Diaphragm screw support for and method of supporting a turbine diaphragm

A support system for diaphragms of a turbine, comprising:

• upper and lower diaphragms secured to one another along a horizontal midline;
• a turbine housing including upper and lower outer shells for securement to one another along a midline and in surrounding relation to said diaphragms;
• supports cooperable between said lower diaphragm and said lower shell adjacent the midlines of the shells and diaphragms, respectively, for supporting the diaphragms within said housing;
• each said support includes a set screw adjustable to provide a predetermined clearance between the set screw and a portion of the upper shell, enabling generally vertical joint movement of the upper and lower diaphragms relative to the surrounding housing, said set screw being engageable with the upper shell portion upon upward displacement of said upper and lower diaphragms within said housing to limit displacement thereof to said clearance, said clearance lying between the set screw and a horizontal midline joint face along the upper shell.

A support system for diaphragms of a turbine, comprising:

• upper and lower diaphragms secured to one another along a horizontal midline;
• a turbine housing including upper and lower outer shells for securement to one another along a midline and in surrounding relation to said diaphragms;
• supports cooperable between said lower diaphragm and said lower shell adjacent the midlines of the shells and diaphragms, respectively, for supporting the diaphragms within said housing;
• each said support includes a set screw adjustable to provide a predetermined clearance between the set screw and a portion of the upper shell, enabling generally vertical joint movement of the upper and lower diaphragms relative to the surrounding housing, said set screw being engageable with the upper shell portion upon upward displacement of said upper and lower diaphragms within said housing to limit displacement thereof to said clearance, each said support including a projection from said lower diaphragm along opposite sides thereof and having a threaded bore for receiving said set screw.

A support system for diaphragms of a turbine, comprising:

• upper and lower diaphragms secured to one another along a horizontal midline;
• a turbine housing including upper and lower outer shells for securement to one another along a midline and in surrounding relation to said diaphragms;
• supports cooperable between said lower diaphragm and said lower shell adjacent the midlines of the shells and diaphragms, respectively, for supporting the diaphragms within said housing;
• each said support includes a set screw adjustable to provide a predetermined clearance between the set screw and a portion of the upper shell, enabling generally vertical joint movement of the upper and lower diaphragms relative to the surrounding housing, said set screw being engageable with the upper shell portion upon upward displacement of said upper and lower diaphragms within said housing to limit displacement thereof to said clearance, said supports including support screws threaded into opposite sides, respectively, of said lower diaphragm and projecting therefrom into a slot formed in the lower shell, each said support screw having a threaded head in said slot for threadedly receiving said set screw, enabling one end of said screw for support on a base of said slot and an opposite end thereof spaced from said upper shell portion.

A method of supporting upper and lower diaphragms joined one to the other adjacent a horizontal midline joint and disposed within a housing having upper and lower shells surrounding said diaphragms and joined to one another adjacent a horizontal midline, comprising the steps of:

• supporting the upper and lower diaphragms from supports projecting outwardly along opposite sides of the lower diaphragm and engaging the lower shell;
• and
• limiting upward displacement of the upper and lower diaphragms within the housing by spacing an element carried by said lower diaphragm a predetermined clearance from a stop carried by said upper shell;
• the step of supporting including threading a support screw into opposite sides of the lower diaphragm and providing a set screw cooperable with said lower diaphragm and said lower shell for supporting said shell.