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US4850794A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Hardfacing technique and improved construction for inlet steam sealing surfaces of steam turbines

Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1987-08-14
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Granted: 1989-07-25
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Expires: 2007-08-14
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Abstract

Abstract An improved steam turbine system is provided having a hardfacing disposed on a portion of its steam inlet chamber wear surfaces. The invention also includes a novel stacked ring design having a hardfaced inlet sleeve and stationary, nitride sealing rings for minimizing wear. Also included are novel heat treatments and metallurgical processes for stress relieving these hardfaced components. The techniques and designs employed, decrease steam leakage and assure longer service life for steam powered turbines.

Inventors

  • 👤 Samuel D. Reynolds, Jr.
  • 👤 Narayana S. Cheruvu

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 18:07
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01D; F01D5/00; F01D5/12; F01D5/28; F01D9/00; F01D9/06

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim 125 words
A steam turbine system of the kind having an inlet steam nozzle chamber, said chamber having a piston arranged for reciprocal movement therein and a ring member for sealing pressurized steam, said ring member having an inner diameter which engages said piston and an outer diameter disposed in sliding contact with an internal wall of said nozzle chamber, said outer diameter of said ring member having a hard surface thereon, wherein said internal wall comprises a hardfacing layer disposed on at least the portion of said internal wall which is in contact with said ring member, said hardfacing layer having a R c hardness of about 51-58 and a coefficient of thermal expansion which is about that of the nozzle chamber above about 538° C.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 125 words
A steam turbine system of the kind having an inlet steam nozzle chamber, said chamber having a piston arranged for reciprocal movement therein and a ring member for sealing pressurized steam, said ring member having an inner diameter which engages said piston and an outer diameter disposed in sliding contact with an internal wall of said nozzle chamber, said outer diameter of said ring member having a hard surface thereon, wherein said internal wall comprises a hardfacing layer disposed on at least the portion of said internal wall which is in contact with said ring member, said hardfacing layer having a R c hardness of about 51-58 and a coefficient of thermal expansion which is about that of the nozzle chamber above about 538° C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said hardfacing layer comprises a hardfaced sleeve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 43 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said hardfacing layer consists essentially of about 0.0 to .08 weight percent C, 2.6 weight percent Si, 8.5 weight percent Cr, 28.5 percent Mo, 0.0 to 3.0 weight percent Ni and Fe, and the balance being Co.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said hardfacing layer is disposed in a thickness of about 4.8 mm to 5.9 mm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 18 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said hardfacing layer is disposed in a thickness of about 5.3 mm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 10 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said chamber comprises steel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 12 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said steel comprises Cr and Mo.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said steel comprises 2.25 weight percent Cr and 1.0 weight percent Mo.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 11 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said chamber comprises a forging.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 19 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said ring member has a hardness of about 26.0 to 35.5 Rockwell "C".
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 90 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said ring member consists essentially of about 35.0 to 39.0 weight percent Ni, 18.0 to 22.0 weight percent Co, 16.0 to 20.0 weight percent Cr, 2.5 to 3.0 weight percent Ti, 2.5 to 3.5 weight percent Mo, 0.001 to 0.01 weight percent B, 0.0 to 1.5 weight percent Si, 0.0 to 1.0 weight percent Mn, 0.0 to 0.25 weight percent Al, 0.0 to 0.08 weight percent C, 0.0 to 0.03 weight percent P, 0.0 to 0.03 weight percent S, and the balance being Fe.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 26 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said pressurized steam comprises steam at a pressure of 3,500 psi, said steam having a temperature of about 538° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said piston comprises 8 to 16 weight percent chromium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said piston comprises about 12 weight percent chromium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 12 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said piston comprises martensitic stainless steel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said piston comprises a hard surface having a case hardness depth of about 0.15 mm to 0.30 mm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 13 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said hard surface comprises a nitrided surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 107 words
A steam turbine system of the type having an inlet steam nozzle chamber, said chamber having a bell sealing means arranged for reciprocal movement therein, said bell sealing means having a hard alloy rim portion disposed in sliding contact with an internal wall of said nozzle chamber for sealing pressurized steam, said system comprising a hardfacing layer disposed on at least the portion of said internal wall of said chamber which is in contact with said rim portion; said hardfacing layer having an R c hardness of about 51-58 and a coefficient of thermal expansion which is about that of the nozzle chamber of about 538° C.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 107 words
A steam turbine system of the type having an inlet steam nozzle chamber, said chamber having a bell sealing means arranged for reciprocal movement therein, said bell sealing means having a hard alloy rim portion disposed in sliding contact with an internal wall of said nozzle chamber for sealing pressurized steam, said system comprising a hardfacing layer disposed on at least the portion of said internal wall of said chamber which is in contact with said rim portion; said hardfacing layer having an R c hardness of about 51-58 and a coefficient of thermal expansion which is about that of the nozzle chamber of about 538° C.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 13 words
The system of claim 18 wherein said hardfacing layer comprises a hardfaced sleeve.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 43 words
The system of claim 18 wherein said hardfacing layer consists essentially of about 0.0 to 0.08 weight percent C, 2.6 weight percent Si, 8.5 weight percent Cr, 28.5 percent Mo, 0.0 to 3.0 weight percent Ni and Fe, and the balance being Co.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 21 words
The system of claim 18 wherein said hardfacing layer is disposed in a thickness of about 4.8 mm to 5.9 mm.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 18 words
The system of claim 18 wherein said hardfacing layer is disposed in a thickness of about 5.3 mm.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 138 words
A steam turbine system of the type having an inlet steam nozzle chamber, wherein said chamber comprises: a. an inlet sleeve having a channel therethrough for receiving steam; and b. ring sealing means for sealing steam, said ring sealing means disposed in sliding contact with an external wall of said inlet sleeve; said ring sealing means comprising a plurality of sealing rings separated by a plurality of spacing members, said rings and spacing members forming a housing for said inlet sleeve; said inlet sleeve further comprising a hardfacing layer disposed on at least the portion of its external wall which is in sliding contact with said ring sealing means; said hardfacing layer having a R c hardness of about 51-58 and a coefficient of thermal expansion which is about that of the nozzle chamber above about 538° C.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 138 words
A steam turbine system of the type having an inlet steam nozzle chamber, wherein said chamber comprises: a. an inlet sleeve having a channel therethrough for receiving steam; and b. ring sealing means for sealing steam, said ring sealing means disposed in sliding contact with an external wall of said inlet sleeve; said ring sealing means comprising a plurality of sealing rings separated by a plurality of spacing members, said rings and spacing members forming a housing for said inlet sleeve; said inlet sleeve further comprising a hardfacing layer disposed on at least the portion of its external wall which is in sliding contact with said ring sealing means; said hardfacing layer having a R c hardness of about 51-58 and a coefficient of thermal expansion which is about that of the nozzle chamber above about 538° C.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 11 words
The system of claim 23 wherein said hardfacing layer comprises cobalt.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 41 words
The system of claim 23 wherein said hardfacing layer consists essentially of about 0.08 weight percent C maximum, 2.6 weight percent Si, 8.5 weight percent Cr, 28.5 percent Mo, 3.0 weight percent Ni and Fe maximum, and the balance being Co.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 21 words
The system of claim 23 wherein said hardfacing layer is disposed in a thickness of about 4.8 mm to 5.9 mm.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 18 words
The system of claim 23 wherein said hardfacing layer is disposed in a thickness of about 5.3 mm.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1625541A Cited
GB718534A Cited
US2800299A Cited
US2863632A Cited
US3476099A Cited
US4362464A Cited
JPS58178806A Cited
JPS5970813A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-07-24 1993-01-23 1993-07-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-07-24 1997-01-23 1997-07-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-07-24 2001-01-23 2001-07-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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