US3310287A - Fluid turning vane assemblies - Google Patents

Description

March 21, 1967 E. L. CLARK ET FLUID TURNING VANE ASSEMBLIES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 28, 1965 KE RLMM ATTB LT m CUvM Tm N M N QM M Y L B E f m FIG. 2

arch 21, 1967 CLARK ET AL FLUID TURNING VANE ASSEMBLIES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 28, 1965 ELWOOD L. CLARK ALANHQTUTTLE INVENTORS March 21, 1967 LCLAR ETAL 3,310,287

FLUID TURNING VANE ASSEMBLIES Filed Jan. 28, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 -5 FIG. 4

FIG. 7

ELWOOD L. CLARK ALAN H.TUTT LE INVENTORS March 21, 1967 CLARK ET AL FLUID TURNING VANE ASSEMBLIES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 28, '1965 II zlllllll FIG. 8'

ELWOOD LLLARK ALAN H.TUTTLE INVENTORS -11 M United States Patent 3,310,287 FLUID TURNING VANE ASSEMBLIES Elwood L. (Hark, Willing Township, and Aian H. Tattle, Andover, N.Y., assignors to Worthington Corporation, Harrison N..l., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 28, 1965, Ser. No. 428,688 6 Claims. (Cl. 253--7S) The present invention relates to fluid turning vane assemblies for use in turbines, compressors and similar fluid machinery; and to the fluid turning vane units which make up the said assemblies.

An object of the invention is the provision of fluid turning vane assemblies comprising a plurality of interchangeable generally identical turning vane units which maybe individually removed, as for example for replacement, from a turbine or compressor casing without requiring removal of the remainer of the said units.

Another object of the invention is the provision of turning vane units as above which are relatively simple, pre-fabricated design and construction whereby the cost of fabrication thereof is minimized.

Another object of the invention is the provision of turning vane units as above which are of particularly durable design and construction whereby long periods of satisfactory, maintenance-free operation thereof whereby long periods of satisfactory, maintenance-free operation thereof under demanding operational conditions, are assured.

A further object of the invention is the provision of fluid turning vane assemblies as above which are particularly adaptable for use as exhaust turning vane assemblies in fluid turbines, as for example, double flow, power recovery gas turbines of the nature disclosed in the copending application of Albert F. I-Ianschke et 211. SN. 446,665, filed April 1, 1965, and assigned to the assignee hereof.

The above and other significant objects and advantages of the present invention as believed made clear .-by the follow detailed description thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a turning vane unit of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view taken in the direction of the arrow 2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional View taken along line 33 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 are side, end, and top, plan views, respectively, of the left-hand side plate of a turning vane unit of the invention;

FIGURE 7 is a side plan view of the right-hand side plate of a turning vane unit of the invention;

FIGURE 8 is a cross sectional view of the exhaust diffuser of a double flow, power recovery gas turbine of the nature disclosed in the copending application referred to hereinabove, and depicts two of the exhaust turning vane units of the invention operatively positioned therein for function as exhaust turning vane units; and

FIGURE 9 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow 9 in FIGURE 8, and depicts the outlet end of the exhaust diffuser without the turning units of the invention positioned therein.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2, a turning vane unit of the invention is generally indicated at 10 and comprises a left-hand side plate 12, and a similarly shaped right-hand side plate 14, respectively, spaced therefrom to form a fluid passage therebetween. A plurality of fluid turning vanes 16, of appropriate areodynamic configuration, extended as shown between said side plates 12 and 14, and are securely affixed thereto in any satisfactory manner. Intermittent fillet welds as indicated at 18 in FIGURE 3 have proven satisfactory in affixing the said turning vanes to the said side plates. The respective turnice ing vanes and side plates are preferable pre-fabricated, as for example by stamping, from any suitable sheet metal, as for example Type 304 stainless steel in the case of relatively high temperature gas turbine applications.

A plurality of spring positioning tabs 20 are formed, as by punching, in each of the side plates 12 and 14 and extend outwardly therefrom .away from the turning vanes 16, in the manner made clear by FIGURE 1. A pair of spaced, attachment flanges 22 are formed at one extremity of the left-hand side plate 12, as by bending over extending portions thereof in the manner indicated in phantom in FIGURE 4, and a pair of spaced, attachment flanges 24 are formed in a similar manner at the corresponding extremity of the right-hand side plate 14. The respective pairs of attachment flanges are positioned in staggered relationship on the respective side plates of the turning vane unit in the manner made clear by a comparison of FIGURES 7 and 8, for purposes described in detail hereinbelow. A bolt hole 26 is formed in each of the attachement flanges of the said pairs in the manner best seen in FIGURES 5 and 6.

Referring now to FIGURE 8, two turning vane units of the invention are depicted in situ in the exhaust diffuser 28 at one end of a double flow, power recovery gas turbine of the nature referred to hereinabove. In this application, the said turning vane units will function as two of the larger plurality, as for example twenty-two, of the exhaust turning vane units whichmake up one of the exhaust turning vane assemblies of the said gas turbine. During operation of the said gas turbine, the hot exhaust gases flow from the last stage of the turbine rotor, as indicated'at 30, through the duct formed by said exhaust diffuser in the directions indicated by the curved arrows 31 in FIGURE 8. Thus may be readily understood whereby the turning vane units of the invention function to turn the said exhaust gases and direct the same into a non-illustrated, outer exhaust casing for the ultimate exhaust thereof to the atmosphere. The exhaust diffuser 28 is of 360 extent, that is to say the exhaust passage 32 formed between the walls thereof is in part of generally cylindrical configuration, whereby a plurality of the turning vane units of the invention may be positioned in the said exhaust passage in a generally circular way to form an exhaust turning vane assembly of the requisite of 360 extent.

A plurality, as for example twenty-two in the case of an exhaust turning vane assembly which utilizes twentytwo of the turning vane units of the invention, of inner cases ribs 34, of appropriate areodynamic configuration, extend as shown between the walls of the exhaust diffuser 28, and it is these inner case ribs which are utilized for the readily removable positioning of the turning vane units 16 within the exhaust passage 32. Y

The said inner case ribs are shaped as shown in FIG- URE 9, and in phantom in FIGURES 1 and 2, and are spaced from each other an arcuate distance which is slightly greater than the arcuate width of a turning vane unit 10. Four threaded bores 36 are formed in corresponding extremities of the inner case ribs 34 in the manner made clear in FIGURE 9. The turning vane units are positioned in the spaces 41 (FIGURE 9) between adjacent inner case ribs 34 by simply sliding the said units into the said spaces as guided by the contact of the spring positioning tabs 20 and the sides of the said ribs. This contact between the said tabs and the said ribs will also function to temporarily retain the said unit between the said ribs, and prevent vibration of the former relative to the latter during operation of the turbine. Further, the inherent resiliency of the said spring positioning tabs could function, in high temperature turbine applications, to permit limited expansion of the turning vane units relative to the said ribs. Once a turning vane unit 10 has Patented Mar. 21, 1967 been positioned between an adjacent pair of inner case ribs 34, and the screw holes 26 in the two pairs of attachment flanges 22 and 24 of the unit, and two of the threaded bores 36 in each of the said ribs, aligned, a socket-headed cap screw 38 is passed through each of the said screw holes 26, a bearing washer 39 (FIGURE 1), and firmly tightened into the said threaded bore 36 aligned therewith to securely retain the turning vane unit in the exhaust diffuser 28.

Since each inner case rib 34 supports the left-hand side plate 12 of one turning vane unit, and the right-hand side plate 14 of an adjacent turning vane unit, in the manner made clear by the phantom depictions of FIGURE 2, the respective positions of the pairs of attachment flanges on the said left and right-hand side plates of each turning vane unit, are staggered, as made clear by FIGURES 2, 4 and 8, whereby each turning vane unit is independently secured to an adjacent pair of inner case ribs 34 by four of the said cap screws 38, and may thus be removed from the exhaust diffuser 28 independently of adjacent turning vane units. Locking wires 40 are preferably utilized between adjacent pairs of the said cap screws 38 on each of the inner case ribs 34 to positively prevent loosening of the said cap screws as might otherwise be occasioned, for example, by operational vibrations of the gas turbine.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction or arrangement of parts shown but that they may be widely modified within the invention defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fluid machine casing, a fluid duct formed by first and second casing walls, a plurality of spaced ribs extending between said walls across said fluid duct, said ribs each comprising an edge portion, a plurality of fluid turning vane units each of which is positionable between a pair of said spaced ribs, each of said fluid turning vane units comprising a first side plate, a second side plate spaced therefrom to form a fluid passage therebetween, a plurality of spaced fluid turning vanes affixed to and extending between said side plates across said fluid passage, positioning means on said side plates for positioning said unit between a pair of said spaced ribs, and attachment means on said side plates for attaching said unit to said edge portions of said pair of spaced ribs whereby, said turning vane units may be removed from said ribs by the removal of said attachment means from said rib edge portions.

2. In a fluid machine casing, a fluid duct formed by first and second casing walls, a plurality of spaced ribs extending between said walls across said fluid duct, said ribs being disposed in said fluid duct so that an edge portion of each of the former is located adjacent an extremity of said fluid duct, a plurality of fluid turning vane units each of which is positionable between a pair of said spaced ribs, each of said fluid turning vane units comprising a first side plate, a second side plate spaced therefrom to form a fluid passage therebetween, a plurality of spaced fluid turning vanes affixed to and extending between said side plates across said fluid passage, positioning means on said side plates for positioning said unit between a pair of said spaced ribs, and attachment means on said side plates for attaching said unit to said edge portions of said pair of spaced ribs whereby, said turning vane units may be removed from said ribs adjacent an extremity of said duct means by the removal of said attachment means from said rib edge portions.

3. In a fluid machine casing as in claim 2 wherein, said attachment means comprise attachment flanges formed at corresponding edges of said side plates and extending therefrom in a direction away from said fluid turning vanes for contact with the edge portions of said pair of spaced ribs.

4. In a fluid turning vane assembly for use in the casings of fluid machinery such as turbines, compressors and the like which comprise casing passages with spaced ribs extending thereacross, the improvements comprising, a plurality of fluid turning vane units each of which is positionable in a said casing passage between a pair of said spaced ribs, each of said turning vane units comprising a first side plate, a second side plate spaced therefrom to form a fluid passage therebetween, a plurality of fluid turning vanes affixed to and extending between said side plates across said fluid passage, positioning means on said side plates for positioning said unit between a pair of said spaced ribs, and attachment means on said side plates for attaching said unit to said pair of spaced ribs, said positioning means comprising spring positioning tabs formed in said side plates and extending therefrom in a direction away from said fluid turning vanes for contact with the said pair of said spaced ribs.

5. In a fluid turning vane assembly as in claim 4 wherein said attachment means comprise attachment flanges formed at corresponding edges of said side plates and extending therefrom in a direction away from said fluid turning vanes for contact with the said pair of spaced ribs.

6. In a fluid turning vane assembly for use in the casings of fluid machinery such as turbines, compressors, and the like which comprise casing passages with spaced ribs extending thereacross, the improvements comprising, a plurality of fluid turning vane units each of which is positionable in a said casing passage between a pair of said spaced ribs, each of said turning vane units comprising a first side plate, a second side plate spaced therefrom to form a fluid passage therebetween, a plurality of fluid turning vanes afiixed to and extending between said side plates across said fluid passage, positioning means on said side plates for positioning said units between a pair of spaced ribs, and attachment means on said side plates for attaching said unit to said pair of spaced ribs, said attachment means comprising attachment flanges formed at corresponding edges of said side plates and extending therefrom in a direction away from said fluid turning vanes for contact with said pair of spaced ribs, there being a plurality of attachment flanges formed on each side plate of each of said units with the attachment flanges formed at the edge of the first side plate being positioned in staggered relationship relative to the attachment flanges formed at the corresponding edge of the second side plate, whereby the attachment flanges on the first side plate of one of said units and the attachment flanges on the second side plate of another of said units may be independently attached to the same casing rib without interference therebetween.

References Qited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,996,596 4/1935 Smith 13839 2,705,973 4/1955 Kice l3839 2,826,221 3/1958 Speiser 13839 2,861,597 11/1958 Graccr I 138-39 2,959,195 11/1960 Gracer 138--39 2,960,306 11/1960 Collman et al 253-78 MARTIN P. SCHWADRON, Primary Examiner.

EVERETT A. POWELL, IR., Examiner,

Claims (1)

1. IN A FLUID MACHINE CASING, A FLUID DUCT FORMED BY FIRST AND SECOND CASING WALLS, A PLURALITY OF SPACED RIBS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID WALLS ACROSS SAID FLUID DUCT, SAID RIBS EACH COMPRISING AN EDGE PORTION, A PLURALITY OF FLUID TURNING VANE UNITS EACH OF WHICH IS POSITIONABLE BETWEEN A PAIR OF SAID SPACED RIBS, EACH OF SAID FLUID TURNING VANE UNITS COMPRISING A FIRST SIDE PLATE, A SECOND SIDE PLATE SPACED THEREFROM TO FORM A FLUID PASSAGE THEREBETWEEN, A PLURALITY OF SPACED FLUID TURNING VANES AFFIXED TO AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDE PLATES ACROSS SAID FLUID PASSAGE, POSITIONING MEANS ON SAID SIDE PLATES FOR POSITIONING SAID UNIT BETWEEN A PAIR OF SAID SPACED RIBS, AND ATTACHMENT MEANS ON SAID SIDE PLATES FOR ATTACHING SAID UNIT TO SAID EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID PAIR OF SPACED RIBS WHEREBY, SAID TURNING VANE UNITS MAY BE REMOVED FROM SAID RIBS BY THE REMOVAL OF SAID ATTACHMENT MEANS FROM SAID RIB EDGE PORTIONS.

Images