21.035 Electric Generators, Science Service Historical Image Collection

1925 - detailed picture showing the maze of minutely fashioned blades

THE "HEART" OF THE HUGE WESTINGHOUSE TURBINE

CD 1963045 E&MP 21.035

Electric Generators

Sunday Feb. 22, 1925

An unusual detailed picture showing the maze of minutely fashioned blades - approximately five thousand -- of these Westinghouse turbine rotor, or "spindle".

Though only twenty-five feet in length this piece of machinery weighs one hundred and fifteen thousand pounds.

At full speed the outside diameter of the spindle, on the left, is running nearly ten miles per minute, or a little less than 600 miles per hour.

The problem of excessive heat resulting from such tremendous speed has been overcome by working the bearings under forced lubrication, about two barrels of oil being circulated through the bearings every sixty seconds to lubricate and carry away the heat generated by the rotation.

The motor is that of the 45000 H.P. generating unit built by the South Philadelphia Works, Westinghouse Electric & Mfg. Co. for the Los Angeles Gas and Electric Company.

1925 - detailed picture showing the maze of minutely fashioned blades
[a closer look]