Abstract: A synchronous generator is provided. The generator includes a rotor, which rotates around a machine axis and is concentrically surrounded by a stator with a stator winding. A plurality of permanent magnets and pole pieces are alternatingly arranged at the rim of the rotor with the permanent magnets being oriented in an essentially tangential direction. Torque and power characteristic of the generator are improved by alternating pole pieces and pairs of permanent magnets. The permanent magnets each have a rectangular cross section in the axial direction, the pole pieces each have a symmetric trapezoidal cross section in the axial direction with the symmetry plane of the trapezoid extending radially through the machine axis and the longer parallel side lying outside. The two permanent magnets of each pair of permanent magnets are separated from each other by an intermediate wedge, which corresponds with its cross section to the trapezoidal pole pieces.

Abstract: A wet-mateable electrical connector comprises a vertically movable female connector unit 52 locatable over a vertically fixed male connector unit 50. The female connector unit 52 defines a chamber 62 containing a gas to exclude water and the like therefrom and having a closed upper end and an open lower end for receiving an upper end of the male connector unit 50. An insulating sheath 6 is locatable within the upper end of the female connector unit 52 to move it from a first position that protects a first electrical contactor 4 provided on the upper end of the male connector unit 50 to a second position that exposes the first electrical contactor 4. The upper end of the female connector unit 52 houses a second electrical contactor 3 which is engageable with the first electrical contactor 4 upon movement of the insulating sheath 6 from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: This member (4) can be attached to the crown (12) of a wheel (1) of a hydraulic machine. It is provided with a skin (42) of which a surface (421) is able to be arranged in the continuation of a wet surface (121) of the crown. This member is equipped with at least one fun (43) arranged radially inside the skirt (42) and projecting axially (h) from the skirt (42) in the downward direction.

Abstract: To recover the axial forces transmitted by a rotating shaft, a bearing assembly includes a plurality of distributed bearing units. Each bearing unit comprises: a stationary base; a resilient member having a stationary portion and a portion that is completely movable in a main direction of the forces to be supported; and a bearing surface that defines, together with the shaft, a water film. The bearing surface is connected to the movable portion. The minimum radius of the bearing surface is between 1 m and 3 m. The resilient member and the base define at least one water chamber. A plurality of ducts are arranged so as to connect the chambers together, thereby defining a closed circuit.

Abstract: This fin is intended to be installed in a protruding manner inside a discharge pipe of a hydraulic machine. The fin includes a first face which has holes and a second face which is solid. The fin defines by itself, between the first face and the second face, a cavity connecting the outside of the discharge pipe to the holes in the first face.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an air-cooled generator, through which cooling air flows for the removal of heat loss, wherein the cooling air sweeps over boundary surfaces (23) acting as cooling surfaces and, in so doing, absorbs heat from these boundary surfaces (23). The heat transfer is maximized with minimal cooling air consumption since the boundary surfaces (23) are provided with distributed local elevations (24) enlarging the cooling surface and the heat transfer coefficient. In particular, local elevations in the form of pyramid-shaped or truncated-pyramid-shaped bodies (24, 26, 29) are preferred.

Abstract: A Pelton hydraulic machine through which a main flow of water passes including at least one Pelton turbine manifold with at least a turbulent zone or a reduced-pressure zone being formed close to the manifold and wherein a secondary flow drawn from the main flow, and unaltered in relation to the main flow, is injected into the turbulent or reduced-pressure zone so as to alter the main flow locally or increase the pressure in the zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine through which a main flow (E) of water passes, including a turbine wheel (4), with at least a turbulent zone, reduced-pressure zone or cavitation zone (8, 10, 33) being formed close to said wheel. The wheel includes blades (6) disposed between a ceiling (28) and a belt (30). The machine also includes means for injecting a flow (E2) drawn from the main flow into the aforementioned zone (8, 10, 33) such as to alter the main flow (E) locally or increase the pressure in said zone (8, 10, 33). Said injection means inject the drawn flow (E2) from the ceiling (28) or from the belt (30) through holes (31, 32) provided in the ceiling (28) or belt (30).

Abstract: This electricity producing installation (1) includes electricity producing devices (14, 16, 18, 20) at least partly immersed in water, each electricity producing device comprising a rotary mechanical receiver and an alternator (22) comprising at least one rotor (23) and at least one stator (24), a rotor of the alternator being able to be set into rotation by the rotary mechanical receiver. Each electricity producing device (14, 16, 18, 20) produces an electric AC signal with variable voltage and frequency conveyed by an at least partly immersed electric transport cable (32, 36, 38, 40). The installation further comprises an interconnection device (34) to which are connected at the input in parallel electric transport cables (32, 36, 38, 40) and which provide at the output a joint electric signal (S?) with variable frequency and voltage, the current amplitude of which is equal to the sum of the input currents.

Abstract: A wet-mateable electrical connector comprises a vertically movable female connector unit 52 locatable over a vertically fixed male connector unit 50. The female connector unit 52 defines a chamber 62 containing a gas to exclude water and the like therefrom and having a closed upper end and an open lower end for receiving an upper end of the male connector unit 50. An insulating sheath 6 is locatable within the upper end of the female connector unit 52 to move it from a first position that protects a first electrical contactor 4 provided on the upper end of the male connector unit 50 to a second position that exposes the first electrical contactor 4. The upper end of the female connector unit 52 houses a second electrical contactor 3 which is engageable with the first electrical contactor 4 upon movement of the insulating sheath 6 from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pad-type thrust bearing in which each pad rests on a volume of liquid enclosed in a cavity connected to adjacent cavities by ducts. The thrust bearing comprises a number of convex casings each on its own delimiting a cavity and which are connected to one another by ducts. The convex casings and the ducts together form a hollow functional subassembly which is separate from the other constituent components of the thrust bearing and which delimits a liquid-filled closed volume. According to the invention, each casing comprises two half-shells positioned one on each side of a flexible bladder and each duct comprises a flexible hose inserted in a sheath.

Abstract: A method for protecting a component of a hydraulic machine against erosion comprises steps involving preparing, in the flat state, several sheets of polymerised synthetic material, in applying a coat of adhesive to one side of each sheet 300 and in laying the sheets on the surface of the component that is to be covered with the layer of coating.

Abstract: A pressing module for the press-forming and curing of impregnated conductor bars for large electrical machines, such as for example hydro generators, can be distinguished by an improved closing system for applying the pressing pressure, and a pressing apparatus equipped therewith, the handling of which involves significantly reduced work. A pressing module (1) has a pressing vat (2) for applying a horizontal pressing force and a pressing yoke (3) for applying a vertical pressing force. The closing units (6) and (7) for applying the horizontal and vertical pressing forces have a housing (20), which receives, slidingly mounted therein, a pressing piston (21), which is in operative connection with an axially fixed, rotatable threaded bolt (27) in such a way that a turning movement of the threaded bolt (27) brings about an axial movement of the pressing piston (21). An axial bearing (3), supported on a spring assembly (35), provides a flexible mounting of the pressing piston (21).

Abstract: A winding for a rotating electric machine includes conductive bars having straight parts and end windings and terminal portions of the end windings that are connected together. A protective cap is disposed on at least a portion of each respective connected end winding terminal portion. An electrical insulating material is disposed between each end winding terminal portion and respective protective cap and a seal is inside each protective cap.

Abstract: An impulse air turbine arrangement for use with a reversing bi-directional air flow in a wave power plant comprises an axial flow turbine rotor with volutes mounted one each side of the turbine rotor to direct the reversing air flow to and from the turbine rotor. Each volute extends circumferentially with respect to the turbine axis between a radially outer opening and a radially inner opening. The radially outer opening is oriented for input/output of the air in a tangential direction and the radially inner opening is oriented axially to impinge/receive swirling air flow onto/from the turbine rotor.

Abstract: A foundation structure for locating an object mounted on the foundation structure on a sea bed or a river bed comprises an integral buoyancy device having variable buoyancy and a rigid control surface. The integral buoyancy device is movable relative to the foundation structure to vary the position of the rigid control surface and to control the position of the centre of buoyancy relative to the position of the centre of gravity. This stabilizes the foundation structure during submergence and surfacing. A method for controlling the deployment and retrieval of the foundation structure is also described.

Abstract: A rotating electrical machine is presented and includes a rotor, rotatable about an axis and is surrounded concentrically by a stator and has a hollow cylindrical rotor laminated core, which includes a layered lamination stack made up of a multiplicity of ring-section-shaped lamination segments which are acted upon by a pressing plate in order to distribute the pressure and are clamped by bolts which pass in an axial direction through the rotor laminated core, and which engages with a concentric central body of the rotor by means of axial slots on the internal radius of the rotor laminated core in order to transmit torque. The machine also includes slots formed in each case by pairs of radially inwardly aligned cams which are arranged on the internal radius of the lamination segments and are separated from one another by the width of the slot.

Abstract: A rotating electric machine, e.g. hydrogenerator, includes a rotor, including a rotor laminate stack extending in a machine axis direction and having a rotor winding which forms a winding head at each of the ends of the rotor laminate stack. The winding head is fastened to a winding head rim, which is arranged concentrically within the winding head and adjoins the rotor laminate stack in the axial direction, to intercept centrifugal forces by bolts passing radially through the winding head, and a fastening designed to safely absorb axial expansions of the winding head. Simple and secure fastening is achieved by the bolts being fastened to the winding head rim in each case on a T-shaped hammer profile, which extends axially and is mounted, axially movable, in a T-shaped groove in the winding head rim, additional couplers are provided that transmit axial expansions of the winding head onto the hammer profile.

Abstract: A rotating electric machine includes a rotor, having a rotor laminate stack extending in the direction of a machine axis and having a rotor winding, the rotor winding forming a winding head at each of the ends of the rotor laminate stack, said winding head being fastened to a winding head rim, which is arranged concentrically within the winding head and adjoins the rotor laminate stack in the axial direction, in order to intercept centrifugal forces by means of bolts passing radially through the winding head, and a fastening designed to safely absorb axial expansions of the winding head. Simple and secure fastening is achieved by virtue of the bolts being fastened to the winding head rim in each case on a T-shaped hammer profile, which extends in the axial direction and is mounted in axially movable fashion in an associated axial T-shaped slot in the winding head rim.

Abstract: A leaf for a mitre gate is provided. The leaf for a mitre gate may include: a skin plate intended for withstanding a pressure exerted by a liquid; and at least two uprights respectively located on either side of the skin plate, the uprights being secured to the skin plate. The skin plate is in the overall shape of a cylinder portion, the longitudinal axis of the cylinder being essentially parallel to the uprights. Each upright extends overall according to a generatrix of the cylinder. Each upright includes at least one bearing element, arranged to project relative to the skin plate and each bearing element includes a bearing surface, for supporting the bearing element against a lock wall or another leaf of the mitre gate. The bearing surface of each bearing element is aligned with a plane that is tangential to the skin plate.