US666637A - Steam-turbine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 666,637. Patented lan. 29, |901. M. BECK.

STEAM TURBINE.

. (Application filed July 13, 1900.)' (No Model.) 14 a sheets-sheet Nonms Pneus oc.. Putnam-m1, WASHINGTON. n, c,

No. 666,637. Patented lan. 29, l90l.

M. BECK.

STEAM TURBINE.

{Application filed July 13, 1900.) (Nn Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Nrrnn STATES ATENT Ormes.

MICHAEL BECK, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

STEAM-TU RBIN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 666,637, dated January 29, 1901. Application filed July 13. 1900. Serial No. 23,436. (No model To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL BECK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and usefullmprovementsin Steam-Turbines; and I do hereby declare the following to'be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention has for its object to provide an improved rotary engine or motor and is in the nature of a turbine.

To the above ends the invention consists of the novel devices and. combinations of devices hereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

The invention in its preferred form is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts thro ughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a plan view, with some parts broken away, showing my improved turbine. Eig. 2 is a transverse vertical section on the line m2 m2 of Fig. 1'. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View, with some parts broken away, showing the body of the turbine; and Fig. 4 is a detail in elevation of the pump-piston.

The stationary body or case of the turbine comprises a pair of conical shells 1 and 2, secured together at their peripheral portion by steam-tight joints, both of the shells being depressed or turned downward at their apices, but with the apex of the shell 1 extended far below the apex of the shell 2. Secured to the top of the shell 2 is a circular shell 3, which, together with said shell 2, forms/ a watercompartment or pump-chamber A nonrotary spindle 5 is passed axially through the conical chamber formed between the shells 1 and 2, with its lower end passed through and secured to the apex of said shell 1.

Mounted for vertical movements on the spindle 5 is a pump-piston 6, which is held against rotation thereon by means of a key 7 on said piston, which works in a long keyway or groove Brin said spindle. A cylinder 9 rotates around the piston 6, but does not reciprocate vertically therewith. Secured to and for rotation with the cylinder 91s a conical wheel or rotary member made up of a pair of conical shells 10 and 11, closely connected at their peripheries, and, as shown, screwed onto the ends of the cylinder 9 at their hub portions. The shells 10 and 11, respectively, of the rotary wheel are spaced inward from the shells 1 and 2, lso as to leave attenuated conical passages.

The shell 1 is provided with concentric series of propelling-blades l, and the shell 10 is provided with concentric series of propelling-blades 10a. The series of propellingblades la and lOa interlap alternately, and the bladesot the said series l and lOaincline in reverse directions with respect to radial lines from the axis of rotation of the rotary parts. Likewise the plate or shell 2 is provided with concentric series of propellingblades 2a, and the shell l1 is provided with concentric series of propelling-blades 1l, which blades 2a and l1a incline in reverse directions, and which series of blades 2a and 11a interlap alternately. Furthermore, the propelling-blades 10a and 11ad are inclined or beveled in reverse directions with respect to lines radiating from the axis of rotation of the wheel l0 ll. The lower end of a rotary spindle 12 is secured by radial webs 13 to the upper end ofthe cylinder 9. The lower end of said spindle-12, as shown, rotates on the upper end of the spindle 5, and itis provided with an annular outturned portion 14, be-

tween which and the inner hub portion of the y shell 2 bearing-balls l5 are mounted to run. Between the ange 14 and the upper end of the cylinder 9 radial passages llopen. The spindle 12 is provided with radial blades 17, that work within the chamber 4. At its upper and outer end the spindle 12 is provided with a bevel-pinion 18, which is preferably made hollow at 19 for a purpose which will hereinafter appeal'. Water-circulating pipes 20 2l, respectively, open to the central portion and open from the peripheral portion of said chamber t. In practice these pipes 2O and 2l will communicate with a receptacle containing a body of cooling liquid, usually water. A small passage 22 opens from the peripheral portion of the conical chamber formed between the shells 1 and 2, and this passage is adapted to be opened and closed by means of a small stop-cock 23.

The pump-piston 6, heretofore noted, is pro- IOO ' or pin 25, projected through the cylinder 9,

works to produce the reciprocations ot' vvthe said piston when the said cylinder is rotated by the propeller-wheel lO 1l. Several, preferably about six, passages 26 extend longitudinally through the piston 6. The lower ends of these passages 26 are normally close-d by a downwardly-opening annular valve 2L which, as shownfis yieldingly held upward by springs 28, secured thereto, extended through said passages 26 and secured at their upper ends to said piston. y

The lower end of the cylinder 9 is normally closed by a valve in the form of a head 29, mounted to slide on a spindle 5 and subject to a light spring 30, which normally presses the same upward and closes the lower end of said cylinder.

31 indicates a water or' liquid supply pipe which opens through a passage 32 in the lower end of the spindle 5 to the lower central portion of the chamber formed between the shells 1 and 2. At its outer end the pipe 31 opens into the head or casting 33, provided with a funnel 34 and with a' passage 35, leading from said funnel to said pipe 3l. Astopcock 36, mounted in the head 33, serves to open and close the' passage 35.

The numeral 37 indicates a 'pressure-gage which is connected by a pipe 38 with the lower portion of the passage 35, and hence also with the pipe 3l.

39 indicates a gas-supply pipe which terminates at its delivery end in a plurality of nozzles or burners 40, located just under the apex of the shell 1. A suitable stop-cock 41, mounted in a valve-seat casting 42, interposed in the gas-pipe 39, serves to open and close the said pipe. A casting or hea 33 is provided with a hollow extension 43, interposed between sections of the gas-pipe 39. In a neck portion-44, which connects the sections 33 and 43, is a valve 45 in the form of a sliding plunger having a depending stem 46 and subject to a small spring 47, compressed between said plunger 45 and a removableplug 48 in the bottom of the section 43.

An oil-passage 49 opens axially through the spindles 12 and 5. This oil-passage 49 has lateral openings at various points for delivering oil to the various parts to be lubricated. Within the cavity 19 of the bevelpinion 18 is a ball 50, which in virtue of the conical form of the bottom ot' said cavity 19 normally closes the upper end of the oil-passage 49. W'hen, however, the wheel 10 11, with the parts rotated therewith, including the pinion 18, is given a high rotary motion, the ball 50 will be thrown by centrifugal force toward the peripheral portion of the oil receptacle or cavity 19, and thus the oilpassage 49 will be opened, so as to permit of the feed of the oil.

Before the turbine can be started it is necessary to introduce into the chamber formed ,Y i closed.

between the shells 1 and 2, approximately to the level indicated by the dotted-line niark y 'y on Fig. 2, some such liquid as water, which may be readily turned into steam. Advisably a mixture or solution of water, ammonia,and carbon dioxid is used for this purpose. To introduce this liq uid,as in dicated,the stopcock 36 is opened to permit the solution poured into the funnel 34 to run into the pipe 31, and

`tile stop-cock 23 is opened to permit the escape of all of the air from the chamber in which the turbine wheel runs. After the liquid is introduc'ed the stop-cocks 36 and 23 are The gas is then turned on and lighted at the points of the burners 40. The intense heat from the burners 40, acting on the bottom of the shell 1, causes the very rapid generation of steam from the solution of water, which, for the sake of brevity, l may refer to simply as water. The steam thus generated will rush violently outward toward the periphery ofthe rotary turbine wheel, and in doing so will have a propelling action on the propelling-blades l()2L of said Wheel. As the steam reaches the peripheral portion of the shell2, which shell is keptcold by the circulation of water through the chamber 4, condensation will take place, which will increase as the condensing steam is drawn again inwardbetween the said shell 2 and the top shell ll of the turbine wheel. As this condensingstea'm passes inward it will again have a propelling action on the blades l1a of the turbine wheel and will tend to drive the said wheel in the same direction in which it tended to drive it underits outward movement and action upon the blades 10a. By the time the condensing steam reaches the passages 16 at the upper end of the cylinder 9\i-trw\ill have been turned into water or liquid forland under the reciprocations of the piston 6 and the action of the valve 27 it will be positively pumpedback into the lower end of the said cylinder, and from thence, under the downstrokes of said piston, it will be forced back into the bottom of the chamber formed between the shell 1 and 2, it being understood, of course, that the valve 29 will be opened under such downward movements of the piston. Thus it will be seen that a continuous circulation of the steam-producing medium is kept up. 'The valves 29 and 27 of course cause the circulation to be in a constant direction.

Under the rotation of the turbine wheel 10 ll the water within the chamber 4 is by the blades 17 put under the action of centrifugal force, so that the circulation of the water Will be as indicated by the arrows marked in connection with the pipes 2O and 2l.

The spring 47, acting on the valve 45, may be variously set by means of the plug 48 for any desired or predetermined pressure. When this predetermined pressure is exceeded, the valve 45 will be forced downward against said spring and will choke o the supply of gas to the`burners, and thus reduce the flames, with IOO IIO

the obvious result that the generation will be slower. Hence the valve 45 acts as a governor to maintain the desired speed of the turbine.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

l. In a rotary motor or turbine, the combination with a relatively-fixed conical shell or body having concentric series of propellingblades, of a movable conical shell or body having concentric series of propellin g-blades, the series of said two members being interpositioned and cooperating as described, and means for generating the motive fluid in the vicinity of the apex of one of said members, substantially as described.

2. In a rotary engine or turbine, the combination with an outer case having conical upper and lower surfaces within provided with concentric series of propelling-blades, of a turbine wheel running within said case and provided with upper and lower concentric series of propellingblades cooperating with the propelling-blades of said case, as described, means for generating steam at the lower portion of said case, and a pump at the axis of said wheel for producing a return circulation of the steam-producing medium,substantially as described.

3. The combination with an outer case made up of upper and lower shells joined at their peripheries and provided with upper and lower concentric series of propelling-su rfaces, of a turbine wheel mounted to rotate within said case and provided with upper and lower concentric series of propelling-blades cooperating with the propelling-blades of said case, as described, a burner below the apex of said case, and the pump mounted at the axis of said wheel and operating under the rotation -of said wheel to produce a forced return circulation of the steam-producing medium.

4. The combination with a case and a Wheel rotatable therein, said case and wheel having cooperating concentric series of propellingblades, of a water-condensing chamber applied to the upper surface of said case, a pump at the axis of said wheel operating to produce a forced return circulation of the steamproducing lnedium, and means for heating the downturned apex of said case, to produce a generation of steam, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a case l, 2, having the series of propelling-blades l and 2a, of the wheel 10, 1-1 mounted to rotate within said case and provided with the series of propelling-blades lOt and 11, the cylinder 9 Secured axially to said wheel and provided with the cam-pin 25, the stationary spindle 5 extending axially through said cylinder, the piston 6 mounted to slide without rotation on said spindle 5 and provided with the cam-groove 24 cooperating with said pin 25, the springheld valve 27, controlling one or more passages through said piston, and the springpressed valve or head 29 at the lower end of said cylinder, said parts operatingsubstantially as described.

6. The combination with a rotary turbine wheel and a case for the same, said parts having cooperating concentric series of propelling-blades, of a water-containing coolingchamber secured against the topl of said case and provided with circulating connections opening one near the central and the other near the peripheral portion thereof, and radial blades connected for movement with said turbine wheel and acting on the cooling-water within said chamber to produce a forced circulation thereof by centrifugal force.

7 A rotary motor or turbine, comprising a pair of bodies having cooperating propellingblades, the one rotatable with respect to the other, and circulating connections for the motive fluid, involving a pump operated by the rotary member, which circulating connections are arranged to deliver the motive fluid over and over to a common startingpoint, substantially as described.

8. A rotary motor or turbine, comprising a relatively --fixed body having propellingblades, a relatively movable body having cooperating propelling-blades, and circulating connections for the motive fluid, involving a pump operated by the rotary member, which circulating connections are arranged to deliver the said fluid over and over to a common starting-point, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL BECK.

Witnesses M. M. MCC'RORY, F. D. MERCHANT.

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