US 4,453,887 AGranted

Vibration-dampened discharge ring for bulb hydraulic turbines

AssigneeAllis-Chalmers Corporation

InventorThomas R. Schucker

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Abstract

A discharge ring for a hydraulic turbine is disclosed for reducing noise and vibration emanating from the discharge ring. The discharge ring comprises an inner and outer ring separated by spacer ribs. A plurality of cavities within the ring are provided, filled with a massive granular material such as sand. Removable plates along the outer ring permit filling and emptying the cavities to reduce the weight of the ring and facilitate removal of the ring for inspection and maintenance.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A discharge ring for a hydraulic turbine having a rotary runner hub with a generally horizontal axis of rotation;

a plurality of turbine blades extending radially from said runner;
said discharge ring having a generally cylindrical inner ring surrounding said turbine blades with said inner ring defining a hydraulic passageway for guiding water past said turbine blades;
the improvement comprising:
a. a generally cylindrical outer ring of greater diameter than said inner ring and surrounding said inner ring;
said outer ring being radially spaced from said inner ring and supported by a plurality of longitudinal and circumferential spacer ribs mounted on and projecting radially from said inner ring;
b. said outer ring, inner ring and spacer ribs cooperating to define a plurality of cavities including highest elevation cavities and lowest elevation cavities within said discharge ring;
vibration attenuation means comprising granular material within said cavities;
c. means formed within a plurality of said spacer ribs permitting gravity flow material communication between said cavities;
d. means for exposing highest elevation cavities comprising a fill plate sized to cover only said highest elevation cavities and means to removably secure said fill plate to said outer ring to complete said outer ring to cover said highest elevation cavities;
and
e. means for exposing said lowest elevation cavities comprising a discharge plate sized to cover said lowest elevation cavities and means to removably secure said discharge plate to said outer ring to complete said outer ring to cover said lowest elevation cavities whereby said highest elevation cavities may be exposed and said lowest elevation cavities unexposed to permit filling the cavities with said material by admitting said material to said highest elevation cavities with said material flowing by means of gravity to the cavities to increase the mass of said ring and abate vibration of said ring and said material may be discharged from said ring by exposing said lowest elevation cavities to decrease the weight of said ring and facilitate removal and maintenance of said ring.

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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A discharge ring for a hydraulic turbine having a rotary runner hub with a generally horizontal axis of rotation;

a plurality of turbine blades extending radially from said runner;
said discharge ring having a generally cylindrical inner ring surrounding said turbine blades with said inner ring defining a hydraulic passageway for guiding water past said turbine blades;
the improvement comprising:
a. a generally cylindrical outer ring of greater diameter than said inner ring and surrounding said inner ring;
said outer ring being radially spaced from said inner ring and supported by a plurality of longitudinal and circumferential spacer ribs mounted on and projecting radially from said inner ring;
b. said outer ring, inner ring and spacer ribs cooperating to define a plurality of cavities including highest elevation cavities and lowest elevation cavities within said discharge ring;
vibration attenuation means comprising granular material within said cavities;
c. means formed within a plurality of said spacer ribs permitting gravity flow material communication between said cavities;
d. means for exposing highest elevation cavities comprising a fill plate sized to cover only said highest elevation cavities and means to removably secure said fill plate to said outer ring to complete said outer ring to cover said highest elevation cavities;
and
e. means for exposing said lowest elevation cavities comprising a discharge plate sized to cover said lowest elevation cavities and means to removably secure said discharge plate to said outer ring to complete said outer ring to cover said lowest elevation cavities whereby said highest elevation cavities may be exposed and said lowest elevation cavities unexposed to permit filling the cavities with said material by admitting said material to said highest elevation cavities with said material flowing by means of gravity to the cavities to increase the mass of said ring and abate vibration of said ring and said material may be discharged from said ring by exposing said lowest elevation cavities to decrease the weight of said ring and facilitate removal and maintenance of said ring.

8 more elements