Patent GB-846622-A (GB)
Title: Reversing mechanism for the rotor blades of a hydraulic turbine
IPC: F03B3/14
Filed: 1958-06-13
Abstract: 846,622. Hydraulic turbines. SOC. DES FORGES ET ATELIERS DU CREUSOT S.A. June 13, 1958 [June 18, 1957], No. 18957/58. Class 110 (3). In an hydraulic turbine in which the rotor blades are reversed by a piston 11 acting through a rod 10, main connecting rod 7 and crank 6 on the blade journals 3 and in which the main connecting rod and crank has to pass through a dead centre has an auxiliary control mechanism which allows the main connecting rod and crank to pass its dead centre. This auxiliary control mechanism comprises a first toothed sector 13 fast with the blade journal 3, a second toothed sector 15 having a smaller development and radius than those of the first toothed sector, pivoted about an axis 16 parallel to that of the blade journal 3 and being capable of being in mesh with the first toothed sector, an auxiliary connecting rod 17 and crank system 14 fast with the second toothed sector which also passes through a dead centre and a return device 18, 19 coupled to the connecting rod and crank system in order to cause the crank to continue rotating after the dead centre of the auxiliary connecting rod and crank system has been passed. In the normal adjustment zones of the blades the auxiliary control mechanism is completely free from the normal adjustment mechanism. When reversal is desired, control liquid is caused to enter the chamber 34 above the piston 11. The sector 13 then rotates the blades past their end position of normal adjustment until the teeth of the sector 13 engages the sector 15, Fig. 5, which then drives the connecting rod and crank system 14, 17 until it reaches the dead-centre position shown. Further movement of the piston 11 causes the system 14, 17 to pass through the dead-centre position until the connecting rod and crank system 6, 7 reaches its dead-centre position. Just before this position is reached the piston rod engages a slidevalve 25 and allows pressure fluid to be supplied to the auxiliary piston and cylinder 18, 19. At this instant the auxiliary control mechanism assumes a driving function which is added to that of the piston 11. As the piston 11 moves further, its effectiveness decreases and that of the piston and cylinder 18 increases and takes the connecting rod and crank system 6, 7 through the dead-centre position. Pressure fluid is then admitted to chamber 35 so that the piston 11 again takes control. The auxiliary mechanism operates to the instant at which the rod 10 ceases to act on the slide valve 25. When the piston 19 abuts the end of the cylinder 18 the last tooth of the sector 15 is in engagement with the sector 13. In order that the movement of the sector 13 may continue the end teeth of the sector 15 are made to retract before the teeth of sector 13 which still have to pass and subsequently to resume a normal position allowing the two sectors to mesh for a reverse movement. In a modification these end teeth are replaced by ordinary teeth and a spring is provided between the piston 19 and the end plate 43 which spring allows sufficient movement of the sector 15 to allow the teeth to be freed from sector 13. In another modification, the hydraulically operated piston and cylinder 18, 19 is replaced by a spring-loaded piston. The turbine may also operate as a pump in both directions of flow.