(a) (b)

(a) with radial clearance blading

(b) with end-tightened blading

This system of end-tightening, as it is called, prevents leakage of steam past the blade tips, and is
adopted because it is impossible to provide sufficiently small clearances between the fixed and
moving parts of the turbine.

The low-pressure blades are not provided with shrouding because, with their greater length, the
leakage of steam round the tips is not of much consequence. The clearance between blade
shrouding and casing and rotor respectively is usually about ¼-in. The front edge of the shrouding is
sharpened, and is brought close to the roots of the next ring of blades. This axial clearance, as it is
known, is made adjustable by a micrometer collar on the end of the turbine shaft. The collar enables
the whole rotor to be moved as required in a fore-and-aft direction by distances that are measured
in thousandths of an inch.

The purpose of the sharp edge to the shrouding is twofold. It causes turbulence in any steam flowing
round it and so serves as a baffle. Should the sharp edge accidentally touch an adjacent stationary
surface, it is merely ground away harmlessly instead of jamming or causing friction by rubbing.
Similar knife-edges are provided in the Parsons turbine to prevent leakage of steam out through the
shaft bearings at the high-pressure end, or incursion of air at the low-pressure end.