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Title: |
1912 Article-Buffalo Forge Co., Spiro Rotary Steam Turbine |
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Source: |
Woodcraft Magazine, Feb 1912, pg. 155 |
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Insert Date: |
12/17/2019 4:20:05 PM |
Buffalo Spiro Turbine
The "Spiro" turbine is already made in sizes up to and including 60 horsepower, but this range will be extended as rapidly as possible to include larger sizes. It is a peculiarly interesting device that the manufacturer informs us has been placed on the market only after several years of development and perfecting. It is claimed to have some 666 expansions every second and to utilize both the expansive force of the steam and the impact due to its velocity, thus combining the advantages of impact and reaction turbines.
There are no loose or inserted blades in the Spiro turbine and the construction is very simple, consisting practically of only five parts: the two runners shown mounted on shafts in Fig. 1, the heads and cylinder in Fig. 2, the bearings being attached to the heads; the whole being combined as illustrated in Fig. 3 which depicts a 185-horsepower turbine of this type. The relative appearance of the turbine and the workman seen in Fig. 3 show very plainly the compact character of the machine.
The runners, Fig. 1, are two sets of spiral or herringbone gears mounted so that they intermesh, the steam being introduced into the central pocket and allowed to expand until it reaches the end of the runners. This expansion takes place at a high velocity, it being figured that with 2,000 revolutions per minute and 20 teeth in a runner, there are 40,000 expansions per minute or 666 per second—the rapidity of this steam action being the dominant factor in reducing the machine to its very small dimensions.
Fig. 1 illustrates a turbine which the Buffalo Forge Co. has used for the past three years to drive its large fans under test. It has never been taken apart since it was installed.
At first consideration of this turbine it would seem that there would be a metal to metal contact which at the high velocity here quoted would indicate a corresponding wear, but it is found by the manufacturer that a film of steam cushions the teeth of the runners at all times. In fact, so pronounced is this condition that the action is practically noiseless, it being impossible to hear any sound except a slight hum similar to that of an electric motor. The absence of vibration is so complete that it is not even necessary to use foundation bolts for the direct-connected units.
Fig. 4 submits the turbine direct connected to a surfacer, the illustration showing the marked feature of a high-speed source of power applied to a wood-working machine. Fig. 5 shows a 15horsepower turbine attached to a 40-inch exhauster.
For fan service it is found that these turbines are very effective because of their high rotative speeds the size of the outfit is reduced to a minimum and they can therefore be installed in extremely restricted spaces. No governor is necessary in driving a fan when the load is constant, the blast wheel of the fan then acts as a governor. For variable loads the manufacturer supplies a governor of simple construction. These turbines are manufactured by the Buffalo Forge Co., Buffalo, N. Y.
1,026,887
http://datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=1026887&typeCode=0
1,046,687
http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=1046687&typeCode=0
1,070,086
http://datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=1070086&typeCode=0
1,070,087
http://datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=1070087&typeCode=0
1,070,088
http://datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=1070088&typeCode=0 |
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1912 Buffalo Forge Co., 185 H. P. Spiro Rotary Steam Turbine
1912 Buffalo Forge Co., 185 H. P. Spiro Rotary Steam Turbine (Internal Parts)
1912 Buffalo Forge Co., 15 H. P. Spiro Rotary Steam Turbine
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