US3229771A

US3229771A - Runner-controlled hydraulic turbines, pumps and propellers

Info

Publication number: US3229771A
Application number: US361996A
Authority: US
Inventors: Olof Johan Gerhard Hedberg
Original assignee: Karlstad Mekaniska Ab
Current assignee: Metso Fiber Karlstad AB
Priority date: 1963-04-29
Filing date: 1964-04-23
Publication date: 1966-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 1983-01-18
Also published as: FI41522B; GB1028519A; FR1390769A; DE1503244A1; DE1503244B2; NO116839B; CH410822A; ES299027A1

Description

Jan. 18, 1966 o. J. G. HEDBERG 3,229,771

RUNNER-CONTROLLED HYDRAULIC TURBINES, PUMPS AND PROPELLERS Filed April 25, 1964 INVENTOR: OLOF JOHAN GERHARD HEDBERG BY M%.M\ M L HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,229,771 RUNNER-CONTROLLED HYDRAULIC TURBINES, PUMPS AND PROPELLERS Olof Johan Gerhard Hedherg, Karlstad, Sweden, assignor to Aktieholaget Karlstads Mekaniska Werkstad, Karlstad, Sweden, a company of Sweden Filed Apr. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 361,996 Claims priority, application Sweden, Apr. 29, 1963, 4,651/ 63 2 Claims. (Ci. 170-16032) The present invention relates to runner-controlled hydraulic turbines, pumps and propellers, and particularly to turbines, pumps and propellers having remotely controlled variable pitch or adjustable runner blades.

In known designs of mechanisms for adjusting the runner blades, a hydraulic servomotor is located in the rotating system of the turbine, pump or propeller. This servomotor is operated by means of a control valve which can be located either in the rotating system or outside the rotating system.

Usually the control valve is located in the rotating system, concentric with the axis of rotation and in close proximity to the servomotor. However, with the valve close to the servomotor, it is deep down in the shafting so that access to the control valve and its liner for inspection and overhaul is difficult, and any means for direct mechanical indication of the actual runner blade setting is complicated.

In designs where the control valve is located outside the rotating system, the valve and liner are easily accessible and the means for direct mechanical indication of runner blade position are relatively simple, but these constructions occupy a great deal of space and are expensive as compared with designs in which the control valve is located in the rotating system.

The present invention relates to an improvement in runner-controlled hydraulic turbines, pumps or propellers in which the pitch of the runner blades can be varied by means of a hydraulic servomotor in the runner hub or in the shaft carrying the runner hub, and the control valve is located concentrically in the rotating system in or adjacent to the upper part of the shaft and is mechanically connected to the servomotor in such a manner that direct mechanical indication of runner blade setting is obtained.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which the single figure is a schematic vertical section through a hydraulic turbine embodying the invention.

As illustrated in the drawing, the turbine includes a turbine runner or propeller -1 attached to a drive or driven shaft 2, which is mounted in a thrust bearing 3 and a guide bearing 4, which may be of the sleeve type, as shown, or of the antifriction ball or roller type. A hydraulic servomotor consisting of a cylinder 5 forming a part of the runner casing and a piston 6 is housed in the runner 1. The piston 6 is connected to the variable pitch runner blades 7 by means of a piston rod 8, a crosshead 9 fixed to the piston rod and links 10 pivotally connecting the ends of the crosshead 9 to levers 11 extending substantially radially of the propeller blade hubs to afford a means for rotating the blades around their axes to change their pitch.

The elements for controlling the operation of the servomotor are shown in the upper part of the figure and are referred to hereinafter collectively as a combinator 12 which is mounted on the upper wall of an oil pot or reservoir 13. A control slide valve plug 14 is mounted in a slide valve sleeve 15 having a peripheral piston 16 thereon slidable in a cylinder 17 supported by the oil pot 13. A lower pipe 18 and an upper pipe 19 communicate with the cylinder 17 on opposite sides of the piston 16. Pipe 19 is connected to a regulating slide valve 20, which is provided with an inlet pipe 21 and an exhaust pipe 22 connected to an oil pan or sump 23. A slide valve plug 24 in the valve 20 is movably attached to the control valve sleeve 15 by means of a lever 25 and a restoring link 26. Lever 25 rests by gravity on or is otherwise biased against a cam 27 which can be controlled by means of a connecting rod 28.

A passage 29 in the sleeve 15 connects the lower part of the cylinder 17 to an annular space 30 between the sleeve 15 and the slide valve plug 14. Two internal

annular collars

31 and 32 in the sleeve 15 are located so that they can close two

ports

33 and 34 in the valve plug 14.

The plug 14 is rigidly attached to the servomotor piston 6 by means of two

pipes

35 and 36. Pipe 35 forms a flow passage between the port 33 and the space below the piston 6 in the cylinder 5. The space between

pipes

35 and 36 forms a passage between the port 34 and the space above the piston 6 in the servomotor cylinder 5.

A pointer 37 is fixed to the valve plug 14 and is disposed adjacent to a matching scale 38 fixed in the top of the'oil pan or sump 23 for indicating the setting of the rod 14 and thereby also the setting of the piston 6 and the pitch of runner blades 7.

1 The control system described above operates as folows:

Different height levels of the control valve sleeve 15 correspond to different mutually fixed positions of the parts to which it is mechanically connected, namely the restoring link 26, the lever 25, the cam 27 and the valve rod 24 of the regulating valve 20. If the cam 27 is turned clockwise by means of the connecting rod 28 so that it lifts the lever 25, valve rod 24 is moved upwardly and communication is established between the pipe 19 and the exhaust pipe 22 allowing oil or other liquid in the system to flow from the cylinder 15 above the piston into the sump 23. The pressure above the piston 16 will then drop, while the pressure below piston 16 will remain unaltered inasmuch as the space below piston 16 is connected by means of the pipe 18 to a pump (not shown) having its inlet or suction port connected to the reservoir 13 and its discharge port connected to the pipe 18. Other sources of hydraulic pressure can, of course, be used instead of a pump. The difference in pressure on opposite sides of piston 16 causes the valve sleeve 15 and the restoring link 26 to move upwardly rocking the lever 25 counterclockwise and moving the valve plug 24 downwardly into a position in which it disconnects the

pipes

19 and 22, and thus limits the upward movement of the sleeve 15 to a position corresponding to the position into which cam 27 was turned.

When in the manner described above, the control valve sleeve 15 moves upwardly, the

annular collars

31 and 32 will uncover the

ports

33 and 34, allowing oil under pressure supplied by the oil pump to flow through the pipe 18, passage 29, space 30, port 33 and pipe 35 to the space below the piston 6 in the servomotor cylinder 5, while the space in the cylinder 5 above the piston 6 now communicates with the oil pot or reservoir 13 through the passage between the

pipes

36 and 35 and the port 34. Piston 6 is moved upwardly by the difference in pressure on opposite sides of the piston 6 and also moves control valve plug 14, to which it is rigidly attached by means of

pipes

35 and 36, upwards until the

ports

33 and 34 are again covered and closed by the

collars

31 and 32. With the

ports

33 and 34 closed, the oil in the cylinder on both sides of the piston 6 will be trapped and the piston 6 is retained against movement with the blades 7 adjusted to a different pitch.

It will be understood that by turning cam 27 counterclockwise into a position which lowers the lever 25, the servomotor piston 6 will be moved downwardly with a corresponding change in the adjustment of pitch of the blades.

Inasmuch as the servomotor piston 6 is mechanically connected to the runner blades 7 and rigidly attached to the valve plug 14, the pointer 37 indicates the pitch of the runner blades 7 directly on the scale 38.

The control system may include other fluid flow connections than those described above. Thus, an overflow pipe 39 returns oil from the sump 23 to the reservoir or pot 13 and an oil return pipe 40 returns oil leaking from the cylinder to the reservoir13 or supplies oil to the linkage in the turbine runner, as may be required.

It will be understood that the control system described above can be used with an engine driven propeller, for example, for use for propelling boats, ships and the like, or it may be used in turbines and the like wherein flow of fluid around the runner develops power for driving other mechanisms. Appropriate driving connections will be made to the propeller shaft 2 as may be required.

It will be understood further that the form of the invention described above is illustrative and that other changes in structure and arrangements of parts may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A control and indicating system for adujsting the blades of turbine, propeller and pump runners and the like comprising a runner having adjustable blades mounted thereon, a tubular drive shaft supporting said runner for rotation, a servomotor in said runner including a cylinder and a first piston movable in said cylinder, means connecting said first piston to said blades for adjusting said blades in response to movement of said piston, a slide valve in axial alignment with and outside of the end of said shaft remote from said runner, said slide valve including a valve plug movable relative to said shaft and a slide valve sleeve slidably receiving said plug and movable relative to said shaft and said plug, conduits extending lengthwise in said tubular shaft and having passages controlled by said plug and sleeve connected to said cylinder at opposite sides of said first piston, said plug and sleeve in one relative position preventing flow of fluid through said passages, and in other positions admitting fluid to said cylinder on one side of said first piston and discharging fluid from the cylinder on the opposite side of said first piston to move said first piston and selectively increase and decrease the pitch of said blades, a second piston connected to said sleeve, a second cylinder receiving said second piston slidably and a second valve operable in one position to prevent flow of fluid to said second cylinder and actuatable for supplying fluid under pressure to sa d second cylinder to move said sleeve relative to said plug, said conduits fixedly connecting said first piston to said plug for moving said plug relative to said sleeve to said one position to close said passages.

2. A control and indicating system for adjusting the blades of turbine, propeller and pump runners and the like comprising a runner having adjustable blades mounted thereon, a tubular drive shaft supporting said runner for rotation, a servomotor in said runner including a cylinder and a first piston movable in said cylinder, means connecting said first piston to said blades for adjusting said blades in response to movement of said piston, a slide valve in axial alignment with and outside of the end of said shaft remote from said runner, said slide valve including a valve plug movable relative to said shaft and a slide valve sleeve slidably receiving said plug and movable relative to said shaft and said plug, conduits extending lengthwise in said tubular shaft and having passages controlled by said plug and sleeve connected to said cylinder at opposite sides of said first piston, said plug and sleeve in one relative position preventing flow of fluid through said passages, and in other positions admitting fluid to said cylinder on one side of said first piston and discharging fluid from the cylinder on the opposite side of said first piston to move said first piston and selectively increase and decrease the pitch of said blades, a second piston connected to said sleeve, a second cylinder receiving said second piston slidably, a second valve operable in one position to prevent flow of fluid to said second cylinder and actuatable for supplying fluid under pressure to said second cylinder to move said sleeve relative to said plug, lever and link means connecting said second valve and said sleeve, a cam for moving said lever to actuate said second valve to supply fluid to said second cylinder and move said sleeve, and said lever and link means being responsive to movement to said sleeve to restore said second valve to said one position and stop flow of fluid to said second cylinder, said conduits fixedly connecting said first piston to said plug for moving said plug relative to said sleeve to said one position to close said passages.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 715,395 12/1902 Lake 160.47 X 1,929,436 10/1933 McCollough 170-160.22 X 2,028,448 1/ 1936 Harza 170160.23 X 2,513,546 7/1950 Atteslander 170-160.32 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,260,746 4/ 1961 France.

175,342 5/1961 Sweden.

MARK NEWMAN, Primary Examiner.

JULIUS E. WEST, Examiner.

Claims

1. A CONTROL AND INDICATING SYSTEM FOR ADJUSTING THE BLADES OF TURBINE, PROPELLER AND PUMP RUNNERS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A RUNNER HAVING ADJUSTABLE BLADES MOUNTED THEREON, A TUBULAR DRIVE SHAFT SUPPORTING SAID RUNNER FOR ROTATION, A SERVOMOTOR IN SAID RUNNER INCLUDING A CYLINDER AND A FIRST PISTON MOVABLE IN SAID CYLINDER, MEANS CONNECTING SAID FIRST PISTON TO SAID BLADES FOR ADJUSTING SAID BLADES IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID PISTON, A SLIDE VALVE IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH AND OUTSIDE OF THE END OF SAID SHAFT REMOTE FROM SAID RUNNER, SAID SLIDE VALVE INCLUDING A VALVE PLUG MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID SHAFT AND A SLIDE VALVE SLEEVE SLIDABLY RECEIVING SAID PLUG AND MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID SHAFT AND SAID PLUG, CONDUITS EXTENDING LENGTHWISE IN SAID TUBULAR SHAFT AND HAVING PASSAGES CONTROLLED BY SAID PLUG AND SLEEVE CONNECTED TO SAID CYLINDER AT OPPOISTE SIDES OF SAID FIRST PISTON, SAID PLUG AND SLEEVE IN ONE RELATIVE POSITION PREVENTING FLOW OF FLUID THROUGH SAID PASSAGES, AND IN OTHER POSITIONS ADMITTING FLUID TO SAID CYLINDER ON ONE SIDE OF SAID FIRST PISTION AND DISCHARGING FLUID FROM THE CLYINDER ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID FIRST PISTON TO MOVE SAID FIRST PISTON AND SELECTIVELY INCREASE AND DECREASE THE PITCH OF SAID BLADES, A SECOND PISTON CONNECTED TO SAID SLEEVE, A SECOND CYLINDER RECEIVING SAID SECOND PISTON SLIDABLY AND A SECOND VALVE OPERABLE IN ONE POSITION TO PREVENT FLOW OF FLUID TO SAID SECOND CYLINDER AND ACTUATABLE FOR SUPPLYING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE TO SAID SECOND CYLINDER TO MOVE SAID SLEEVE RELATIVE TO SAID PLUG, SAID CONDUITS FIXEDLY CONNECTING SAID FIRST PISTON TO SAID PLUG FOR MOVING SAID PLUG RELATIVE TO SAID SLEEVE TO SAID ONE POSITION TO CLOSE SAID PASSAGES.