GB802508A - Improvements in or relating to fluid machines such as compressors and turbines - Google Patents

Abstract

802,508. Compressors and turbines. ROLLSROYCE, Ltd. July 17, 1956 [July 18, 1955], No. 20786/55. Classes 110 (1) and 110(3). In a compressor or turbine, a bearing for the bladed rotor is supported from the outer casing structure through a rigid wheel-like structure, the spokes of which are provided by a ring of hollow stator blades of the machine and the hub and rim of which are formed by joining together the inner ends and outer ends respectively of the stator blades by means of corresponding sets of hollow spacer elements, the rim being secured in position in the stator casing and the bearing being mounted within the hub. The inlet end of a compressor is shown and comprises a shaft 10 on which are mounted discs 11, 12, carrying blades 13, 14, respectively. The stator casing supports inlet guide vanes 18 and first-stage stator blades 19, the blades 19 being formed of sheet-metal and supporting at their inner ends a bearing 20. The outer ends of the hollow stator blades are pinched together at their trailing edges and box-like spacer elements 21 comprising a base 21a and sides 21b, 21c are secured by welding between the ends of adjacent blades. Continuous ring members 22, 25 are secured to the sides 21c of the spacers and separate shroud members 26 disposed between adjacent stator blades 19 at their outer ends are secured as by welding to axially-extending flanges of the ring members 22, 25. The ring member 22 is secured by bolting to the outer stator structure 15. The inner ends of the stator blades are likewise pinched together and secured between spacer elements 27 of box-like form, and continuous ring members 28, 29 are secured to the upstream and downstream flanges respectively of the boxlike spacers. Separate shroud pieces 30 disposed between the inner ends of the stator blades 19 are secured to the ring members 28, 29. A third ring member 31 engages with the ring member 28 and is secured by welding to the ring member 29. An internally-splined ring 32 is mounted in the hub structure and supports the outer race 20a of the rotor bearing 20. A duct 35 passes through a hollow stator blade 19 for supply of lubricant to the bearing, the ends of the duct being mounted in a union 36 and a ferrule 37. In a second embodiment a continuous shroud ring is provided at the outer ends of the stator blades instead of the separate shroud members 26, the shroud member being apertured to allow the blades to pass therethrough. The bases of the spacer elements 21 are dimpled and the shroud ring is secured by welding to the dimples.