REGULATING DEVICE FOR MAINTAINING CONSTANT THE ROTARY SPEED IN TURBINES

Abstract: The invention relates to a regulating device for maintaining constant the rotary speed in turbines of the type comprising a turbine hub (3) and a number of turbine blades (2) which are axially, but rotatably connected to the hub and have such a shape and are so arranged that each turbine blade in a flowing medium and by the action thereof is acted on by a torque about its longitudinal axis (2') against the action of a spring device (8) and acts on the turbine hub by a torque acting about the axis of rotation of the turbine. The features of the invention reside in that the regulating device further comprises a power-transmitting means (14) which is operable by actuator means (4) and which for coordinating the angular motion and angular displacement of the turbine blades (2) about the axes of rotation (2') of the blades (2) is connected to the turbine blades (2) via linkage systems, the arrangement being such that each turbine blade when rotating about its axis of rotation (2') acts on and brings about a corresponding rotation of the other turbine blade or the other turbine blades, and also being such that all turbine blades are rotatable about their geometrical axes of rotation (2') by substantially equal angular displacements in relation to each other.

Description: REGULATING DEVICE FOR MAINTAINING CONSTANT THE ROTARY SPEED IN TURBINES The present invention relates to a regulating device for maintaining constant the rotary speed in turbines, especially wind-powered turbines, of the type stated in the preamble of claim 1. Swedish Patent Specifications 387,161 and 426,091 disclose the possibility of maintaining constant the speed of rotation in wind-powered turbines from a selected lower wind-force limit up to a selected upper wind-force limit, above which the rotary speed is again reduced, by means of a regulating device auto¬ matically operating in dependence upon the wind force. This prior art speed-regulating device is useful in wind-powered turbines having turbine blades extending substantially radially outwards from the turbine shaft and axially connected to the turbine hub by means of torsion springs, so as to be rotatable about their longitudinal axes in relation to the hub. The turbine blades are therefore rotatably mounted in bearing sleeves extending radially outwards from the hub and connected thereto. The arrangement is such that the wind forces acting on the blade exert, because of the curvature of the blade profile mean chord, a torque, pitch moment, on the blade about the longitudinal axis ' thereof against the action of the torsion spring. The torsion spring is arranged with a bias between two abutments radially spaced apart in relation to the hub. One of the abutments may be located in the non-adjustable part, the bearing sleeve, and the other at a part connected to the blade. Because of its bias, the torsion 'spring will exert an elastic torque between the blade and the bearing sleeve, the torque exerted by the wind forces on the turbine blade being counter- balanced by the elastic torque from the biased torsion spring. In practice, this arrangement has been found to operate excellently, but in some cases has entailed problems which the present invention aims at solving. One of these problems is that the turbine blades, when the wind impinges obliquely thereon, tend to ro¬ tate unequally with respect to each other through ex¬ cessive angles of displacement, which may give rise to wobbling witlT a consequential increased load on the turbine. Another problem is that it is not possible to feather the turbine blades by an intentional opera¬ tion for stopping the turbine, for instance in critical situations. A third problem is that the bias of the respective torsion spring is difficult to readjust once the turbine has been started. A fourth problem is the difficulty of complying with the desire to be able to modify the torsion torque of the spring within certain angular ranges to achieve more distinct speed-regulating and shut-off functions. Finally, the invention has for its object, without any appreciable cost increase, to permit reducing the bending moment on the. blade shafts and to improve the geometry and the space for synchronizing devices between the blades at the hub centre. These objects have now been achieved by designing the inventive regulating device in accordance with the features stated in claim 1 and, in preferred em¬ bodiments, the features stated in claims 2-15. The invention will now be described in more de¬ tail hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a schematic view of part of a turbine as seen in the direction of the turbine shaft, with certain portions removed to illustrate a regulating and synchronizing device according to the invention operating between the turbine blades via the turbine hub, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal- section taken along the line A-A in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a cross- section taken along the line B-B in Fig. 2, Figs. 4 and 5 correspond to Figs. 2 and 3, but illustrate the regulating device in a partially outwardly angled posi- tion and the turbine blade feathered correspondingly, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodi¬ ment in which the synchronizing means generally is rotatable and actively actuable by a push rod and a wire, Fig. 7 illustrates a modified embodiment in which the torsional load acting on the turbine blades is provided by means of a spring which is common to the blades and which acts directly on the actuator -means for the device for coordinating the angular displacement of the blades, and Fig. 8, finally, is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the turbine according to Figs. 1-7 supplemented with a device sensing the drive shaft torque an^ limiting it by acting " on the pitch movement via- spring-loaded moment arms in cases where a very narrow speed range is re- • quired, for instance when connecting a generator direct¬ ly to the mains. The turbine shown only partially in Fig. 1 is used as a wind turbine for driving a load, such as an electric generator, by a drive shaft 1. The turbine blades, of which only the inner portion of one blade 2 is shown, are rotatably connected to the turbine hub 3 by means of a respective regulating device com¬ prising a torsion spring 8 coaxially mounted in a tubular member 7 which at its radially outer end is connected to the respective turbine blade 2 and extends axially through a hollow blade root 5 serving as a housing for the tubular member 7 and rotatably mounted on the blade shaft 2' by means of one or more bearings 6. At its radially inner end, the blade root 5 may either be fixedly or, for example as in an embodiment described further on in this specification, pivotally connected to the hub 3. The housing (blade root) 5 and the tubular member 7 are axially held together by means of the torsion spring 8 which is disposed in the housing 5 and which, in the illustrated embodiment, is in the form of a leaf spring. At its radially outer end, the spring 8 is fixedly connected to the blade shaft 7' by means of a spring attachment 12. The tube 7, which thus forms a part of the blade shaft, accommodates in its radially inner end portion a spring attachment 11 having a head 11' easily accessible from the hub side and allowing adjustment of the bias of the spring 8 by means of a tool and being lockable by means of a locking nut 24 or similar means against the end of a projection 5" from the radially inner end of the housing 5. As far as the regulating device has been described hitherto, it agrees with the regulating device disclosed in Swedish Patent Specifications 387,161 and 426,091 and, as in the known regulating device, the spring 8 forms a torque-transmitting means between the blade 2 and the hub 3, the bias of the spring 8 determining the basic setting of the rotary speed of the turbine shaft. As described in Patent Specification 387,161, the turbine blade has such a blade profile that this initiates about its aerodynamic centre a nose-dipping moment, pitch moment, substantially independently of the lift acting on the blade when the wind impinges thereon. The blade is so arranged in relation to the common longitudinal axis of the two parts 5 and 7 that the wind force acting on the blade against the action of the torsion spring 8 gives rise to a moment acting about the axis of rotation 2' of the blade (Fig. 1). This moment tends to turn the blade about said axis which coincides with the common longitudinal axis of the parts 5 and 7. In the embodiment of Fig. 1 in the above-mentioned patent specifications, there is no rotational connection between the shafts 2' of the turbine blades. In the embodiment according to the present invention illu¬ strated in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 6, the mutual angular position of the blades 2 about the geometrical blade axes 2' is however maintained equal synchronously by means of a crank arm and linkage system 9, 10, 14 comprising a crank arm 9 mounted on the radially inner end of each blade shaft 2", a link arm 10 and a common synchronizing means 14. The respective link arm 10 is articulated at one end to the corresponding crank arm 9 and articulated at its other end to the synchro¬ nizing means 14. The synchronizing means 14 is so arranged that it coordinates the rotation of the blades about their longitudinal axes or geometrical axes of rotation 2'. To this end, the synchronizing means in an advantageous embodiment is composed of arms 14 symmetrically projecting from a common centre and rigidly connected to each other at their, radially inner ends, e.g. by being designed 'as an integral unit. In the area of this centre, the synchronizing arms 14 are movably supported in relation to a common geometrical axis 4 ' extending at right angles to the longitudinal axes of the arms 14. In the illustrated embodiments, the geometrical axis 4' is formed of the longitudinal axis of a rod 4 which extends coaxial- . ly through the hollow drive shaft 1 and on one outer end portion of which the synchronizing means 14 is carried. For synchronizing the rotation of two blades 2, the synchronizing means 14 may have the form of a two-armed yoke. Depending on the arrangement of the crank arm and link arm system, the synchronizing means can be rotatably and/or displaceably arranged in relation to, i.e. about and along, respectively, the geometrical axis 4 ' . In the embodiment according ' to Figs. 1-5, the synchronizing means 14 is displaceable together with the rod 4 which, in this case, is dis¬ placeably and optionally rotatably mounted in the drive shaft 1. In the embodiment according to Fig. 6, the synchronizing means 14 is rotatably mounted on the drive shaft 1 and so, the rod 4 need only be displace- ably mounted in the drive shaft 1. In the basic setting position of the blades 2, the synchronizing means 14, or optionally the rod 4, bears on an abutment. In Figs. 2 and 4, this abut¬ ment is in the form of an elastic shock-absorbing ring 15 connected to the rod 4 and/o the synchronizing means 14 and arranged to cooperate with an abutment 13 connected to the drive shaft 1. The engagement of the synchronizing means 14 against or its distance from said dampening ring 15 is dependent upon a spring bias and a force initiated by the aerodynamic moment acting on the turbine blades 2. Thus, in the invention it has become possible to reduce the number of abutments to a single, centrally located abutment which is easily accessible from the hub centre. In the motion-transmitting system 9, 10, 14, it is possible to design, for instance the link arm 10 or any part which transmits rotary movements from one turbine blade to another, as an elastic or otherwise dampening means to allow a certain individual rota¬ tional movement of the turbine blades. When the wind force increases from a certain threshold value, the turbine blade 2 is turned about its longitudinal axis 2' by the torque determined by the wind force, as well as the size and shape of the blade, where an important factor is the curva- ture of the blade mean chord. The rotation of the blade about its geometrical axis 2' upon an increase of the wind force is effected against the action of the elastic torque from the biased spring 8. The moment characteristics of the turbine blade 2 and the spring 8 have been so selected that the rotary speed of the turbine is maintained substantially constant above said wind-force threshold value up to a considerably higher wind-force value, at and above which the rotary speed of the turbine again starts to decrease because the aerodynamic moment of the turbine blade 2 above said threshold value in- creases more rapidly than the torsion torque. This is described in the above-mentioned Patent Specifica¬ tion 387,161. As appears from the above and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the torsion spring 8 according to the invention can be biased or tensioned by means of an easily accessible screw 11, 11' which at the same time forms the radially inner spring attachment 11 and can be fixed in the locked position by means of the nut 24. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), it is conceivable to tension or untension the torsion spring 8, for instance by remote-controlled means, for achieving a start and stop function, i.e. when it is desired to start or stop the turbine. When the ■ turbine has been started, it is possible, as mentioned above, to set the desired speed of rotation. Figs. 4 and 5 show a turbine blade 2 which has rotated out of the basic setting position (shown in Fig. 3 ) to a partially feathered position as shown in Fig. 5, either because the aerodynamic moment of the turbine blade 2, in the event of excessive wind force, has been able to rotate the blade 2 against the action of the torsion spring 8 or because an ex¬ ternal force 16 has been able to do so, whereby the synchronizing yoke 14 has been displaced in the direc- tion of the longitudinal axis of the push rod 4 away from the abutment 13. The arrangement is such that it is also possible, by means of an external force 16, to displace the rod 4 acting on the synchronizing yoke 14, the link arm 10 and the crank arm 9, so as to rotate the turbine blade 2 against the action of the torsion spring 8, such that the turbine can be easily stopped also actively, i.e. by intentional in- fluence. In this case, the screw 11, 11', i.e. the spring attachment, need not be used as a means for starting and stopping the turbine. Further, it is possible by means of an additional spring 25 disposed, for instance, between the housing 5 and the crank arm 9 and shown only in Fig. 5, to act on the torsion torque against or with the aero¬ dynamic moment of the turbine blade in a progressive manner, i.e. in a non-linear direction, e.g. for ensur- ing a more distinct shut-off function, i.e. stopping the turbine in the event of highly excessive wind force. In Fig. 6, there is shown an alternative embodiment in which the synchronizing yoke 14 substantially is ro- tatably mounted about the turbine drive shaft 1, but connected to the blade shaft 2' in a manner similar to that described above for the link arm 10 and the crank arm-9. In this case, the turbine-can also be stopped actively by an external force 16 via the rod 4 which, in this case, is not fixedly connected to the synchronizing yoke 14 but to whose outer end a wire 18 is so connected that the force 16 can be trans¬ mitted to the crank arm 9 via pulleys 19. Naturally, it is possible, via other remote-controlled regulating means, to rotate the blade shaft, either directly or via the crank arm 9. In the patent specifications earlier mentioned, the flapping movement has been made possible by a resilient portion of the blade root, and in Patent Specification 426,091, Fig. 6 shows an embodiment with so-called flapping articulations in which the limitation of motion is however brought about by means of a resilient abutment against the hub portion. According to the- present invention, the rotation of the blade 2 about its geometrical axis of rotation 2' is compatible with the flapping motion of the blade in relation to the hub 3 about a flapping axis 17 in that the blade 2 proper is rotatable with respect to the blade root 5 which is not rotatable together with the blade, but is pivotally connected to the hub 3 for executing a pivotal movement, flapping, within certain limits about the flapping axis 17. The possible pivotal or flapping movement is limited by flapping bearing support arms 22 extending into a hollow part of the hub 3 between motion-limiting abut¬ ments 21. It appears from the above that synchronization, i.e. coordination, of the angular motion and angular displacement of the blades about their axes of rotation 2' is achieved by relatively simple means, i.e. linkage systems consisting of the crank arms 9 connected to the rotatable blade portions 2, and the link arms 10 articulated to.the crank arms 9 and hingedly connected to a power-transmitting or power-distributing means 14 which is centrally disposed in relation to the linkage systems and which in the illustrated embodiment for two turbine blades has the form of a two-armed yoke. It further appears that these power- and motion-transmitting systems act, via the means 14, on an element 4 which, by being subjected to an external force in the direction of the arrow 16, see Figs. 4 and 6, however itself forms a means for acting on the power-distributing means 14 for rotating the turbine blades via the linkage systems against the wind forces for feathering the blades to such an extent that it is easier to stop the turbine, or for adjustments in the event of a high wind force. The external force in the direction of the arrow 16 can be provided by means of an actuator (not shown) which may be controlled, e.g. electronically, in depen¬ dence upon selected parameters (wind force, prevailing torque, time etc.), or manually by a mechanical device of any suitable type. The spring arrangement shown in Fig. 7 for bias¬ ing the turbine blades where only one blade shaft 2' is shown in Fig. 7, consists of a helical spring 8' disposed on the actuator means (the rod) 4 and acting between a preferably axially adjustable abutment 11' on the actuator means 4 and an abutment 27' on the turbine shaft 1. In this embodiment, there are no torsion springs 8 of the type shown in Fig. 2 or any arrangement as described above for pre-setting the torsion springs, but otherwise the embodiment in Fig. 7 corresponds to that in Fig. 2. It appears from Fig. 7 that the powerful spring 8' acts, by the actuator means (the rod) 4, on the device for coordinating the angular motion and angular displace- ment of the turbine blades 2 about their axes of rota¬ tion 2', i.e. the spring acts on the actuator means 4 and, via this means 4, on the power-transmitting means 14 and, via the link arms 10, on the blade shafts 2'. The spring arrangement acting on the blades, i.e. the torsion springs 8 in Figs. 1-6 and the heli¬ cal spring 8' in Fig. 7, may of course be modified in several other ways than described above and illu¬ strated in the drawings without departing from the inventive concept. The moment-sensing device shown in Fig. 8 com¬ prises the drive shaft 1 with a driver yoke 30 fixed thereto, and the drive shaft front end 31 which is rotatably mounted in the hub 3. Two moment arms 32, one for each turbine blade 2, are connected to the driver yoke 30 by a respective link arm 33 in points 34 and 35 and to the hub 3 in points 36 by means of a respective pin 37 in a hole 38. Two biased springs 39 are connected at their ends to the hub 3 in lugs 40 thereon and to the outer end 41 of the associated moment arm 32. Two drivers 42 in the form of flexible lines or the like are connected at their ends to a respective moment arm 32 and to a respective crank arm 9. In the illustrated embodiment, the crank arms have a projecting fixing point 43 for one end 44 of the respective driver 42. As appears from Fig. 8, the driving force from the hub 3 rotatably mounted on the drive shaft 1 is transmitted via the moment arm fixing points 36 to the respective moment arm 32 at the bearing 37, 38, the relatively short lever arm between the fixing points 35 and 36 gearing down the relatively great driving force to a smaller force at the point of mount¬ ing of the biased spring 39 in the associated moment arm 32 at the end 41. As appears from Fig. 8, the spring 39 is extended when the force exerted at the end 41 of the moment arm 32 exceeds the bias of the spring, which occurs when the desired maximum driving moment is attained. As in the illustrated case, the moment arm 32 then acts via the driver 42 at the fixing point 43 of the crank arm 9 on the pitch shaft 2', such that the turbine blade 2 can rotate in a direction towards a reduced driving moment.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Regulating device for maintaining constant the rotary speed in turbines of the type comprising a turbine hub (3) and a number of turbine blades (2) which are supported by and axially, but rotatably connected to the hub and have such a shape and are so arranged that each turbine blade in a flowing medium acts on the turbine hub by a torque acting about the axis of rotation of the turbine, and is acted on by a torque by means of a spring arrangement (8; 8' ) tending to rotate the turbine blade about a longitu¬ dinal geometrical axis of rotation (2') substantially at right angles to the turbine shaft, the regulating device comprising means (11; 11') for biasing said spring arrangement (8; 8* ) for establishing a torque acting on the respective blade in a direction of rota¬ tion contrary to the torque on the blade initiated by the flowing medium, with a force corresponding to the pitch moment initiated by the blade in the flowing medium at a desired maximum turbine speed at which the blade starts being rotated about said geometrical axis of rotation (2'), the magnitude of said pitch moment being substantially determined by the blade profile and being substantially independent of the lift on the blade when the medium is impinging thereon, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the regu¬ lating device further comprises a power-transmitting means (14) operable by an actuator means (4) and ov- ably supported in relation to the hub (3) , said power- transmitting means (14), for coordinating the angular motion and angular displacement of the turbine blades (2) about the axes of rotation (2 1 ) of the blades (2), being connected to the turbine blades (2) by linkage systems comprising a crank arm (9) connected to each turbine blade (2), the arrangement being such that each turbine blade, when rotating about its axis of rotation (2 ? ), acts on and brings about a corre¬ sponding rotation of the other turbine blade or, if there are more than two turbine blades, the other turbine blades via said linkage systems and the power- transmitting means (14) common to the turbine blades, and the arrangement further being such that all turbine blades are rotatable about their geometrical axes of rotation (2') by a substantially equal angular dis- placement in relation to each other, by a force which is exerted on said actuator means and which then acts on the turbine blades via said common power-transmitting means (14) and said linkage systems. 2. Device as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d by abutment means comprising a resi¬ lient abutment (15) carried by the power-transmitting means (14) movably arranged in relation to the hub, and an abutment (13) arranged to cooperate with said resilient abutment (15) and fixedly supported in re- lation to the turbine hub (3) for taking up reaction forces from the spring arrangements (8) via said power-transmitting means (14). 3. Device as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said actuator means is a rod-shaped or tubular means (4) which is coaxially displaceable or rotatable in relation to the turbine hub (3) for allow¬ ing said rotation of the turbine blades (2) by the ac¬ tuator means (4) via said power-transmitting means (14) and said linkage systems. 4. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the power- . transmitting means is in the form of a two- or multi- arm power-distributing yoke (14), the number of the arms corresponding to the number of turbine blades (2), and said yoke being supported at its centre by said actuator means (4) . 5. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the spring arrangement (8) for each turbine blade (2) is connected to the hub (3) by means of an adjustable spring attach- ment, for instance in the form of a set screw (11) or the like, which is lockable in the desired setting position by means of a locking device, for instance a locking nut (24). 6. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the power- transmitting means (14) for distributive power trans¬ mission between said linkage systems and the turbine blades is rotatably arranged in a plane of rotation which substantially coincides with flapping shafts (17) connecting the turbine blades to the hub (3). 7. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that for de¬ creasing the bending moment on the blade shafts and for achieving improve ' d geometry and a larger space for the power-distributing means, the geometrical axes of rotation (2 1 ), the flapping shafts (17) and the drive shaft (1) of the turbine blades are disposed in different planes. 8. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said crank arms (9) are connected to the power-transmitting means (14) by means of link arms (10) which are resilient. 9. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a resilient means (25) for providing a progressive moment contribu¬ tion to said spring arrangement (8) is so arranged as to act between the crank arm (9) or, alternatively, the synchronizing means (14) and the hub (3) or a part (5) connected to the hub. 10. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said link arms (10) are connected to power-distributing arms (14) radially projecting from said power-transmitting means, by shafts (26) which are oriented substantially at right angles to the radial direction of the last- mentioned arms and parallel to the plane of rotation of the turbine. 11. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at least a portion of each link arm (10) is elastically deform- able in a direction along the corresponding power- distributing arm (14). 12. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by at least one flapping bearing support arm (22) connecting the blade root (5 1 ) to the hub (3) and extending past the flapping shaft (17) in between two motion-limiting abutments (21) connected to the hub (3). 13. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the hub (3) is elastically rotatably connected to the drive shaft (1), such that mutual twisting will act on the pitch shaft (2' ) by corresponding twisting via a moment- sensing device (30-44). 14. Device as claimed in claim 13, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the moment-sensing device com- prises a driver yoke (30) fixedly provided on the drive shaft (1), moment arms (32) connected to the yoke and the hub (3) via link arms (33), and drivers (42) connected to a respective moment arm (32) and a respective crank arm (9) . 15_ Device as claimed in claim 14, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that biased springs (39) are connect¬ ed at their ends to the hub and to a respective moment. arm (32) .

Inventors: SVENNING SVEN, SVENNING, SVEN
Applicants: SVENNING KONSULT AB S, SVEN SVENNING KONSULT AB
Application year: 1988
Main classification: F03D7
IPC codes: F03D7