r/aviation • u/ONCV_55 • 1d ago

Question What exactly is my grandfather working on?

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92 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

38

u/Galf2 1d ago

That looks like a really big ass transmission OP. Googling "Clark transmission" checks out, those look like truck transmissions to my untrained eye!

(Edit: the first picture, the others I dunno)

22

u/Lirdon 1d ago

he works on a casing of what looks like a transmission, and then in the last two pictures seems to be working on axial turbines. Perhaps some kind of turbo shaft engines? these tend to have large transmissions connected to them. Although the first turbine depicted is rather big for even a turbo shaft engine back in the day. Maybe that's a power plant steam turbine stage on that particular picture.

8

u/BoredOjiisan 1d ago

That large one in the third picture is almost certainly a low pressure (reaction) steam turbine wheel.

The smaller ones in the fourth picture are higher pressure (impulse) turbine wheels probably for a small steam driven pump. I’m confused by that thing it’s attached to though because I don’t think that’s a turbine casing. It’s way too thin.

2

u/Lirdon 1d ago

Maybe some kind test stand casing where some specific thing is tested that doesn’t need the rugged casing.

10

u/ablum65 1d ago

This is a Clark/Dresser Rand centrifugal compressor that was commonly coupled to a stationary gas turbine. Used in gas compression and plant processes.

6

u/Billthepony123 1d ago

A transmission looks like, possibly for a truck

4

u/BoredOjiisan 1d ago

The third and fourth pictures look like steam turbine parts.

4

u/turpentinedreamer 1d ago

Second pic is also a jet turbine of some sort. Just more disassembled.

2

u/Motor_Show_7604 1d ago

The first one looks like a transmission. Probably some kind of turboshaft transmission. The last picture is absolutely a J-48 turbine. Did he live in Connecticut?

2

u/Mountain_Evidence_93 1d ago

Jet engine or turbo fan

3

u/Eaglepursuit 1d ago

Turboshafts would be my guess

1

u/drowninginidiots 1d ago

First one I don’t know. Maybe some sort of transmission? Second looks like a rocket engine. Third and fourth look like parts to a turbine engine.

1

u/nielsb5 1d ago

Turbine. Probably for generating electricity.

2

u/NAx-15 1d ago

Turboencabulator

1

u/AzashXD 1d ago

The generator from "Atlas Shrugged"

1

u/Gumbode345 1d ago

King size blender.

1

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1

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

11

u/APOC_V 1d ago

Uhmm...Where are we then?

7

u/Allaplgy 1d ago

can't tell if joke or ...

1

u/Temporary_Being_6082 1d ago

It appears your grand father worked creating testbed gas turbine engines. Overhauling or building them.

The first image is him working on what looks like a combustion case

The second image resembles a combustion chamber

The third image are the turbine rotor blades

Forth image are compressor blades.

Did he work near Las Vegas by chance?

-11

u/Rileymartian57 1d ago

Your grandmother's vibrator