Abstract: The vertical-axis electrical machine of umbrella design has a disc-shaped rotor (4), the combined thrust and guide bearing (12) which is mounted at the disc underside. The bearing rests on a bearing support structure (17), which has the shape of a hollow truncated cone and is supported directly on the foundation (1). This arrangement is distinguished by low design height. Elongations of the bearing support structure (17) caused by temperature are converted without loss of stiffness and centering into axial displacement of the end of the hollow truncated cone (17) on the bearing side.

Abstract: The self-pumping hydrodynamic radial sliding bearing (4) exhibits a pump block (11) arranged between two radial sliding bearing segments (13) beneath the lowest point of the generator shaft (1). The pump block (11) has, in its concave cylindrical surface facing the generator shaft (1), pump pockets (28) in the form of flat depressions into which the lubricating oil is drawn by hydrodynamic effect through ducts (25, 27) out of the lubricating oil sump (54) and forced by damming at transverse webs (30) at the end of the pump pockets (28) through further ducts (29', 29, and 22) into the lubricating oil circuit.

Abstract: In hydrodynamic bearings it is necessary for the lubricant leaving the lubricant film to be cooled. The self-sufficient, reliable operation of the system is only ensured if the transport of lubricant can be generated and maintained by the bearing itself. For this purpose the lubricant is taken from the contact surface of the moving component (2) into a pumping gap (13), recessed in the stationary component (4), which exhibits a strong constriction (17) in the direction of movement by a graduation (16). This pumping gap (13) may be machined directly in the contact surface of a bearing segment or in a separate component. A part of the lubricant stream which enters the pumping gap (13) is removed in front of the constriction (17) through an appropriate lubricant discharge duct (14). This branched lubricant stream (19) represents the delivery quantity of the pumping gap (13). The remainder of the branched lubricant stream flows on through the lubrication gap (18).

Abstract: A carrying and guiding spider for the support of a rotor of a vertical electrical machine contains two different kinds of arms (6, 16) whereby the one kind of the arm (6) is supported on the foundation (12) in a sliding manner and forms acute angles (+A) in a circumferential direction with a radial line (17) of the clamping point (6') and the other kind of the arm (16) is rigidly connected with the foundation (12) and forms the acute angles (-A) in the opposite circumferential direction with the radial line (17) of the clamping points (16'). The advantage of this solution lies in that the carrying and guiding spider is symmetrically subjected to the load in the axial direction so that there is no torsional moment. At the same time, this construction permits the centering and the free expansion of the central body.

Abstract: A radially aerated disc rotor is manufactured in such a manner that the inner diameters of the annular discs (8) are greater than the outer diameter of the hub (1, 2) and that the hub (1, 2) is connected with the annular discs (8) which bear a rotor collar (9) by means of canted ribs (4, 5) only. The canted ribs (4,5) serve as bearing, guiding and ventilation elements. Preferably, the canted ribs (4,5) consist of inner (4) and outer (5) portions, their connection preferably being made by welding, preferably within zones of minimum mechanical stress where they are also easily accessible. The disc rotor is particularly suited for large machinery and provides sufficient cooling because of the large area provided for the ingress of cooling air.

Abstract: Segment bearings for use in large rotating machines utilize support elements in the forms of pins, pipes or the like. These support elements are arranged between a friction bearing segment and a supporting segment and are constructed with varying compressive strengths. The variation of compressive strength is selected such that a parallel shift of the bearing surface occurs during loading of the friction bearing segments.

Abstract: A supporting structural component such as a bearing for the rotor of a slow speed large diameter electrical machine the rotor of which rotates about a vertical axis comprises concentric inner and outer rings joined by rigid rectilinear spoke-like connecting elements spaced uniformly around THE circumference. The arrangement of these connecting elements is such that they are tangent to the surface of an imagined coaxial cylinder the diameter of which is smaller than that of the inner ring, and the axes of two neighboring connecting elements when imagined as extended in a straight line over both rings intersect only within the inner ring. The connecting elements are inflexible over their whole effective length in the longitudinal direction corresponding to the applied load. Also, the respective axes of all of the spoke-like connecting elements lie at identical acute angles and in the same sense to radii of the inner and outer rings.

Abstract: A support structure for a component of a vertical-axis machine such as its housing or a bearing spider thereof and particularly a rotary electrical machine which is expandable under operating conditions due to generation of heat. In order to maintain a stabilized concentric expansion of the component during thermal expansion the supporting structure is characterized by a system of plate springs arranged in substantially vertical planes and wherein the respective planes in which the springs are located lie tangent to the surface of at least one imaginary cylinder co-axial with the axis of the machine component, the radius of the cylinder being smaller than the mean radial distance of the plate springs from the axis of the machine component.

Abstract: A support structure for the stator component of an electrical machine having a larger diameter, the rotor of which rotates about a vertical axis. The stator and foundation on which the stator rests form concentric inner and outer rings respectively joined by means of spoke-like arms spaced uniformly around the circumference, and the arrangement of these arms is such that they are tangent to the surface of an imagined coaxial cylinder the diameter of which is smaller than that of the inner ring, and the axes of two neighboring arms when imagined as extended in a straight line over both rings intersect only within the inner ring.

Abstract: A resilient structure for mounting the stator component of a synchronous electrical machine on its baseplate includes a plurality of spring brackets interconnecting respective points of attachment on the periphery of the stator component with the baseplate and which extend in radial planes as related to the stator axis. Each spring bracket includes at least one leaf spring the ends of which are held in spring retainers incorporating ribs disposed in the plane of the spring flexure. The ribs at opposite ends of the spring are rigidly fixed respectively to the stator and baseplate and the one or more leaf springs utilized in each mounting bracket are statically stressed only in tension by the weight of the stator component and are subjected to a dynamic bending stress in response to torsional vibrations occurring in the stator and which are absorbed by the springs which are softer in the peripheral direction than in the radial and axial directions.

Abstract: The laminated stator component of a dynamo-electric machine is prestressed in such manner as to free the laminations from temperature-induced compressive stresses that otherwise may result in displacement of the laminations. In particular, the stator lamination assembly is prestressed in tension, with respect to the cold condition, in an outward direction, by an amount corresponding at least approximately to the difference in expansion between the laminations fixed in the stator frame and those freely expanded at the same temperature. The laminations are held continuously in tension, preferably in a radially outwards direction, in the stator frame or foundation, which is thus at least partly pre-compressed inwards, in such manner that under all practicable operating temperatures of the machine, no compressive stresses can occur in the laminations.