US3857649A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inlet vane structure for turbines
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1973-08-09
•
Granted: 1974-12-31
•
Expires: 1993-08-09
Abstract
Abstract An improved inlet vane structure for axial flow turbines, comprising a plurality of ceramic vanes extending radially outward from an inner shroud ring and supported at their outer end by a blade ring. The vanes are held in a compressed state by spring mounted within the outer ends of a vane support structure. Tapered vane end caps, which are also constructed of ceramic materials, mate with the vanes and provide additional compressive forces on the vanes when the vanes are loaded due to fluid flow.
Inventors
- 👤 R Schaller
- 👤 S Leshnoff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:56
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01D; F01D9/00; F01D9/02; F01D9/04; F01D9/042; F01D25/00; F01D25/005; F05; F05D; F05D2300/00; F05D2300/20; F05D2300/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
An inlet nozzle for a gas turbine comprising: a radially inner shroud ring, a radially outer shroud ring coaxial with said radially inner shroud ring, a plurality of radially extending ceramic vane structures disposed between said radially inner and said radially outer shroud rings, each of said vanes being secured at one end to said radially inner shroud ring by an inner support structure, each of said vanes being secured at its other end to said radially outer shroud ring by an outer support structure, said inner support structure compRising a ceramic end cap, an insulator pad and an inner shoe plate disposed on said inner shroud ring, said outer support structure comprising a ceramic end cap, an insulator pad, an outer shoe plate and a bias producing means, said outer shoe plate being movable connected to said bias producing means, said bias producing means reacting cooperatively with said outer ring, wherein said bias producing means provides a compressive force directed radially inwardly on each of said ceramic structures, said bias producing means consists of a rod-like plunger cooperatively associated with a spring member to induce a compressive force upon said ceramic structure, said plunger having a hemispherical surface on its inner end to provide a movable interface with respect to said outer shoe which has a mating hemispherical surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
An inlet nozzle for a gas turbine comprising: a radially inner shroud ring, a radially outer shroud ring coaxial with said radially inner shroud ring, a plurality of radially extending ceramic vane structures disposed between said radially inner and said radially outer shroud rings, each of said vanes being secured at one end to said radially inner shroud ring by an inner support structure, each of said vanes being secured at its other end to said radially outer shroud ring by an outer support structure, said inner support structure compRising a ceramic end cap, an insulator pad and an inner shoe plate disposed on said inner shroud ring, said outer support structure comprising a ceramic end cap, an insulator pad, an outer shoe plate and a bias producing means, said outer shoe plate being movable connected to said bias producing means, said bias producing means reacting cooperatively with said outer ring, wherein said bias producing means provides a compressive force directed radially inwardly on each of said ceramic structures, said bias producing means consists of a rod-like plunger cooperatively associated with a spring member to induce a compressive force upon said ceramic structure, said plunger having a hemispherical surface on its inner end to provide a movable interface with respect to said outer shoe which has a mating hemispherical surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
226 words
An inlet nozzle for a gas turbine comprising: a radially inner shroud ring, a radially outer shroud ring coaxial with said radially inner shroud ring, a plurality of radially extending ceramic vane structures disposed between said radially inner and said radially outer shroud rings, each of said vanes being secured at one end to said radially inner shroud ring by an inner support structure, each of said vanes being secured at its other end to said radially outer shroud ring by an outer support structure, said inner structure comprising a ceramic end cap, an insulator pad and an insulator plate disposed on said inner shroud ring, said outer support structure comprising a ceramic end cap, an insulator pad, an outer shoe plate and a bias producing means, said outer shoe plate being movably connected to said bias producing means, said bias producing means reacting cooperatively with said outer ring, wherein said bias producing means provides a compressive force directed radially inwardly on each of said ceramic structures, said end caps having rounded grooves, said end caps having increasing thickness in the downstream direction, said vanes having their inner and outer ends rounded to mate with said rounded grooves in said end caps, to provide additional compressive forces on said ceramic structures due to the fluid load upon said vanes in the direction of elastic fluid flow.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
226 words
An inlet nozzle for a gas turbine comprising: a radially inner shroud ring, a radially outer shroud ring coaxial with said radially inner shroud ring, a plurality of radially extending ceramic vane structures disposed between said radially inner and said radially outer shroud rings, each of said vanes being secured at one end to said radially inner shroud ring by an inner support structure, each of said vanes being secured at its other end to said radially outer shroud ring by an outer support structure, said inner structure comprising a ceramic end cap, an insulator pad and an insulator plate disposed on said inner shroud ring, said outer support structure comprising a ceramic end cap, an insulator pad, an outer shoe plate and a bias producing means, said outer shoe plate being movably connected to said bias producing means, said bias producing means reacting cooperatively with said outer ring, wherein said bias producing means provides a compressive force directed radially inwardly on each of said ceramic structures, said end caps having rounded grooves, said end caps having increasing thickness in the downstream direction, said vanes having their inner and outer ends rounded to mate with said rounded grooves in said end caps, to provide additional compressive forces on said ceramic structures due to the fluid load upon said vanes in the direction of elastic fluid flow.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
171 words
An inlet nozzle for a gas turbine comprising: a radially inner shroud ring, a radially outer shroud ring, a plurality of radially extending ceramic vane structures disposed between said radially inner and said radially outer shroud rings, each of said vanes being secured at one end to said radially inner shroud ring by an inner support structure, each of said vanes being secured at its other end to said radially outer shroud ring by an outer support structure, said inner support structure comprising an inner ceramic end cap, said outer support structure comprising an outer ceramic end cap, said vanes being tapered to decreasing downstream lengthwise dimensions, said vanes having generally rounded ends, said end caps being tapered to increasing downstream radial dimensions, wherein said taper of said end caps matches the taper of said vanes, said end caps having rounded generally axially directed grooves, said rounded ends of said vanes mating with said rounded grooves in said end caps to provide a slight pivotable yet generally compressible supporting relationship therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
171 words
An inlet nozzle for a gas turbine comprising: a radially inner shroud ring, a radially outer shroud ring, a plurality of radially extending ceramic vane structures disposed between said radially inner and said radially outer shroud rings, each of said vanes being secured at one end to said radially inner shroud ring by an inner support structure, each of said vanes being secured at its other end to said radially outer shroud ring by an outer support structure, said inner support structure comprising an inner ceramic end cap, said outer support structure comprising an outer ceramic end cap, said vanes being tapered to decreasing downstream lengthwise dimensions, said vanes having generally rounded ends, said end caps being tapered to increasing downstream radial dimensions, wherein said taper of said end caps matches the taper of said vanes, said end caps having rounded generally axially directed grooves, said rounded ends of said vanes mating with said rounded grooves in said end caps to provide a slight pivotable yet generally compressible supporting relationship therebetween.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE826673C
Cited
FR57426E
Cited
US2801076A
Cited
US3025037A
Cited
DE1136350B
Cited
US3619077A
Cited
US3719427A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-30 | 1978-07-01 | 1978-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-30 | 1982-07-01 | 1982-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-30 | 1986-07-01 | 1986-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |