GB733370A - Turbine and control means therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

733,370. Centrifugal governors; gas turbine plant. BENDIX AVIATION CORPORATION. Nov. 28, 1952 [Dec. 27, 1951], No. 30268/52. Classes 57 and 110 (3). [Also in Groups XXIX and XXXV] A turbine comprising a hub and radial arms extending from the hub terminating in reaction nozzles has a centrifugally operated control valve which rotates about an axis normal to and intersecting the axis of rotation to maintain the speed of rotation of the turbine constant. The invention relates to the construction of the control valve. The power plant shown, Fig. 1, comprises a spherical container 11 pressurized through a valve 12 and having a diametrical cylindrical sleeve 14 housing the power unit 18. The power unit 18 comprises a generator 19 driven by an outward flow turbine 28. The end of the sleeve 14 is closed by a wall 15 carrying an outlet plug 26 for the electrical power and a pressure regulator 43 connected between the container 11 and the turbine 28. The air from the regulator 43 passes through the hollow shaft 22 of the power plant to a chamber 31 from whence it passes through passages 34, 35 to the reaction nozzles 38, 39. The flow of the working fluid to the passages 34, 35 is controlled by a valve 40, Fig. 2. The pressure at the exhaust of the nozzles 38, 39 is maintained above atmospheric by pressure relief valves 48. The air under pressure is passed through ports 49 to the generator 19 and prevents undesirable arcing therein. The control valve 40, Figs. 2 and 6, is cylindrical in form and is mounted on an axis X-X which is perpendicular to the plane containing the rotational axis Z-Z of the turbine and the axis Y-Y of the radial arms. The valve comprises two end plates 71, 76, each of which has two convex sides and two concave ends. Two curved throttle vanes 61, 62 are attached to the concave ends of the plates 71, 76 so that the bevelled leading edges 63, 64 overhang one of the edges formed by the junction of the convex sides and concave ends and the trailing edges 65, 66 are located on the centre lines of the end plates. The leading edges 63, 64 are arranged angularly relative to the axis X-X and the trailing edges 65, 66 parallel to the same axis. The valve 40 is attached to the hub 29 by a torque tube 89, a torque rod 92 and an adjustable member 95. The member 95 is adjustable by means of a screw-driven slot 105 and is clamped in the adjusted position by screw 107 which engages a washer 108 arranged on the inner side of the member 95. When the turbine 28 is at rest, the valve 40 is positioned with the throttle vanes 61, 62 intermediate the inlet 31a and the ports 36, 37 leading to the passages 34, 35. In this position, the centres of gravity W, W<SP>1</SP>, of the end plates 71, 76 are angularly disposed relative to the plane containing the axes X-X, Y-Y. When the turbine is rotated, the action of the centrifugal force will cause the valve 40 to rotate about the axis X-X against the resistance offered by the torque tube 82 and rod 92. The apparatus is so designed that at the designed speed, the throttle vanes 61, 62 pass sufficient working fluid through the ports 36, 37 to maintain this speed. Any increase or decrease in speed will cause the throttle vanes to close or open the ports 36, 37.