Rotary kinetic fluid motors or pumps – Working fluid passage or distributing means associated with... – Casing with mounting means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-10
2001-06-12
Look, Edward K. (Department: 3745)
Rotary kinetic fluid motors or pumps
Working fluid passage or distributing means associated with...
Casing with mounting means
C415S214100, C415S220000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244819
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a fluid driven machine and, more particularly, to an adjustable supporting assembly for flowpath components in a machine, such as a turbine, and a method thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a turbine, alignment of stationary flowpath components with respect to rotating flowpath components, such as a shaft or rotor wheel, is crucial. Typically, some spacing must be provided between the stationary and rotating flowpath components. If the alignment is off, then the spacing between the stationary and rotating flowpath components may be to large or to small. If the spacing is to large, then there may be to much leakage of a motive fluid, such as steam, between the stationary and rotating flowpath components and thus a decrease in overall efficiency of the turbine. If the spacing is to small, then the stationary flowpath components may rub against the rotating flowpath components damaging the turbine.
Transient temperature differentials typically experienced by the turbine during normal operations make it difficult to properly align and space the stationary flowpath components with respect to the rotating flowpath components. When stationary flowpath components lose alignment with the rotating flowpath components the efficiency of the turbine is decreased and/or the turbine may be damaged.
One technique for supporting and centering stationary flowpath components with respect to the rotating shaft involves the use a pair of lug arrangements for the upper half of a diaphragm and another pair of lug arrangements for the lower half of the diaphragm. One example of such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,247,423 to Webster which is herein incorporated by reference. With this technique, proper centering of the diaphragm requires that the diaphragm's center coincide with the center or axis of the casing which means that the face of the lower half of the diaphragm be located in a plane through the joint or dividing plane between the casing halves. Lug arrangements on opposite sides of the lower half of the diaphragm are used to achieve this and hold the diaphragm in place in the lower half of the casing. Similarly, lug arrangements on opposite sides of the upper half of the diaphragm are used to locate the face of the upper half of the diaphragm in a plane through the joint or dividing plane between the casing halves. Additionally, the lower half of the diaphragm is centered horizontally in the lower casing half by a vertical pin secured in a groove in the bottom portion of the lower casing half and slidably projecting into a vertical bore in the lower half of the diaphragm.
Unfortunately, this technique has some problems. For example, when this technique is used, proper sealing at the split line between halves of the diaphragm is difficult because the lug arrangements are concerned with centering the lower and upper halves of the diaphragm with the face at the split line for the lower and upper casing halves, respectively, and not with forming a tight seal between the diaphragm halves. Additionally, with this technique the diaphragm halves are not properly aligned because they are aligned with respect to the casing, not the shaft.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An adjustable supporting assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention in a fluid driven machine with a rotating shaft includes a housing having a chamber with an inner surface, a stationary flowpath component comprising at least first and second portions, and at least one supporting structure. The stationary flowpath component extends around and radially outward from the shaft to an outer surface. The stationary flowpath component is also disposed within the chamber with the outer surface of the stationary flowpath component adjacent to the inner surface of the housing. The supporting structure supports the first portion of the stationary flowpath component in a first position and is adjustable to other positions. The supporting structure also secures the first and second portions of the stationary flowpath component together.
An adjustable support in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention in a fluid driven machine with a rotating shaft includes a housing having a chamber with an inner surface, a stationary flowpath component comprising at least first and second portions, and at least one supporting structure. The stationary flowpath component extends around and radially outward from the shaft to an outer surface and is disposed within the chamber with the outer surface of the stationary flowpath component adjacent to the inner surface of the housing. The supporting structure extends through a first passage in the first portion of the stationary flowpath component, past a split line separating the first and second portions of the stationary flowpath component, and into a second passage in the second portion of the stationary flowpath component. The supporting structure adjusts the position of at least the first portion of the stationary flowpath component with respect to the shaft and the inner surface of the housing.
An adjustable support in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention in a fluid driven machine with a rotating shaft includes a housing having a chamber with an inner surface, a stationary flowpath component comprising at least first and second portions, at least one supporting structure, and a pin and a notch shaped to mate with the pin. The stationary flowpath component extends around and radially outward from the shaft to an outer surface and is disposed within the chamber with the outer surface of the stationary flowpath component adjacent to the inner surface of the housing The supporting structure is adjustable to alter a position of at least the first portion of the stationary flowpath component with respect to the shaft and the inner surface of the housing. The pin and the notch are located along the inner surface of the housing and the outer surface of the first portion of the stationary flowpath component. A first clearance is defined along at least one side of the pin.
A method for adjusting components in a chamber of a housing of a fluid driven machine, the housing having a shaft which rotates about a first axis and is located at least partially within the chamber in accordance with another embodiment of the invention includes a few steps. First, a position of a first portion of a stationary flowpath component with respect to the shaft in the chamber is adjusted with at least one supporting structure. Next, a second portion of the stationary flowpath component is secured to the first portion of the stationary flowpath component with the supporting structure.
With the present invention, the apparatus and method for aligning the halves of the stationary flowpath components with respect to the rotating shaft is simplified. Instead of using arrangements which separately adjusted the upper and lower halves of the stationary flowpath components, the present invention uses one arrangement to align both the upper and lower halves of the stationary flowpath component. As a result, the present invention is simpler and quicker to use because only one arrangement needs to be adjusted to align both halves. The simpler design also helps to reduce the overall cost of the alignment mechanism when compared to prior systems.
The present invention also provides a tighter seal between the upper and lower halves of the stationary flowpath components which helps to reduce or eliminate leakage between the halves of the stationary flowpath component and thus increase the overall efficiency of the machine. This tighter seal is accomplished by securing the upper and lower halves of the stationary flowpath component together with the same structure which is used to align the lower half (and thus also the upper half) of the stationary flowpath component.
Additionally, with the present invention the assembly and disassembly of the machine is also much easier and is less likely to result in damage to the stati
Dresser-Rand Company
Haynes and Boone LLP
Look Edward K.
Nguyen Ninh
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