Support structures for rotors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018135465-A1
Application number	US-201615354510-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 17, 2016
Priority date	Nov 17, 2016
Publication date	May 17, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Rotor support structures for industrial machines are disclosed. The support structures may include a rigid base component including a top portion, a slide plate positioned above the rigid base component, and a bearing housing for a rotor, coupled to the slide plate. The bearing housing and the slide plate may be configured to slide or move over the rigid base component. The support structure may also include a plurality of retention blocks coupled to the bearing housing. Each of the plurality of retention blocks may include a moveable retention pin positioned through each of the plurality of retention blocks. The axial movement of the bearing housing and slide plate may compensate for thermal expansion of a turbine shell and/or may reduce vibrations of the rotor and bearing housing during operation of the industrial machines.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A support structure for a rotor, the support structure comprising:
a rigid base component including a top portion; a slide plate positioned above the top portion of rigid base component; a bearing housing for the rotor coupled to the slide plate, the bearing housing and the slide plate configured to slide over the top portion of the rigid base component; and a plurality of retention blocks coupled to the bearing housing, each of the plurality of retention blocks including:
a moveable retention pin positioned through each of the plurality of retention blocks, the moveable retention pin extending radially toward a passage of the bearing housing.

2 . The support structure of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of guides positioned on opposite sides of the top portion of the rigid base component, the plurality of guides slidably engaging the slide plate.

3 . The support structure of claim 2 , wherein the slide plate further includes grooves formed along opposite sides of the slide plate, the grooves configured to receive and slidably engage at least one of the plurality of guides.

4 . The support structure of claim 1 , wherein the top portion of the rigid base component includes an aperture.

5 . The support structure of claim 3 , wherein the slide plate includes an opening at least partially aligned with the aperture of the top portion of the rigid base component.

6 . The support structure of claim 1 , wherein the top portion of the rigid base component includes a slot aligned with a retention block of the plurality of retention blocks, the slot configured to receive a portion of a shell coupled to the retention block.

7 . The support structure of claim 1 , wherein the bearing housing includes:
a bottom portion fixed to the slide plate; and a top portion releasably coupled to the bottom portion.

8 . A system comprising:
a rotor; a shell surrounding at least a portion of the rotor; and a rotor support structure positioned adjacent the shell and configured to receive the rotor, the rotor support structure including:
a rigid base component including a top portion;
a slide plate positioned above the top portion of rigid base component;
a bearing housing for the rotor coupled to the slide plate, the bearing housing and the slide plate configured to slide over the top portion of the rigid base component;
a plurality of retention blocks coupled to the bearing housing, each of the plurality of retention blocks including:
a moveable retention pin positioned through each of the plurality of retention blocks, the moveable retention pin extending radially toward a passage of the bearing housing.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the rotor support structure further includes:
a plurality of guides positioned on opposite sides of the top portion of the rigid base component, the plurality of guides slidably engaging the slide plate;

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the slide plate of the rotor support structure further includes grooves formed along opposite sides of the slide plate, the grooves configured to receive and slidably engage at least one of the plurality of guides.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the top portion of the rigid base component includes an aperture.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the slide plate includes an opening at least partially aligned with the aperture of the top portion of the rigid base component.

13 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a governor housing coupled to the bearing housing of the rotor support structure, the governor housing including a hole positioned above and aligned with the opening formed in the slide plate of the rotor support structure.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the governor housing is coupled to the slide plate of the rotor support structure and configured to move axially over the top portion with the slide plate and the bearing housing.

15 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising an oil drain pipe coupled to the hole of the governor housing, the oil drain pipe configured to move axially with axially with the governor housing.

16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the oil drain pipe coupled to the hole of the governor housing extends through:
the opening formed in the slide plate; and the aperture of the top portion of the rigid base component.

17 . The system of claim 8 , wherein a portion of the shell is positioned substantially around and contacts each of the plurality of retention blocks.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the moveable retention pin of each of the plurality of retention blocks extends through:
the portion of the shell positioned substantially around the retention block; and the retention block.

19 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the top portion of the rigid base component includes a slot aligned with one of the plurality of retention blocks, the slot configured to receive the portion of the shell substantially surrounding the retention block.

20 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
an oil supply pipe in fluid communication with the bearing housing of the rotor support structure, the oil supply pipe configured to move axially with the bearing housing and the slide plate.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Sharrow Edward John
• Ivancic Craig Daniel
• Ritz David Montgomery

Classifications

• F16C23/04

  self-adjusting · CPC title

• F16C17/02

  for radial load only · CPC title

• F05D2240/30

  Characteristics of rotor blades, i.e. of any element transforming dynamic fluid energy to or from rotational energy and being attached to a rotor · CPC title

• F05D2230/642

  using maintaining alignment while permitting differential dilatation · CPC title

• F05D2260/98

  Lubrication · CPC title