Abstract: A method and apparatus to control the flow of data from a plurality of independent turbine-generator data sources includes converting each serial stream of data from each source into parallelly formatted digital characters. These characters are stored in a dedicated buffer. When the buffer is full or when a specified time lapses for each partially filled buffer, the buffer is emptied through a parallel to serial converter into the data logger.

Abstract: A hybrid bearing for a horizontal rotatable shaft includes an upper portion which is essentially a half section of a fixed arc journal bearing. The lower portion of the bearing is essentially the lower portion of a tilting pad bearing. Appropriate modifications are made to the oil film and drain lines and other peripheral elements to accommodate the hybrid nature of the bearing. The resultant bearing has the low power loss characteristics of the journal bearing, and additionally, the stability characteristics of a tilting pad bearing.

Abstract: An eddy current probe, excitable at frequencies equal to or greater 7 mhz., includes a substantially planar, spiral-like, unilaminar coil mounted on an insulative substrate. A protective layer covers the coil and is adapted to present only a minimal mechanical barrier between the coil and a region of material under test. The coil is a continuous run of copper having an effective diameter no greater than 2 mils. The coil, substrate and protective layer are a printed circuit board. A method of detecting flaws is also disclosed.

Abstract: A transducer assembly for maintaining a transducer in contact with, and in alignment with, a surface includes a pair of opposed swivel bars, each of which is pivotably mounted to a cradle. The swivel bars are free to pivot about a roll axis. Two tension arms are pivotably mounted to one of the swivel bars. Each tension arm resiliently urges an end of the transducer into contact with the surface. One of the swivel bars supports two spaced-apart wheels whose contact with the surface is effective to rotate its swivel bar into a predetermined rotation about the roll axis. The transducer, being attached to the swivel bar by one of the tension arms is also rotated into a predetermined angle about the roll axis.

Abstract: A fast opening valve apparatus includes an electronic sensing circuit to determine when a positional error signal exceeds a predetermined reference value corresponding to an opening rate reference value. The sensing circuit provides a fast open command signal which is applied to a solenoid valve which is hydraulically coupled in parallel with a control servo valve. The control servo valve hydraulically couples a primary source of hydraulic fluid under pressure to a valve actuator which is mechanically coupled to a valve stem of an associated steam valve desired to be controlled. The activated solenoid valve opens a supplemental hydraulic fluid path between the valve actuator and the primary source of hydraulic fluid. To ensure an adequate hydraulic fluid pressure at the input of the servo valve and solenoid valve, an auxiliary source of hydraulic fluid under pressure may be coupled upstream of the servo valve and solenoid valve.

Abstract: A stator of a large generator includes three potential, or "P" bars, disposed in slots atop the armature conductors in three of the stator slots. The "P" bars are part of a self-excitation system for producing DC excitation power for the rotating field of the generator. At least the stator slots containing the "P" bars include a pair of dovetail slots spaced radially closer to the air gap than the dovetail slots in the remaining stator slots used for securing armature conductor bars in stator slots. The inner end of a beam is fitted into the dovetail slot over the "P" bar. A yoke is secured over the outer end of the beam. The yoke is secured to studs in space block extensions positioned adjacent the stator slot containing the "P" bar. A ripple spring between the beam and the "P" bar applies a radial force to securely retain the "P" bar and the armature conductor bars in the slot.

Abstract: A method for axially aligning adjacent opposing faces of a first and second shaft segment having a respective joint face, of a steam turbine rotor to be welded together includes mating the joint faces of each shaft segment, placing a crushable lip, which axially extends from one of the joint faces, under an axially compressive force, and supporting the joined shaft segments at their axially outboard ends. An apparatus for axially aligning opposing end faces of a first and second shaft segment to be welded together, the first and second shaft segments including a respective joint face, comprises an adjustable support for raising and lowering the joined shaft segments thereby changing the axial distance across the annular groove defined by adjacent opposing end faces to be welded. Means for measuring the force at the adjustable support, provides an indication of the weight counteracted by the support when optimum axial alignment of the shaft segments is achieved.

Abstract: In a steam turbine, a device for keying hubs of adjacent wheels together, wherein the wheels are not an integral part of the shaft of a rotor of the steam turbine and may be secured to the shaft by an interference shrink-fit at the surface of a bore through the hub of the wheel, comprises a substantially I-beam shaped key disposed in a keyway formed between adjacent hubs. A lip extends axially from the outer periphery of a pair of opposing end faces of adjacent hubs, the outboard surface of one lip of the pair of opposing end faces being in close proximity to the outboard lip of the other lip of the pair of opposing end faces. A respective pair of lands on each respective pair of opposing end faces defines a substantially radial slot respectively between the pair of lands. Streamlined fillets respectively transition the leading and trailing faces of each respective member of the pair of lands to the respective opposing end face.

Abstract: A stator core for a dynamoelectric machine includes two pairs of dovetail slots disposed at respective predetermined radial positions in each armature slot. All stator slots contain armature bars. A few equally spaced stator slots also contain "P" bars atop or radially inward from armature bars. Wedges are installed in the radially outer dovetail slots of stator slots containing only armature bars. Wedges are installed in radially inner dovetail slots in stator slots containing both armature bars and "P" bars.

Abstract: A two-stage hydraulic solenoid valve for controlling the application or release of hydraulic pressure to components of a steam turbine control system. The valve includes a primary hydraulic circuit in which a floating poppet operates between first and second valving positions to connect the valve's outlet port to either an inlet port or a drain port so that the connected control system components receive full hydraulic pressure or are provided with a pressure release path. A secondary hydraulic circuit controls the poppet position through a solenoid actuatable ball and valve seating arrangement wherein a ball is alternatively positioned between a pair of valve seats to switch fluid connections to poppet actuation chambers, one such chamber being located at each end of the poppet. The ball is positioned in sealing contact with one valve seat by the solenoid and is returned to the other seat by fluid pressure upon deactivating the solenoid.

Abstract: An adjustable gain controller for a steam turbine valve position control loop includes an electronic operator, a proportional controller, a derivative controller and an integral controller. A steam flow condition error signal is amplified by the reciprocal of the valve's regulation value. The amplified error signal is supplied to the electronic operator and to the integral controller. The electronic operator includes means for initially selecting a value of A and n and generating a gain factor from a nonlinear gain characteristic function utilizing those values in combination with the valve's regulation value and the normalized error signal. The electronic operator multiplies the amplified error signal by the gain factor and applies the resultant signal to the proportional controller and the derivative controller. The output signals from the proportional, derivative and integral controllers are summed together and that sum is input into an electrohydraulic valve actuator system.

Abstract: The velocity and change in velocity of a rotating or otherwise moving surface is measured by a laser Doppler technique. In particular, a diffraction grating is formed on the moving surface either by machining processes or by affixing a ready-made grating thereto. The grating surface exhibits periodicity in one or more directions, either separately or simultaneously. The presence of the grating produces Bragg order diffraction reflections at specific angles relative to the surface. These Bragg order reflections contain information, in the form of Doppler shifts, concerning the motion of the surface and the body to which it is attached. This Bragg order Doppler shift information is readily analyzable using conventional signal processing apparatus and processes to produce the desired velocity and torsional vibration information.

Abstract: A periodic structure such as a diffraction grating is disposed on the surface of an object from which acoustic emissions are to be detected. A plane monochromatic light beam is incident on the periodic structure and forms a number of Bragg diffraction orders at predetermined angles. A detector positioned to intercept one of the diffraction orders receives light whose frequency has been Doppler shifted by surface motion on the object. A reference beam, also incident on the detector heterodynes with the Doppler-shifted beam so that the Doppler component can be recovered. In one embodiment, the reference beam is also incident on the surface and itself produces Bragg diffraction orders. The geometry produces up Doppler in the Bragg diffraction orders from one beam and down Doppler from the Bragg diffraction orders from the other beam and selected Bragg diffraction orders from both beams are heterodyned in the detector.

Abstract: A slot closure arrangement for closing the slot opening of slots in the stator of a dynamoelectric machine and for providing a restraining force against conductors in the slot. The slots have opposing notches on opposite sides of the slot adjacent the slot opening. A flat rectangular spring member is placed in the slot opening with the opposite edges of the flat spring member each terminating in one of the opposing notches. A pair of wedges with complementary tapered surfaces is inserted between the spring member and the surface of the conductor in the slot adjacent and facing the slot opening. The wedges are advanced one over the other to increase the overall thickness. The surface of the wedge engaging the spring member has a thickness at the center greater than the thickness at the edges, and the center presses the spring member outwardly when the wedges are advanced, deforming the spring member, which then provides a force through the wedges against the conductor in the slot.

Abstract: A ventilation scheme for rotor windings in a dynamoelectric machine includes passages axially extending through the axial end turn conductors of the windings. Each axially extending conductor is an integral, single bar of metal having a groove thereon which defines the passages in cooperation with the turn insulation interposed between each conductor and the underlying and overlaying conductors. Circumferential end turn conductors are mechanically and electrically attached to the axial end turn conductors by reinforcing plates. Circumferential passages through the circumferential end turn conductors allow gas to flow between an end turn region and an isolated low pressure area. The centrifugal pumping action developed by the rotation of the rotor draws gas from the end turn region through the passages and to the periphery of the rotor body.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for axially aligning axially coupled shafts of a steam turbine includes means for changing the elevation of the outboard end of each shaft. The outboard end of each shaft is rotatably supported by a bearing above a turbine foundation. Means is included for measuring the supporting force at the bearing. A strain gauge is disposed on the surface of each shaft which provides an output signal indicative of the degree of bending of that shaft. The apparatus includes means for comparing and minimizing the output signals of the strain gauges by affecting the means for changing the elevation and comparing the resultant output signals at different levels of elevation.

Abstract: In a steam turbine, apparatus for preventing rotation of a first wheel with respect to a second wheel adjacent the first wheel, wherein the first and second wheels are secured to a shaft of a rotor of the steam turbine by an interference shrink fit, comprises a key disposed in a keyway defined by and between respective hubs of the wheels. The key is exposed to ambient environment of the rotor and is spaced from the axial ends of the keyway to permit steam to flow through portions of the keyway. Key and keyway configurations for prohibiting radial movement of the key are illustrated.

Abstract: For use in a pressure fed or flood lubricated bearing, there is disclosed a shaft load-bearing element (e.g., the thrust plate in a tapered land thrust bearing) preferably comprising three metallic layers including an inner layer adjacent the shaft surface of metal possessing good bearing properties; an outer layer of structural steel to provide rigidity; and an intermediate layer of copper or copper alloy sandwiched between the inner and outer layers to provide good thermal properties. The metallic layers of such a trimetallic bearing element are metallurgically bonded at the interfaces between layers to enhance heat transfer. Advantageously, a shaft load-bearing element according to the invention is substantially free from distortion and damage during handling and avoids elevated temperature problems.

Abstract: A composition for electrodeposition of an insulating mica coating onto a conducting substrate is disclosed. The composition consists essentially of mica, a water soluble anionic resin binder, an electrolyte and a polar solvent.

Abstract: For use in a pressure fed or flood lubricated bearing, there is disclosed a shaft load-bearing element (e.g., the thrust plate in a tapered land thrust bearing) preferably comprising three metallic layers including an inner layer adjacent the shaft surface of metal possessing good bearing properties; an outer layer of structural steel to provide rigidity; and an intermediate layer of copper or copper alloy sandwiched between the inner and outer layers to provide good thermal properties. The metallic layers of such a trimetallic bearing element are metallurgically bonded at the interfaces between layers to enhance heat transfer. Advantageously, a shaft load-bearing element according to the invention is substantially free from distortion and damage during handling and avoids elevated temperature problems.