US 4,903,537 AGranted

Rotor shaft turning apparatus

OwnerHarry H. Bahrenburginventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Apparatus and method for periodic rotation of the rotor assembly of a turbogenerator during the time that it is not rotated in its normal manner for generating power, in which a continuously operating motor is periodically connected through an electrically controllable, torque-speed, clutch mechanism and a gear train to a gear mounted on the rotor shaft so as to rotate the shaft by 180.degree. at a slow speed. The position of the rotor is measured by electrically counting the teeth of the gear on the rotor shaft, and the count of teeth is compared with a preset number in a counter which after the count set in the counter is reached, disconnects the motor from the rotor gear and sets a brake. A settable timer periodically releases the brake and connects the motor to the rotor gear. The apparatus can include a recorder for recording rotation of the shaft and an alarm for indicating failure of rotation of the rotor when the timer provides a start signal.

Claims11

Dependent claims

Apparatus for the rotation of a rotatable shaft at spaced intervals of time between two predetermined angular positions thereof, said apparatus comprising:

a gear connected to said shaft for rotation of said shaft;
a drive motor;
driving means interconnecting said motor and said gear for driving said gear and rotating said shaft by said motor, said driving means including an electrically operable clutch means for alternately connecting said motor to said gear and causing driving of said gear by said motor and discontinuing the driving of said gear by said motor;
rotation sensing means for measuring the rotation of said shaft from a first said position in which it is stationary to a second said position;
settable means connected to said position sensing means and to said clutch means for discontinuing the rotation of said shaft by said motor upon the measurement of rotation of said shaft by said settable means by an amount set by said settable means;
and
timing means connected to said clutch means for connecting said motor to said gear and causing rotation of said gear and said shaft from said first position.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.