US2767328A - Rotatable assembly in a vertical hydraulic turbo-generator - Google Patents

Description

00h 1,956 P. F. DANEL ET AL 2,767,328

ROTATABLE ASSEMBLY IN A VERTICAL HYDRAULIC TURBO-GENERATOR Filed Sept. 4, 1953 INVENTORS [P.F DANEL $.X. CASACC/ P. JARR/AN ATTORNEY United States Patent ROTATABLE ASSEMBLY IN A VERTICAL HYDRAULIC TURBO-GENERATOR Pierre F. Danel and Paul Jarrian, Etablissements tion of France Severin X. Casacci, Allevard-les-Bains,

Neyrpic,

Grenoble, and France, assignors to Grenoble, France, a corpora- This invention relates to vertically disposed hydroelectric turbo-generator installations and more especially to such hydroelectric turbo-generator installations having an improved construction and arrangement of the rotating parts thereof. More particularly this invention relates to an improved construction of the mechanical connection between the turbine runner and the generator rotor of a vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator.

Various proposals have been made in connection with vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator installations in the endeavor to simplify the construction and to facilitate assembly and disassembly as well as the maintenance of such machines which may be of quite large dimensions because of the fact that they often are required to operate under relatively low hydraulic head. The construction thus is required to support large loads. It is desirable in particular to provide a compact economical construction, especially as to reducing the height of the unit which is an important factor in the matter of cost of construction as well as of the manufacturing operations.

In line with these endeavors the present invention is concerned especially with the construction and arrangement of the rotatable parts of the unit and with provisions in such construction for facilitating the assembly and disassembly of the rotatable parts and their removal from the space within the stationary members of the unit.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a compact and economical construction in a vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator installation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rigid and strong mechanical connection of improved design between the turbine runner and the generator rotor of a vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a rotatable mechanical connection between the turbine runner and the generator rotor of a vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator whereby various accessory equipment employed therewith advantageously may be disposed in a space formed within this rotatable connection.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a mechanical connection between the turbine runner and the generator rotor of a vertical hydroelectric turbo generator installation whereby the several elements making up the connection readily may be disconnected and removed from the installation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a construction of this mechanical connection and of the enclosing casing of the machine which facilitates assembly and disassembly of and easy access to the sensitive parts of the unit.

These and other objects of this invention and how they are accomplished will become apparent by reference to the accompanying disclosure and drawing which shows a partial section taken through the vertical axis of a hydroelectric turbo-generator installation.

In accordance with this invention, the connection between the turbine runner and the generator rotor of a vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator comprise a hollow body concentrically disposed with respect to and intermediate the runner and the rotor and having an enlarged upper portion connected to the generator rotor and a lower small portion which may be cylindrical within a bearing of the unit connected to the turbine runner.

A vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator constructed in accordance with this invention is not provided with the conventional shaft which is replaced by a hollow body which may be of generally truncated conical form connecting the runner of the turbine with the rotor of the generator. This connecting body may comprise a plurality of superadjacent open-ended members or ferrules disposed coaxial with the axis of rotation of the runner and rotor and rigidly connected one to another and defining an inverted truncated generally conical assembly providing a relatively large unobstructed interior space which is advantageously utilized for locating and positioning the various accessory equipment as hereinafter further described. The ferrules of this assembly provide walls capable of transmitting the couple of the rotating forces to best advantage because of their disposition about the axis with economy of metal and of weight. The ferrules or connecting members preferably are fiangedly connected one to another, the large upper end of one member being connected to the small lower end of the adjacent superposed member. These members or ferrules are so formed and disposed with respect to each other that when disconnected, a lower ferrule can be moved upwardly within the interior space defined by the walls of the adjacent superposed ferrule.

The hollow rotatable body provided by the assembly of ferrules is closed at its upper end or top by a covering member which is connected to the upper face of the annular generator rotor. An opening is provided in this covering member to allow access to the interior space within the assembly through the rotor annulus. The diameter of the opening in this covering member is greater than the outside diameter of one or several of the ferrules making up a connecting assembly that are supported by a ferrule which forms the load ring and carries the movable element of the thrust bearing. Preferably, the diameter of the opening is greater than the outside diameter of all of the connected ferrules except the uppermost ferrule which is directly connected at its upper end to the generator rotor, preferably to the lower face of the annulus of the rotor. This uppermost ferrule, however, is designed, when disconnected,

to be moved upwardly within the generator rotor and out therefrom upon the removal of the top casing of the unit.

The opening in the top of the covering member provides access to the interior space within the connecting assembly wherein the various accessory equipment of the installation advantageously may be disposed. After disconnecting one or more of the connecting members or ferrules it is possible to remove each of these members upwardly through the opening in the covering member and to gain access to the thrust bearing assembly and to the lower guide bearing of the unit which are located intermediate the turbine runner and the generator rotor as well as to the exterior of the connecting assembly, in order to do any work required upon these parts.

The opening in the covering member thus supported on the rotor with a lid adapted to cover said opening and which may be rigidly connected to the cover member. The lid carries a trunnion concentrically with respect to the axis of the turbine runner and generator rotor. Located above the rotor lid is a top cover covering an opening in the top casing of the unit having a slightly larger diameter than the outside diameter of the rotor lid. The top cover is supported on the stationary top which extends over the unit. concentrically fixed to the top cover is a stationary upper guide hearing to receive the trunnion carried by the rotor lid. Means are provided for suspending the rotor lid from the top cover to provide for dismounting the assembly thereof without disengaging the rotor trunnion from the upper guide bearing. This means permits the disassembly of the rotor lid together with the rotor trunnion and its upper guide bearing without disturbing the alignment of the trunnion within the upper guide bearing. By ernploying this means the long and delicate operation of realigning the upper guide bearing and the rotor trunnion after each partial disassembly of the installation which may be required for inspection of the connecting assembly and the thrust and lower guide bearings is avoided.

The invention also provides for this operation means for setting the parts and for controlling the alignment which may be carried out in a convenient and precise mariner.

In accordance with the above described arrangement and construction, means also are provided for permitting inspection of and maintenance work on the thrust bearing assembly and lower guide bearing without necessitating the removal of the top casing disposed above the generator rotor.

The invention further contemplates that the space available between the generator rotor, together with its covering member, and the top casing and its top cover be utilized for locating various pieces of accessory equipment. For example, the exciter for the generator is advantageously located within this space with the exciter rotor advantageously mounted on the top of the rotor lid adjacent the outer periphery thereof and the exciter stator advantageously fixed beneath the stationary top casing about the opening therein which is closed by the top cover.

The raising of the two covers exposes at the same time the rotor of the exciter which thus easily may be reached and reduction'of the height of the unit thus is effected to the maximum extent.

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing which illustrates an embodiment of the invention in a vertical turbo-generator installation wherein the turbine is of the Kaplan-type. The invention is not re stricted to any particular type of turbine but is applicable to any vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator installation. For purposes of simplicity and clarity, the various bolts and nuts connecting the flanges of the ferrules as well as the members of the water conveying conduits, the accessory equipment and pumps and certain of the conventional mechanical and electrical connections have been omitted. The disposition and employment ofthese elements will be understood by those skilled in the art.

Referring to the drawing, the turbine runner 1 is provided with adjustable blades 2. A servo-motor which controls the pitch of the blades comprises a piston 3 operating in cylinder. 4. Oil under pressure is admitted to one side of the piston while being discharged at the other side through two concentric pipes 5 and 6 which are shown terminated at 7 and 3, respectively, where they may be connected to a suitable distributing valve, notshown. The turbine runner 1 is connected to the generator rotor by means of a hollow connecting assembly as above generally described. The upper end of the turbine runner 1 is connected to the lower end of cylinder 4 of the servomotor which forms one of the connecting members or ferrules of the rotatable assembly. Cylinder 4 is disposed beneath and connected to the lower end of a hollow cylindrical neck lilwhich is provided at its lower end with an outwardly extending flange 11. A partition 12 extendswithin and across the lower portion of the. neck 10 and serves as the upper head of cylinder 4. The partition 12 is provided with an axial opening for the pipes 5 and 6. The outside pipe 6 is heid in position by means of a bracket 9 mounted on the inside of the upper end of the cylindrical neck 10.

The cylindrical neck 10 carries exteriorly thereof upon its upper part a bearing ring 13 which is disposed within the stationary bearing ring 14 of the lower guide bearing 15. The lower guide bearing 15 is provided with a centrally disposed outwardly projecting flange 15a which rests on the inner lower flange of a stationary annular collar 16 of channel section. Because of the large diameter of neck 10, the guide bearing 15 may be disposed closely adjacent annular collar 16. The upper flange of annular collar 16 is connected to a flange at the lower, smaller end of a stationary hollow, inverted, openended truncated conical supporting member 17 which supports the whole assembly of rotating elements of the unit.

The conical supporting member 17 is provided at its upper end with an outwardly projecting flange 13 which is carried by and connected to an upper stationary annular hollow supporting member 19 which forms the upper cover of the stay vane ring assembly extending about distribution wickets 21. The annular supporting member 19 is directly supported by the stay vanes 20, which in turn are supported by a lower hollow annular supporting ring 22 which is carried upon an annular hollow bench ring 23 which rests on the concrete foundation 24 of the unit. This general arrangement of the distributor is described in greater detail in our copending patent application Serial No. 383,814 filed September 4, 1953. The control mechanism 25 for the wickets 21 is disposed within gallery 26 which encompasses the turbine runner 1 below the distributor.

The upper annular supporting member 19 also supports an annular block 30 which carries the generator stator 31. The exterior generator stator ring 32, moreover advantageously may be anchored to the surrounding concrete foundation in order better to absorb the reaction of the stator.

The generator rotor 33 is connected to the cylindrical neck 10 and to the turbine runner 1 by means of a plurality of endwise connected, hollow, open-ended connecting members or ferrules 34, 35 and 36 of conical or cylindrical form. The connected ferrules 34, 35 and 36 are flangedly connected one to another, the outwardly projecting flange at the upper end of a ferrule being connected to the inwardly projecting flange at the lower end of the adjacent ferrule disposed thereabove. As illustrated, the ferrule 35 is connected to the rotatable parts of the thrust bearing assembly and carries at its lower end the rotating element or ring 37 of the thrust bearing. The stationary element or ring 38 of the thrust bearing is disposed directly beneath and takes the bearing of the rotating ring 37. The stationary ring 35 is supported on the lower flange of the conical supporting member 17. Partitions 3 8a and 38b extend above the bearing elements 37 and 3S and define a reservoir for the lubricating oil for the thrust bearing assembly.

In accordance with this invention, as indicated hereinabove, a hollow connecting assembly between the generator rotor 33 and the turbine runner 1 thusis secured which, providesa large interior space which is increased toward its upper end and easy access to which is made possible, in which space accessory equipment for the operation of the installation, such as the servo-motor and control equipment, the lubrication equipment, the various pumps and conduits, etc. advantageously may be disposed. The invention is not restricted to the arrangement of accessory equipment within this interior space of the hollow connecting assembly, the significant feature being the form and the fitted relation of the several elements which make: up the connecting assembly which provide a kind of stepped arrangement which permits the successive disengagement and demounting of these elements from the assembly proceeding in the direction from the bottom of the assembly to the top.

The upper end of the connecting assembly is closed by means of a covering member 40 which is connected by a flange to the upper face of the generator rotor 33. The covering member 40 is provided with a large central opening therethrough which is covered by the rotor lid 41. The opening through the covering member 40 has a diameter larger than the outside diameter of the ferrule 35 carrying the thrust bearing and larger than rings 37 and 38 of this bearing. The rotor lid 41 is provided with a relatively small centrally disposed opening 41a. The upper side of the rotor lid 41 is provided with a recessed surface 4112 about the opening 41a and adapted to receive a seating plate 42 which directly supports a centrally disposed trunnion 44. The lower end of trunnion 44 is provided with an outwardly extending flange 43 the outside periphery of which is chamfered to conical form. An axial bore 45 is provided in trunnion 44 and is adapted to be centrally disposed with respect to the opening 41a of rotor lid 41 and with respect to the opening 42a in the seating plate 42. A ring 46 provided with an inside conical surface adapted to engage the conical outside surface of flange 43 provides for tightening the flange 43 together with the trunnion 44 upon the seating plate 42, stud bolts 47 passing through enlarged holes 46a which are provided in the ring 46. The flange 43 has a planar bottom surface in contact with the upper planar surface 42b of the seating plate 42, the plane of contact of these surfaces forming a dihedral angle greater than zero with the plane of contact between the lower surface 420 of the seating plate 42 and the surface of the recess 41b at the upper side of rotor lid 41. The plane of contact of the flange 43 and the seating plate 42, therefore, is slightly inclined with respect to the vertical axis of the opening 45 through the trunnion 44. This arrangement is similar to that which is described in the French Patent No. 963,389, dated February 21, 1948.

The trunnion 44 is guided in an upper stationary guide bearing '50 which is supported by means of a flange bearing on a shoulder formed on the central cover portion '51 of a stationary stator cover. The cover portion 51 closes off the opening 52 which is defined by the inside periphery of the stationary stator cover 53. The diameter of the opening 52 is such as to allow the removal upwardly therethrough of the rotor lid 41 as well as the various ferrules and other parts of the connecting assembly or of the accessory equipment when disposed within the interior of the hollow connecting assembly.

The generator exciter and certain other apparatus may be supported within available space between the stator cover '53 and generator rotor 33 and its covering member 40. As illustrated in the drawing, the rotor lid 41 supports at its periphery the exciter rotor 54. The exciter stator 55 is secured to the underside of the stator cover 53 adjacent and extending about the opening 52. Within the scope of the invention the disposition of the exciter stator and the exciter rotor may be varied while providing for support of the stator on the stator cover 53 .and support of the exciter rotor on the members rotating with the rotor of the turbo-generator. The exciter also may be located in the conventional position above the stator cover '53 and the cover portion 51 and operatively connected to the trunnion 44.

The rotatable assembly connected between the gen erator rotor and the turbine runner in accordance with this invention is very rigid and subject to very little deformation, thus requiring that the upper and lower guide bearings be very accurately aligned and that the bearing surface of the thrust bearing be precisely perpendicular to the vertical axis of the rotatable assembly. The assembly and the alignment of the lower guide bearing 15 and of the thrust bearing and its bearing rings 37 and 38 are effected in the usual manner and do not present any particular difliculty. The rotor trunnion 44, on the other hand, since it is relatively far removed from the lower guide bearing, is subject to being substantially ofl? center and more than is permissible with respect to the lower guide bearing and the vertical axis of cylindrical neck it Such misalignment of the vertical axis of the trunnion 44 with respect to the lower guide bearing assembly may arise due to the misalignment of the successively connected ferrules constituting the connecting assembly, each of which can contribute and add to the error of alignment.

in order to provide for precisely positioning and aligning the trunnion 44 with respect to the vertical axis of the installation, in accordance with this invention means for setting and means for controlling the alignment of the trunnion 44 are provided. The means for setting the trunnion '44 comprises the seating plate 42 together with the trunnion flange 43 and the means for controlling the alignment of the trunnion 44 comprises in part a telescope 60 optically centered along the vertical axis of the bore 45 of the trunnion 44, and in part a reticule or cross hair 61 which is mounted on a rigid conical support or tripod 62, suitable bench marks being provided for the placing of this support or tripod '62 in two positions inverted with respect to each other and with respect to the upper opening of cylindrical neck 10. The operation of alignment of the trunnion 44 with respect to the lower guide bearing assembly and the bearing cylinder 1% is carried out before installing the concentric conduits 5 and 6. By means of these two positions of the reticule 61, the reticule becomes located exactly along the vertical axis of the neck 10 and of the vertical axis of the turbine.

The inclination of the axis of the trunnion 44 is adjusted by adjusting the relative position of the trunnion 44 on the seating plate 42. The lateral adjustment of the trunnion 44 relative to the seating plate 42 is effected by lateral sliding of the trunnion on the plate, utilizing the play between the bolts 47 in the enlarged holes 46a in the ring 46. The trunnion 44 is so adjusted with respect to the seating plate 42 until the optical axis of the telescope 6t) is aligned with the reticule 61 for both of its relatively inverted positions. By these means it is assured that the trunnion 44 is accurately aligned with the axis of the rotor 33 and of the lower guide bearing. The ring 46 then is clamped in place, the stationary upper guide bearing 59 is then set on the trunnion 44 and fastened in place in the removable cover portion 51 which in turn is connected and fixed to the stationary stator cover 53 and marked.

When these operations of alignment and setting of the trunnion 44 once have been carried out .it is not necessary to repeat them, since it is possible to maintain the setting of the upper guide bearing including the trunnion 44 with respect to the vertical axis of the installation when access to the interior of the connecting assembly is desired. To this end means are provided for temporarily rigidly fixing the rotor lid .1 to the cover portion 51. As illustrated in the drawing, this means comprises externally threaded tension bolts 64 which are screwed into internally threaded holes 64a in the rotor lid 41 and provided with nuts 64b at their upper ends. The assembly comprising the cover portion 51, the guide bearing 50, the rotor lid 41 and the trunnion 44 thus may be securely and rigidly tied together and can be removed as a unit with the several parts maintained in their operating relation. For reassembly of these rigidly connected elements it is only necessary to replace cover portion 51 in its original position on the stator cover 53.

The removal of the cover portion 51 and the rotor lid 41. so connected together affords ready access to the interior of the rotatable connecting assembly so as to carry out the necessary maintenance work on the equipment installed therein under the best conditions. Immediate access is provided to the accessory equipment disposed within the interior of the rotor assembly. The

5 ferrule 36, 35 then can be disconnected and removed through opening 52, provision having been made in the usual manner for temporarily supporting the turbine runner, on the one hand, and the rotor of the generator, on the other hand. Upon removal of the connecting member 36, the lower guide bearing assembly is exposed. Upon removal of the ferrule 35, the thrust bearing and the bearing rings 37 and 33 are exposed and may be removed. If desired, the various element making up the lower guide bearing assembly and the thrust bearing support also may be removed, as well as the neck piece in and the cylinder 4 and piston 3 of the blade operation.

This invention is not limited to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing which is presented merely by way of example. Moreover, the invention is applicable to turbines with fixed blades or to any other type of vertical turbine or vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator installation.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many modifications, changes and alterations are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. In a hydroelectric turbo-generator having a turbine runner and a generator rotor rotatable on a common axis, means connecting said runner and said rotor for rotation together on said axis comprising a hollow connecting member having a wall extending about and along said axis and defining a hollow space within said member open at the two ends thereof spaced along said axis, the cross section of said space being sufiicient for Withdrawing therethrough members of said connecting means disposed adjacent said runner, said generator rotor extending about said axis and about an open space having a cross section providing for withdrawing said hollow connecting member through said rotor space.

2. Ina vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator having a turbine runner and a generator rotor rotatable on a common vertical axis, said generator rotor being disposed above said turbine runner, means connecting said runner and said rotor for rotation together on said vertical axis comprising a plurality of hollow connecting members open at both ends thereof and arranged in end to end relation along the axis of rotation of said runner and said rotor, each of said hollow members having a wall extending about and along said vertical axis and defining the hollow space within the respective member, an upper portion of a given member being connected to a lower portion of a superadiacent member, the cross section of the space of said superadjacent member being at least sufficient for withdrawal of said given member upwardly through said space of said superadjacent member, said generator rotor extending about said vertical axis and about an open space having a cross section providing for withdrawing said hollow connecting members vertically through said rotor space.

3. In a vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator as defined in claim 2, a cover connected to said rotor at the upper side thereof for rotation therewith on said axis and pr vided with an opening therein generally concentric with said axis of rotation and at least of sufficient size to pro vide for removal of said given member therethrough.

4. In a vertical hydroelectric turbogenerator as define-d in claim 19, a thrust bearing having a stationary hearing element supported in said turbo-generator, and a to tatable bearing element carried by said connecting memher in bearing relation to said stationary bearing element for supporting 'on said thrust bearing thrust resulting from the weight of said runner and said rotor and of said connecting means and the thrust of said runner.

5. Ina vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator as defined in claim 19, a guide bearing having a stationary bearing element supported in said turbo-generator, and a rotatable bearing element carried by said connecting member in bearing relation to said stationary bearing element for guiding in rotation said runner and said rotor and said connecting means.

6. In a vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator having a turbine runner and a generator rotor rotatable on a common vertical axis, said generator rotor being disposed above said turbine runner, means connecting said runner and said rotor for rotation together on said vertical axis comprising a ferrule having a wall extending about and along said vertical axis and defining a hollow space within said ferrule co-axial with said vertical axis, said ferrule being open at the ends thereof spaced aiong said vertical axis, said wall sloping with respect to said axis to form said ferrule with its upper open cross section greater than the lower open cross section thereof, a second ferrule having a wall extending about and along said vertical axis and defining a hollow space within said second ferrule co-axial with said vertical axis, the upper portion of said Wall of said second ferrule being connected to the lower portion of said wall of said first ferrule at the inner side of said wall of said first ferrule for rotation of said second ferrule with said first ferrule and so that said second ferrule is capable of being withdrawn upwardly from engagement with said first ferrule through said upper open cross section of said first ferrule, said generator rotor extending about said vertical axis and about an open space having a cross section pro viding for withdrawing said first ferrule vertically through said rotor space, means connecting said first ferrule to said generator rotor for rotation therewith, and means connecting said second ferrule to said runner for rotation therewith.

7. In a vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator as defined in claim 6, said first ferrule providing an inwardly extending annular fiange at its lower open end, said second ferrule comprising an outwardly extending annular fiange disposed above and bearing on said flange of said first ferrule.

8. In a vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator having a turbine runner and a generator rotor rotatable on a common vertical axis, said generator being disposed above said turbine runner, means connecting said runner and said rotor for rotation together on said vertical axis com prising two ferrules each having a wall extending about and along said vertical axis and defining a hollow space within said ferrule coaxial with said vertical axis, said ferrules each being open at the ends thereof spaced along said vertical axis and being disposed in end to end relation one above the other, the wall of at least a given one of said ferrules sloping with respect to said axis to form said given ferrule with its upper open cross section greater than the lower open cross section thereof, the upper ferrule having an inwardly extending annular flange co-axial with said vertical axis and extending about said lower ferrule, the lower ferrule having an outwardly extending annular flange coaxial with said vertical axis and disposed above and bearing on said inwardly extending flange of said upper ferrule so as to provide for withdrawing said lower ferrule upwardly through said upper ferrule, said generator rotor extending about said vertical axis and about an open space having a cross section providing for Withdrawing said ferrules vertically through said rotor space, means connecting said upper ferrule adjacent its upper open cross section to said generator rotor, and means connecting said lower ferrule adjacent its lower open cross section to said turbine runner.

9. In a vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator as defined in claim 19, said generator having a stator extending about said vertical axis and about said rotor, and a stationary stator cover disposed above said stator and said rotor and provided with an opening therein generally concentric with the axis of rotation and at least of sufiicient cross section to provide for removal of said member therethrough.

10. In a vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator having a turbine runner and a generator rotor rotatable on a common vertical axis, said areas rotor being disposed above said runner, means connecting said runner and said rotor for rotation together on said vertical axis and having a cover connected to said rotor at the upper side thereof for rotation therewith on said axis, said rotor cover carrying a trunnion upwardly projecting therefrom and disposed generally coaxially with said axis of rotation of said runner and said rotor, and means supported in said turbogenerator and providing a stationary guide bearing engaging said trunnion in bearing relation thereto.

11. In a vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator having a turbine runner and a generator rotor rotatable on a common vertical axis, said rotor being disposed above said runner, means connecting said runner and said rotor for rotation together on said vertical axis comprising a hollow connecting member disposed between said runner and said rotor, a cover connected to said rotor at the upper side thereof for rotation therewith, said rotor cover having an opening therein generally concentric with said axis of rotation and providing access to the interior space of said hollow connecting member, said rotor cover carrying a trunnion upwardly projecting therefrom and disposed generally coaxially with said axis of rotation of said runner and said rotor, and means supported in said turbo-generator and providing a stationary guide bearing engaging said trunnion in guiding bearing relation thereto.

12. In a vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator as defined in claim 11, said generator having a stator extending about said rotor, said means supporting said guide bearing comprising a stationary stator cover disposed above said generator stator and supported thereby and having an opening therein concentric with the said axis of rotation of said runner and said rotor, a central cover portion engaging said stator cover and supported thereby to :cover said opening, said guide bearing being carried by said central cover portion and engaging said trunnion in guiding bearing relation thereto.

13. In a vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator having a turbine runner and a generator rotor, and means connecting said runner and said rotor for rotation together on a common vertical axis, said rotor being disposed above said runner, said generator having a stator extending about said vertical axis in generating relation to said rotor, a stationary stator cover supported in said hydroelectric turbo-generator above said stator and rotor and having a central opening therein coaxially with the axis of said runner and said rotor, an exciter for said generator having the stator element thereof supported by said stationary stator cover adjacent and extending peripherally about said opening in said stator cover, the rotatable element of said exciter being supported by said means connecting said runner and said rotor for rotation therewith and disposed adjacent and inwardly of the periphery of said opening toward said axis of rotation with respect to said stator element of said exciter and extending about said axis.

14. In a vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator as defined in claim 13, a central cover portion supported by said stationary stator cover so as to cover said opening in said stator cover and so as to be removable therefrom to provide for removal of said rotatable exciter element through said central opening.

15. In a vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator having a turbine runner and generator rotor rotatable on a common vertical axis, said rotor being disposed above said runner and extending about said vertical axis and about an open space therewithin, an open end hollow connecting member connecting said runner and said rotor for rotation of said rotor upon rotation of said runner, said hollow connecting member having a wall extending about and along the vertical axis of rotation of said runner and said rotor and defining the hollow space within said member, a rotor cover connected to said rotor at the upper side thereof for rotation therewith on said axis and provided with an opening therein generally concentric with 10 said axis of rotation to provide access to the space within said rotor and to said space within said hollow member, a rotor lid carried by said rotor cover andcovering said opening of said rotor cover and removable therefrom, said generator having a stator extending about said vertical axis and about said rotor, a stationary stator cover disposed above the stator of said generator and supported thereby and having an opening therein concentric with said axis of rotation of said runner and said rotor, the cross section of said opening of said stationary stator cover being sufficient for removal there: through of said rotor cover lid, a central cover portion supported by said stator cover so as to cover said opening in said stator cover, a trunnion carried by said rotor cover lid and upwardly projecting therefrom generally coaxially with said axis of rotation of said runner and said rotor, a guide bearing carried by said central cover portion and engaging said trunnion in guiding bearing relation thereto, and means connectible to said rotor cover lid and to said central cover portion for rigidly connecting said rotor cover lid and said central cover portion to hold said trunnion and said guide bearing in fixed relation to each other for removal with said rotor cover lid and said central cover portion and for replacement thereof with said rotor cover lid and said central cover portion in the respective operating positions on said rotor cover and said stationary stator cover.

16. In a vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator having a turbine runner and generator rotor rotatable on a common vertical axis, said rotor being disposed above said runner and extending about said vertical axis and about an open space therewithin, an open end hollow connecting member connecting said runner and said rotor for rotation of said rotor upon rotation of said runner, said hollow connecting member having a wall extending about and along the vertical axis of rotation of said runner and said rotor and defining the hollow space within said member, a rotor cove-r connected to said rotor at the upper side thereof for rotation therewith on said axis and provided with an opening therein generally concentric with said axis of rotation to provide access to the space within said rotor and to said space within said hollow member, a rotor lid carried by said rotor cover and covering said opening of said rotor cover and removable there-from, said generator having a stator extending about said vertical axis and about said rotor, 21 stationary stator cover disposed above the stator of said generator and supported thereby and having an opening therein concentric with said axis of rotation of said runner and said rotor, the cross section of said opening of said stationary stator cover being sufficient for removal there through of said rotor cover lid, a central cover portion supported by said stator cover so as to cover said opening in said stator cover, a trunnion carried by said rotor cover lid and upwardly projecting therefrom generally coaxially with said axis of rotation of said runner and said rotor, a guide bearing carried by said central cover portion and engaging said trunnion in guiding bearing relation thereto, and means for adjusting the position of said trunnion with respect to said rotor cover lid to adjust the alignment of the axis of said trunnion with respect to said axis of rotation of said runner and said rotor.

17. In a vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator as defined in claim 16, said adjusting means comprising a wedge shaped plate bearing on a surface provided on said rotor cover lid perpendicular to said axis of rotation, said plate having an upper surface inclined to said axis, said trunnion providing a surface inclined to the axis of said trunnion and bearing on said upper inclined surface of said plate, whereby upon rotation of said plate relative to said trunnion the axis of said trunnion may be aligned with said axis of rotation of said runner and said rotor.

18. In a vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator as defined in claim 17, said trunnion and said plate having cen- 1 1 tral openings theret-hrough, said trunnion being adapted to support a telescope in optical alignment with the axis of the trunnion, whereby said trunnion axis may be aligned with the axis of rotation of said runner and said rotor.

19. In a vertical hydroelectric turbo-generator having a turbine runner and a generator rotor rotatable on a common vertical axis, said generator being disposed above said turbine runner, means connecting said runner and said rotor for rotation together on said vertical axis com- 10 being suflicient for withdrawing therethrough members 15 2,628,766

of said connecting means disposed adjacent said runner, said generator rotor extending about said axis and about an open space having a cross section providing for withdrawing said hollow connecting member through said 5 rotor space.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7,412 Fisher June 4, 1850 754,400 Westinghouse Mar. 8, 1904 1,813,107 Allner July 7, 1931 1,860,618 Nagler May 31, 1932 1,919,376 Moody July 25, 1933 Rydm'ark et al. Feb. 17, 1953

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