Turbine structure

Claim 2

An axial flow compound turbine for delivering rotational power at a desired rate of rotation that comprises: a. a housing that includes two spaced first and second end walls and a connecting sidewall that cooperate to define a cylindrical confined space; b. a drive shaft journaled in said first and second end walls and extending longitudinally through said housing; c. first means for discharging a stream of fluid under pressure into said confined space whereupon it is subdivided into a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally moving jets; d. at least one first rotor in said confined space rotatably supported on said shaft, said first rotor including a plurality of circumferentially spaced first blades of such configuration as to rotate said first rotor in a first direction at a predetermined high speed of rotation when said jets impinge on said first blades; e. at least one second rotor in said confined space that is mounted on said drive shaft and secured thereto, said second rotor including a plurality of circumferentially spaced second blades of such configuration and so situated as to drive said second rotor in a second direction when said jets impinge thereon after having previously impinged on said first blades; f. gear means operatively associated with said first rotor for transferring the torque developed thereby to said shaft to rotate the latter in said second direction and at a desired rate of rotation that is substantially less than said predetermined high speed at which said first rotor rotates; and g. second means for discharging said fluid from said confined space to a location exteriorly thereof after said fluid has impinged on said first and second blades.

Claim 3

A turbine as defined in claim 1 in which said first means is a circular member disposed at a fixed position in said confined space between said first rotor and said first end wall, said circular member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced passages therein through which said stream of fluid flows as a plurality of jets to impinge on said first blades, and said housing having an opening therein through which said stream of fluid is delivered into the portion of said confined space situated between said first end wall and said circular member.

Claim 4

An axial flow turbine as defined in claim 2 in which said gear member includes: h. a third rotor mounted on said shaft and secured thereto; i. a ring gear supported from said circular member in said confined space; j. a gear secured to said first rotor and transversely aligned with said ring gear; and k. at least one planetary gear rotatably supported from said third rotor and in engagement with said gear and ring gear.

Claim 5

An axial flow turbine as defined in claim 3 that includes two first rotors longitudinally spaced on said shaft and a plurality of said second rotors situated therebetween, and said turbine in addition including: l. a cylindrical shell in said confined space that extends between said first rotors and is secured to the outer circumferential portions thereof; and m. a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades secured to the interior surface of said shell and against which said jets impinge as they flow longitudinally through said housing.

Claim 6

A turbine as defined in claim 1 in which said second means includes: h. a ring gear secured to said second rotor; i. a gear secured to said first rotor and transversely aligned with said ring gear, with said gear having an external diameter substantially less than the internal diameter of said ring gear; and j. at least one planetary gear that occupies a fixed position relative said housing and engages said gear and ring gear.

Claim 7

An axial flow turbine as defined in claim 1 in which said gear means includes: h. a third rotor mounted on said shaft and secured thereto; i. a ring gear secured to Said third rotor; j. a gear secured to said first rotor and transversely aligned with said ring gear; and k. at least one planetary gear rotatably supported from said first rotor and in engagement with said gear and ring gear.

Claim 8

A turbine structure that includes: a. a housing that includes two spaced first and second end walls and connecting sidewall that cooperate to define a cylindrical confined space; b. a drive shaft journaled in said housing and extending through said confined space on the longitudinal axis thereof; c. a first rotor in said confined space rotatable supported on said shaft, adjacent said first end wall, said first rotor including a plurality of circumferentially spaced first blades of such curved configuration as to rotate said first rotor in a first direction when a stream of fluid under pressure impinges on said first blades; d. a second rotor in said confined space that is secured to said drive shaft and is situated between said first rotor and said second end wall, said second rotor including a plurality of circumferentially spaced second blades of such curved configuration as to rotate said second rotor and drive shaft in a second direction opposite from said first direction when said stream of fluid impinges on said second blades; e. first means for discharging a stream of fluid under pressure into said confined space for said fluid to first impinge on said first blades and be deflected from said first blades to impinge on said second blades, with said impingement imparting torque to both said first and second rotors; f. a third rotor in said confined space secured to said drive shaft and disposed between said first rotor and said first end wall; g. gear means in said confined space for rotatably connecting said first rotor to said third rotor to cause concurrent rotation thereof, said gear means serving to transmit torque generated by said first rotor to said third rotor and drive shaft to rotate said drive shaft in said second direction.

Claim 9

A turbine structure that includes: a. a housing that includes two spaced first and second end walls and connecting sidewall that cooperate to define a cylindrical confined space; b. a drive shaft journaled in said housing and extending through said confined space on the longitudinal axis thereof; c. a first rotor in said confined space rotatable supported on said shaft, adjacent said first end wall, said first rotor including a plurality of circumferentially spaced first blades of such curved configuration as to rotate said first rotor in a first direction when a stream of fluid under pressure impinges on said first blades; d. a second rotor in said confined space that is secured to said drive shaft and is situated between said first rotor and said second end wall, said second rotor including a plurality of circumferentially spaced second blades of such curved configuration as to rotate said second rotor and drive shaft in a second direction opposite from said first direction when said stream of fluid impinges on said second blades; e. first means for discharging a stream of fluid under pressure into said confined space for said fluid to first impinge on said first blades and be deflected from said first blades to impinge on said second blades, with said impingement imparting torque to both said first and second rotors; f. a third rotor in said confined space secured to said drive shaft and disposed between said first rotor and said first end wall; g. gear means in said confined space for rotatably connecting said first rotor to said third rotor to cause concurrent rotation thereof, said gear means serving to transmit torque generated by said first rotor to said third rotor and drive shaft to rotate said drive shaft in said second direction.

Claim 10

A turbine structure as defined in claim 7 in which said gear means includes: i. a toothed hub that extends from said first rotor towards said third rotor; j. an internal ring gear that extends from said third rotor towards said first rotor, said hub and ring gear at least partially transversely aligned; k. a plurality of circumferentially spaced stub shafts that extend from said first rotor towards said third rotor an are situated in a spaced defined between said first and third rotors; and l. a plurality of planetary gears rotatably supported on said stub shafts in said space between said first and third rotors, said planetary gears in engagement with said hub and internal ring gear, and said planetary gears, hub and ring gear serving as a gear reduction unit to cause said third rotor and drive shaft to rotate at a speed less than the speed at which said first rotor rotates and in an opposite direction.

Claim 11

A turbine as defined in claim 8 in which said first means is a circular member disposed at a fixed position in said confined space between said third rotor and said first end wall, said circular member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced passages therein through which said stream of fluid flows as a plurality of jets that impinge on said first blades, and said housing having an opening therein through which said stream of fluid is delivered into the portion of said confined space situated between said first end wall and said circular member.

Claim 12

A turbine as defined in claim 9 which in addition includes: h. a bearing supported at substantially the center of said circular member and in which bearing one end of said drive shaft is rotatable supported.

Claim 13

A turbine as defined in claim 10 which in addition includes: i. third means for lubricating said bearing from a source exteriorly of said housing.

Claim 14

An axial flow compound turbine structure that includes: a. a housing that includes twO spaced first and second end walls and a connecting sidewall that cooperate to define a cylindrical confined space; b. first and second longitudinally spaced transverse circular members that occupy fixed positions in said confined space, said first number having a member of circumferentially spaced openings therein that divide a stream of fluid discharged into the portion of said confined space most adjacent said first end wall into a plurality of jets that flow towards said second member, and said second member having at least one opening therein through which said fluid from said confined space may flow through an opening in said housing to the ambient atmosphere; c. a drive shaft in said confined space and axially aligned with the longitudinal axis thereof, said shaft of sufficient length as to project outwardly through a center opening in said second end wall; d. first and second bearings supported from said first and second members, which bearings rotatably support said drive shaft; e. two longitudinally spaced first rotors in said confined space adjacently disposed to said first and second members, each of said first rotors including a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades of such curved configuration as to rotate said first rotor in a first direction when a stream of fluid impinges on said first blades; f. a plurality of second rotors in said confined space that are disposed between said first rotors and secured to said drive shaft, said second rotors including a plurality of circumferentially spaced second blades of such curved configuration as to rotate said second rotors and drive shaft in a second direction opposite said first direction when said jets of fluid impinge on said second blades, said second blades of such dimensions that a longitudinally extending space is defined between each pair thereof; g. a cylindrical shell that extends longitudinally in said confined space and is secured to the outermost portions of said first blades on said first rotors; h. a plurality of rings of circumferentially spaced first blades that are secured to the inner surface of said shell and project into said spaces between said pairs of second blades; i. two longitudinally spaced third rotors connected to opposite ends of said shell, and said third rotors mounted on said shaft and secured to portions thereof adjacent said first and second transverse circular members; and j. gear means in said confined space for rotatably connecting said first rotors to said third rotors to cause concurrent rotation thereof, with said jets as they discharge longitudinally in said confined space alternately impinging on said first and second blades to impart torque to said first rotors and shell to rotate the same as an assembly in said first direction and said second rotors and drive shaft in said second direction, and said gear means cooperating with said first rotors, said shell, and said first blades to transfer torque developed by them as an assembly to said drive shaft to assist in rotating said drive shaft in said second direction.

Claim 15

An axial flow compound turbine structure that includes: a. a housing that includes twO spaced first and second end walls and a connecting sidewall that cooperate to define a cylindrical confined space; b. first and second longitudinally spaced transverse circular members that occupy fixed positions in said confined space, said first number having a member of circumferentially spaced openings therein that divide a stream of fluid discharged into the portion of said confined space most adjacent said first end wall into a plurality of jets that flow towards said second member, and said second member having at least one opening therein through which said fluid from said confined space may flow through an opening in said housing to the ambient atmosphere; c. a drive shaft in said confined space and axially aligned with the longitudinal axis thereof, said shaft of sufficient length as to project outwardly through a center opening in said second end wall; d. first and second bearings supported from said first and second members, which bearings rotatably support said drive shaft; e. two longitudinally spaced first rotors in said confined space adjacently disposed to said first and second members, each of said first rotors including a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades of such curved configuration as to rotate said first rotor in a first direction when a stream of fluid impinges on said first blades; f. a plurality of second rotors in said confined space that are disposed between said first rotors and secured to said drive shaft, said second rotors including a plurality of circumferentially spaced second blades of such curved configuration as to rotate said second rotors and drive shaft in a second direction opposite said first direction when said jets of fluid impinge on said second blades, said second blades of such dimensions that a longitudinally extending space is defined between each pair thereof; g. a cylindrical shell that extends longitudinally in said confined space and is secured to the outermost portions of said first blades on said first rotors; h. a plurality of rings of circumferentially spaced first blades that are secured to the inner surface of said shell and project into said spaces between said pairs of second blades; i. two longitudinally spaced third rotors connected to opposite ends of said shell, and said third rotors mounted on said shaft and secured to portions thereof adjacent said first and second transverse circular members; and j. gear means in said confined space for rotatably connecting said first rotors to said third rotors to cause concurrent rotation thereof, with said jets as they discharge longitudinally in said confined space alternately impinging on said first and second blades to impart torque to said first rotors and shell to rotate the same as an assembly in said first direction and said second rotors and drive shaft in said second direction, and said gear means cooperating with said first rotors, said shell, and said first blades to transfer torque developed by them as an assembly to said drive shaft to assist in rotating said drive shaft in said second direction.

Claim 16

A turbine structure as defined in clam 12 in which said gear means includes: k. two toothed hubs that extend from said first rotors towards said third rotors most adjacent thereto; l. two internal ring gears that extend from said third rotors towards said first rotors most adjacent thereto, said hubs and ring gears at least partially in transverse alignment; m. a plurality of circumferentially spaced stubs shafts that extends from said third rotors towards said first rotors and are situated in spaces defined between said first and second rotors; and n. a plurality of planetary gears rotatably supported on said stub shafts in said spaces between said first and third rotors, said planetary gears in engagement with said hub gears and internal ring gears, and said planetary gears, hubs and ring gears serving as gear reduction units to cause said third rotors and drive shaft to rotate in oPposite directions at a speed less than the speed at which said first rotors rotate.

Claim 17

A turbine structure as defined in clam 12 in which said gear means includes: k. two toothed hubs that extend from said first rotors towards said third rotors most adjacent thereto; l. two internal ring gears that extend from said third rotors towards said first rotors most adjacent thereto, said hubs and ring gears at least partially in transverse alignment; m. a plurality of circumferentially spaced stubs shafts that extends from said third rotors towards said first rotors and are situated in spaces defined between said first and second rotors; and n. a plurality of planetary gears rotatably supported on said stub shafts in said spaces between said first and third rotors, said planetary gears in engagement with said hub gears and internal ring gears, and said planetary gears, hubs and ring gears serving as gear reduction units to cause said third rotors and drive shaft to rotate in oPposite directions at a speed less than the speed at which said first rotors rotate.