Fluid pressure actuated clutch for starting multi-stage turbine
AssigneeStal-Laval Turbin AB
InventorN. A. Ragnar Torstenfelt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid pressure actuated clutch for connecting concentric, rotatable shafts in a multi-stage turbine includes a plurality of pivoted pawls mounted on one shaft for engagement with a plurality of gear teeth mounted on the other shaft upon rotation of the pawls by selectively actuatable hydraulic pistons. The pawls are spring biased and/or counterweighted to pivot out of engagement with the gear teeth when the other shaft achieves a rotational speed higher than the one shaft. The device is particularly suited for connecting concentric shafts of high and low pressure stages of turbine plants.
Claims4
A clutch apparatus for selectively connecting first and second concentric shafts in a multi-stage turbine, comprising:
- a plurality of pawls pivotally mounted on said first shaft;
- a plurality of gear teeth mounted on said second shaft in position to be engaged by said pawls;
- first fluid pressure actuated means connected to said first shaft for selectively forcing said pawls into engagement with said gear teeth to connect said shafts;
- and
- second resilient means for pivoting said pawls out of engagement with said gear teeth when said first means is depressurized and friction between said pawls and said teeth dissipates as said second shaft rotates faster than said first shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.