US945810A - Turbine. - Google Patents

Description

W. ROBINSON.

TURBINE.

APPLIUATIOH FILED Dnc. 6, 1904. RBNBWED ooT.1,19o9.

Patented Jan. 11, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. l RUBINSON.

Patented Jan. 11, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTO/ W/ TIVESSES.'

"narran sfraras rarsiar serres.

WILLIAM ROBINSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

TURBINE.

Application filed December 6, 1904, Serial No. 235,657.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that i, VILLIAM ROBINSON, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and 1mproved Turbine-Engine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for reversing turbine or rotary engines.

j The nature of my invention will be understood from the description which follows, reference being had to the acconr panying drawings, which form a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is 'a longitudinal section of a turbine steam engine, illustrating the main features of my invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal view of the steam valve, and Fig. 3 an end view of the same. Fig. 4 is an end view showing` means for supporting and anchoring the fixed shaft; Fig. 5 is a cross section showing rings of blades inside and outside of the rotating sleeve; Fig. 6 illustrates the relative arrangement of fixed and rotating blades or vanes for driving the engine in one direction, while Fig. 7 illustrates the relative arrangement of fixed and rotating blades or vanes for driving it in the opposite direction; Fig. 8 is an elevation, partly in section, of one of the blades showing its construction and fastening; Fig. 9 represents a longitudinal section of 'the engine illustrating a. different method of admitting steam to the reversing chamber and exhausting it therefrom from that shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 10 is a. perspective view showing the relative position of the blades and rings of blades on the outside of the rotating sleeve, and Fig. 11 is a section of the rotating sleeve showing means for fastening the blades thereto.

The fixed shaft 1, provided with the sleeve or radial extension 2, shrunk thereon or otherwise rigidly secured thereto, is held in a fixed non-rotative position b v the supports 3, 4. The shaft 1 is provided also with the fixed radial sets of blades 5, 6, 7. rThe outer shell 8 is also rigidly held in a fixed nonrotatable position by being anchored to the supporting or base plate 9, as by the supports 10, 10. The fixed outer shell 8 is provided on its interior with parallel rings of fixed blades 11, 12, 18 projecting inwardly in a radial direction, as shown.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1910.

Renewed October 1, 1909. Serial No. 520,583.

Between the fixed axle 1 and the fixed outer shell 8, the sleeve 14 is mounted rotatably and is capable of rotating on its bearings, in either direction. Said sleeve 14 is provided on its interior with parallel rings of blades 15, 16, 17, fixed to said sleeve and projecting inwardly in a radial direction. These rings of blades project inwardly between the fixed rings of blades 5, 6, 7, and coact therewith. In like manner the rotating sleeve 14 is provided on its exterior with radial rings of blades 18, 19, 20, 3rojecting outwardly between the fixed rings of blades 11, 1Q, 13, of the outer, fixed shell 8, and coacting with said fixed blades of said shell.

The operation will be understood on reference to Figs. 6 and 7. Assume that Fig. 6, for instance, illustra-tes the arrangement of blades in the outer chamber A.: The first and third rows of blades, from the right, represent the fixed blades 11 secured to the outer shell 8, while the second and fourth rows represent the outer rings of blades 18, on the rotating sleeve 14. Assume now that the steam is admitted from the right, in the direction of the arrow it strikes the first ring of fixed blades, 11, reacts, passes between the blades, impinges upon the rotatable blades of the second row, 18, and so continues throughout the length of the chamber A, reacting from the fixed blades and impinging upon the succeeding rows of rotating blades. This sets the sleeve 14 in rapid rotation to the right, looking from the right hand end of the engine.

Fig. 7 represents the arrangement of blades in the chamber B, between the fixed shaft 1 and the rotating sleeve 14. In this case the relative curve of the fixed and rotating blades is the reverse of the arrangement shown in Fig. 6; thus in Fig. 7 the first and third rows represent the fixed blades 5 and the second and fourth rows the rotating blades 15. 1t will be noted that in Fig. G the fixed blades 11 curve upwardly and the rotating blades 18 downwardly, whereas, in Fig. 7 this arrangement is reversed, the fixed blades 5 curving downwardly and the rotating blades 15 upwardly. Now admitting steam to Fig. 7, from the right, it strikes the fixed blades 5, reacts, passes through between said blades, im-

pinges upon the rotating blades 15, and

thus sets the sleeve 14, rotating to the left, looking from the right hand end of the engine. Thus, it will be seen, thc engine is caused to rotate in either direction accordingly as steam is admitted to the outer operative chamber A or to the inner operative chamber B.

The pulley 21, secured to the rotating sleeve 14 represents means for transmitting power from the engine C to the mechanism or machinery to be driven by it. The connection, however, may be made in any suitable manner, direct or through gearing, or otherwise.

As shown in Fig. 4, the shaft 1 is provided at or near its ends with angles 22, which are engaged by the clamps 23, whereby said shaft is held in a stationary position. The sleeve 14 is supported at one end, as shown at 24, upon bearings 25, located between said sleeve and shaft. At the opposite end, however, the sleeve is shown as rotatably supported on the bearings 26 located between said sleeve and the outer case or shell 8, the outer case supporting the sleeve 14 in this case. Either style of bearing may be used at both ends if desired, as may be found most convenient.

27 represents a stufing box between the rotating sleeve 14 and the outer case or shell 8.

Live steam from the boiler comes through the pipe 28, from which the branch 29 furnishes steam to the outer chamber A to drive the engine in one direction.

To bring steam to the inner chamber B, for reversing, I provide the shaft with a longitudinal orifice 30, (see Fig. 9) and at the proper point bore through the shaft into this orifice as shown at 32, thus admitting steam into the annular space 33 at the beginning of the rows of blades, from the branch pipe 34, which is connected to the end of the shaft 1, as shown at 35. At the opposite end of the shaft (Fig. 9) the orifice 3G is formed, which is connected by the passages 37 with the annular space 38, whereby the exhaust steam is conducted from the chamber B, through the fixed shaft 1 and the pipe 39, to the exhaust pipe 40, and thence to the condenser. By conducting the exhaust steam in this roundabout way, back pressure from one of the chambers, A, B, to the other is practically eliminated. The exhaust steam from t-he chamber B, however, may be conducted through an exhaust entirely independent of the exhaust pipe 40, if desired.

It will be understood that the live steam in passing from one end of the motor to the other expands rapidly, losing heat and power. To make up for this loss and to utilize the expanded steam, the motor is increased in diameter and the blades in length in approaching the exhaust end of the engine. Thus the first stage, D, where the live steam enters, is of minimum diameter; the second stage, It, is of greater diameter, to utilize more fully the partly exhausted steam, while the third stage, F, is of maximum diameter.

With the above explanation, attention is now invited to Fig. 1, in which a method of admitting steam to the reversing chamber, B, and exhausting therefrom, is illustrated, differing from that described in connection with Fig. 9.

In Fig. 1, the shaft 1 is provided with the long orifice or chamber 41, in which is located the hollow or tubular valve 42. This valve is closed at both ends to balance the pressure of steam therein, and is provided at proper intervals with slots or orifices 43, 44, 45 and 81, passing through opposite sides of said valve.

As already described, openings 32 pass from the center of the hollow shaft 1 to the annular rec-ess 33 of the chamber B.` In Fig. 1, in like manner, openings 46 pass through said shaft to the annular recess 47 of the chamber B, and openings 48 to the annular recess 49 of said chamber B.

An annular groove is formed around the shaft l, as shown at 50, and a corresponding inner groove in the ring 51, which passes around and is secured to the shaft over said annular groove thereon. The branch steam pipe 34 is secured to said ring 51, thus forming a passage for steam around t-he shaft. The tube 52 is secured to said ring 51 at the opposite side of said shaft, and this expands into the chamber 53, from which the steam pipe 54 leads to the annular recess 82 in the chamber A. The hollow valve 55, provided with the slots or openings 56, fits closely within the chamber 53.

The lever 57 is fulcrumed at 58, and engages the hollow valves 42 and 55 at opposite sides of the fulcrum, as shown at 59 and 60. The machine is now ready for operation. Opening the stop cock 6l permits the steam to pass through the annular channel 50 of the shaft 1, and to enter the tube 52, but it can go no farther, as all ports are closed by the hollow valves. Now, drawing out the valve 42 one space, by the lever 57, brings the open passage 43 opposite the ports 83 leading from said passage 50 around the shaft, and at the same time brings the open passage 44 of said valve opposite the port 32, thus admitting live steam at high pressure to the first stage l) of the inner chamber B, and thus starting the sleeve 14 to revolve toward the leftthat is, in the re# versing direction.

If now the machine be overloaded, the drawing out of the valve 42 another space will bring the valve opening 45 opposite the ports 46, thus admitting high pressure steam to the second stage E of the chamber B. In

like manner by drawing out the valve 42 another space, steam at high pressure is admitted through the orifices S1 and the ports 4S to the third stage F of the chamber B. By the simple means described, therefore, the normal power of the machine may be more than doubled, if occasion requires it.

When the lever 57 is in the position shown in the drawing, the machine is dead. When it is required, however, to start it in the opposite direction from that just described, the lever 57 is drawn to the left one space. This brings the orifice 56 opposite the open end of the pipe 54, thus admitting steam to the annular space 82 of the chamber A and starting the machine forward. Inspection will show that the valve 42, meantime, keeps steam shut off from the inner chamber B.

It will be understood thatwith the valve 61 closed the valve G2 may be opened, thus driving the machine in its normal direction without using the lever 57, when quick changes of direction or conditions are not liable to be required.

It is evident that by closing the ends of the hollow valve 42 and making the slots or orifices 44 &c. in its walls, opposite each other, the steam within said valve exerts an equal pressure in all directions, that is, the valve is perfectly balanced and as a consequence the valve may be readily actuated and controlled by the lever 57, without any resistance from the steam pressure within said valve.

I make a longitudinal channel G3 in the bottom of the valve 42, between the valve and its seat, for the purpose of drainage. Near the outer end of said valve I make an orifice 64, extending through the fixed shaft and said valve, when the machine is in its normal inert condition, as shown in Fig. 1. In this orifice in the shaft a drainage cock G5 is inserted, which may be opened or closed at pleasure. It will be noted that these orifices 64 are opposite each other only when the valve 42 is in its normal position and the machine inert. The movement of the valve in either direction closes the orifice in the shaft.

At the opposite end of the machine the rotating sleeve 14 is provided with an annular outwardly extending web or flange 66, extending into an annular recess 67 in the outer case S, and its edge projecting into the general exhaust port 68 as shown. The spent steam from the outer chamber A is directed by said flange directly to said exhaust port GS. The spent steam from the inner chamber B passes through the orifices G9 into the chamber 70, and from there is directed, in like manner, by said flange 66 into said exhaust port GS, from which it passes to the condenser, or elsewhere. By thus keeping the two bodies of spent steam from the chambers A and B separated until they pass practically outside of the machine, the liability of the steam from one of the chambers A, B, exerting back pressure upon the blades of the other chamber is practically eliminated.

The steam in passing from one end of the chamber B to the other, exerts considerable parallel force upon the rotating blades, thus tending to produce a strong end thrust upon the sleeve 14. To obviate this end thrust, I provide the said sleeve with the inside shoulders or abutments 71, 72, 73, against which the steam exerts an equal force in the opposite direction. Thus end thrust in either direction is entirely neutralized.

The same principle of neutralizing end thrust is readily applied to the outside of said rotating sleeve 14 in the outer chamber A; but in this case it is necessary as a matter of simplicity and convenience, to mount thrust flanges of proper diameter, at the right hand end of the sleeve 14, inside of the shell or case 8, by which means all end thrust of the sleeve 14 is neutralized when steam is used in the chamber A. It does not seem necessary to here complicate the drawing by illustrating this device fully; the first of these annular thrust flanges, however, is shown at 84, Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 shows a section of the rotating sleeve 14 showing the means of fastening the blades thereto, and Fig. 8 is an enlarged view illustrating the same. The sleeve 14 is provided with shallow grooves 74 extending around its peripheral surface and located at the distance apart which it is desired to place the rings of blades. Orifices 75 are bored, preferably on a bevel, through the shell of said sleeve 14, within the lines of said grooves, at the proper distance apart for the location of the adjacent blades relatively to each other. The blades are provided at their fastening point with a hub 7 6; adapted to be forced securely into position in said orifices 75, and above this hub is an angular extension or enlargement 77 fitting into said groove 74 (see Fig. S). This angular extension serves as a guide, insuring the proper relative position of adjacent blades, and the rapid assembling of the same in proper, accurate position.

I'Vhen the blades are assembled, their 'permanency of position is assured by upsetting the edges of the grooved sections 74 against or upon the hub extensions 77, as shown at 78.

The hub 7 6a is provided with blades 15 and 18a, forming one piece; one blade, 15fL extending inside of the sleeve 14 and the other, 18a, extending outwardly, as shown in Fig. 11. Thus one orifice, 75. serves to secure two blades, an inner and an outer, in position. In the same figure the inner blade 15 is driven or pressed into position from the outside of the sleeve, while the outer blade 18 is provided with a hub beveling in the reverse direction, which is also driven into position in a beveled orifice 75, from the outside.

The sleeve 14 is made in two longitudinal sections for convenience of assembling, and these sections are securely fastened together by bolts passing through the holes 79 in the flanges or lugs 8O forming a part of said sections.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a turbine engine, the combination of a fixed shaft provided with a series of outwardly projecting blades or vanes, a fixed outer case or shell provided with inwardly projecting blades, a sleeve rotatably mounted between said shaft and shell and provided on its exterior with blades arranged to coact with the blades secured to said outer shell, to turn said sleeve in one direction, and on its interior with blades arranged to ccact with the blades secured to said fixed shaft to turn said sleeve in the reverse direction.

2. In a turbine engine, the combination of a fixed central shaft provided with radially extending rings of blades, a fixed outer case or shell, provided with inwardly extending rings of blades, a sleeve supported rotatably between said shaft and shell and provided on its exterior with rings of blades, arranged to co-act with said rings of blades secured to said outer shell, to drive the engine in one direction, and on its interior with rings of blades arranged to co-act with the rings of blades on said fixed shaft, to drive the engine in the reverse direction, and means for admitting steam, or other expansible fluid, to either of the chambers containing said eo-acting rings of blades and for exhausting the steam therefrom.

3. In a turbine engine the combination of a fixed shaft, a fixed outer case or shell, a sleeve supported rotatably between said shaft and shell, and forming independent chambers between said shaft and sleeve and between said sleeve and outer shell, co-acting blades or buckets in the inner chamber' arranged to drive said sleeve in one direction, and co-acting blades or buckets in said outer chamber arranged to drive said sleeve in the reverse direction, and means for admitting steam or other expansible fluid to said inner chamber through said shaft.

4. In a turbine engine the combination of a fixed shaft, a fixed outer case or shell, a sleeve supported rotatably between said shaft and shell, and forming independent chambers between said shaft and sleeve and between said sleeve and outer shell, co-acting blades or buckets in the inner chamber arranged to drive said sleeve in one direction, and co-acting blades or buckets in said outer chamber arranged to drive said sleeve in the reverse direction, means for admitting steam or other expansible fluid to said inner chamber, and means for exhausting the same therefrom through said shaft.

5. In a turbine engine the combination of a fixed shaft, a fixed outer case or shell, a sleeve supported rotatably between said shaft and shell, and forming independent chambers between said shaft and sleeve and between said sleeve and outer shell, co-acting blades or buckets in the inner chamber ar ranged to drive said sleeve in one direction, and co-acting blades or buckets in said outer chamber arranged to drive said sleeve inthe reverse direction, means for admitting steam or other expansible fiuid to said inner chamber, and means for conducting the exhaust steam therefrom to the exhaust pipe from said outer chamber.

6. In a turbine engine, the combination of a central fixed shaft closed at its inner end, and provided with a series of ports through its walls leading to different stages of the blade or bucket chamber, a pressure supply pipe connected to said shaft, a tubular valve movable within said shaft and provided with a series of ports, at intervals, arranged to register with the ports of said shaft, and means for moving said valve to admit working pressure to said blade chamber at a single point or at a plurality of stages in succession.

7. In a turbine engine, the combination 'of a central fixed shaft provided with a longitudinal tubular chamber, and with ports extending from said tubular chamber outwardly, through said shaft, to the inner working or blade chamber, an outer fixed shell or case, a sleeve rotatably supported between said shaft and shell, said sleeve forming, respectively, an inner working chamber between said shaft and sleeve and an outer working chamber between said sleeve and outer shell, co-acting blades arranged in said inner chamber to drive said sleeve in one direction, and co-acting blades in the outer chamber arranged to drive said sleeve in the opposite direction, a supply pipe connected to said outer chamber and to said hollow shaft, a valve arranged to control the supply of working fluid to said inner chamber, a valve arranged to control the supply of working fluid to said outer chamber, and a controlling lever, said valves being connected to said lever, the whole arranged so that steam, or other expansible fluid, may be admitted to either of said chambers independently of the other by the movement of said lever.

S. In a turbine engine, a central shaft provided with a longitudinal tubular chamber having ports opening therefrom to the working or blade chamber, a hollow balanced valve movable longitudinally and arranged to control the admission of steam or expansible fluid through said ports in succession to said working chamber, and means for actuating said valve,

9. In a turbine engine., the con'ibination of a supporting shaft, a sleeve connected therewith and forming a chamber surrounding the same, said chamber being provided with coacting blades or buckets arranged to rotate said sleeve in one direction, a second chamber surrounding the first and provided with coacting blades or buckets arranged to turn said sleeve in the opposite direction, a source of driving fluid supply, valves controlling the admission of' drivingl fluid to said chambers, and a valve lever, the movement of said lever in one direction admitting` driving fluid to one of' said chambers and its movement in the opposite direction serving to admitoperative fluid to the other chamber.

10. In a turbine engine comprising a fixed shaft, a rotor mounted thereon, and coacting blades or buckets between said shaft and rotor for driving the latter, the combination with said rotor of annular abutments formed therein between the entrance and exhaust ports of said engine, said abutments corre` sponding to enlargements on said fixed shaft whereby steam traversing said engine will be caused to react against said abutments, thus tending` to produce an end thrust of said rotor in a direction opposite to that traversed by the steam.

ll. In a turbine engine, the combination of a fixed shaft provided with fixed blades or buckets, a fixed outer case or shell, a rotor cylinder or sleeve supported rotatably7 between said shaft and shell, and forming independent chambers between said shaft and sleeve and between said sleeve and outer case, coacting blades in each of said chambers, the blades in each chamber being arranged to drive the rotor sleeve, on the admission of steam or operative fluid thereto, and means for admitting motive power to either of said chambers independently of the other.

IVILLIAM ROBINSON.

fitnesses HENRY G. FRI'rsoi-IE, I-IowARD FLoRANoE.

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