Vertical alternator holding apparatus and method for alternator testing

• US 20060091597A1
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Opsahl, Scott, Murphy, Jason, Walter, George
• Granted Patent: US 7,300,041 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 269/45
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 11/02 Assembly jigs
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/02 Details or accessories of testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53961 with work-holder for assembly

Abstract

An apparatus for supporting an alternator for testing uses a supporting pin mounted to extend in a first direction relative to the alternator. A first holding pin extends in a second direction relative to the alternator, and has two ends with a first end having a bore therethrough sized to receive the first holding pin to pivot about the supporting pin and a second end having a threaded portion, with a first shoulder being disposed on the first holding pin between the first end and the second end. A first nut is adapted to engage the threaded portion to trap the alternator between the shoulder and the first nut when the nut is tightened.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting an alternator for testing, comprising:

a supporting pin mounted to extend in a first direction relative to the alternator;

a first holding pin extending in a second direction relative to the alternator, and having two ends with a first end having a bore therethrough sized to receive the first holding pin to pivot about the supporting pin and a second end having a threaded portion, with a first shoulder being disposed on the first holding pin between the first end and the second end; and

a first nut adapted to engage the threaded portion to trap the alternator between the shoulder and the first nut when the nut is tightened.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, when the first holding pin is slidable along a portion of the supporting pin.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second holding pin substantially similar to the first holding pin and including a second shoulder; and

a second nut substantially similar to the first nut, wherein the alternator is trapped between the first nut and the first shoulder respectively and the second nut and the second shoulder respectively.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first and second holding pins are slidable along a portion of the supporting pin.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pin mount for supporting the supporting pin, wherein the supporting pin is removable from the mount.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a base plate, wherein the pin mount is mounted to the base plate.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first nut has a bore therethrough having a diameter greater than the outer diameter of the threaded portion of the first holding pin, and further having internal threads that can engage the threaded portion of the first holding pin.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

a second holding pin substantially similar to the first holding pin and including a second shoulder; and

a second nut substantially similar to the first nut, wherein the alternator is trapped between the first nut and the first shoulder respectively and the second nut and the second shoulder respectively.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the second nut has a bore therethrough having a diameter greater than the outer diameter of the threaded portion of the second holding pin, and further having internal threads that can engage the threaded portion of the second holding pin.

10. An apparatus for supporting an alternator for testing, comprising:

supporting means extending in a first direction relative to the alternator;

first holding means extending in a second direction relative to the alternator, and having two ends with a first end having a bore therethrough sized to receive the first holding means to pivot about the supporting means and a second end, with a first shoulder being disposed on the first holding means between the first end and the second end; and

securing means for engaging the second end to trap the alternator between the shoulder and the securing means when the securing means is tightened.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

second holding means substantially similar to the first holding means; and

second securing means substantially similar to the first securing means.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising mounting means for mounting the supporting means, wherein the supporting means is removable from the mounting means.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a base plate wherein the mounting means is mounted to the base plate.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second end of the holding means for a threaded portion and the securing means comprises a nut.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the nut has a bore therethrough having a diameter greater than the outer diameter of the threaded portion and further having internal threads that can engage the threaded portion of the mounting pin.

16. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

17. An method for supporting an alternator for testing, comprising:

installing a supporting pin in a first direction relative to the alternator;

installing a first holding pin extending in a second direction relative to the alternator, and having two ends with a first end having a bore therethrough sized to receive the first holding means to pivot about the supporting means and a second end, with a first shoulder being disposed on the first holding means between the first end and the second end; and

installing a first nut onto the holding pin to engage the second end to trap the alternator between the shoulder and the securing means when the securing means is tightened.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

installing a second holding pin substantially similar to the first holding pin; and

installing a second nut substantially similar to the first nut onto the second holding pin.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising removably mounting the supporting pins.

20. The method according to claim 17, further comprising mounting the supporting pin to a base plate.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein the second end of the holding pin has a threaded portion.