An Improved Steam Turbine.
Year: 1897

page_text: An Improved Steam Turbine.
I, CARL WEICHELT, of 8 Gorochowskaja, Moscow, in the Empire of Russia,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
In the steam and other gaseous turbines heretofore known, the steam compressed
air or gas escapes with such great velocity that its force is not fully utilized; while
in consequence of this high velocity the turbine is driven at a very high speed of
revolution which in most cases in practice cannot be directly applied, except on
reduction of speed by the employment of gear for this purpose.
The present invention has for its object to obviate this disadvantage and consists
in making the escape or exbaust passages or ports with a prolongation or extension
of constantly increasing cross sectional area in which the steam or gas is enabled
in its passage to expand before passing out of the turbine wheel and is thus
enabled. to completely impart its inherent force to the said wheel.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the construction of a turbine of
this kind.
Figure 1 being a longitudinal section.
Figure 2 being a cross section through the line y, (Figure 1); while,
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section and
Figure 4 is a cross section through the turbine wheel on a large scale.
In the turbine wheel e (Figure 4) the steam or gas admission ports or passages d
are, in contradistinction to the usual construction, extended or prolonged beyond
their termination situate at their narrowest cross sectional area, in such a manner
that their cross sectional area increases continually again from to the point of
exit H (Figures 2 and 3). Instead of the several admission passages d'a common
hollow space may also be provided with which the exit passages are connected.
The number, form, and cross section of the admission and exhaust passages may
be designed according to special requirements.
The turbine wheel e is surrounded by the casing (Figure 1) and laterally
thereof is provided a chamber k which serves to receive the steam, air or gas
conveyed from the boiler, reservoir or pumps by means of a pipe and to lead it to
the turbine wheel. This chamber k is provided with a regulating valve m and
with a governor n for regulating the admission of the steam, air or gas and con-
sequently for governing the speed of the turbine. It has also a cover o on removal
of which access can be had to the interior of the chamber and a cock p for
discharging the water condensed from the steam. The casing I which surrounds
the turbine wheel serves to receive the steam, air or gas escaping from the latter
and to convey it through the tubular connection g (Figure 2) into the atmosphere
or into a condenser.
The shaft a a' of the turbine wheel passes through the bearings of the casing
and stuffing boxes rands are provided. The stuffing box r is tightened by screws
and by the pressure obtaining in the chamber k. The stuffing box s is also tightened
by means of screws. In order that the packing of the stuffing boxes shall not be
caused to rotate by the shaft a a', the stuffing boxes are provided at their front
ends with small teeth which are forced into the packing. The shaft a¹ passes out
of the stuffing box and is carried in bearings t and u, between which is mounted
$

page_text: a belt pulley which serves to transmit the power of the turbine by means of a
belt. If desired the machine or apparatus to be driven such as for example a
dynamo machine, may be coupled here directly to the shaft al. The journal w
which is adjustable and is located at the end of the axle al serves to take up the
axial thrust produced by the pressure of the steam, air or gas.
The bearings,
as also the stuffing boxes with their extensions and the journal are provided with
reliable lubricating devices.
The steam, air or gas enters at the end of the hollow shaft a in the direction of
the arrow b (Figure 3) and passes in the direction of the arrow c (Figures 3 and 4)
through the admission passages d of the turbine wheel e as far as the narrowest
parts thereof.
The size of all the cross sectional areas at f depends upon the
amount of steam, air or gas which is to be passed through for the purpose of
generating the required power, whilst the cross sectional area of the admission
passages d which have been previously traversed by the steam must be greater.
If the passages were not extended beyond then there would be no utilization
of the expansion of the working steam, air or gas; but as those passages are
extended with constantly increasing cross sectional area up to H, expansion takes
place in the same and is thus utilised inasmuch as the steam, air or gas only escapes
at H in the direction of the arrow i. Utilization of the power is thus the more
completely effected the smaller the terminal pressure and the terminal velocity of
the steam, air or gas issuing at H which can be obtained in practice.
d
The areas and H may be arranged in such relation as will suit initial and
terminal pressures.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A reaction steam, air or gas turbine characterised by exit passages having a
cross sectional area which increases constantly towards the exit, for the purpose
of utilising as completely as possible the expansive energy of the steam, air or gas
and for the purpose of obtaining a smaller number of revolutions of the turbine
'wheel in consequence of the lower terminal velocity of the steam, air or gas from
said passages whereby the turbine is rendered suitable for use in many cases with
advantage as a substitute for reciprocating engines substantially as described.
2. A reaction steam, air or gas turbine substantially as and for the purpose
. herein before described and illustrated.
Dated thin and
1008
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.