Nozzle insert for a turbine

Claim 2

A nozzle insert for a turbine said insert having a turbine blade-confronting surface, a working fluid passageway extending through said insert, an inlet and an exit to said passageway, said exit being a rectangular opening in said turbine blade-confronting surface, said passageway having an arcuate section adjacent said inlet and a rectilinear section adjacent said centre line through the rectilinear section of the passageway making an acute angle with said turbineblade confronting surface.

Claim 3

A nozzle insert as set forth in claim 1 wherein the inlet of the passageway comprises a throat of circular cross section, the cross sectional shape of the passageway changing progressively and smoothly from circular to rectangular at said turbine blade confronting surface.

Claim 4

A nozzle insert as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cross section of the passsageway is rectangular throughout, the shape of the rectangle making a smooth transition between the inlet and exit of the passageway.

Claim 5

A nozzle insert as set forth in claim 1 which is formed in a single piece.

Claim 6

A nozzle insert as set forth in claim 1 which additionally comprises a passageway for introducing working fluid into said inlet said passageway being formed integrally with the insert.

Claim 7

A nozzle insert as set forth in claim 1 which additionally comprises a passageway for introducing working fluid into said inlet, said passageway being formed integrally with the insert and being generally frusto-conically shaped, the walls of the passageway being inwardly domed to assist the flow of working fluid into said inlet.

Claim 8

A nozzle insert as set forth in claim 1 including means for enabling the insert to be adjustably mounted in a nozzle ring.

Claim 9

A turbine comprising a casing within which a rotor carrying a plurality of angularly spaced rotor blades is rotatably received, means removably mounting a plurality of nozzle inserts in said casing each insert being arranged, in use, to direct working fluid at said rotor blades to thereby rotate said rotor, each insert having a working fluid passageway extending therethrough and forming a rectangular exit in a turbine blade-confronting surface of the insert, said passageway having an arcuate section adjacent an inlet of the passageway and a rectilinear section adjacent the exit from the passageway, a centre line through the rectilinear section of the passageway making an acute angle with said turbine blade-confronting surface.

Claim 10

A turbine comprising a casing within which a rotor carrying a plurality of angularly spaced rotor blades is rotatably received, means removably mounting a plurality of nozzle inserts in said casing each insert being arranged, in use, to direct working fluid at said rotor blades to thereby rotate said rotor, each insert having a working fluid passageway extending therethrough and forming a rectangular exit in a turbine blade-confronting surface of the insert, said passageway having an arcuate section adjacent an inlet of the passageway and a rectilinear section adjacent the exit from the passageway, a centre line through the rectilinear section of the passageway making an acute angle with said turbine blade-confronting surface.

Claim 11

A turbine as set forth in claim 8 wherein the means removably mounting the inserts comprises a nozzle ring or ring-like assembly which is received in the turbine casing intermediate the ends thereof.

Claim 12

A turbine as set forth in claim 8 wherein the means removably mounting the inserts comprises a nozzle ring or ring-like assembly which is received in the turbine casing intermediate the ends thereof, a plurality of counterbored bores in said nozzle ring or ring-like assembly each of which removably and adjustably receives a nozzle insert, and clamping means for clamping said inserts in said ring or ring-like assembly.

Claim 13

In a turbine comprising a casing, a turbine rotor rotatably received in said casing, a plurality of angularly spaced rotor blades mounted on said rotor, a plurality of nozzle inserts each nozzle insert being operative to direct working fluid at said rotor blades to thereby rotate said rotor each insert having a turbine blade confronting surface a working fluid passageway extending through each said insert, an inlet and an exit to said passageway, said exit being a rectangular opening in said turbine blade confronting surface, said passageway having a first, arcuate section adjacent said inlet and a second, rectilinear section adjacent said exit, a centre line through the rectilinear section of the passageway making an acute angle with said turbine blade confronting surface, means removably mounting the inserts in said casing, said means comprising a nozzle ring or ring-like assembly which is received intermediate the ends of the turbine casing a plurality of counterbored bores in said nozzle ring or ring-like assembly each of which removably and adjustably receives a nozzle insert, clamping means for clamping said inserts in said ring or ring-like assembly with said inserts arranged in overlapping relationship.

Claim 14

In a turbine comprising a casing, a turbine rotor rotatably received in said casing, a plurality of angularly spaced rotor blades mounted on said rotor, a plurality of nozzle inserts each nozzle insert being operative to direct working fluid at said rotor blades to thereby rotate said rotor each insert having a turbine blade confronting surface a working fluid passageway extending through each said insert, an inlet and an exit to said passageway, said exit being a rectangular opening in said turbine blade confronting surface, said passageway having a first, arcuate section adjacent said inlet and a second, rectilinear section adjacent said exit, a centre line through the rectilinear section of the passageway making an acute angle with said turbine blade confronting surface, means removably mounting the inserts in said casing, said means comprising a nozzle ring or ring-like assembly which is received intermediate the ends of the turbine casing a plurality of counterbored bores in said nozzle ring or ring-like assembly each of which removably and adjustably receives a nozzle insert, clamping means for clamping said inserts in said ring or ring-like assembly with said inserts arranged in overlapping relationship.

Claim 15

A turbine as set forth in claim 11 wherein each insert has an arm which is received in a recess of an adjacent insert taken in one circumferential direction of the nozzle ring or ring-like assembly and a recess in which is received the arm of an adjacent insert taken in the other circumferential direction.

Claim 16

A turbine as set forth in claim 11 wherein the clamping means comprises an annular ring which is clamped removably to a turbine confronting face of the nozzle ring or ring-like assembly.

Claim 17

A turbine as set forth in claim 11 wherein the nozzle ring or ring-like assembly is counterbored in a face remote from the turbine blade confronting face thereof, the body of the insert being passed through the bore during assembly and a flanged end of the insert being received in said counterbore.