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US3856432A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Self-governing turbine speed limiter

Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1973-09-27
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Granted: 1974-12-24
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Expires: 1993-09-27
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Abstract

Abstract A turbine speed limiter is inserted in the central portion of a turbine rotor for limiting the turbine speed at a predetermined RPM. The limiter consists of six leaves, which are folded around a conical hub at the center of the rotor. When a predetermined rotational speed of the rotor is acheived, centrifugal forces will cause the leaves to unfold and block the entrance channels of adjacently positioned turbine blades. If the leaves are fabricated from a resilient material, they will fold back toward the hub when the turbine rotor slows down.

Inventors

  • 👤 C Campagnuolo
  • 👤 P Curto

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 16:00
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01D; F01D21/00; F01D21/02; F01D7/00; F01D7/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 149 words
In a turbine rotor having a support plate mounting turbine blades around the periphery, a speed limiting device comprising: a hub centrally mounted on the support plate; movable means movably connected to the hub, the movable means having a first position whereat they overlay the hub to remain in non-interferring relationship with air flow through passageways between blades, the movable means responding to centrifugal force acting thereon when a predetermined rotational speed of the rotor is exceeded, said response resulting in movement of the movable means for the blockage of at least one of the passageways; whereby an increase of turbine rotor speed is averted; and wherein the hub is a conical member having the twofold function of serving as a retainer for the movable means as well as spilling flow of a high inlet ram velocity over the blades when the movable means move to the blockage position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 149 words
In a turbine rotor having a support plate mounting turbine blades around the periphery, a speed limiting device comprising: a hub centrally mounted on the support plate; movable means movably connected to the hub, the movable means having a first position whereat they overlay the hub to remain in non-interferring relationship with air flow through passageways between blades, the movable means responding to centrifugal force acting thereon when a predetermined rotational speed of the rotor is exceeded, said response resulting in movement of the movable means for the blockage of at least one of the passageways; whereby an increase of turbine rotor speed is averted; and wherein the hub is a conical member having the twofold function of serving as a retainer for the movable means as well as spilling flow of a high inlet ram velocity over the blades when the movable means move to the blockage position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 144 words
In a turbine rotor having a support plate mounting turbine blades around the periphery, a speed limiting device comprising: a hub centrally mounted on the support plate; and movable means movably connected to the hub, the movable means having a first position whereat they overlay the hub to remain in non-interferring relationship with air flow through passageways between blades, the movable means responding to centrifugal force acting thereon when a predetermined rotational speed of the rotor is exceeded, said response resulting in movement of the movable means for the blockage of at least one of the passageways; whereby an increase of turbine rotor speed is averted; and wherein the movable means comprises at least one leaf having a surface conforming to the shape of the hub for maintaining the leaf in juxtaposition with the hub when the rotor speed is below the predetermined speed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 144 words
In a turbine rotor having a support plate mounting turbine blades around the periphery, a speed limiting device comprising: a hub centrally mounted on the support plate; and movable means movably connected to the hub, the movable means having a first position whereat they overlay the hub to remain in non-interferring relationship with air flow through passageways between blades, the movable means responding to centrifugal force acting thereon when a predetermined rotational speed of the rotor is exceeded, said response resulting in movement of the movable means for the blockage of at least one of the passageways; whereby an increase of turbine rotor speed is averted; and wherein the movable means comprises at least one leaf having a surface conforming to the shape of the hub for maintaining the leaf in juxtaposition with the hub when the rotor speed is below the predetermined speed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 44 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein the movable means comprises at least one leaf having a surface conforming to the shape of the hub for maintaining the leaf in juxtaposition with the hub when the rotor speed is below the predetermined speed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 56 words
The subject matter defined in claim 1 wherein the movable means comprises a plurality of individual leaves articulating from a central body mounted to the hub, each leaf having a curvature conforming to the shape of the hub for maintaining the leaf in juxtaposition with the hub when the rotor speed is below the predetermined speed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 36 words
The structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein the length of each leaf is sufficient to extend radially outward, when the predetermined speed is exceeded, to block the radially inward entrance of a corresponding passageway.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
The subject matter as recited in claim 5 wherein the number of leaves is equal to one half the number of turbine blades.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 47 words
The subject matter of claim 4 wherein each leaf is so fabricated to cause unfolding of each leaf to a blockage position when the rotor speed exceeds the predetermined speed, the leaf remaining in the unfolded position even after the rotor speed decreases below the predetermined speed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 52 words
The subject matter of claim 4 wherein each leaf is fabricated from a resilient material to permit the unfolding of each leaf to a blockage position when the predetermined speed is exceeded, and to permit the refolding of each leaf onto the hub when the rotor speed falls below the predetermined speed.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DE280189C Cited
US223005A Cited
DE338436C Cited
US1090016A Cited
US2382108A Cited
US2418012A Cited
US2370600A Cited
US2442783A Cited
FR1142112A Cited
US3228475A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-12-23 1978-06-24 1978-12-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-12-23 1982-06-24 1982-12-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-12-23 1986-06-24 1986-12-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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