Patent GB-669331-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in hydraulic couplings
IPC: F16D33/20
Filed: 1949-01-18
Abstract: 669,331. Hydraulic couplings. SINCLAIR, H. Jan. 2, 1950 [Jan. 18, 1949], No. 1419/49. Class 69 (ii). In a hydraulic turbo - coupling of the kind having an impeller and a runner element each including an annular dished shell 21, Fig. 1, provided with radial vanes, which elements are placed face - to face so that their intervane pockets comprised by inter-vane passages P<SP>3</SP>-P<SP>5</SP> and recesses p<SP>3</SP>-p<SP>5</SP>, for example, combine to form a toroidal working circuit in which liquid will circulate as a vortex in response to slip between the elements, the coupling being intended to operate, at least at times, with its working circuit only partially filled with liquid, it is arranged that the shapes of some of the inter-vane pockets of at least the runner element, as disclosed by section planes containing the axis of rotation of the coupling, differ from the shapes of the other pockets of the runner. The runner, which may be used with a coreless impeller (not shown), comprises the shell 21 fitted with vanes arranged in three identical groups, each covering 120 degrees of the shell periphery. Each group consists of eighteen vanes V<SP>1</SP>-V<SP>18</SP>, every third vane extending to the inner profile of the shell whilst the remainder are cut back to avoid undue constriction at this point; the spacing between the vanes of each group progressively increases by an angle of “ degree. The runner is provided with an interrupted core which is formed by a semi-circular part C<SP>2</SP>-C<SP>18</SP> on each vane, with the exception of the first one V<SP>1</SP>, the core parts being spaced apart and having diameters that either increase in uniform steps around the runner or are graded as shown; in each case each group of three has a different diameter from the next group, and the core parts of each group are' at a different distance from the shell outer profile. In a modification, the runner has fifty-one vanes divided into three groups, each group having one long and two short vanes, whilst the width of the core parts measured circumferentially is less than the width of the inter-vane pockets, except at the top and bottom of each vane where they are supported by the vanes. The core part on the third vane of each group is of smaller diameter than the other two, the outer end of each part being at a uniform distance from the shell outer profile. In another modification, the vanes, which extend to the inner shell profile, are in groups of five, and the core parts have both a progressively increasing diameter and distance from the shell outer profile. In a further modification, the vanes are disposed as in Fig. 1, but the core parts are of progressively greater circumferential width; one half of the core parts of each group are arranged progressively closer to the shell inner profile, the other half being arranged progressively further away. In another modification, the vanes are arranged in groups of three, consisting of two short vanes V2D and V3D, Fig. 7, and a long vane V1D, whilst an - interrupted subsidiary shell is formed by segments S1D, S2D and S3D which are of less circumferential width than the inter-vane pockets, except at their inner ends where they join the vanes, the outer ends fitting into the periphery of the main shell 21D. Segments S1D and S2D are of larger diameter than segment S3D. In another modification, the sub-- sidiary shell comprises five segments of progressively greater diameter. In a further modification, the runner may be coreless and is provided with vanes arranged in groups of five V1F-V5F, Fig. 11. The pocket between vanes V1F and V2F is of larger crosssection and has a smaller inner profile diameter than the pocket between vanes V1F and V5F, this difference progressively increasing through each group so that the shape of shell 21F differs around its periphery ; an outer cover is necessary to provide a smooth exterior. It is not essential for any of the variations to form a repeating pattern. Specifications 484,092 and 538,043 are referred to.