Patent ID: 8430625
Filing Date: 2013-04-30
Classification: F01D,F05D

Abstract:
1. A centerline suspension arrangement for a turbine comprising: an outer casing; an inner casing; a support member comprising an inner portion disposed within an axially oriented slot in the inner casing, the support member inner portion and inner casing slot cooperatively shaped for insertion of the support member inner portion into the slot in the axial direction and for a body bound fit between the support member inner portion and the inner casing in radial directions; and an outer portion of the support member extending beyond the inner casing slot and being vertically supported within a slot formed in the outer casing; wherein the body bound fit between the inner casing and the support member is effective to establish a design load path for a transfer of dead weight and operating loads from the inner casing to the support member and to the outer casing without a necessity for a fixed connection between the support member and the inner casing; further comprising the inner casing slot defining a first protruding structure comprising a generally vertical outwardly facing loading surface for conveying horizontal loads in a first direction and a generally horizontal downwardly facing loading surface for conveying vertical loads and defining a second protruding structure comprising a generally vertical inwardly facing loading surface for conveying horizontal loads in a second direction opposed the first direction; and the support member comprising a generally vertical inwardly facing loading surface for opposing the horizontal loads of the first direction and a generally horizontal upwardly facing loading surface for opposing the vertical loads and a generally vertical outwardly facing loading surface for opposing the horizontal loads of the second direction, and the outer portion of the support member comprising a generally horizontal downwardly facing loading surface for transferring the vertical loads to a generally horizontal upwardly facing loading surface defined by the outer casing slot.