Casing support for horizontal-axis casings expanding in operation

A composite support structure for and connected with the casing of a rotary machine operating on a horizontal axis which comprises a pair of vertically extending non-articulated pendulum supports located at opposite sides of said casing, the lower ends of said pendulum supports being secured to a support base and the upper ends to said casing, vertically extending sprung supports also located at opposite sides of said casing for relieving the load imposed by the machine on said pendulum supports, the lower ends of said sprung supports being secured to said support base and the upper ends to said casing, a flexible membrane mounted on said support base and extending horizontally between said pendulum supports beneath said casing, a pin depending from the bottom of said casing in a vertical plane through the axis of said casing and which is secured to said membrane, said pin and membrane acting conjointly to secure said casing against movement in all directions in a horizontal plane but permitting expansion of said casing in a vertical direction relative to said support base, and a metallic sheet structure disposed in a radial plane of said casing and located beneath said casing, the upper end of said metallic sheet structure being secured to the under part of said casing and the lower end being secured to said support base for permitting torsion and/or axial expansion of said casing.