High and low pressure hydro turbine
United States Patent 1191 Siptrott 1 1 Apr. 15, 1975 HIGH AND LOW PRESSURE HYDRO TURBINE [76] Inventor: Fred M. Siptrott, 3011 l-lardies Ln.,  
 Santa Rosa, Calif. 95401 [22] Filed: July 13, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 379,102  
 [52] V U.S. Cl. 415/143; 415/202; 416/175; 416/201; 416/203; 415/219 R; 415/198 [51] Int. Cl. F0ld 13/00; FOld 1/16 [58] Field of Search 415/143, 199, 184, 203, 415/205, 120, 202, 219, 68, 69; 416/175, 198, 201, 203  
 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 591,822 10/1897 Curtis 415/202 1,130,090 3/1915 Kutschinski... 415/202 2,151,699 3/1939 Heiner 415/219 3,110,437 11/1963 Oechslin 415/219 3,112,866 12/1963 Fortescoe 415/199 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 531,262 7/1931 Germany 415/219 Primary ExaminerC. J. Husar Assistant Examiner-Louis J. Casaregola Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Schapp and Hatch [57] ABSTRACT A hydro-turbine embodying characteristics of both impulse and reaction systems consisting of an upper housing or impulse section of the turbine and having a vertical spindle mounting, a first set of radially extending pitched vanes in the path of a high pressure tangentially impinging stream of water and arranged to direct the stream into the lower housing or reactive section of the turbine axially downward onto a second set of radially extending vanes of opposite pitch mounted therebeneath on the spindle, the assembly being contained within a downwardly tapering frustoconical housing.  
 11 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEB I 5875 3. 877. 835  
 sum 1 o 3 FIG- -1- PATEl-HEBAFR I 5 i975 snmag PIE- .2.  
 HIGH AND LOW PRESSURE HYDRO TURBINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a HIGH AND LOW PRESSURE HYDRO TURBINE, and more particularly to a turbine incorporating both impulse and reaction phases.  
  Hydro turbines are classified generally as impulse or reaction types, although theoretically both types of turbines involve at least some of both reaction and impulse characteristics. In conventional hydro turbines, a set of vanes is mounted in the path of a high pressure stream of water. The imparting of energy from the stream of water to the vanes of the turbine in this high energy area reduces the pressure of the water passing from the vanes. The energy from the low pressure. low energy output stream of water therefore ordinarily is lost.  
  Prior art devices which have attempted to make use of the low pressure output stream have not satisfactorily provided synchronized rotation of the runners in both the high and low pressure areas. Synchronized rotation is the coordination between impulse pressure and exerted reaction. Unsynchronized operation causes cavitation and other losses in efficiency.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The general purpose of the present invention is to provide a combined high and low pressure hydro turbine which overcomes the aforedescribed disadvantages and produces increased efficiency. To attain this, the hydro turbine of the present invention utilizes a vertical spindle having a first set of radially extending pitched vanes of foil design positioned in the path of a high pressure tangentially impinging stream of water to impart rotation to the spindle. These first vanes are shaped and positioned to direct the reduced pressure stream downward axially past a second set of vanes of opposite pitch which are shaped and positioned for imparting further rotational impetus to the turbine.  
  This turbine can be constructed to provide clockwise or counterclockwise rotation as its application may require. The vanes of the first set are pitched or inclined with respect to the spindle axis and shaped with respect to the high pressure stream to deflect the stream downwardly while receiving rotational impulses therefrom. The vanes of the second set are pitched or inclined in the opposite direction so that the downwardly flowing stream adds further rotational energy by reaction, reaction referring to that mass of fluid exerting energy on the downside of the vanes, and then dispersing into reduced atmospheric pressure when leaving the turbine. In other words, if the axis of the shaft is regarded as a datum axis with positive angles being formed in a clockwise direction and negative angles formed in a counterclockwise direction, the two sets of vanes may be described as being positioned at angles of opposite sign.  
  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for synchronously and coopera- A further object of the present invention is the provision ofa hydro turbine capable of utilizing the low pressure stream of water resulting after the input high pressure stream has imparted a major portion of its energy to the high pressure vanes.  
  Yet another object is to provide a hydro turbine embodying characteristics of both impulse and reaction systems in a novel synchronized manner.  
  Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds, and the new and useful features will be fully defined in the claims.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The preferred form of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:  
  FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-section view of the turbine of the present invention.  
  FIG. 2 is a plan view of the turbine of FIG. 1, with portions broken away and shown in section for clarity.  
  FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the runner of the turbine of the present invention showing the arrangement of the sets of vanes of opposite pitch.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a turbine constructed in accordance with the present invention having a housing 11 and a runner assembled on a spindle 14. The spindle 14 has a first set of pitched vanes 12, on which a high pressure stream of water impinges tangentially, and a second set of vanes 13, on which the resulting stream of water pressure impinges axially. As shown in FIG. 3, the pitch of the first set of vanes 12 is opposite to the pitch of the second set of vanes 13. The lengths of the individual vanes of the second set I3 decrease progressively in the downward direction to provide a frusto-conical shape for the second set of vanes.  
  As shown here, the upper portion of the housing 11 surrounding vanes 12 is cylindrical and the lower portion of the housing surrounding vanes 13 is frustoconical in shape to conform generally to the shape of the runner. The top of the housing is closed off by a wall 15, and the bottom end is open to provide an exit port 20.  
  Input ports 16 are constructed in the housing as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to direct a high pressure input stream to impinge on the first set of vanes 12. In this configuration, the turbine rotates in a clockwise direction looking downwardly. The spindle I4 is secured by a lock nut 17 which holds the pressure plate 18 which in turn is mounted on a bearing 19. The spindle 14 is further supported by a tail bearing 21 mounted on a bearing seat 22 which in turn is supported by a stabilizer frame 23 mounted on the lower housing. A conical tively utilizing high pressure and low pressure energy hub 24 is provided to minimize eddy currents.  
  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the high pressure input stream of water enters through portholes 16 into the upper part of the housing 11 of the turbine to impinge on the first set of vanes &#39;12 tangentially to impart rotation thereto. The vanes 12 are pitched to deflect the stream of water downwardly to impinge axially on the second set of vanes 13. The positioning of the two sets of blades of opposite pitch will exert rotational motion on the spindle 14 in the same direction when struck by the impinging waters. Hence the two sets of vanes positioned to have opposite pitch provide for synchronized utilization of unlike energies to affect rotation of the spindle. Preferably, the vanes are mounted to permit adjustment of their pitch or inclination to provide maximum efficiency.  
  While modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings, I desire to have it understood that this invention is not limited to the specific forms disclosed. For example, by relocation of intake ports the high pressure input stream may be positioned to impinge tangentially on the first set of vanes to impart a counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 14 rather than the clockwise rotation shown. In this configuration, of course, all vanes would be repositioned to accommodate the reversed direction of shaft rotation. In this configuration the two sets of vanes would still have opposite pitch.  
  ln addition, although the fluid medium in the preferred embodiment is water. any suitable fluid medium may be used. It is therefore to be understood that this invention is new and all changes that come within the scope of the appended claims are to be considered as part of this invention.  
 I claim:  
 1. A hydro-turbine having a rotatable shaft comprisinput means formed for directing a stream of liquid at high pressure tangentially into the turbine,  
 a first set of radiallyextending vanes mounted on the shaft in position to intercept the stream of liquid from said input means for imparting impulse rotational energy to the shaft, said vanes being formed for deflecting the stream of fluid to effect a change in direction thereof from tangential to axial, and  
 a second set of radially extending vanes of opposite pitch angle to said first set of vanes mounted on the shaft in position to intercept the deflected stream of fluid and formed for imparting reaction rotational energy to the shaft in the same direction of rotation as set impulse rotational energy imparted to said shaft by said first set of vanes.  
  2. A hydro-turbine as described in claim 1 and wherein said first and second sets of vanes are formed and mounted so that said first set of vanes have a pitch angle of opposite sign than the pitch angle of inclination of said second set of vanes and the pitch angles of the vanes are independently adjustable.  
 3. A hydro-turbine, comprising a housing,  
 a runner mounted for rotation in said housing,  
 an inlet port in said housing formed for directing a stream of high pressure liquid tangentially against said runner,  
 a first set of vanes mounted on said runner and surrounded by the upper portions of said housing in the path of said stream,  
 a second set of vanes mounted on said runner and surrounded by the lower portion of said housing downstream of said first set, said first and second sets of vanes having pitch angles of opposite sign, and  
 an exit port formed in said housing for discharging the liquid therefrom,  
 each of said first set of vanes being formed for receiving impulse energy from said stream of high pressure liquid and for deflecting such liquid to pass through said housing to said exit port axially of said 1 runner in a lower pressure stream,  
 each of said second set of vanes being formed for re,-  
 ceiving reaction energy from said lower pressure stream of liquid.  
  4. A hydro-turbine as described in claim 3 and wherein a first portion of said housing at saidinlet port is cylindrical in shape, and said runner and first set of vanes is shaped to conform generally thereto so that the radially outer tips of said first set of vanes are closely proximate to said first portion of said housing.  
  5. A hydro-turbine as described in claim 4 and wherein the second portion of said housing is frustoconical in shape narrowing to said exit port, and said runner and second set of vanes is shaped to conform 7. A hydro-turbine as described in claim 3 and wherein said vanes are positioned in a plurality of rows along the length of said runner.  
  8. A hydro-turbine as described in claim 3 and wherein the pitch angle of said vanes is individually ad.- justable.  
 9. A hydraulic turbine, comprising a turbine runner mounted for rotation around a vertical axis,  
 a liquid tight turbine casing enclosing said runner and having a cylindrical upper portion and a contiguous conical portion tapering inwardly and downwardly to an exit port,  
 a plurality of blades secured to said runner along its length and extending radially therefrom into close proximity to the inner periphery of said casing, and  
 a pair of inlet ports formed in said casing on diametrically opposed sides of said cylindrical upper portion for projecting high pressure jets of liquid tangentially into said casing to impinge upon the said blades enclosed in said cylindrical upper portion.  
 said last named blades being of foil cross-section and inclined over their width with respect to said jets of liquid for deflecting the liquid from said jets downwardly through said casing in a reduced pressure stream to egress from said exit port,  
 said blades surrounded by said conical portion of said housing being of foil cross-section and inclined, f  
 over their width in a direction opposite to the inclination of said blades enclosed in said cylindrical upper portion.  
  10. A hydraulic turbine as described in claim 9 and wherein said blades are formed for individual adjustment of their pitch angle.  
  11. A hydraulic turbine as described in claim 9 and wherein said blades are mounted on said runner in a series of vertically spaced horizontal planes therealong, a plurality of said rows of blades being enclosed in said cylindrical upper portion and a plurality of said rows of blades being enclosed in said conical portion of said