US 5,149,141 AGranted

Internally-located rotating union for a motor-generator set

AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.

InventorBrian L. Newhouse

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Abstract

A motor-generator set, which has a rotatable central shaft, AC and DC rotors tandemly-arranged along the shaft for rotation therewith and a liquid coolant flow path defined through the shaft and rotors, includes rotating unions mounted internally of the shaft within first and second axial bores defined in opposite ends thereof. Liquid coolant enters the axial bore at one end of the shaft and exits the axial bore at the opposite end of the shaft via the internally-located rotating unions. The rotating unions each includes features for collecting leakage of residual amounts of fluid from the bores past the unions, and fluid transmission coupling features being mounted respectively to the rotating unions for attachment to transmission lines for supplying and discharging fluid to and from the unions.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A rotating union for use in transmitting a pressurized fluid from a stationary source to a passageway defined in a rotating shaft having an annular-shaped end section defining an open axial bore communicating with the passageway, said rotating union comprising:

(a) a tubular housing disposable within the bore in the shaft end section and having a hollow interior and axially-displaced inner and outer ends;
(b) means for mounting said housing within the bore in the shaft end section for rotation with the rotating shaft and so as to define an open annular gap between the shaft end section and said housing;
(c) a tubular pipe disposed in said hollow interior of said housing and having axially-displaced inner and outer ends, said pipe having a central channel defined therethrough;
(d) means mounted to said outer end of said pipe for coupling a fluid transmission means, being connected to the stationary fluid source, to said pipe outer end for supplying fluid through said channel of said pipe to the passageway of the shaft;
(e) means disposed between, and displaced from said inner ends of, said housing and pipe and rotatably mounting said pipe within said housing so as to define a space between said pipe and housing extending at least from said pipe-mounting means to said inner ends of said housing and pipe and to permit rotation of said housing relative to said pipe when said housing is mounted within the bore in the shaft end section and is rotating with the rotating shaft;
(f) means spaced axially inwardly from said pipe mounting means and being disposed between and adjacent to said inner ends of said housing and pipe for effecting a seal therebetween which, except for leakage of only a residual amount of fluid past said seal and into a portion of said space extending axially between said pipe mounting means and said seal-effecting means, prevents any substantial backflow of fluid past said seal from the passageway of the shaft;
(g) means defined through said housing for providing fluid communication between said space and said gap in order to allow the flow of said fluid leakage from said space to said gap;
and
(h) means mounted on said coupling means and defining a fluid leakage collection chamber in fluid communication with said gap for receiving flow of fluid leakage therefrom.

6 more elements

In a motor-generator set, the combination comprising:

(a) a rotatable central shaft;
(b) AC and DC rotors tandemly-arranged along the shaft for rotation therewith;
(c) means defining a liquid coolant flow path through the shaft and rotors including open axial bores defined in opposite ends of said shaft;
(d) rotating unions mounted internally of said shaft within said axial bores in said opposite ends thereof such that the liquid coolant can enter the one axial bore at one of said opposite ends of said shaft and exit the other axial bore at the other of said opposite ends of said shaft via said internally-located rotating unions, said rotating unions each including means for collecting leakage of residual amounts of fluid from said bores past said unions;
and
(e) fluid transmission coupling means being mounted respectively to said rotating unions for attachment to transmission lines for supplying and discharging fluid to and from said unions.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

(a) a tubular housing disposable within the bore in the shaft end section and having a hollow interior and axially-displaced inner and outer ends;
(b) means for mounting said housing within the bore in the shaft end section for rotation with the rotating shaft and so as to define an open annular gap between the shaft end section and said housing;
(c) a tubular pipe disposed in said hollow interior of said housing and having axially-displaced inner and outer ends, said pipe having a central channel defined therethrough;
(d) means mounted to said outer end of said pipe for coupling a fluid transmission means, being connected to the stationary fluid source, to said pipe outer end for supplying fluid through said channel of said pipe to the passageway of the shaft;
(e) means disposed between, and displaced from said inner ends of, said housing and pipe and rotatably mounting said pipe within said housing so as to define a space between said pipe and housing extending at least from said pipe-mounting means to said inner ends of said housing and pipe and to permit rotation of said housing relative to said pipe when said housing is mounted within the bore in the shaft end section and is rotating with the rotating shaft;
(f) means spaced axially inwardly from said pipe mounting means and being disposed between and adjacent to said inner ends of said housing and pipe for effecting a seal therebetween which, except for leakage of only a residual amount of fluid past said seal and into a portion of said space extending axially between said pipe mounting means and said seal-effecting means, prevents any substantial backflow of fluid past said seal from the passageway of the shaft;
(g) means defined through said housing for providing fluid communication between said space and said gap in order to allow the flow of said fluid leakage from said space to said gap;
and
(h) means mounted on said coupling means and defining a fluid leakage collection chamber in fluid communication with said gap for receiving flow of fluid leakage therefrom.

6 more elements