Improvements in Turbines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 21st Apr., 1896-Accepted, 23rd May, 1896
Improvements in Turbines.
I, LÉONCE ALFRED GABRIEL MALLIARY, of Essonnes (Seine et Oise), in the
Republic of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to he
as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to improvements in turbines.
It is well known that it is very important to keep the efficiency of turbines
constant under varying conditions. The best means of ensuring this regular efficiency
is to make the capacity of the receiver always in constant relation to the volume of
water employed without changing the conditions of the passage of the water through the
distributer. Every arrangement of the blades having for object to modify the section
of the passages in the distributer without correspondingly modifying the capacity of
the receiver possesses the disadvantage of causing the liquid stream to deviate in its
course, such deviation causing a diminution in the efficiency which increases as the
difference between the constant capacity of the receiver and the capacity of the
distributer increases.
It is the object of my invention to remedy this defect and to this end I provide
means whereby the capacity of the receiver may be varied as desired.
According to my invention I form the receiver solid with a cross piece koyed to a
vertical shaft and revolving with this latter inside a fixed distributer. On the vertical
shaft I also mount a plate preferably having the shape of an inverted cone which is
attached to them by suitable means in such a manner that the said plate rotates
with the shaft but can also move vertically on the same.
The external diameter of the plate is equal to the internal diameter of the receiver
and it is provided on its periphery with metal strips or fingers equal in number to
the number of buckets which strips or fingers pass into the spaces between the
buckets and have the same cross section as the said spaces at every point for the
whole depth of the buckets.
These strips form with the cone shaped plate, from the outside of the receiver to
the vertical shaft, a closed and movable casing which directs the fluid streams and
only allows them to pass in the spaces comprised between the said strips and the
bottom of the receiver. As the plate can be moved up and down on the shaft the
capacity of the receiver can be varied from zero to the full capacity and at the same
time the turbine can always work with full admission of water through the spaco
allowed.
This casing serves to give the receiver the quantity of water it requires and the
fixed distributer ouly serves to direct the streams of water into the receiver at a
proper angle.
The vertical shaft is made hollow from the cross piece to its lower extremity and
is provided with a slot in which a second shaft or spindle is inserted. The plate is
caused to rotate with the vertical shaft by means of the strips or fingers which enter
the spaces between the buckets, but it may be advantageously fixed to the hollow
end of the said shaft by means of a key which also secures the spindle to the same.
The key is free to move in the slot in the vertical shaft thereby enabling the
pindle and the cone shaped plate to be moved up and down a distance equal to
he height of the receiver.
The vertical shaft is fixed at its lower end to a cross piece and as it may bo
ubjected, when revolving to stresses acting in different directions I cause it to

page_text: rotate on two washers, preferably composed of lignum vita to provide against
undue wear.
This cross piece is held by two iron rods which pass through guides and are
bolted to an upper cross piece.
Above the turbine proper I provide a cylinder which serves to completely close
the passage of the water when the turbine is stoppel and which is held by two rods
fixed to the upper cross piece. This cross piece is provided with two racks with
which pinions gear, the said pinions being carried by a shaft and guide rollers being
provided behind the racks.
On the upper end of the vertical shaft I provide a sleeve secured to the same by
means of a key which allows it longitudinal movement. The shaft is screwed above
the said sleeve and a nut on the screwed portion secures the sleeve in position on
the shaft.
The sleeve is provided at its lower end with a tempered steel washer which rolls
on steel balls held in a groove in a second tempered steel washer mounted on a
suitable support. This support, which therefore carries the whole weight of the
shaft and of the turbine, is rigidly fixed to a suitable framework and carries a
bracket provided with adjustable bearings to centre and keep the shaft of the
turbine in pa-ition, the said shaft being also held, above the cross piece on the
receiver in a bush in the boss of a support to which the guide blade chamber is
screwed.
In the case of turbines revolving on horizontal axes two cone shaped plates can
be used one on either side of the turbine. By arranging the buckets on the right
of the receiver in an opposite direction to those on the left and by manipulating
either one or the other of the cone shaped plates the turbines can be caused to rotato
in either direction as desired.
Dated the thich day at AGK
G. F. REDFERN & Co..
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Turbines.
I, LOSCE ALFRED GABRIEL MALLIABY, formerly of Essonnes (Seine et Oise) now
of 21, Boulevard Poissonnière, Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and uscertained in and by the following statement :-—
This invention relates to improvements in turbines.
It is well known that centripetal turbines possess the advantage of rotating with
a maximum of speed and a minimum of friction, which allows them to be worked
by any available water-power and to acquire a greater efficiency than any other
turbine. This advantage would make the use of a centripetal turbine preferable to
that of others but for the serious defect, hitherto unremedied, that its efficiency only
remains constant when it works at full aperture and rapidly decreases when this
aperture is reduced.
All systems of fans or vanes having for object to alter the section of the guides
or passages of the distributer without correspondingly altering the capacity of the
buckets or receiver, present certain disadvantages by causing a deviation of the flow.
which causes a diminution in the efficiency of the turbine, which diminution increases
as the relation between the constant section of the buckets and the varying section of
the distributer increases.
In order therefore that a turbine shall have a high efficiency, whatever be the number
of its inlets, it is necessary to construct it in such a manner that the capacity of the
buckets is always in a constant proportion to the capacity of the distributer as well

page_text: as to the volume of water employed without it being necessary in any way to alter
the arrangement of the inclinel guides of the distributer and of the buckets so that
the conditions of the water-flow in these guides are unaltered.
Moreover, it should be possible to vary the capacity of the buckets at the same
time as that of the distributer, by means of simple and easily operated mechanism.
By fulfilling these conditions obtain a turbine which always works at full
aperture although the head of water actuating it may vary.
In the accompanying drawing,-
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a centripetal turbine constructed according to
my invention:
Figure 2 is a plan of the same, one half being in section to shew the guides and
buckets.
The turbine consists of a movable receiver A provided with or fixed to arms B,
keyed to a shaft C and revolving with this latter within a suitable fixed distributer D.
Between the distributer D and the receiver A I arrange an adjustable sliding
cylindrical shield N which is attached to a cross-bar P by means of rods 0 and
which only allows the water entering the buckets to pass through the space between
its lower portion and the bottom plate of the distributer D. This cylindrical
shield N carries at its lower end projecting plates d' corresponding in number and
shape to the openings of the distributer. The projecting plates are arranged to
exactly fit these openings and are curved and of a sufficient length to suitably direct
the flow of water without in any way impeding the same.
An inverted cone E is mounted on the shaft Cin such a manner that it can slide
vertically thereon. The external diameter of this cone E corresponds to the internal
diameter of the movable receiver A and it is made slightly concave as shewn in the
drawing, so as to facilitate the escape of water and avoid the formation of eddies.
The cone E is provided with metal plates or strips F corre-ponding in number and
shape to the buckets and fitting into the same. By this means the said cone is
caused to rotate with the revolving receiver A. The plates F project beyond the
circumference of the cone E to an extent equal to a the depth of the buckets.
It will therefore be seen that when the lower part of the cylindrical shield Nis
opposite the ends of the plates F, it will form a partially closed chamber which
directs the flow of water from the distributer to the shaft (and restricts the How
to the space or channel between the plates F and d and the bottom flange of the
distributer.
The plates F and the cone E may he moved vertically a distance equal to the
depth of the receiver by means of a rod or shaft H. This rod or shaft H supports
the cone E by means of a key or cottar G which can slide freely in the lower and
hollow portion of the shaft C, which hollow portion extends downwards from the
arms B. The lower end of the shaft H is arranged to revolve in a bearing in a
crossbar I, which bearing may be provided with lignum vitae or metal washers K.
Immediately above the arms B is arranged a bearing e within which the shaft (
revolves. This bearing is formed in the centre of a fixel plate or cover ƒ to the
lower portion of which is attached the distributer D.
The onter ends of the ero--bar I are supported by vertical rods L passing through
guides M and bolted or otherwise attached to the upper crossbar P. It will thus be
seen that the crossbars I, P with the connecting rods form a rigid frame or
rectangle within which are placed the receiver A, the distributer D, the cylindrical
shield N, and the greater portion of the remaining parts of the turbine, which is thus
rendered capable of easy transport.
Racks Q. Q are attached to the crossbar P, which racks engage with pinions R, R
keyed or otherwise attached to a horizontal driving shaft S and behind these racks
I place guide-rollers g. The shaft S may be actuated by a crank, a hand wheel or
other suitable device, so that the pinions R engaging with the racks Qwill cause the
crossbar P to be raised or lowered and consequently the cone E and shield N to
ascend or descend to a corresponding degree.
The shaft C is further supported by a sleeve or washer T attached thereto by a key

page_text: or similar device U, and the position of this sleeve T may be regulated by means of
a nut V. The lower portion of the sleeve T may be regulated by means of a nut V.
The lower portion of the sleeve T is provided with a hard metal or lignum vita
washer X, and I may provide a ball bearing Y between this washer X and a second
washor Zinserted in the plate or cover c. This plate e supports the shaft and the
turbine and may be placed upon a timber or other supporting frame. It is also
provided with a bridge or bracket d furnished with adjustable bearings for contoring
and supporting the turbine shaft.
My improvements may be applied to either vertical or horizontal turbines, with or
without a cistern or tank. In the case of horizontal turbines, ball-bearings may bo
dispensed with.
The shield N may be exterior to the distributer D but in this case the projecting
plates d should be extended within the interior of the distributer close to the
plates F in order to correctly direct the inflow of water. I may vary as desired the
guiding mechanism of the cylindrical shield and cone E, as also the slinpes, materials,
dimensions and details of construction of the various parts.
Having now particularly describes 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. In a centripetal turbine, the combination with a revolving receiver of a cono
furnished with plates corresponding in size and number to the buckets of the
receiver, the said cone and its plates being free to slide upon the turbine shaft, for
the purpose of allowing the capacity of the revolving receiver or buckets to be
varied as desired, that of the fixed distribuier being altered simpuiltanoonsly by any
suitable means, substantially as, and for the purpose, hereinbefore described.
2. In centripetal turbines, the combination of a concave cone furnished with plates
corresponding in size and number to, and fitting into the buckets of the revolving
receiver, and of a cylindrical shield provided on one of its sides with projecting plates
of a size corresponding to and fitting the openings of the distributer, the cone and
shield being regulated by any suitable mechanism which allows communication
between the said cone and the cylindrical shield, substantially as, and for the
purposes, describod.
3. The arrangement of the mechanism of the cone and the shield for the simultaneous
movement of those parts, as described and illustrated in the annexed drawing.
4. The improved centripetal turbine of variable capacity, constructed, combined and
arranged for the purposes specified and substantially as described.
Data
131
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicaut.