Patent ID: 6626641
Filing Date: 2003-09-30
Classification: F01D,Y10T

Abstract:
In a turbine comprisinga turbine case having a first end wall, a second end wall, and a peripheral side wall connecting the first end wall and the second end wall, said turbine case defining a turbine chamber, a turbine shaft rotatably mounted in said turbine case and extending between the first end wall and the second end wall, said turbine shaft having a longitudinal axis, a turbine wheel attached to the turbine shaft and extending radially therefrom, said turbine wheel being positioned in the turbine chamber between the first end wall and the second end wall, said turbine wheel having a turbine wheel periphery which is positioned adjacent to the peripheral sidewall of the turbine case, wherein said turbine case defines a plurality of peripherally spaced apart inlet ports opening through the first end wall to a location in the turbine chamber which is adjacent to the peripheral sidewall of the turbine case, said inlet ports opening into the turbine chamber in a direction which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the turbine shaft, the improvement comprising an arcuately shaped louver for directing fluid against the periphery of the turbine wheel so as to cause rotation of the turbine wheel, and an adapter housing extending from the arcuately shaped louver to the first end wall of the turbine case to locate the arcuately shaped louver and form a fluid flow path from the inlet ports to the arcuately shaped louver, wherein the periphery of the turbine wheel is formed by a first plurality of generally radially disposed blades positioned to pass closely adjacent to the arcuately shaped louver during rotation of the turbine wheel so as to catch the force of the fluid exiting the arcuately shaped louver and rotate the turbine wheel, wherein the arcuately shaped louver directs a fluid flow into the turbine chamber with a whirling component around the longitudinal axis of the turbine chamber, wherein the arcuately shaped louver directs fluid flow into the turbine chamber with a longitudinal component which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the turbine chamber, and wherein the adapter housing comprises an arcuately shaped trough having a bottom end wall attached to the first end wall of the turbine case and positioned in covering relationship with the plurality of inlet ports, and a pair of arcuately shaped trough side walls extending from the bottom end wall to the arcuately shaped louver, wherein said inlet ports open into a chamber defined by the bottom end wall, the side walls and the louver, said chamber forming the fluid flow path from the inlet ports to the arcuately shaped louver.