Abstract: An insulator arrangement for supporting a conductor with an enclosure has an insulator fixedly connected at one end with the conductor. The insulator has another end portion mounted to a first shock absorber. The first shock absorber is further mounted with an access cover to permit displacement of the conductor and the insulator relative to the access cover. The insulator arrangement has second shock absorbers mounting the access cover to the enclosure permitting relative displacement between the access cover, which supports the insulator and conductor, and the enclosure.

Abstract: A split runner for a Francis turbine has runner segments that are adapted to be joined together along confronting surface portions thereof to form a composite runner having a crown, a band and a plurality of blades extending between the crown and the band. The confronting surface portions of the runner segments are located only along portions of the crown and portions of the band, and the confronting surface portions of the runner segments are located in between and spaced from adjacent blades of the composite runner. Since the confronting surface portions are located only along portions of the crown and portions of the band, none of the blades are split eliminating the need to weld together blades during formation of the composite runner. Accordingly, the composite runner does not have weld joints formed in the blades which are highly stressed operating parts of the runner.

Abstract: A power plant has a generator that is cooled by hydrogen gas. The power plant has a terminal compartment for housing stator terminals of the generator and conductor connections of a main bus taking electrical power away from the power plant. The power plant has a generator auxiliary equipment compartment that is distinct from the terminal compartment. The generator auxiliary equipment compartment receives tap connections that draw power from the main bus. The main bus comprises isolated phase bus duct, one for each phase. Electrically insulating sealing bushings are located in each phase of the isolated phase bus duct between the connections with the stator terminals and the tap connections to seal against the escape of hydrogen gas from the terminal compartment into the generator auxiliary equipment compartment.

Abstract: A high voltage, high current telescopic disconnect switch suitable for use in isolated phase bus duct has two fixed conductors and a movable telescopic conductor coaxially disposed within the first fixed conductor and movable to a closed position bridging the first and second fixed conductors. A plurality of contact fingers are mounted to the fixed conductors and have contact surfaces that extend into engagement with the telescopic conductor to make electrical contact between the fixed conductors through the telescopic conductor when in a closed position. The contact surface of each of the fingers comprises a first tip portion that extends beyond the fixed conductor and has a first radius that is slightly greater than the radius of the telescopic conductor so that the first tip portion presents an arcuate width that overlies in wiping electrical contact the telescopic conductor when in the closed position.

Abstract: A high voltage, high current telescopic disconnect switch suitable for use in isolated phase bus duct has two fixed conductors and a movable telescopic conductor coaxially disposed within the first fixed conductor and movable to a closed position bridging the first and second fixed conductors. A plurality of contact fingers are mounted to the fixed conductors and have contact surfaces that extend into engagement with the telescopic conductor to make electrical contact between the fixed conductors through the telescopic conductor when in a closed position. The contact surface of each of the fingers comprises a first tip portion that extends beyond the fixed conductor and has a first radius that is slightly greater than the radius of the telescopic conductor so that the first tip portion presents an arcuate width that overlies in wiping electrical contact the telescopic conductor when in the closed position.

Abstract: A switch has a first electrical terminal, a second electrical terminal spaced from the first electrical terminal and an elongate conductive switch blade for bridging the terminals. The switch blade has a first end portion pivotally connected with the first electrical terminal for movement of the switch blade between open and closed positions. The switch blade has a second end portion positioned adjacent the second electrical terminal when in the closed position. A plurality of elongate fingers are secured by spring loading to the second end portion of the switch blade. The fingers are arranged adjacent to each other along opposing sides of the second end portion to form an open jaw structure that extends from the second end portion of the switch blade and makes wiping electrical contact with the second electrical terminal as the switch blade is moved into the closed position.

Abstract: A switch has a first electrical terminal, a second electrical terminal spaced from the first electrical terminal and an elongate conductive switch blade for bridging the terminals. The switch blade has a first end portion pivotally connected with the first electrical terminal for movement of the switch blade between open and closed positions. The switch blade has a second end portion positioned adjacent the second electrical terminal when in the closed position. A plurality of elongate fingers are secured by spring loading to the second end portion of the switch blade. The fingers are arranged adjacent to each other along opposing sides of the second end portion to form an open jaw structure that extends from the second end portion of the switch blade and makes wiping electrical contact with the second electrical terminal as the switch blade is moved into the closed position.

Abstract: There is disclosed a runner for a Francis-type hydraulic turbine where each runner blade has a outlet edge comprising a deflected edge portion. The deflected edge portion is located adjacent to the junction or attachment point of the outlet edge to the band of the runner to define a stress reducing tip extension portion of the blade adjacent the band. This tip extension portion reduces stress concentration adjacent where the outlet edge joins the runner band.

Abstract: A power plant has a generator that is cooled by hydrogen gas. The power plant has a terminal compartment for housing stator terminals of the generator and conductor connections of a main bus taking electrical power away from the power plant. The power plant has a generator auxiliary equipment compartment that is distinct from the terminal compartment. The generator auxiliary equipment compartment receives tap connections that draw power from the main bus. The main bus comprises isolated phase bus duct, one for each phase. Electrically insulating sealing bushings are located in each phase of the isolated phase bus duct between the connections with the stator terminals and the tap connections to seal against the escape of hydrogen gas from the terminal compartment into the generator auxiliary equipment compartment.

Abstract: A deflector for use in a hydraulic turbine is adapted to be mounted relative to a vertically extending wall of the draft tube. The deflector has an upstream plate and a downstream plate. The upstream plate is positioned to extend downwardly and outwardly from the wall of the draft tube and the downstream plate is positioned to extend downwardly and inwardly from the upstream plate. The downstream plate has at least one elongated air communication port extending therethrough and adjacent the upstream plate. An air supply inlet portion extends from the wall of the draft tube into the deflector above the elongated air communication port permitting an oxygen containing gas to flow from the air supply inlet portion downwardly through the deflector, out the elongated air communication port and into the water flowing past the downstream plate so as to enhance the dissolved oxygen content of the water.

Abstract: A deflector for use in a hydraulic turbine is adapted to be mounted relative to a vertically extending wall of the draft tube. The deflector has an upstream plate and a downstream plate. The upstream plate is positioned to extend downwardly and outwardly from the wall of the draft tube and the downstream plate is positioned to extend downwardly and inwardly from the upstream plate. The downstream plate has at least one elongated air communication port extending therethrough and adjacent the upstream plate. An air supply inlet portion extends from the wall of the draft tube into the deflector above the elongated air communication port permitting an oxygen containing gas to flow from the air supply inlet portion downwardly through the deflector, out the elongated air communication port and into the water flowing past the downstream plate so as to enhance the dissolved oxygen content of the water.