Steam turbine with improved inner cylinder

Claim 2

In a steam turbine which includes a casing structure having an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder, means attached to the inner cylinder for supporting a plurality of stationary blades arranged in a predetermined number of annularly-shaped rows along the length of the turbine, a rotor mounted in the turbine along a longitudinal axis with a plurality of rotating blades arranged in a predetermined number of annularly-shaped rows along the length thereof and attached thereto, and extraction steam piping attached to and exiting from the inner cylinder, integrated casing alignment and steam extraction apparatus, comprising: a load plate arranged perpendicularly to the extraction steam piping; one or more flex plates attached between said load plate and the inner cylinder; a plurality of alignment lugs attached in predetermined positions about said load plate; and a plurality of stiffening gussets attached both to said alignment lugs and to said load plate.

Claim 3

The integrated casing alignment and steam extraction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a flange fitted about the extraction steam piping and attached to said load plate.

Claim 4

The integrated casing alignment and steam extraction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said load plate comprises a substantially diamond-shaped form with a first pair of diagonally-opposed corners of said form disposed along the longitudinal axis, and a second pair of diagonally-opposed corners of said form disposed transversely across the longitudinal axis.

Claim 5

The integrated casing alignment and steam extraction apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of said first and second pairs of diagonally-opposed corners of said form have attached thereto a respective one of said plurality of alignment lugs.

Claim 6

The integrated casing alignment and steam extraction apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each of said plurality of stiffening gussets is attached to a respective one of said plurality of alignment lugs.

Claim 7

The integrated casing alignment and steam extraction apparatus according to claim 4, wherein at least one of said plurality of stiffening gussets is attached between its respective one of said plurality of alignment lugs and one of said one or more flex plates.

Claim 8

The integrated casing alignment and steam extraction apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said at least one of said plurality of stiffening gussets is attached to said load plate along the longitudinal axis.

Claim 9

The integrated casing alignment and steam extraction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one or more flex plates is disposed transversely across the longitudinal axis.

Claim 10

The integrated casing alignment and steam extraction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for removing moisture from a flow of steam through the plurality of stationary and rotating blades.

Claim 11

The integrated casing alignment and steam extraction apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said moisture removing means comprises a plurality of venting holes bored in the stationary blade supporting means.

Claim 12

The integrated casing alignment and steam extraction apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of venting holes are disposed in arrays uniformly distributed about the circumference of the stationary blade supporting means between preselected ones of the rows of rotating blades.

Claim 13

In a steam turbine which includes a casing structure having an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder, means attached to the inner cylinder for supporting a plurality of stationary blades arranged in a predetermined number of annularly-shaped rows along the length of the turbine, a rotor mounted in the turbine along a longitudinal axis with a plurality of rotating blades arranged in a predetermined number of annularly-shaped rows along the length thereof and attached thereto, and extraction steam piping attached to and exiting from the inner cylinder, a method of fabricating integrated casing alignment and steam extraction apparatus, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a load plate of substantially diamond-shaped form; (b) attaching said load plate perpendicularly to the extraction steam piping with a first pair of diagonally-opposed corners of said form disposed along the longitudinal axis, and a second pair of diagonally-opposed corners of said form disposed transversely across the longitudinal axis; (c) providing one or more flex plates; (d) attaching said one or more flex plates between said load plate and the inner cylinder; (e) providing a plurality of alignment lugs; (f) attaching said plurality of alignment lugs in predetermined positions about said load plate; (g) providing a plurality of stiffening gussets; and (h) attaching said plurality of stiffening gussets both to said alignment lugs and to said load plate.

Claim 14

In a steam turbine which includes a casing structure having an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder, means attached to the inner cylinder for supporting a plurality of stationary blades arranged in a predetermined number of annularly-shaped rows along the length of the turbine, a rotor mounted in the turbine along a longitudinal axis with a plurality of rotating blades arranged in a predetermined number of annularly-shaped rows along the length thereof and attached thereto, and extraction steam piping attached to and exiting from the inner cylinder, a method of fabricating integrated casing alignment and steam extraction apparatus, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a load plate of substantially diamond-shaped form; (b) attaching said load plate perpendicularly to the extraction steam piping with a first pair of diagonally-opposed corners of said form disposed along the longitudinal axis, and a second pair of diagonally-opposed corners of said form disposed transversely across the longitudinal axis; (c) providing one or more flex plates; (d) attaching said one or more flex plates between said load plate and the inner cylinder; (e) providing a plurality of alignment lugs; (f) attaching said plurality of alignment lugs in predetermined positions about said load plate; (g) providing a plurality of stiffening gussets; and (h) attaching said plurality of stiffening gussets both to said alignment lugs and to said load plate.

Claim 15

The method of fabricating integrated casing alignment and steam extraction apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of: (i) providing a flange for the extraction steam piping; (j) fitting said flange about the extraction steam piping; and (k) attaching said flange both to the extraction steam piping and said load plate.

Claim 16

A steam turbine, comprising: a casing structure having an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder; means attached to the inner cylinder for supporting a plurality of stationary blades arranged in a predetermined number of annularly-shaped rows along the length of the turbine; a rotor mounted in the turbine along a longitudinal axis with a plurality of rotating blades arranged in a predetermined number of annularly-shaped rows along the length thereof and attached thereto; extraction steam piping attached to and exiting from the inner cylinder; a load plate arranged perpendicularly to the extraction steam piping; one or more flex plates attached between said load plate and the inner cylinder; a plurality of alignment lugs attached in predetermined positions about said load plate; a plurality of stiffening gussets attached both to said alignment lugs and to said load plate; a flange fitted about the extraction steam piping and attached to said load plate; and means for removing moisture from a flow of steam through the plurality of stationary and rotating blades.

Claim 17

A steam turbine, comprising: a casing structure having an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder; means attached to the inner cylinder for supporting a plurality of stationary blades arranged in a predetermined number of annularly-shaped rows along the length of the turbine; a rotor mounted in the turbine along a longitudinal axis with a plurality of rotating blades arranged in a predetermined number of annularly-shaped rows along the length thereof and attached thereto; extraction steam piping attached to and exiting from the inner cylinder; a load plate arranged perpendicularly to the extraction steam piping; one or more flex plates attached between said load plate and the inner cylinder; a plurality of alignment lugs attached in predetermined positions about said load plate; a plurality of stiffening gussets attached both to said alignment lugs and to said load plate; a flange fitted about the extraction steam piping and attached to said load plate; and means for removing moisture from a flow of steam through the plurality of stationary and rotating blades.

Claim 18

A steam turbine, comprising: a casing structure having an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder; means attached to the inner cylinder for supporting a plurality of stationary blades arranged in a predetermined number of annularly-shaped rows along the length of the turbine; a rotor mounted in the turbine along a longitudinal axis with a plurality of rotating blades arranged in a predetermined number of annularly-shaped rows along the length thereof and attached thereto; extraction steam piping attached to and exiting from the inner cylinder; a load plate arranged perpendicularly to the extraction steam piping, said load plate of substantially diamond-shaped form with a first pair of diagonally-opposed corners of said form disposed along the longitudinal axis, and a second pair of diagonally-opposed corners of said form disposed transversely across the longitudinal axis; one or more flex plates attached between said load plate and the inner cylinder, said one or more flex plates disposed transversely across the longitudinal axis; a plurality of alignment lugs attached in predetermined positions about said load plate, each of said first and second pairs of diagonally-opposed corners of said form have attached thereto a respective one of said plurality of alignment lugs; a plurality of stiffening gussets attached both to said alignment lugs and to said load plate, each of said plurality of stiffening gussets attached to a respective one of said plurality of alignment lugs; wherein at least one of said plurality of stiffening gussets is attached between its respective one of said plurality of alignment lugs and one of said one or more flex plates, said at least one of said plurality of stiffening gussets attached to said load plate along the longitudinal axis; a flange fitted about the extraction steam piping and attached to said load plate; and means for removing moisture from a flow of steam through the plurality of stationary and rotating blades.

Claim 19

A steam turbine, comprising: a casing structure having an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder; means attached to the inner cylinder for supporting a plurality of stationary blades arranged in a predetermined number of annularly-shaped rows along the length of the turbine; a rotor mounted in the turbine along a longitudinal axis with a plurality of rotating blades arranged in a predetermined number of annularly-shaped rows along the length thereof and attached thereto; extraction steam piping attached to and exiting from the inner cylinder; a load plate arranged perpendicularly to the extraction steam piping, said load plate of substantially diamond-shaped form with a first pair of diagonally-opposed corners of said form disposed along the longitudinal axis, and a second pair of diagonally-opposed corners of said form disposed transversely across the longitudinal axis; one or more flex plates attached between said load plate and the inner cylinder, said one or more flex plates disposed transversely across the longitudinal axis; a plurality of alignment lugs attached in predetermined positions about said load plate, each of said first and second pairs of diagonally-opposed corners of said form have attached thereto a respective one of said plurality of alignment lugs; a plurality of stiffening gussets attached both to said alignment lugs and to said load plate, each of said plurality of stiffening gussets attached to a respective one of said plurality of alignment lugs; wherein at least one of said plurality of stiffening gussets is attached between its respective one of said plurality of alignment lugs and one of said one or more flex plates, said at least one of said plurality of stiffening gussets attached to said load plate along the longitudinal axis; a flange fitted about the extraction steam piping and attached to said load plate; and means for removing moisture from a flow of steam through the plurality of stationary and rotating blades.

Claim 20

In a steam turbine which includes a casing structure having an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder, means attached to the inner cylinder for supporting a plurality of stationary blades arranged in a predetermined number of annularly-shaped rows along the length of the turbine, a rotor mounted in the turbine along a longitudinal axis with a plurality of rotating blades arranged in a predetermined number of annularly-shaped rows along the length thereof and attached thereto, an extraction steam piping attached to and exiting from the inner cylinder, wherein the turbine is susceptible to alignment loads between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder in directions along the longitudinal axis and transverse thereto, apparatus for transmitting the alignment loads, comprising: a load plate arranged perpendicularly to the extraction steam piping, said load plate of substantially diamond-shaped form with a first pair of diagonally-opposed corners of said form disposed along the longitudinal axis, and a second pair of diagonally-opposed corners of said form disposed transversely across the longitudinal axis; at least one flex plate attached between said load plate and the inner cylinder; a plurality of alignment lugs attached in predetermined positions about said load plate, each of said first and second pairs of diagonally-opposed corners of said form have attached thereto a respective one of said plurality of alignment lugs, said alignment lugs that are attached to said first pair of diagonally-opposed corners reacting alignment loads in the axial direction and transmitting same, in turn, through said load plate, the extraction steam piping, and the inner cylinder, and said alignment lugs that are attached to said second pair of diagonally-opposed corners reacting alignment loads in the transverse direction and transmitting same, in turn, through said load plate, said at least one flex plate, the extraction steam piping, and the inner cylinder; a plurality of stiffening gussets attached both to said alignment lugs and to said load plate, each of said plurality of stiffening gussets attached to a respective one of said plurality of alignment lugs; wherein at least one of said plurality of stiffening gussets is attached between its respective one of said plurality of alignment lugs and said at least one flex plate, said at least one of said plurality of stiffening gussets attached to said load plate along the longitudinal axis; a flange fitted about the extraction steam piping and attached to said load plate; and means for removing moisture from a flow of steam through the plurality of stationary and rotating blades.

Claim 21

In a steam turbine which includes a casing structure having an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder, means attached to the inner cylinder for supporting a plurality of stationary blades arranged in a predetermined number of annularly-shaped rows along the length of the turbine, a rotor mounted in the turbine along a longitudinal axis with a plurality of rotating blades arranged in a predetermined number of annularly-shaped rows along the length thereof and attached thereto, an extraction steam piping attached to and exiting from the inner cylinder, wherein the turbine is susceptible to alignment loads between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder in directions along the longitudinal axis and transverse thereto, apparatus for transmitting the alignment loads, comprising: a load plate arranged perpendicularly to the extraction steam piping, said load plate of substantially diamond-shaped form with a first pair of diagonally-opposed corners of said form disposed along the longitudinal axis, and a second pair of diagonally-opposed corners of said form disposed transversely across the longitudinal axis; at least one flex plate attached between said load plate and the inner cylinder; a plurality of alignment lugs attached in predetermined positions about said load plate, each of said first and second pairs of diagonally-opposed corners of said form have attached thereto a respective one of said plurality of alignment lugs, said alignment lugs that are attached to said first pair of diagonally-opposed corners reacting alignment loads in the axial direction and transmitting same, in turn, through said load plate, the extraction steam piping, and the inner cylinder, and said alignment lugs that are attached to said second pair of diagonally-opposed corners reacting alignment loads in the transverse direction and transmitting same, in turn, through said load plate, said at least one flex plate, the extraction steam piping, and the inner cylinder; a plurality of stiffening gussets attached both to said alignment lugs and to said load plate, each of said plurality of stiffening gussets attached to a respective one of said plurality of alignment lugs; wherein at least one of said plurality of stiffening gussets is attached between its respective one of said plurality of alignment lugs and said at least one flex plate, said at least one of said plurality of stiffening gussets attached to said load plate along the longitudinal axis; a flange fitted about the extraction steam piping and attached to said load plate; and means for removing moisture from a flow of steam through the plurality of stationary and rotating blades.

Claim 22

The alignment load transmitting apparatus according to claim 16, comprising a pair of said flex plates, each one of said pair of said flex plates attached between said load plate and the inner cylinder transverse to the longitudinal axis on opposing sides of the extraction steam piping.