US 12,078,141 B2
Hydroturbine manufacture
Antoine Vaichere, Saint Egreve (FR); Erwan Gwenaël Pein, Grenoble (FR); and Sylvain Gaudion, Grenoble (FR)
Assigned to GE Renewable Technologies, Grenoble (FR)
Filed by GE Renewable Technologies, Grenoble (FR)
Filed on Jun. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/337,792.
Application 18/337,792 is a continuation of application No. 16/964,488, granted, now 11,808,245, previously published as PCT/EP2019/051836, filed on Jan. 25, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 18305055 (EP), filed on Jan. 25, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0332570 A1, Oct. 19, 2023
Int. Cl. F03B 3/02 (2006.01); F03B 3/12 (2006.01)
CPC F03B 3/02 (2013.01) [F03B 3/121 (2013.01); F05B 2230/21 (2013.01); F05B 2260/02 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A runner for a hydraulic machine, comprising:
a band;
a crown;
a plurality of blades extending between the crown and the band,
a plurality of runner segments, wherein each runner segment comprises a band portion, a crown portion, and a blade of the plurality of blades;
wherein the band portion, the crown portion, and the blade of each runner segment are integrally formed with one another;
each runner segment attachable to another runner segment at a band joining edge and a crown joining edge;
wherein the band joining edge and the crown joining edge are each spaced apart along a length thereof from the blade of the respective runner segment;
each of the runner segments comprising an integral extension at the band joining edge and the crown joining edge;
the extensions meeting and defining a closed-end of a gap between the band or crown joining edges of adjacent runner segments, the gaps comprising an open-end facing outward from the runner and chamfered sides that angle towards the closed-end of the gap, the gap comprising a width to accommodate a narrow gap torch for subsequent welding together of the adjacent runner segments with a weld joint within the gap; and
wherein both of the band joining edges and the crown joining edges are continuously curved in a same direction along a complete length thereof, wherein the continuous curve comprises a varying radius profile.