Abstract: A cooling system 46 for a turbofan gas turbine engine 10 is disclosed. Various construction details which increase the effectiveness of a heat exchanger 70, 76, 112 are disclosed. In one embodiment, a rotor shaft 98 is used to pressurize buffer air for a bearing compartment 40.

Abstract: An improved seal cooling apparatus is provided for use in a gas turbine engine. In a particular embodiment, this apparatus includes means for deriving conditioning air from air discharged from the compressor diffuser and directing this air onto the seal stator to improve its thermal response. The apparatus also includes means to inject a portion of the conditioning air into a cavity forward of the seal to purge the region and prevent zero airflow conditions during engine operation for the purpose of discouraging overheating of a portion of the compressor rotor. A portion of the conditioning air from the cavity is subsequently directed to flow through and thereby cool the seal.

Abstract: A motor pump set having two coaxial shafts is provided with a fluid circuit for protecting the rotary packing-gland against any ingress of solid particles such as sand. Pumped fluid is withdrawn from an intermediate space of the pump and returned upstream via a duct within the pump shaft in order to lubricate the bearings as it passes. The fraction of the fluid stream which is discharged from the last bearing flows in the vicinity of the packing-gland and is driven through radial discharge ducts under the action of centrifugal force.

Abstract: A working fluid in the gaseous state at some initial temperature and pressure is expanded polytropically to a resulting exhaust fluid having some lower temperature and pressure in order to produce useful work. Large quantities of a pressured motive liquid are then employed as the vehicle for approximating an isenthalpic compression of the working fluid. The preferred method for effecting this recompression is to provide an overall adiabatic environment within which the two fluids are placed in thermal but not physical communication. The working fluid is then energized by direct compression during which partial condensation of the working fluid is accompanied by heat transfer to the motive liquid. Thereafter the two fluids are mixed, with the resulting two phases permitting separation and reconstitution of the motive and working fluids to their initial states to complete the thermodynamic cycle which, depending upon the fluids selected, can be located in a broad range of the temperature spectrum.

Abstract: A main steam inlet structure of a steam turbine has two inlet tubes which are separable from an inner casing and an outer casing of the turbine and are arranged concentrically with a spacing therebetween to constitute an inflow passage for main steam are connected at one end to the outer casing and at the other end to the inner casing, by seal rings. Cooling steam extracted from turbine stage midway is supplied to a cooling steam passage of the spacing formed between the two inlet tubes, thereby cooling the inner inlet tube.

Abstract: A stress corrosion cracking proof steam turbine in which dry steam is blown into the gap between the hub portions of adjacent turbine discs, thereby preventing corrosion in the gap. A nozzle diaphragm is provided between the discs and has an inside circumferential face which straddles the gap. Labyrinthine packing is provided on the inside face of the nozzle diaphragm and comprises an upstream, an intermediate, and a downstream group of fins. A steam reservoir is located between the intermediate and downstream group of fins and straddles the gap. A steam supply means is located inside the nozzle diaphragm and provides dry steam (from inside or outside the turbine) to the reservoir and thus to the gap. To prevent leakage of high pressure wet steam into the reservoir, a steam leakage capturing means is provided between the upstream and the intermediate group of fins.

Abstract: A shaft sealing apparatus utilizing a flow of sealing fluid to block leakage of a second fluid; and including a valve element controlling the flow of sealing fluid as a function of shaft rotational speed.

Abstract: A cooling system 46 for a turbofan gas turbine 10 is disclosed. Various construction details which increase the effectiveness of a heat exchanger 48 located in the secondary flow path 24 are developed. In one embodiment, the cooled air is used for protecting a bearing compartment.

Abstract: An apparatus for pumping a liquid stored under pressure without pressure-induced, liquid leakage during seal failure. The liquid or slurry being pumped is usually of a type that is difficult to handle, e.g., liquids which are volatile, poisonous, corrosive or a combination of these characteristics.The apparatus comprises in combination a vessel capable of containing a liquid under pressure; a vertical pump with its inlet port in communication with the vessel; an equalizing line connecting the shaft housing of the pump with the vapor space of the vessel; and a shaft seal located within the pump above the equalizing line connection so that the vessel and the shaft housing can be pressure-equalized during seal failure.The apparatus further provides pressure sensitive switching means so that the pump can be isolated upon occurrence of a specified pressure change within the vessel.

Abstract: Several means for providing superheated steam varying in pressure and temperature in a plurality of cavities serially disposed between blade discs of a steam turbine in which steam flows from a high pressure to a low pressure portion and improved seals disposed at the radially outer periphery of the cavities which cooperate with the means for providing superheated steam in the cavities to eliminate moisture in the cavities and eliminate stress corrosion in the blade discs.

Abstract: A liquid metal pump bearing support comprises a series of tangentially oriented spokes that connect the bearing cylinder to the pump internals structure. The spokes may be arranged in a plurality of planes extending from the bearing cylinder to the pump internals with the spokes in one plane being arranged alternately with those in the next plane. The bearing support structure provides the pump with sufficient lateral support for the bearing structure together with the capability of accommodating differential thermal expansion without adversely affecting pump performance.

Abstract: Ports are disposed in steam turbine blade discs to control the environment adjacent the bore of the disc to inhibit stress corrosion.

Abstract: Labyrinth sealing apparatus to prevent rotational instability in the rotor of a steam turbine wherein such instability is of the type induced by steam whirl within the labyrinth seals. In a preferred form, the apparatus includes a plurality of fixed, spaced-apart annular teeth surrounding the shaft of a steam turbine whereby each tooth has a radially inner edge in very close proximity to the rotor surface, and further includes a fixed circumferential row of spaced-apart flow directing vanes encircling the rotor on the upstream side of the annular teeth. Each vane of the row extends radially inward to within very close proximity of a raised annular land on the shaft surface just opposite the vane row. The row of flow directing vanes and the raised land cause substantially the entire quantity of steam which enters the seal to pass through the row of flow directing vanes. Steam flow within the seal is caused to have a retrograde component counter to the direction of shaft rotation.

Abstract: The segments (1) of the braking track (112) fixed to the rotor of an alternator driven by a water turbine are cooled by circulating water by means of a thermosiphonic effect from tanks (5) which are also fixed to the rotor.Application to the security of safety water-driven turbo-alternator units.

Abstract: A valve arrangement responsive to a pressure differential continuously throttles air flowing through a labyrinth seal, allowing only a small fraction of the leakage that would otherwise occur. The arrangement accomodates radial and axial shaft displacement without rubbing contact. This avoids seal wear for high shaft rotating speeds, high temperatures and/or rapid temperature changes.

Abstract: A sleeve bearing and filter for reducing the wear on a submersible electric pump used to pump fluids containing abrasive materials such as sand. The sleeve bearing receives the upper end of the pump shaft and is equipped with a sintered bronze filter element which restricts the flow of abrasives between the shaft and bearing while permitting sufficient fluid flow for lubrication purposes.

Abstract: A labyrinth seal mounted between a shaft and the casing of a gas turbine combustion chamber, wherein the support of an abradable sealing surface in the seal which operates in conjunction with rapidly rotating fins is cooled by an upstream airflow parallel to the envelope surface of the extremities of such fins and opening into an upstream space. The cooling air is taken in from the casing by means of a conduit which is connected with an overflow valve tied to the gas turbine load. The invention is applicable to aviation turbojets.

Abstract: An apparatus for operating a hydraulic machine having a Francis type runner provided with a multi-stage seal between the inner peripheral surface of the runner and the stationary part. The apparatus has a water extracting pipe opening at its one end to one of the seal stages of the multi-stage seal and to a draft tube at its other end. A valve disposed in the water extracting pipe is adapted to be opened when the water head has become greater than a predetermined level during the pumping operation of the hydraulic machine.

Abstract: The rotor of a generator for automotive internal combustion engine turbo-superchargers is located on the turbine shaft to rotate therewith, at the turbine speeds of between 20,000 rpm to 80,000 rpm, and positioned between the exhaust gas turbine blade unit and the supercharger-compressor blade unit. The rotor, preferably, is a permanent magnet rotor, cooperating with stationery armature structures which may have different, separate windings thereon to supply different networks at independently selected voltages, for example a vehicular battery through a rectifier network and heating elements, in single-phase and three-phase connections, as desired, such as windshield heaters and the like, which can be directly a-c energized. The generator may have an axial air gap and may be cooled by a compressed air bleeder duct formed in the compressor blade unit.

Abstract: An improved structure is provided for liquid cooling a transition member which conducts hot motive gases from a combustor to a turbine inlet in a gas turbine power plant. The liquid-cooled structure includes a transition member body having a longitudinal inlet manifold and a longitudinal collection manifold attached to opposite sides of the body. The body has a plurality of internal laterally disposed passages which communicate liquid coolant from the inlet manifold, around the body to the collection manifold. The liquid coolant transfers heat from the member in a circumferential flow pattern; then the coolant is discharged from the member by a discharge manifold which is connected to the collection manifold. The method of manufacturing of the transition member provides for forming the body in two mating half subassemblies having internal coolant passages. Each half of the body is blanked from a flat sheet having a shape conforming to the developed shape of the body.

Abstract: A seal system for a turbomachine employing first fluid as a working medium and utilizing the same fluid in its liquid phase as a sealing medium. The pressure of the liquid sealing medium is maintained above the pressure of the working medium. The fluid is delivered to a first sealing region whereat the fluid flows in opposite directions along the shaft of the turbomachine, respectively towards the ambient and towards the working region in the machine. A seal is interposed between the first sealing region and the ambient to prevent the seal fluid from intermixing with air.

Abstract: The casings, partitions and impellers of neighboring stages of a submersible motor pump consist of synthetic plastic material and are stacked in a cylindrical pump body consisting of metallic material. The shells of the casings are biased axially so that they bulge outwardly into frictional engagement with the pump body, and each casing has a cylindrical hub which spacedly surrounds the nave of the respective impeller. Each impeller has a neck portion which is spacedly surrounded by the adjacent partition. The naves of the impellers are disposed end-to-end and are driven by the pump shaft. The annular gaps between the naves and neck portions of the impellers on the one hand, and the hubs of casings and partitions on the other hand are traversed by fluid streams when the impellers are driven whereby the streams produce forces which center the impellers with respect to the casings and partitions in accordance with the Lomakin effect.

Abstract: An improved flushing and cooling system for shaft seals that are located in cavities in the pump housing includes inlet and discharge ports extending through the housing into the seal cavities and a pumping ring seal that is arranged to circulate the fluid through the inlet port past the seal and outwardly from the outlet port into the housing of the pump. Both ends of the housing can be provided with such a system and the systems interconnected internally of the housing to balance the pressure therebetween.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for supplying injection liquid to the primary coolant pump shaft seals in a pressurized water nuclear reactor system. The injection liquid is the resultant mixture of liquid extracted from both the upstream and downstream sides respectively of the regenerative heat exchanger in the chemical and volume control system of the plant. The temperature of this liquid is controlled by regulating the liquid proportions admitted in the respective flow streams.