RANDY V SEIFARTH
Engineers in York, PA

6016600, Jan 25, 2000

Jan 7, 1998

9/003895

Mark E. Kennell - Dallastown PA
Robert G. Grubb - York PA
Randy V. Seifarth - York PA
Robert D. Steele - York PA

Voith Hydro, Inc. - York PA

B23P 1500

298891

A method of assembling a turbine runner while it remains situated in a water passageway. The turbine runner comprises a hub having a longitudinal axis, spaced apart outer and inner surfaces defining a cavity, and a corresponding plurality of blades pivotally connected to the hub. Each blade has a trunnion and is supported in rotation by an associated blade support assembly including at least one trunnion bushing. The cavity substantially encloses the support assemblies. The method comprises the steps of assembling a maintenance platform in the water passageway below the runner, installing for at least one of the blades a new trunnion bushing in the associated blade support assembly, and removing the maintenance platform from the water passageway. The hub has an inner hub for supporting the trunnion bushing, and the inner hub may be split into upper and lower inner hubs which may be uncoupled for installing the new trunnion bushing. The runner is surrounded by a discharge ring for directing a flow of water past the runner blades.

6402477, Jun 11, 2002

Nov 28, 2000

09/723590

Joseph M. Cybularz - Jacobus PA
Richard K. Donelson - Emigsville PA
Robert G. Grubb - York PA
Randy V. Seifarth - York PA
Siegbert Etter - Heidenheim, DE
Donald E. Zehner - Etters PA

Voith Siemens Hydro Power Generation, Inc. - York PA

F03B 306

416244A, 416174, 416245 A, 415 13, 415 17, 415 24, 415 33, 415 36, 415 42, 4151701, 4151742

A turbine, adaptable to improve the survivability of fish present in water flowing therethrough, includes a hub and associated runner blades. Each blade comprises an inner edge and a distal outer edge, a leading edge and a trailing edge separated by a water directing surface. Each blade is rotatable relative to the hub about a blade rotational axis. The turbine is provided with a gap shielding device designed to shield a gap formed between the hub and the blade inner edge as the blade is rotated about its axis. The gap shielding device may comprise a plurality of independently biased pins, a plurality of fluid jets, a plurality of flexible members, a fluid-filled boot, and combinations thereof.

6164907, Dec 26, 2000

May 18, 1999

9/314225

Joseph M. Cybularz - Jacobus PA
Richard K. Donelson - Emigsville PA
Richard K. Fisher - Jacobus PA
Robert G. Grubb - York PA
Randy V. Seifarth - York PA
Siegbert Etter - Heidenheim, DE
Donald E. Zehner - Etters PA

Voith Siemens Hydro Power Generation Inc. - York PA

F03B 306, F03B 318, F03B 1510, F03B 1514

4151734

A turbine installation having reduced inner and outer gaps comprises a water passageway and a turbine runner disposed in the passageway downstream of a discharge ring. The turbine runner includes a hollow hub having spaced apart inner and outer surfaces and a longitudinal axis and a plurality of runner blades. Each blade comprises a hydrofoil having an inner edge and a distal outer edge, a leading edge and a trailing edge separated by a water directing surface. Each blade is pivotally connected to the hub about a rotational axis extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis so that its inner edge is proximate the hub. Each blade is rotatable between a maximum pitch position and a minimum pitch position. The discharge ring has a spherical configuration cooperable with the outer edge of each of the blades to reduce an outer gap formed between the outer edge of each of the blades and the passageway. The hub may be configured as a sphere downstream of the blade rotational axes to reduce an inner gap formed between the inner edge of each of the blades and the hub.

5947679, Sep 7, 1999

Mar 28, 1996

8/623245

Joseph M. Cybularz - Jacobus PA
Richard K. Donelson - Emigsville PA
Richard K. Fisher - Jacobus PA
Robert G. Grubb - York PA
Randy V. Seifarth - York PA
Siegbert Etter - Heidenheim, DE
Donald E. Zehner - Etters PA

Voith Hydro, Inc. - York PA

F03B 306, F03B 318, F03B 1510, F03B 1514

415 17

A turbine, adaptable to improve the survivability of fish present in water flowing therethrough, includes a hub and associated runner blades. Each blade comprises an inner edge and a distal outer edge, a leading edge and a trailing edge separated by a water directing surface. Each blade is rotatable relative to the hub about a blade rotational axis. The turbine is provided with features designed to shield a gap formed between the hub and the blade inner edge as the blade is rotated about its axis.