Methods and apparatus for determining the location of a shaft within a vessel
First Claim
1. An apparatus mountable over a vessel in which an elongate member is operable, the apparatus adapted for determining the position of the elongate member in relation to the vessel, comprising:
- (a) a mounting component for mounting the apparatus over an open end of the vessel;
(b) a linearly displaceable plunger supported by and disposed below the mounting component; and
(c) a transducer supported by and disposed below the mounting component in operative relation to the plunger, wherein the transducer is adapted for sensing a displacement of the plunger and for producing an electrical signal indicative of the displacement of the plunger.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for determining the position of an elongate member such as a shaft in relation to a vessel in which the elongate member operates. The apparatus includes a mounting component adapted for placement over the open end of the vessel, one or more movable plungers, and one or more transducers that interact with the respective plungers. The plungers and transducers are supported by the mounting component and disposed below the mounting component. Thus, upon placement of the mounting component over the vessel, the plungers and transducers reside within the vessel while permitting the elongate member to be disposed at its normal operating position within the vessel. If the position of the elongate member is offset from a predetermined desired position within the vessel, the plunger is displaced by a certain magnitude that is detected by the transducer. In this manner, the apparatus can be used to measure the centerline offset and/or the height of the elongate member in relation to the vessel.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. An apparatus mountable over a vessel in which an elongate member is operable, the apparatus adapted for determining the position of the elongate member in relation to the vessel, comprising:
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(a) a mounting component for mounting the apparatus over an open end of the vessel;
(b) a linearly displaceable plunger supported by and disposed below the mounting component; and
(c) a transducer supported by and disposed below the mounting component in operative relation to the plunger, wherein the transducer is adapted for sensing a displacement of the plunger and for producing an electrical signal indicative of the displacement of the plunger. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus mountable over a vessel in which an elongate member is operable, the apparatus adapted for determining the position of the elongate member in relation to the vessel, comprising:
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(a) a mounting component for mounting the apparatus over an open end of the vessel;
(b) a linearly displaceable first plunger supported by and disposed below the mounting component;
(c) a first transducer supported by and disposed below the mounting component in operative relation to the first plunger, wherein the first transducer is adapted for sensing a displacement of the first plunger and for producing an electrical signal indicative of the displacement of the first plunger;
(d) a second plunger supported by and disposed below the mounting component, wherein the second plunger is linearly displaceable along a direction generally transverse to the first plunger; and
(e) a second transducer supported by and disposed below the mounting component in operative relation to the second plunger, wherein the second transducer is adapted for sensing a displacement of the second plunger and for producing an electrical signal indicative of the displacement of the second plunger.
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Specification