, 1959

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