Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
ALIGNER
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The application relates generally to alignment devices and, more
particularly, to
aligners not requiring disassembly or lifting of equipment.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Shaft alignment may be an important aspect of mechanical systems
utilizing
equipment where rotational forces are transferred from one machine of the
equipment
to another through shafts that are coupled together. For example, a first
machine may
act as a driver transferring rotational energy to a second machine through
respective
shafts of the machines. Coupling the shafts such that their respective
centerlines are
aligned may transfer energy more efficiently and minimize wear to the
equipment. In
other words, a horizontal offset, vertical offset, angular offset, or a
combination of these
offsets may reduce the efficiency of the energy transfer.
[0003] Means of securing the equipment to a base may include anchor bolts
securing
feet of the equipment to the base. These bolts are sometimes referred to as
"hold-down
bolts". However, vertical shifting of the equipment or movement of the feet up
or down
with respect to each other, or with respect to the base, can misalign the
shafts.
[0004] Shims have been provided between the foot of the equipment and the base
to
adjust the shaft alignment. However, shaft alignment using shims typically
requires
lifting equipment to raise the foot from the base. This may increase the
installation and
alignment times.
SUMMARY
[0005] In one aspect, there is provided an aligner for positioning a foot of a
machine
relative to a base, the aligner comprising a top plate having a first inner
wall, a first
outer wall abutable with the foot, and at least one first side wall between
the first inner
and outer walls, the top plate having a first slot defined between the first
inner and outer
walls and extending inwardly from the at least one first side wall; a bottom
plate having
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a second inner wall oriented toward the first inner wall, a second outer wall
abutable
with the base, and at least one second side wall between the second inner and
outer
walls, the bottom plate having a second slot defined between the second inner
and
outer walls and extending inwardly from the at least one second side wall; a
wedge
disposed between the top and bottom plates and slidable with respect to the
top and
bottom plates to vary a distance between the top plate and the bottom plate,
the wedge
having a top wall slidably abuttable against the first inner wall of the top
plate, a bottom
wall slidably abuttable against the second inner wall of the bottom plate, and
at least
one third side wall between the top and bottom walls, the top wall being
slanted relative
to the bottom wall, the wedge having a third slot defined between the top and
bottom
walls and extending inwardly from the at least one third side wall; the first,
second, and
third slots configured to slidably receive therethrough a hold-down bolt for
securing the
foot to the base; a first locking element mountable to the top plate and
configured to
prevent a horizontal movement of the hold-down bolt within the first slot; a
second
locking element mountable to the bottom plate and configured to prevent the
horizontal
movement of the hold-down bolt within the second slot; and at least one of the
first
inner wall and the second inner wall being slanted relative to a corresponding
one of the
first outer wall and the second outer wall.
[0006] In another aspect, there is provided a method of aligning a foot of a
machine
relative to a base, the method comprising sliding a bottom plate at least
partially around
a fastener, the fastener connecting the foot to the base; sliding a top plate
at least
partially around the fastener on top of the bottom plate, at least one of the
top and
bottom plates having a wedge-shape side profile; sliding a wedge at least
partially
around the fastener between the top and bottom plates; locking the fastener
within a
first longitudinal path defined in the top plate to restrict displacement of
the fastener
along the first longitudinal path; locking the fastener within a second
longitudinal path
defined in the bottom plate to restrict displacement of the fastener along the
second
longitudinal path; and displacing the wedge horizontally between the top and
bottom
plates to vary a vertical distance between the top and bottom plates.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Reference is now made to the accompanying figures in which:
[0008] Fig. 1A is a side view of an aligner according to an embodiment of the
present
disclosure, the aligner shown is mounted between a foot and a base of
equipment;
[0009] Fig. 1B is an exploded perspective view of the aligner of Fig. 1A;
[0010] Fig. 1C is an exploded side view of the aligner, foot and base of Fig.
1A;
[0011] Fig. 1D is a side view of the aligner of Fig. 1A, illustrating portions
of the aligner
in dotted lines to show internal elements;
[0012] Fig. 1E is a front view of the aligner of Fig. 1A;
[0013] Fig. 1F is a cross-sectional view of the aligner taken along line A-A
of Fig. 1E;
[0014] Fig. 1G is a top view of the aligner of Fig. 1A;
[0015] Fig. 2A is a side view of a top plate of the aligner of Fig. 1A;
[0016] Fig. 2B is a front view of the top plate of Fig. 2A;
[0017] Fig. 2C is a top view of the top plate of Fig. 2A;
[0018] Fig. 2D is a bottom view of the top plate of Fig. 2A;
[0019] Fig. 3A is a perspective view of a bottom plate of the aligner of Fig.
1A;
[0020] Fig. 3B is a top view of the bottom plate of Fig. 3A;
[0021] Fig. 4A is a perspective view of a wedge of the aligner of Fig. 1A;
[0022] Fig. 4B is another perspective view of the wedge of Fig. 4B;
[0023] Fig. 4C is a top view of the wedge of Fig. 4A;
[0024] Fig. 4D is a bottom view of the wedge of Fig. 4A;
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[0025] Fig. 5A is a side view of the bottom plate of Fig. 3A, shown with a
back plate
extending therefrom;
[0026] Fig. 5B is another side view of the bottom plate of Fig. 5A,
illustrating portions of
the bottom and back plates in dotted lines to show internal elements;
[0027] Fig. 6 is a side view of the aligner of Fig. 1A, shown with a tapered
shim
between the foot and the top plate;
[0028] Fig. 7A is a side view of an aligner according to another embodiment of
the
present disclosure; and
[0029] Fig. 7B is a side view of an aligner according to another embodiment of
the
present disclosure.
DESCRIPTION
[0030] Figs. 1A-1B illustrate an aligner 10 for positioning a foot F of a
machine relative
to a base B supporting the machine. The foot F may be a part of the machine
that
connects and/or rests on the base B. The machine may be used in equipment
where
rotational forces are transferred from one machine of the equipment to another
through
shafts that are coupled together. The aligner 10, or at least some components
of the
aligner 10 may be used in combination with an aligner as disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No.
7,905,465 to Anwar, entitled Shimless Aligner, the entire contents of which
are
incorporated by reference herein. The base B may be part of the machine or any
other
suitable foundation, such as a floor or ground, that supports the foot F. An
alignment
between the foot F and the base B may be relevant to equipment that transfer
rotational
force via shafts. For example, equipment may have one machine that acts as a
driver
transferring rotational energy to a second machine. In this example, the
driver machine
has a shaft and the driven machine has another shaft. To efficiently transfer
energy and
minimize wear to the equipment, the two shafts would have their respective
centerlines
inline. In other words, the centerlines may extend along an axis without
horizontal
offset, vertical offset, angular offset, or a combination of these offsets.
The offset, or
misalignment, may be caused by different factors. For example, load
conditions, heat
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generation, environmental factors, base expansions and contractions, and wear
may
alter the alignment of the shafts.
[0031] Misalignment of the shafts may accelerate wear of the equipment. In
some
cases, misalignment may lead to failures of couplings, bearings, or seals of
the
machines. Certain alignment problems of the rotating shaft machine can be
traced to
design, installation, deterioration of the foundation, unstable foundations,
base or
soleplate, and/or the machine casings/frames themselves. In some embodiments,
it
may be necessary to maintain the proper alignment over long periods of time.
[0032] It is a common industry practice to anchor fasteners into the base B
that will
match up with holes in the feet F of the equipment to secure the feet F to the
base B.
The fastener may include a bolt 12. The bolts 12 may be referred to as "hold-
down
bolts". A nut 14 may be tightened over the foot F and onto the bolt 12 to
secure the foot
F to the base B. Misalignments of the shafts may thus be corrected at the
connection
between the foot F and the base B of the machine by appropriate adjustments of
the
positions of the foot F relative to the base B. For example, by merely
loosening the bolt
12 such as by loosening the nut 14, the foot F can be laterally, vertically,
and/or
rotationally displaced relative to the base B. This is because the hole
receiving the bolt
12 may be slightly larger than the bolt 12 to allow for some movement of the
foot F with
respect to the bolt 12. Thus, the aligner 10 may be used to align the foot F
relative to
the base B, and consequently, align the centerlines of the shafts or align
other
components of the machine.
[0033] The aligner 10 may be mounted during the installation of the machine or
mounted to an assembled machine. As shown more particularly in the embodiment
of
Fig. 1A, the aligner 10 is mounted between the foot F and the base B to
position the
foot F relative to the base B. In other words, the aligner 10 may horizontally
displace the
foot F relative to the base B, vertically displace the foot F relative to the
base B, or both.
The horizontal displacement is intended to refer to a lateral displacement
with reference
to Fig. 1A, and the vertical displacement is intended to refer to a transverse
displacement with respect to the horizontal displacement (and is shown in Fig.
1A as
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direction D). The aligner 10 may be mounted between the foot F and the base B
without
removing the bolt 12 from the foot F and/or the base B, as will be described
below.
[0034] The aligner 10 includes a top plate 20, a bottom plate 30, and a wedge
40
disposed between the top and bottom plates 20, 30. The wedge 40 is slidable
with
respect to the top and bottom plates 20, 30 to vary a vertical distance D
between the
top plate 20 and the bottom plate 30, and thus to vary the vertical distance
between the
foot F and the base B. The distance D may be measured from any suitable
references
located on the top and bottom plates 20, 30. In other words, the wedge 40 is
free to
slide between the top and bottom plates 20, 30 while the top and bottom plates
20, 30
are fixedly attached to the bolt 12. As such, by moving the wedge 40
horizontally, the
top plate 20 may move perpendicularly relative to the horizontal movement of
the
wedge 40 to vary the distance D between the top and bottom plates 20, 30. The
wedge
40 may be displaced by any suitable mechanism to slide the wedge 40 between
the top
and bottom plates 20, 30.
[0035] The term "plate" is intended to include not only structures that have
parallel or
substantially parallel opposed outer surfaces such as structures having a
rectangular-
shape side profile but also to include, for example, structures that have
opposed
surfaces sloped relative to each other. As such, the "plate" may have a wedge-
shape
side profile.
[0036] Referring additionally to Figs. 1C-1D, the top plate 20 has a first
inner wall 20A
and an opposed first outer wall 20B. The first outer wall 20B is abutable with
the foot F
of the machine. In other words, in use, the first outer wall 20B may be placed
against
the foot F. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1A-1D, the first inner wall 20A
is slanted
relative to the first outer wall 20B. In other words, the top plate 20 has a
wedge-shape
profile when viewed from the side. The top plate 20 has one or more first side
walls 20C
between the first inner and outer walls 20A, 20B. For example, if the top
plate 20 has an
arcuate or cylindrical shape, the top plate 20 may have one continuously
curved side
wall 200. The top plate 20 has a first slot 22 defined between the first inner
and outer
walls 20A, 20B. The first slot 22 extends inwardly from the first side wall
200. For
example. the first slot 22 may extend from a front side wall 20C, and is
disposed
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between left and right outer side walls. The left and right outer side walls
may be
parallel to the first slot 22. The first slot 22 is configured to slidably
receive therein the
bolt 12. In use, the top plate 20 may slide around the bolt 12 without
removing the bolt
12 foot F and/or the base B.
[0037] The aligner 20 has a first locking element 24 mountable to the top
plate 20 and
configured to prevent horizontal movement of the bolt 12 within the first slot
22. The
horizontal movement is intended to refer to a movement in a plane
perpendicular to a
longitudinal axis of the bolt 12. The first locking element 24 is intended to
refer to any
element or mechanism to avoid horizontal movement of the bolt 12 within the
first slot
22. For example, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1B, the first locking element
24 is a
first pin. As such, the top plate 20 may have one or more first holes 24A
defined therein
from lateral walls of the first side wall 200 to the first slot 22. In use,
the first locking
element 24 may extend through the first hole 24A and in the first slot 22 to
retain the
bolt 12 in a fixed horizontal position relative to the top plate 20. In other
words, the first
locking element 24 may hold the bolt 12 in a fixed horizontal position within
the first slot
22. The first hole 24A may extend through the top plate 20, or a portion of
the top plate
20. As such, the hold may have an upright or vertical orientation fixed
horizontally in a
fixed placed.
[0038] The bottom plate 30 has a second inner wall 30A oriented toward the
first inner
wall 20A and an opposed second outer wall 30B. In other words, when the
aligner 10 is
mounted between the foot F and the base B, the first and second inner walls
20A, 30A
face toward each other. The second outer wall 30B is abutable with the base B
of the
machine. The second outer wall 30B may be parallel to the first outer wall
20B. In some
embodiments, the first and second outer walls 20B, 30B may be slanted relative
to each
other. The term "slanted" is intended to refer to a sloped position between
the first and
second outer walls 20B, 30B. In other words, the first and second outer walls
20B, 30B
may be disposed at an angle with respect to each other. The bottom plate 30
has one
more second side walls 300 between the second inner and outer walls 30A, 30B.
For
example, if the bottom plate 30 has an arcuate or cylindrical shape, the
bottom plate
may have one continuously curved side wall. The bottom plate 30 has a second
slot 32
defined between the second inner and outer walls 30A, 30B and extends inwardly
from
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the second side wall 300. For example, the second slot 32 may extend from a
front wall
between two lateral walls of the second side wall 300. The second slot 32 is
configured
to slidably receive therein the bolt 12. In use, the bottom plate 30 may slide
around the
bolt 12 without removing the bolt 12 from the foot F and/or the base B.
[0039] Referring to Fig. 1B, the aligner 10 has a second locking element 34
mountable
to the bottom plate 30 and configured to prevent horizontal movement of the
bolt 12
within the second slot 32. The second locking element 34 is intended to refer
to any
element or mechanism to avoid horizontal movement of the bolt 12 within the
second
slot 32. For example, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1B, the second locking
element
34 is a second pin. As such, the bottom plate 30 may have one or more second
holes
34A defined therein from the second side wall 30C to the second slot 32. In
use, the
second pin may extend through the second hole 34A and in the second slot 32 to
retain
the bolt 12 in the fixed horizontal position relative to the bottom plate 30.
In other words,
the second locking element 34 may hold the bolt in a fixed horizontal position
within the
second slot 32.
[0040] The wedge 40 has a top wall 40A and an opposed bottom wall 40B. In
operation, the top wall 40A slidably abuts the first inner wall 20A of the top
plate 20 and
the bottom wall 40B slidably abuts the second inner wall 30A of the bottom
plate 30.
The top wall 40A is slanted relative to the bottom wall 40B. In other words,
the top wall
40A and the bottom wall 40B are sloped or inclined relative to each other.
That is, the
top wall 40A is provided at an angle relative to the bottom wall 40B. The
angle value
may be selected based on the degree of alignment that is needed. The wedge 40
has
one or more third side walls 40C between the top and bottom walls 40A, 40B.
For
example, if the wedge 40 has an arcuate shape, the wedge may have one
continuously
curved side wall 400. The wedge 40 has a third slot 42 defined between the top
and
bottom walls 40A, 40B and extends inwardly from the third side wall 40C. The
third slot
42 is configured to slidably receive therein the bolt 12. In use, the wedge 40
may slide
around the bolt 12 without removing the bolt 12 from the foot F and/or the
base B.
[0041] In the embodiment of Figs. 1B and 1C, the aligner 10 includes a back
plate 50
extending from the second inner wall 30A of the second plate 30. The back
plate 50
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may be mounted to the bottom plate 30 via one or more fasteners 52, welding,
or both.
Alternately, the back plate 50 may form an integral part of the bottom plate
30, such as
a protrusion of the bottom plate 30.
[0042] Referring to Fig. 1C, the back plate 50 may include a first threaded
hole 54A
configured to receive a horizontal aligner, such as a horizontal alignment
screw 56A to
engage the foot F of the machine. The alignment screw 56A may be a fine
adjustment
screw. As such, the first threaded hole 54A may be disposed above the first
outer wall
20B of the top plate 20. In other words, the first threaded hole 54A is
located beyond a
position of the top plate 20 measured from the second inner wall 30A. In use,
the
horizontal alignment screw 56A extends through the first threaded hole 54A and
engages the foot F. A user may rotate the horizontal alignment screw 56A to
displace
the screw 56A horizontally relative to the foot F and consequently displace
the foot F
horizontally. The wedge 40 may have a projection 44 extending from the top
wall 40A
including a first aperture 44A defined through the projection 44 and aligned
with the first
threaded hole 54A. As such, the horizontal alignment screw 56A may pass
through the
first aperture 44A of the projection 44 for supporting the horizontal
alignment screw 56A
within the projection 44. This support may maintain the alignment of the
horizontal
alignment screw 56A while engaging and displacing the foot F.
[0043] The back plate 50 may include a second threaded hole 54B configured to
receive a vertical alignment screw 56B to engage the wedge 40. As such, the
second
threaded hole 54B may face the wedge 40. In other words, the second threaded
hole
54B is located in a position to allow the vertical alignment screw 56B to
extend
therethrough and to engage the wedge 40. The user may rotate the vertical
alignment
screw 56B to displace the screw 56B horizontally relative to the wedge 40 and
consequently displace the wedge 40 horizontally relative to the top and bottom
plates
20, 30. As such, the vertical distance D between the first outer wall 20B and
the second
outer wall 30B may vary, thereby displacing the foot F vertically relative to
the base B.
The wedge 40 may have a second aperture 44B aligned with the second threaded
hole
548 (see Fig. 1C) at least partially defined in the wedge 40, for example in
the
projection 44. The wedge 40 may also include two locking holes 46 extending
perpendicularly relative to the second aperture 44B and at least partially
overlapping
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opposed sides of the second aperture 44B. The aligner 10 may include two
locking pins
16 insertable into the locking holes 46 to retain the vertical alignment screw
56B in a
fixed position relative to the wedge 40. The vertical alignment screw 56B may
have a
tapered portion 56C to allow the locking pins 16 to hold it in place. It is
understood that
other mechanisms may be used to displace the foot F and/or the wedge 40. For
example, a rod based alignment mechanism can be manipulated by other force
generating mechanisms such as hydraulic, pneumatic, and/or rack and pinion
mechanisms. Further, each of these manipulating mechanisms could be remotely
operated by servo motors.
[0044] Referring to Fig. 1E, a front view of the aligner 10 is shown. Fig. 1F
is a cross-
sectional view of the aligner 10 taken along line A-A of Fig. 1E.
[0045] Referring to Fig. 1G, a top view of the aligner 10 is shown. The first
and second
locking elements 24, 34 are mounted to the top and bottom plates 20, 30. As
such, an
aperture 18 is defined in the top plate 20 and the bottom plate 30 to receive
the bolt 12
therein.
[0046] Referring to Figs. 2A-2D, the first slot 22 of the top plate 20 extends
along a first
longitudinal path. A width W22 of the first slot 22 may be slightly larger
than a diameter
of the bolt to allow the top plate 20 to freely move vertically relative to
the bolt 12. The
first slot 22 has a first end 22A opposed the first side wall 200 defining a
portion of the
first slot 22. The first end 22A may be rounded as a function of the diameter
of the bolt
12. In use, when the top plate 20 is mounted to the bolt 12, the bolt 12 may
abut the
first end 22A. The rounded shape of the first end 22A may be complimentary to
the
shape of the bolt 12 to better retain the bolt 12 in place. The axis of the
first hole 24A
may be perpendicular to the first longitudinal path of the first slot 22. A
distance
between the first locking element 24 extending in the first slot 22 and the
first end 22A
of the first slot 22 may be a function of the diameter of the bolt 12 to
arrest horizontal
movement of the top plate 20 relative to the bolt 12.
[0047] In some embodiments, a first peripheral wall 22B defining the first
slot 22
between the first side wall 200 and the first end 22A may have a first
depression 220
defined in the first peripheral wall 22B to receive the first locking element
24.
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[0048] Referring more particularly to Fig. 2B, the top plate 20 has two first
lips 26
extending from the first inner wall 20A parallel to the first longitudinal
path to slidably
engage two opposed sides of the third side walls 400 of the wedge 40. The
first lips 26
may prevent the top plate 20 from moving laterally relative to the wedge 40.
In some
embodiments, the lips 26 may prevent misalignment of the aligner 10 as a
result of
vibrations of the machine.
[0049] Referring more particularly to Fig. 2D, the first inner wall 20A of the
top plate 20
has a first groove 28 defined therein to retain lubrication between the top
plate 20 and
the wedge 40. The lubrication may improve the sliding motion between the first
inner
wall 20A of the top plate 20 and the top wall 40A of the wedge 40. In some
embodiments, adverse weather conditions may deteriorate the sliding motion or
jam the
aligner 10. As such, the lubrication may prevent jamming the aligner 10.
[0050] Referring to Figs. 3A-3B, the second slot 32 extends along a second
longitudinal
path. A width W32 of the second slot 32 may be slightly larger than the
diameter of the
bolt 12 to allow the bottom plate 30 to freely move vertically relative to the
bolt 12. The
second longitudinal path may be vertically aligned with the first longitudinal
path, as
shown for example in Fig. 1G. The second slot 32 has a second end 32A opposite
to
the second side wall 300 defining a portion of the second slot 32. The second
end 32A
may be rounded as a function of the diameter of the bolt 12. The second end
32A may
be located directly below the first end 22A of the first slot 22. In use, when
the bottom
plate 30 is mounted to the bolt 12, the bolt 12 may abut the second end 32A.
The axis
of the second hole 34A may be perpendicular to the second longitudinal path of
the
second slot 32. A distance between the second locking element 34 extending in
the
second slot 32 and the second end 32A of the second slot 32 may be a function
of the
diameter of the bolt 12 to arrest horizontal movement of the bottom plate 30
relative to
the bolt 12.
[0051] In some embodiments, a second peripheral wall 32B defining the second
slot 32
between the second side wall 300 and the second end 32A may have a second
depression 320 defined in the second peripheral wall 32B to receive the second
locking
element 34. It is to be noted that the location of the second depression 320
in Fig. 3B is
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schematic, and that the second depression 320 may be located at any suitable
position
to receive the second locking element 34.
[0052] The bottom plate 30 may have two second lips 36 extending from the
second
inner wall 30A to slidable engage the two opposed sides of the third side
walls 40C of
the wedge 40. The lips 36 may have any suitable length along the second inner
wall
30A. The second lips 36 may prevent the wedge 40 from moving laterally
relative to the
bottom plate 30. In some embodiments, the second lips 36 may prevent
misalignment
of the aligner 10 as a result of vibrations of the machine.
[0053] The second inner wall 30A of the bottom plate 30 may have a second
groove 38
defined therein to retain lubrication between the bottom plate 30 and the
wedge 40. The
lubrication may improve the sliding motion between the second inner wall 30A
of the
bottom plate 30 and the bottom wall 40B of the wedge 40.
[0054] Referring to Figs. 4A-4D, the third slot 42 extends along a third
longitudinal path.
The third slot 42 may be defined between the two opposed sides of the third
side walls
400. A width W42 of the third slot 42 may be slightly larger than the diameter
of the bolt
12 to allow the wedge 40 to freely move horizontally relative to the bolt 12.
The third
longitudinal path may be vertically aligned with the first and second
longitudinal paths.
The third slot 42 may extend a longitudinal length at least 50% of a total
longitudinal
length of the wedge 40. The longitudinal length may be measured along the
third
longitudinal path.
[0055] Referring more particularly to Fig. 40, the top wall 40A of the wedge
40 has a
third groove 48 defined therein to retain lubrication between the wedge 40 and
the top
plate 20. The lubrication may improve the sliding motion between the top wall
40A of
the wedge 40 and the first inner wall 20A of the top plate 20.
[0056] Referring more particularly to Fig. 40, the bottom wall 40B of the
wedge 40 may
have a fourth groove 48A defined therein to retain lubrication between the
wedge 40
and the bottom plate 30. The lubrication may improve the sliding motion
between the
bottom wall 40B of the wedge 40 and the second inner wall 30A of the bottom
plate 30.
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[0057] In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4A-4B, the wedge 40 has two third lips
46A
extending from the bottom wall 40B to slidably engage two opposed sides of the
second
side walls 300 of the bottom plate 30. The second slot 32 may be defined
between the
two opposed sides of the second side walls 300. The wedge 40 may have two lips
46A
extending from the top wall 40A parallel to the third longitudinal path to
slidably engage
two opposed sides of the first side walls 200 of the top plate 20. The first
slot 22 may
be defined between the two opposed sides of the first side walls 20C. The lips
26, 36,
46A may prevent the top plate 20, the wedge 40, and/or the bottom plate 30
from
moving laterally relative to each other. For example, the lips may prevent the
wedge
from moving in directions nonparallel to the third longitudinal path. In some
embodiments, the lips 26, 36, 46A may prevent misalignment of the aligner as a
result
of vibrations of the machine.
[0058] Figs. 5A-5B illustrate side views of the bottom plate 30 and the back
plate 50.
Fig. 5B shows the fastener 52 connecting the back plate 50 at a right angle to
the
bottom plate 30. The two plates 30, 50 may be welded together.
[0059] Referring to Fig. 6, a tapered shim 60 is disposed between the foot F
and the
top plate 20. The tapered shim 60 may be useful when the foot F is bent. A
"bent" foot F
is known to occur when the foot F of the machine is either bent up or down
relative to
the base B. As such, the tapered shim 60 may provide a surface parallel to the
first
outer wall 20B of the top plate 20 if the outer surface of the foot F is not
parallel to the
first outer wall 20B of the aligner 10. The tapered shim 60 may include a slot
defined
therein to receive the bolt 12.
[0060] Referring to Figs. 7A, the first inner wall 20A of the top plate 20 is
parallel to the
first outer wall 20B and the second inner wall 30A of the bottom plate 30 is
slanted
relative to the second outer wall 30B. In other words, the top plate 20 has a
rectangular
shape side profile and the bottom plate 30 has a wedge-shape side profile.
[0061] Referring to Fig. 7B, the first and second inner walls 20A, 30A of the
top and
bottom plates 20, 30 are slanted relative to corresponding first and second
outer walls
20B, 30B. In other words, the top and bottom plates 20, 30 each have a wedge-
shape
side profile.
13
CA 3022261 2018-10-25
[0062] The foot F of the machine may be aligned relative to the base B by
sliding the
bottom plate 30 at least partially around a fastener, such as the bolt 12.
Further, sliding
the top plate 20 at least partially around the fastener on top of the bottom
plate 30.
Further, sliding the wedge 40 at least partially around the fastener between
the top and
bottom plates 20, 30. It is understood that the sequence of mounting the top
plate 20,
the bottom plate 30, and the wedge 40 may be modified. That is, the order of
installing
the top plate 20, the bottom plate 30, and the wedge 40 may differ. Aligning
the foot F
relative to the base B may include locking the fastener within a first
longitudinal path
defined in the top plate 20 to restrict displacement of the fastener along the
first
longitudinal path, locking the fastener within a second longitudinal path
defined in the
bottom plate 30 to restrict displacement of the fastener along the second
longitudinal
path, and displacing the wedge horizontally between the top and bottom plates
20, 30
to vary the vertical distance between the top and bottom plates 20, 30.
[0063] Sliding the wedge 40 may include turning the vertical aligner 56B that
engages
the wedge 40 to displace the wedge 40. Aligning the foot F relative to the
base B may
further include turning the horizontal aligner 56A that engages the foot F to
displace the
foot F horizontally. Sliding the wedge 40 may include sliding the wedge 40
between two
opposed lips 26 of the top plate 20. Sliding the wedge 40 may include sliding
the wedge
40 between two opposed lips 36 of the bottom plate 30. Aligning the foot F
relative to
the base B may further include lubricating an interface between the top plate
20 and the
wedge 40. Aligning the foot F relative to the base B may further include
lubricating an
interface between the bottom plate 30 and the wedge 40.
[0064] The above description is meant to be exemplary only, and one skilled in
the art
will recognize that changes may be made to the embodiments described without
departing from the scope of the invention disclosed. For example, the spatial
or
directional terms such as "top", "bottom", "horizontal", "vertical", "side",
and the like, are
used in relation to the figures as a matter of convenience to refer to the
position and
orientation of the aligner as it is illustrated in the drawings. It is to be
understood that
the aligner can assume various alternate orientations and, accordingly, such
terms are
not to be considered as limiting. The foot F and/or the base B may represent
other
components or parts of the machine. Still other modifications which fall
within the scope
14
CA 3022261 2018-10-25
of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in
light of a review of
this disclosure, and such modifications are intended to fall within the
appended claims.
CA 3022261 2018-10-25
