Reversible two-stage hydraulic machine

Claim 2

A reversible two-stage hydraulic machine having a rotary shaft operable to rotate about an axis of rotation in both a clockwise and counterclockwise direction, the improvements comprising: a first-stage hydraulic machine runner affixed to said shaft for rotation therewith; said runner having a plurality of runner blades cooperating to define a plurality of fluid passages through said runner; each of said passages having a radial opening which opens along a plane perpendicular to said shaft and an axial opening parallel to said shaft; a second-stage hydraulic machine runner affixed to said shaft for rotation therewith; said runner having a plurality of runner blades cooperating to define a plurality of fluid passages through said runner; each of said passages having a radial opening which opens along a plane perpendicular to said shaft and an axial opening parallel to said shaft; said axial openings of said second-stage runner facing said axial openings of said first-stage runner in fluid flow communication; means for connecting said radial openings of said first-stage runner in fluid flow communication with an upper water reservoir; and, means for connecting said radial openings of said second-stage runner in fluid flow communication with a lower water reservoir at an elevation below said upper reservoir.

Claim 3

A reversible two-stage hydraulic machine having a rotary shaft operable to rotate about an axis of rotation in both a clockwise and counterclockwise direction comprising: a first-stage runner affixed to said shaft for rotation therewith; said runner having a plurality of runner blades cooperating to define a plurality of fluid passages through said runner; each of said passages having a radial opening which opens along a plane perpendicular to said shaft and an axial opening parallel to said shaft; a second-stage runner affixed to said shaft for rotation therewith; said runner having a plurality of runner blades cooperating to define a plurality of fluid passages through said runner; each of said passages having a radial opening which opens along a plane perpendicular to said shaft and an axial opening parallel to said shaft; said axial openings of said second-stage runner facing said axial openings of said first-stage runner in fluid flow communication; means for connecting said radial openings of said first-stage runner in fluid flow communication with an upper reservoir; means for connecting said radial openings of said second-stage runner in fluid flow communication with a lower reservoir at an elevation below said upper reservoir; first means for directing fluid to approach and depart said radial openings of said first-stage runner in a spiral path about said shaft with a rotational direction in common with the rotational direction of said shaft; and, second means for directing fluid to approach and depart said radial openings of said second-stage runner in a spiral path about said shaft with a rotational direction opposite the rotational direction of said shaft.

Claim 4

A reversible two-stage hydraulic machine having a rotary shaft operable to rotate about an axis of rotation in both a clockwise and counterclockwise direction comprising: a first-stage runner affixed to said shaft for rotation therewith; said runner having a plurality of runner blades cooperating to define a plurality of fluid passages through said runner; each of said passages having a radial opening which opens along a plane perpendicular to said shaft and an axial opening parallel to said shaft; a second-stage runner affixed to said shaft for rotation therewith; said runner having a plurality of runner blades cooperating to define a plurality of fluid passages through said runner; each of said passages having a radial opening which opens along a plane perpendicular to said shaft and an axial opening parallel to said shaft; said axial openings of said second-stage runner facing said axial openings of said first-stage runner in fluid flow communication; means for connecting said radial openings of said first-stage runner in fluid flow communication with an upper reservoir; means for connecting said radial openings of said second-stage runner in fluid flow communication with a lower reservoir at an elevation below said upper reservoir; first means for directing fluid to approach and depart said radial openings of said first-stage runner in a spiral path about said shaft with a rotational direction in common with the rotational direction of said shaft; and, second means for directing fluid to approach and depart said radial openings of said second-stage runner in a spiral path about said shaft with a rotational direction opposite the rotational direction of said shaft.

Claim 5

A reversible two-stage hydraulic machine according to claim 2: wherein said first means comprises a first-stage spiral casing surrounding said first-stage runner; a first-stage stay ring within said casing and surrounding said runner, said stay ring comprising a plurality of first-stage stay vanes operable to direct fluid to approach and depart said radial openings of said first-stage runner in a spiral path rotating about said shaft with a rotational direction in common with the rotational direction of said shaft; and, wherein said second means comprises a second-stage spiral casing surrounding said second-stage runner; a second-stage stay ring within said casing and surrounding said runner; said stay ring comprising a plurality of second-stage stay vanes operable to direct fluid to approach and depart said radial openings of said second-stage runner in a spiral path rotating about said shaft with a rotational direction opposite the rotational direction of said shaft.

Claim 6

A reversible two-stage hydraulic machine according to claim 3 comprising a penstock connecting said first-stage spiral casing with said upper reservoir in fluid flow communication and a draft tube connecting said second-stage spiral casing with said lower reservoir.

Claim 7

A reversible two-stage hydraulic machine according to claim 4 including means for selectively adjusting the angle of flow between said first-stage stay ring and said radial openings of said first-stage runner.

Claim 8

A reversible two-stage hydraulic machine according to claim 5 including means for selectively adjusting the angle of flow between said second-stage stay ring and said radial openings of said second-stage runner.

Claim 9

A reversible two-stage hydraulic machine according to claim 5 wherein said means comprises a plurality of wicket gates pivotally mounted between said first-stage stay vanes and said radial openings of said first-stage runner.

Claim 10

A reversible two-stage hydraulic machine according to claim 6 wherein said means comprises a plurality of wicket gates pivotally mounted between said second-stage stay vanes and said radial openings of said second-stage runner.

Claim 11

A reversible two-stage hydraulic machine according to claims 7 or 8 wherein said rotary shaft is rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation.

Claim 12

A reversible two-stage hydraulic machine having a rotary shaft operable to rotate about a vertical axis of rotation in both a clockwise and counterclockwise direction, the improvements comprising: a first-stage Francis-type runner affixed to said shaft for rotation therewith; a first-stage spiral casing surrounding said runner; a first-stage stay ring within said casing and surrounding said runner; said stay ring comprising a plurality of first-stage stay vanes operable to direct fluid to approach and depart said runner in a spiral path about said shaft with a rotational direction in common with the rotational direction of said shaft; a plurality of wicket gates pivotally mounted between said stay vanes and said runner; a penstock connecting said sprial case with an upper reservoir in fluid flow communication; a second-stage Fourneiron-type runner affixed to said shaft for rotation therewith beneath said first-stage runner and in fluid flow communication therewith; a second-stage spiral casing surrounding said runner; a second-stage stay ring within said casing and surrounding said runner; said stay ring comprising a plurality of first-stage stay vanes operable to direct fluid to approach and depart said runner in a spiral path about said shaft with a rotational direction opposite the rotational direction of said shaft; a penstock connecting said first-stage spiral casing with an upper reservoir in fluid flow communication; and, a draft tube connecting said second-stage spiral casing with a lower reservoir in fluid flow communication.

Claim 13

A reversible two-stage hydraulic machine having a rotary shaft operable to rotate about a vertical axis of rotation in both a clockwise and counterclockwise direction, the improvements comprising: a first-stage Francis-type runner affixed to said shaft for rotation therewith; a first-stage spiral casing surrounding said runner; a first-stage stay ring within said casing and surrounding said runner; said stay ring comprising a plurality of first-stage stay vanes operable to direct fluid to approach and depart said runner in a spiral path about said shaft with a rotational direction in common with the rotational direction of said shaft; a plurality of wicket gates pivotally mounted between said stay vanes and said runner; a penstock connecting said sprial case with an upper reservoir in fluid flow communication; a second-stage Fourneiron-type runner affixed to said shaft for rotation therewith beneath said first-stage runner and in fluid flow communication therewith; a second-stage spiral casing surrounding said runner; a second-stage stay ring within said casing and surrounding said runner; said stay ring comprising a plurality of first-stage stay vanes operable to direct fluid to approach and depart said runner in a spiral path about said shaft with a rotational direction opposite the rotational direction of said shaft; a penstock connecting said first-stage spiral casing with an upper reservoir in fluid flow communication; and, a draft tube connecting said second-stage spiral casing with a lower reservoir in fluid flow communication.

Claim 14

A reversible two-stage hydraulic machine according to claim 10 comprising a plurality of wicket gates pivotally mounted between said second-stage stay vanes and said second-stage runner.