Improvements in or relating to radial-flow turbines

816,277. Radial-flow steam turbines. INTERNATIONAL STAL CO. A.B. Sept. 16, 1957, No. 29091/57. Class 110 (3). In a radial-flow turbine having a steam chest consisting of two or more concentrically and expansibly interrelated annular parts 8, 9, the steam chest having one or more steam transfer chambers 7 formed therein and supply or discharge pipes 6 communicating with the transfer chambers, the outermost part 9 of the steam chest is surrounded by a casing part 11 having axially projecting tongues 13, the pipes 6 being received in the spaces 14 between the tongues. The casing 11 and the outermost part of the steam chest are interconnected by connecting means which is centralizing and axially locating and which allows for diametrical expansion and contraction. The turbine shown is of the contrarotating type, one rotor disc 2 being shown carried by a stub shaft 3. The steam inlet pipes 6 are shown welded to the innermost part 8 of the steam chest but they may be formed integrally therewith. A splined connection 10 is provided between the two parts 8, 9 of the steam chest, and the outermost part 9 is provided with semi-circular grooves 18 to accommodate the steam inlet pipes 6; a ring member 19 also formed with semi-circular grooves is disposed in abutting relation with the part 9. The casing part 11 is slid axially into position so that the tongues 13 engage the external part of the steam chest part 9, the inlet pipes being received in the spaces 14 between the tongues. Radially-disposed locking pins 12 are engaged in aligned holes formed in the tongues 13 of the casing part 11 and in the outermost steam chest part 9. A retaining ring 15 is disposed around the tongues 13 and is located by a stop ring 16 bolted to the end faces of the tongues. In a second embodiment, in place of the locking pins 12, short arcuate locking pieces 21 are provided, being received in circumferentially-extending grooves 20 formed in the outer surface of the steam chest part 9 and in the inner surfaces of the tongue portions 13. The groove 20 in the steam chest part 9 is of such a depth that the arcuate locking pieces may be received wholly therein so as to permit the casing part and tongues to be moved axially into position; the locking pieces are then moved radially outwardly by means of screws 22. Radial projections 23 are formed on the steam chest part 9 and engage in the spaces 14 between the tongues 13 whereby the steam chest part 9 is locked against circumferential movement w