Stationary shaft alignment apparatus

• US 5,715,609 A
• Filed: 05/15/1996
• Issued: 02/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Computational Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: CSI Technology Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Nower, Daniel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): BENNETT, GEORGE B
• Application Number:
  US08/648,403
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 33/286, 33/412, 33/520, 33/533, 33/613, 33/645, 33/655, 33/DIG. 21
• US Class Current: 33/645
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/27 for testing the alignment of axes means for centering or aligning a light guide within a ferrule G02B6/3834
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/0002 Arrangements for supporting, fixing or guiding the measuring instrument or the object to be measured

Abstract

The specification discloses apparatus for aligning stationary in-line machine shafts. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides an alignment system having a sensed point rotatably positionable around a shaft for rotation through a plurality of angular positions around the shaft to provide a reference point against which misalignment is measured. The position of the sensed point is sensed by a sensor which is rotatably positionable around the shaft independently of the sensed point for rotation through a plurality of angular positions about the shaft.

Claims

1. A method for producing misalignment information as to centerlines of first and second in-line stationary shafts, said method comprising:

maintaining the shafts substantially stationary;

rotating a sensed point through a plurality of first angular positions around the first shaft while maintaining the sensed point at a substantially constant radial distance away from the centerline of the second shaft;

rotating a sensor through a plurality of second angular positions around the first shaft while maintaining the sensor at a substantially constant radial distance away from the centerline of the first shaft;

coordinating the rotation of the sensed point and the sensor so that a plurality of the first angular positions correspond to a plurality of the second angular positions at corresponding times;

sensing the sensed point with the sensor at a plurality of the corresponding angular positions around the first shaft;

producing an output corresponding to radial distances along lines through the sensed point and perpendicular to the centerline of the first shaft when the sensed point is at each corresponding angular position; and

producing information as to the misalignment of the centerlines of the shafts based upon the output at each corresponding angular position.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

rotating a second sensed point through a plurality of third angular positions around the second shaft while maintaining the second sensed point at a substantially constant radial distance away from the centerline of the first shaft;

rotating a second sensor through a plurality of fourth angular positions around the second shaft while maintaining the second sensor at a substantially constant radial distance away from the centerline of the second shaft;

coordinating the rotation of the second sensed point and the second sensor so that a plurality of the third angular positions correspond to a plurality of the fourth angular positions at corresponding times;

sensing the second sensed point with the second sensor at a plurality of angular positions around the second shaft;

producing a second output corresponding to radial distances along lines through the second sensed point and perpendicular to the centerline of the second shaft when the second sensed point is at each corresponding angular position; and

producing information as to the misalignment of the centerlines of the shafts based upon second output at each corresponding angular position.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of rotating a sensed point comprises rotating a beam of light around the shafts to form a sensed point of light on the sensor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of producing an output corresponding to radial distances comprises producing an output corresponding to change in the radial distance between the sensed point and the centerline of the first shaft.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of rotating a sensed point comprises rotating a laser around the shafts to form a sensed laser beam for sensing by the sensor and said step of rotating a sensor comprises rotating an optical sensor around the shafts to sense the laser beam.

6. A method for producing misalignment information as to centerlines of first and second in-line shafts, said method comprising:

maintaining the shafts substantially stationary;

rotating a first sensed point through a plurality of first angular positions around the first shaft while maintaining the first sensed point at a substantially constant radial distance away from the centerline of the second shaft;

rotating a first sensor through a plurality of second angular positions around the first shaft while maintaining the first sensor at a substantially constant radial distance away from the centerline of the first shaft;

rotating a second sensed point through a plurality of third angular positions around the second shaft while maintaining the second sensed point at a substantially constant radial distance away from the centerline of the first shaft;

rotating a second sensor through a plurality of fourth angular positions around the second shaft while maintaining the second sensor at a substantially constant radial distance away from the centerline of the second shaft;

coordinating the rotation of the first sensed point and the first sensor so that a plurality of the first angular positions correspond to a plurality of the second angular positions at corresponding times;

coordinating the rotation of the second sensed point and the second sensor so that a plurality of the third angular positions correspond to a plurality of the fourth angular positions at the corresponding times;

sensing the first sensed point with the first sensor at a plurality of corresponding angular positions around the first shaft;

sensing the second sensed point with the second sensor at a plurality of corresponding angular positions around the second shaft;

producing a first output corresponding to radial distances along lines through the first sensed point and perpendicular to the centerline of the first shaft when the first sensed point is at each corresponding angular position;

producing a second output corresponding to radial distances along lines through the second sensed point and perpendicular to the centerline of the second shaft when the second sensed point is at each corresponding angular position; and

producing information as to the misalignment of the centerlines of the shafts based upon the first and second outputs at each corresponding angular position.

7. A system for measuring misalignment of centerlines of first and second in-line stationary shafts, said system comprising:

a sensed point rotatably positionable around the first stationary shaft for rotation through a plurality of first angular positions about the first shaft, said sensed point being maintained at a substantially constant radial distance away from the centerline of the second stationary shaft during rotation; and

a sensor for sensing said sensed point, said sensor being rotatably positionable around the first stationary shaft independently of said sensed point for rotation through a plurality of second angular positions about the first stationary shaft, said sensor being maintained at a substantially constant radial distance away from the centerline of said first stationary shaft during rotation and said sensor being positionable for sensing the sensed point at a plurality of angular positions about the first stationary shaft and producing an output corresponding to radial distances along lines through the sensed point and perpendicular to the centerline of the first stationary shaft.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a second sensed point rotatably positionable around the second shaft for rotation through a plurality of third angular positions about the second shaft, said sensed point being maintained at a substantially constant radial distance away from the centerline of the first shaft during rotation; and

a second sensor for sensing said second sensed point, said second sensor being rotatably positionable around the second shaft independently of said second sensed point for rotation through a plurality of fourth angular positions about the second shaft, said sensor being maintained at a substantially constant radial distance away from the centerline of said second shaft during rotation and said second sensor being positionable for sensing the second sensed point at a plurality of angular positions about the second shaft and producing a second output corresponding to radial distances along lines through the second sensed point and perpendicular to the centerline of the second shaft.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said first sensed point comprises a laser beam producing a spot of light on said sensor.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said sensor comprises an optical sensor.

11. A system for measuring misalignment of centerlines of first and second in-line stationary shafts, said system comprising:

a first rotatable base positionable on said first stationary shaft to extend substantially perpendicularly to the centerline of said first stationary shaft and to rotate about the centerline of said first stationary shaft, said first base having a first receiving surface configured to receive said first stationary shaft and a first mounting surface spaced apart from said first receiving surface;

first friction reducing elements positionable between said first stationary shaft and said first receiving surface for supporting said first rotatable base adjacent said first stationary shaft;

a fastener mechanically connected to the first rotatable base for engaging and fastening said first rotatable base to said first stationary shaft;

second friction reducing elements positionable between said first stationary shaft and said fastener;

a head extending from said first mounting surface perpendicularly to the first stationary shaft;

a laser for emitting a beam of light in a direction radially spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the centerline of said second stationary shaft;

an optical sensor located on said head for sensing the beam of light emitted from said laser and for producing a signal corresponding to the radial position of the beam of light at the optical sensor with respect to the centerline of the first stationary shaft.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said fastener comprises:

an elongate chain having first and second ends and a mid-region defined between the first and second ends;

a chain attachment for attaching the first end of the chain to said first rotatable base;

a catch for securing the mid region of the chain to the first rotatable base; and

a chain clip for clipping the second end of the chain to the mid-region of the chain.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said first friction reducing elements comprise:

a first rotatable bearing mounted on the first receiving surface at a first support location for rotatably engaging said first stationary shaft; and

a second rotatable bearing mounted on the first receiving surface at a second support location spaced apart from the first support location for rotatably engaging said first stationary shaft.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said second friction reducing elements comprise a plurality of slides connected to the chain for slidably engaging the first stationary shaft.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a second rotatable base positionable on said second stationary shaft to extend substantially perpendicularly to the centerline of said second stationary shaft and to rotate about the centerline of said second stationary shaft, said second base having a second receiving surface configured to receive said second stationary shaft and a second mounting surface spaced apart from said second receiving surface;

third friction reducing elements positionable between said second stationary shaft and said second receiving surface for supporting said second rotatable base adjacent said second stationary shaft;

a second fastener mechanically connected to the second rotatable base for engaging and fastening said second rotatable base to said second stationary shaft;

fourth friction reducing elements positionable between said second stationary shaft and said second fastener;

a second head extending from said second mounting surface perpendicular to the second stationary shaft;

a second laser for emitting a second beam of light in a direction radially spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the centerline of said first stationary shaft;

a second optical sensor located on said second head for sensing the second beam of light emitted from said second laser and for producing a second signal corresponding to the radial distance between the second beam of light and the centerline of the second stationary shaft.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said second laser is mounted on said first heads and said first laser is mounted on said second head.

17. A system for measuring misalignment of centerlines of first and second in-line stationary shafts, said system comprising:

a first rotatable base positionable on said first stationary shaft to extend substantially perpendicularly to the centerline of said first stationary shaft and to rotate about the centerline of said first stationary shaft, said first base having a first receiving surface configured to receive said first stationary shaft and a first mounting surface spaced apart from said first receiving surface;

a second rotatable base positionable on said second stationary shaft to extend substantially perpendicularly to the centerline of said second stationary shaft and to rotate about the centerline of said second stationary shaft, said second base having a second receiving surface configured to receive said second stationary shaft and a second mounting surface spaced apart from said second receiving surface;

a first fastener movably fastening said first base to said first stationary shaft for rotating around the first shaft in a plane perpendicular to the first shaft;

a second fastener movably fastening said second base to said second stationary shaft for rotating around the second shaft in a plane perpendicular to the second shaft;

a first laser for emitting a first beam of light in a direction radially spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the centerline of said second stationary shaft;

a second laser for emitting a second beam of light in a direction radially spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the centerline of said first stationary shaft;

a first optical sensor for sensing the first beam of light and for producing a signal corresponding to the radial position of the first beam of light at the first optical sensor with respect to the centerline of the first stationary shaft; and

a second optical sensor located on said second head for sensing the second beam of light emitted from said second laser and for producing a second signal corresponding to the radial distance between the second beam of light and the centerline of the second stationary shaft.