# US 8,540,489 B2 · Pelton turbine wheel, method for making same and pelton turbine including such wheel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,489 B2 - Document ID: US8540489B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/739,797 - Filed: 2008-10-29 - Published: 2010-10-07 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2007-10-30 - Assignees: ALSTOM Renewable Technologies - Applicants: Yves Bouvet; Jean-Francois Bertea - Inventors: Yves Bouvet; Jean-Francois Bertea - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540489B2 ## CPC - F03B 1/02: Buckets; Bucket-carrying rotors - F05B 2260/30: Retaining components in desired mutual position - F05B 2260/301: Retaining bolts or nuts - Y02E 10/20: Hydro energy - Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product - Y10T 29/49321: Assembling individual fluid flow interacting members, e.g., blades, vanes, buckets, on rotary support member - F03B: MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS (positive-displacement engines for liquid F03C; machines for liquids and gases F01; positive-displacement machines for liquids F04, rotary fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type F16H41/00) - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The invention relates to a Pelton turbine that comprises a plurality of sub-assemblies arranged about the rotation axis of the wheel and each including a bucket (111) and an anchoring leg (112). At least one blocking pin (13) is provided in a direction (X13) parallel to the rotation axis (X1) of the wheel between two adjacent anchoring legs (112, 112′), wherein said pin is inserted into two housings (1126, 1127) respectively formed in the two anchoring legs (112, 112′). According to the method of the invention, the blocking pin (13) is placed by inserting the same into the two housings (1126, 1127) of two adjacent anchoring legs (112, 112′). The pins are placed into the housings with a clearance, thereby allowing the relative sliding of the anchoring legs (112, 112′) before blocking them with the pins (13). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A Pelton turbine wheel comprising several subassemblies distributed about an axis of rotation of the wheel and each comprising a bucket and an anchoring leg, characterized in that a cylindrical locking pin with a circular section is placed, in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel, between each pair of two adjacent anchoring legs, this pin being engaged simultaneously in two housings arranged respectively in the two anchoring legs and in that the pins are placed in the housings with the possibility of relative movement of the subassemblies under load and of movement of the pins engaged in the housings, until the pins lock the various anchoring legs relative to one another. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The Pelton turbine wheel as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the sides of the two anchoring legs between which the locking pin is placed are not in contact. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The Pelton turbine wheel as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the internal diameter of a cylindrical volume with a circular section formed by a pair of housings arranged in two adjacent anchoring legs is strictly greater than the diameter of the portion of the pin engaged in this volume. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The Pelton turbine wheel as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each anchoring leg is provided, on each of its two sides turned respectively toward the two adjacent anchoring legs, with a housing for partially receiving a locking pin. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The Pelton turbine wheel as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each housing of an anchoring leg is in the shape of a cylinder, with a section corresponding to half of the section of the locking pin that it receives. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The Pelton turbine wheel as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each anchoring leg is provided with at least one heel adapted to come into contact with an annular hoop which surrounds the anchoring legs, under the effect of the centrifugal force resulting from the rotation of the wheel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The Pelton turbine wheel as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the subassemblies are mounted directly on the end of the shaft of the turbine, without the use of a force-absorbing flange. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The Pelton turbine wheel as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the subassemblies are mounted on the end of the shaft of the turbine by means of at least one annular coupling flange. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The Pelton turbine wheel as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the flange is resting against a companion flange on which the anchoring legs are mounted. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The Pelton turbine wheel as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that each anchoring leg is provided with at least one heel adapted to come into contact with an annular hoop which surrounds the anchoring legs, under the effect of the centrifugal force resulting from the rotation of the wheel and in that each anchoring leg is provided with at least one heel adapted to come into contact with an annular hoop which surrounds the anchoring legs, under the effect of the centrifugal force resulting from the rotation of the wheel and the flange or the companion flange forms a hoop capable of receiving the pressure of the heels of the anchoring legs, under the effect of centrifugal force. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The Pelton turbine wheel as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that at least one hoop is placed around the anchoring legs independently of the coupling flange. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A Pelton turbine comprising a wheel as claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 13 A method for mounting a Pelton turbine wheel comprising several subassemblies distributed about an axis of rotation of the wheel and each comprising a bucket and an anchoring leg, characterized in that it comprises steps consisting in: a) mounting the subassemblies onto a circular structure and b) placing, in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel, a locking pin that is cylindrical and has a circular section in two housings arranged respectively in each pair of two adjacent anchoring legs and c) causing the wheel to undergo a rotation under load during which the subassemblies move relative to one another and move the pins engaged in their housings until the pins lock the various anchoring legs relative to one another. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that, during the rotation under load of the wheel, an anchoring leg tends to slide radially toward the axis of rotation, a portion of the surface defining a housing in this leg presses against the pin inserted in this housing and this pin presses against a portion of a surface delimiting a housing in an adjacent anchoring leg.