# US 8,465,254 B2 · Steam turbine half shell joint assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,254 B2 - Document ID: US8465254B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/749,826 - Filed: 2010-03-30 - Published: 2011-10-06 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2010-03-30 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: Thomas William Swart; Jeyaruban Selliah Amirtharajah; Michael Thomas Hamlin - Inventors: Thomas William Swart; Jeyaruban Selliah Amirtharajah; Michael Thomas Hamlin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465254B2 ## CPC - F01D 25/243: {Flange connections; Bolting arrangements (F01D25/265 takes precedence)} - F05D 2220/31: in steam turbines - F16B 33/002: {Means for preventing rotation of screw-threaded elements (F16B39/00 takes precedence)} - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) ## Abstract A joint assembly for a steam turbine includes a threaded stud extending through mating openings in a first flange of the first half shell and in a second flange of the second half shell; a first nut threaded onto a first end of the threaded stud adjacent the first flange; a screw coupling the first nut to the first flange; and a dowel extending between and into the first flange and the first nut so as to bear a substantial portion of a torque load applied to the first nut compared to the screw. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A joint assembly for a first and second half shell of a casing of a turbine, the joint assembly comprising: a threaded stud extending through mating openings in a first flange of the first half shell and in a second flange of the second half shell; a first nut threaded onto a first end of the threaded stud adjacent the first flange; a screw coupling the first nut to the first flange; and a dowel extending between and into the first flange and the first nut so as to bear a substantial portion of a torque load applied to the first nut compared to the screw. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The joint assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second nut threaded onto a second end of the threaded stud adjacent to the second flange. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The joint assembly of claim 1, wherein the screw includes a plurality of screws. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The joint assembly of claim 3, wherein the plurality of screws are circumferentially spaced about the first nut. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The joint assembly of claim 1, wherein the dowel includes a plurality of dowels. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The joint assembly of claim 5, wherein the plurality of dowels are circumferentially spaced about the first nut. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The joint assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second flanges extend substantially horizontally from the first and second half shell, respectively. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The joint assembly of claim 1, wherein the screw extends through a screw opening in the first nut and into the first flange with a first clearance, and the dowel is seated in a dowel-flange opening in the flange and a dowel-nut opening in the first nut with a second clearance that is tighter than the first clearance such that the dowel bears the substantial portion of the torque load applied to the first nut compared to the screw. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The joint assembly of claim 8, further comprising a second nut threaded onto a second end of the threaded stud adjacent to the second flange, wherein the torque load is applied to the second nut and through the threaded stud to the first nut. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The joint assembly of claim 1, wherein the threaded stud includes a bolt head adjacent to the second flange. ### Claim 11 A steam turbine comprising: a plurality of blades coupled to a rotor for turning the rotor under influence of a steam flow; a casing including a first and second half shell coupled together to prevent leakage of the steam flow; and an joint assembly coupling the first and second half shells together, the joint assembly comprising: a threaded stud extending through mating openings in a first flange of the first half shell and in a second flange of the second half shell, a first nut threaded onto a first end of the threaded stud adjacent the first flange, a screw coupling the first nut to the first flange, and a dowel extending between and into the first flange and the first nut so as to bear a substantial portion of a torque load applied to the first nut compared to the screw. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The steam turbine of claim 11, further comprising a second nut threaded onto a second end of the threaded stud adjacent to the second flange. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The steam turbine of claim 11, wherein the screw includes a plurality of screws. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The steam turbine of claim 13, wherein the plurality of screws are circumferentially spaced about the first nut. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The steam turbine of claim 11, wherein the dowel includes a plurality of dowels. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The steam turbine of claim 15, wherein the plurality of dowels are circumferentially spaced about the first nut. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The steam turbine of claim 11, wherein the first and second flanges extend substantially horizontally from the first and second half shell, respectively. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The steam turbine of claim 11, wherein the screw extends through a screw opening in the first nut and into the first flange with a first clearance, and the dowel is seated in a dowel-flange opening in the flange and a dowel-nut opening in the first nut with a second clearance that is tighter than the first clearance such that the dowel bears the substantial portion of the torque load applied to the first nut compared to the screw. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The steam turbine of claim 11, further comprising a second nut threaded onto a second end of the threaded stud adjacent to the second flange, wherein the torque load is applied to the second nut and through the threaded stud to the first nut. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The steam turbine of claim 11, wherein the threaded stud includes a bolt head adjacent to the second flange.