Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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TOOL FOR THE PRECISE MOVEMENT OF MACHINES
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a tool for use in
achieving the precise movement of machines such as
electric motors, gear boxes and the like, in order to
position the machine to achieve an accurate alignment, in
the horizontal plane, between two or more machinesO
BACKGROUND ART
To achieve an accurate alignment between two
machines such as an electric motor directly coupled to a
driven machine requires movement of the electric motor
within tolerances that may be as restrictive as + .001"
(or even closer, depending upon the specific equipment
involved) in both the vertical and the horizontal planes.
Typically, a driven machine such as just
referred to is positioned in a fixed location, and the
electric motor that will drive the machine is secured to
its sub~base or the supporting floor adjacent to that
machine by means of bolts that are inserted with some
horizontal clearance through lugs or feet that extend
outwardly from the bottom frame or base of the motor.
When the final position of the electric motor is
established, these bolts are tightened in threaded
engagement with corresponding holes in the sub-base or
supporting floor, with the machine in proper alignment (in
both the vertical and horizontal directions) with respect
to the driven machine.
When the desired position of the motor relative
to its driven machine is being established, the alignment
in the vertical plane is achieved by raising or lowering
the motor by adding or subtracting metal shims located
beneath the motor. The raising or lowering of the motor
is not critical, as its correct alignment position is
established by the shimsO Positioning the motor on the
shims achieves accurate alignment in the vertical plane.
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In the horizontal plane, however, any movement
is critical. Heretofore the most common method used to
achieve horizontal alignment was by using a heavy hammer
or heavy metal "bumping" bar to tap the motor in the
direction required. Since little control can be exPrcised
over the force of the blow, or over the sliding friction
of the motor, this method results in a too little or too
much trial-and-error movement, requiring many moves before
an alignment or compromise position is reached, involving
much time and patience on the part of the mechanic doing
the alignment.
In certain circumstances when the construction
of the machine base is suitable, another method of
producing horizontal aligning movement may be used. This
involves fabricating metal lugs, drilled and tapped to
accept a jackbolt, and welding these lugs to the sub-base
or supporting floor adjacent to each foot of the motor,
with its associated jackbolt directed toward the foot.
The jackbolt is screwed to contact the edge of the foot
and push the motor in the direction required.
The jackbolt threads that are in contact with
the foot distort as the jac~bolt is turned, and in some
cases the jackbolt will bend, making removal difficult if
not impossible. Left in position, the lugs and jackbolts
are subject to deterioration, making them unusable the
next time motor movement is required, and as a result they
have to be removed and replaced. Lugs and jackbolts have
to be made and fitted to each piece of equipment that is
suitable for this method of movement. This method is
costly and time consuming.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Summary Of The Invention
The device of this invention is used to
accurately position an object such as an electric motor or
the like in a predetermined horizontal location.
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The device includes a clamping arm having a
circular hole adjacent one end, with a lip edge at the
opposite end of the arm for contacting an end surface of
the object that is to be positioned. A circular actuator
member is rotatably engaged in the circular hole of the
clamping arm just mentioned.
A cylindrical fulcrum is provided having a
central axis, and the circular actuator member has means
such as a hole to en~age the fulcrum and permit it to
rotate about the fulcrum with an eccentric axis of
rotation. The eccentric axis of rotation of the actuator
member and the central axis of the fulcrum are colinearO
~ means is provided to hold the fulcrum in a
horizontally fixed position. Means is provided for
rotating the actuator member in a given angular direction
around its eccentric axis of rotation (and around the
colinear central axis of the cylindrical fulcrum) to
apply a positioning force to the clamping arm in a first
horiæontal direction~ The lip edge of the arm then
tran~mits that positioning force to the object being
accurately positioned. The rotation of the circular
actuator member in the given angular direction reduces the
distance between the lip edge of the clamping arm and the
fulcrum to effect the desired horizontal positional
adjustment of the object.
In the preferred embodiment of the device of
this invention, the eccentric axis of rotation of the
circular actuator member initially intersects the diameter
of that member that lies parallel to the lip edge of the
clamping arm. In a further feature of the invention, the
lip edge of the clamping arm includes ~1) a threaded hole
and (2) a member threadedly engaged with that hole and
oriented to bear upon the and surface of the object being
positioned. This latter feature provi~es an adjustment
for whatever variatiGn there may be, depending upon thP
machine being positioned, in the distance from the outer
edge of the object against which the lip edge of the
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clamping arm bears, to that part of the object being
positioned in which the cylindrical fulcrum of the device
is located.
Two embodiments of the device of the invention
are disclosed, depending upon the mode used for final
securing of the object being accurately positioned.
Advantages Of The Invention
The device of this invention provides a
portable, quick~ easy method to move a machine in a
controlled, precise manner to achieve an accurate
alignment, while being adjustable to suit a range of
machine sizes.
A further benefit is a scale or index for
measuring the amount of movement made.
Further objects and advantages of my invention
will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings
and ensuing description thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment
of the tool of this invention assembled in an operating
mode over a machine foot (shown in phantom), which in turn
is located above a sub-base or supporting floor (also
shown in phantom).
FIG. 2 is a fra~mentary, exploded view showing
various component parts of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken
through a machine foot and the sub-base on which it rests,
showing certain component parts of a second embodiment of
this invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Structure Of First Embodiment
Of This Invention
FIG. 1 gives a perspective view of one
embodiment of the tool of this invention in place for use
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to produce the pxoper alignment of an electric motor with
respect to the machine that the motor drives. FIG. 2
provides a fragmentary, exploded view showing various
component parts of the same embodiment of the device.
Clamping arm (1) has a hole (6) at one end, and
has a flange or lip edge (3) at its other, outer end.
Flange or lip (3) has a centrally located, threaded hole
that receives a bolt or screw (4) threaded into the hole.
Member (4) has a knurled head for grasping by the user of
this device (for a purpose to be explained below).
A relatively low circular actuator member (2)
has at its upper side a means of engagement (7) with a
mechanical device for rotating the circular member.
Actuator member (2) also has an outwardly extending flange
(9) at its upper side.
At its lower side, circular actuator member (2)
has a hole (8). This hole is offset from the geometric
center (12) of actuator member (2) to form an eccentric
axis of rotation (13~ for that member (2). Circular
actuator member (2) is engageable in hole (6~ in clamping
arm (1), and in this position (as is seen in FIG. 1~ is
supported by flange (9) rotatably resting on the upper
surface of arm (1).
A shaft or journal (5) has an upper,
cylindrical, fulcrum portion (16) that is engageable in
hole (8) of circular actuator member (2), and a lower
portion (17). As indicated in FIG. 1, lower portion (17)
of shaft (5) extends, with substantial clearance around
it, through a hole in the outwardly extending foot (15) of
the electric motor. Representative clearances between
lower portion (17) and the hole in outwardly extending
foot (15) are provided, for example, by a hole having an
inside diameter of 0.56" when lower portion (17) has an
outside diameter of 1/2", and by a hole having an inside
diameter of 1.19l' for a lower portion (17~ having an
outside diameter of 1l'.
The bottom end portion of member (17~ i5
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threaded for engagement with a threaded hole in the sub-
base or supporting floor (18) (shown in phantom in FIG. 1
on which the electric motor rests. This engagement holds
shaft (5), with upper fulcrum portion (16), in a
horizontally fixed position.
Intermediate portion (19) of shaft (5), which
lies between upper portion (16) and lower porkion (17),
forms a shoulder to abut the bottom surface of circular
actuator member (2). As will be seen, axis of rotation
(~O) of shaft (5) coincides with axis of rotation (13) of
actuator (2).
Circular actuator member (2) is shown in FIG. 1
engaging fulcrum portion (16) of shaft or journal (5) in
hole (8) in the actuator member, and in turn being engaged
in hole (6) in clamping arm (1) while being rotatably
supported by flange (9). When actuator member (2) is
rotated about axis of rotation (13), the degree of
rotation is indicated by the relative position of
indicator mark (11) with respect to scale or index (10) on
clamping arm (1). Hexagonal part (7) carried by circular
actuator member (2) enables that member to be readily
rotated using a wrench of any conventional type.
Operation Of The Device
Of This Invention
As will be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, when
circular actuator member (2) is rotated by turning
hexagonal part (7) in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1,
the portion of the actuator member that lies diametrically
opposite eccentric axis of rotation (13) will apply a
horizontally directed force towards the right in that
Figure. Since as explained above the fulcrum (16) is
horizontally fixed, the force just mentioned will be
applied by actuator member (2) to clamping arm ~l). Lip
edge (3) then transmits this force to outer edge (143 of
outwardly extending foot (15) of the electric motor, and
that edge is then moved by the predetermined distance in
the desired horizontal direction to bring the electric
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motor into alignment with the driven machine.
The amount of movement envisioned using this
tool is the precise amount of movement that is required to
bring an electric motor (for example) or other object into
accurate horizontal alignment after initial approximate
horizontal alignment of the object has been made. The
device of this invention is employed after a determination
has been made as to the amount and direction of horizontal
movement that will be required to effect an accurate
positioning of the object being aligned. As an example,
the use of this tool to achieve accurate horizontal
positioning of an electric motor will now be described.
The bolt that secures the foot (15) that extends
outwardly from the lower frame or base of the electric
motor is first removed. The bolt is replaced by the shaft
or journal (5), which is threaded into the machine sub-
base or supporting floor (18) with the above mentioned
substantial clearance in the hole in the outwardly
extending foot (15). The top of the shaft or journal (5)
extends above the top surface of the foot.
The clamping arm (1) is now placed oYer the
electric motor foot (15) in such a way that shaft or
journal (5) protrudes through hole (6) in the arm (1), and
lip (3) covers the outer edge of the foot. Circular
actuator member (2) is then placed into hole ~6) in body
(1). In this position it seats fulcrum portion (16) of
shaft or journal (5) in hole (8), with flange (9)
supporting actuator member (2) by rotatable engagement
with the top surface of arm (1).
The screw (4) in lip (3) is then tightened to
contact edye (14) of machine foot (15). This will provide
an adjustment for variations, from one electric motor to
another, in the distance from outer edge (14) of foot (15)
to the center of the hole in the foot.
- 35 In this initial position of cir~ular member (2),
its diameter D ~see FIG. 1) that is intersected by
eccentric axis of rotation (13) is preferably parallel to
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edge (14) of el~ctric motor foot (15).
The circular actuator member (2), a~ter being
engaged by a mechanical device such as a wrench at (7), is
now rotated, moving the circular actuator member about its
eccentric axis of rotation (13) through 90 or a porkion
thereof, away from contacted edge (14~ of electric motor
foot (15). This rotational movement is converted into
lateral, horizontally directed, positioning movement of
clamping arm (1), through the engagement of circular
actuator member (2~ in hole (6) of arm (1) and the
rotation of member (2) around its eccentric axis of
rotation (13). The amount of lateral positioning movement
of clamping arm (1) is a function of the rotation of
actuator member (2), which rotation can be measured by
reading the scale or index ~10) against the mark (11) on
member (2~.
As one skilled in the art will understand, if
circular actuator member (2) is rotated more than 90, no
further lateral, horizontally directed, positioning force
will be applied by that member to clamping arm (1). It
will be similarly apparent that the maximum effect of the
rotation of actuator member (2) through the indicated
quadrant will be achieved when (as i5 the case with
embodiment of FIG. 1) the eccentric axis of rotation (13)
of actuator ~2) lies initially upon the diameter D of
member (2) that is parallel to outer edge (14) of the
object (15) to be moved.
It will be further understood that if eccentric
axis of rotation (13) is located in the opposite half of
circular actuator member (2) from that shown in FIG. 2,
the rotation of member (2) to apply a horizontal
positioning force from that member to clamping arm (1)
must be in the counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG.
1~
When the desired accurate horizontal position
for the electric motor being aligned has been achieved
the tool is removed. Shaft or journal (5) is then
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replaced with the typical threaded s~curing bolt that (as
discussed above) was removed from its threaded engagement
with the correspondingly threaded hole in the sub-base or
supporting floor (18) for the electric motor in order to
utilize the tool of this invention to achieve the
necessary accurate alignment after limited, approximate
alignment has been established.
Structure Of Second Embodiment
Of This Invention
The device of this invention has been described
for use with a machine to be aligned that has a securing
bolt with a head that protrudes above the outwardly
extending foot of the machine and a threaded shaft
portion that threadedly engages a hole in the sub-base or
supporting floor on which the machine rests. The device
of this invention is also useful to achi~ve accurate
horizontal alignment of a second category of machines in
which the securing memher for each outwardly extending
machine foot comprises a threaded bolt or post that
extends upward from the sub-base or supporting floor and
through a hole in the machine foot, to receive a threaded
nut to be tightened down on the bolt or post.
FIG~ 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view showing
certain component parts of a second embodiment of this
invention that is useful with the second category of
machines just mentioned. Here, again, outwardly extending
foot (15) of the machine being positioned rests on sub-
base or supporting floor (18), but the means ~or holding
the fulcrum in a horizontally fixed position is somewhat
different than in the case of the first embodiment that
is illustrated in FIGo 2 and discussed above.
As seen in FIG~ 31 shaft (5') has an upper,
cylindrical portion (16') that extends above machine foot
(15) to provide a fulcrum. Lower portion (17') of shaft
(5') is threaded as in the first embodiment. However,
instead of being threadably engaged with a threaded hole
in sub-base or supporting floor ~18), it is threadably
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engaged with a collar ~21), which is internally threaded
(22) and has an outside diameter selected to fit into a
hole (23) in the sub-base. Collar (21) has an outwardly
extending flange (24) on its bottom side to allow the
collar to be seated in the hole in the sub-base, with the
outwardly extending flanga pressing against the bottom
surface (25) of the sub-base (18).
Shoulder (19') carries an outwardly extending
flange that is seated against the top surface of machine
foot (15). Shaft (5') has a central axis (20)', as
shown.
Operation Of Second Embodiment
Of This Invention
In the use of this second embodiment o~ the
device of this invention, shaft (5') is inserted through
the holes in machine foot (15) and sub-base (18), with the
outwardly extending flange (19') resting on the machine
foot. Threaded collar (21) is screwed onto bottom
portion (17') of shaft (5'), and enters into the hole in
sub-base (18) to seat the outwardly extending flange (24)
of collar (21) against the bottom surface (25) of the sub-
base.
The collar (21) is then tishtened to a snug fit
against the su~-base (18). This produces a fixed
horizontal position for shaft (5'), and at the same time
allows movement between the outwardly extending flange of
member (l9') and machine Eoot (15). Circular actuator
member (2) is then inserted in hole ~6) in clamping arm
(1), and hole (8) in member (2) is engaged with the
fulcrum (16'). Lip edge (3) of arm ~1) is positioned at
this time adjacent to outer edge (14) of machine foot
(15), and threaded bolt (4) is screwed up against edge
(14), as d~scribed above with the first embodiment of this
invention.
Hexagonal part (7) is then rotated in the
clockwise direction in FIG. 1, as was done with the first
embodiment of this invention. Rotation of circular
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actuator member (2) applies a horizontal positioning force
against the wall of hole (6) and clamping arm (1), which
force in turn is transmitted to lip edge (3) and the
threaded end of bolt ~4) of body (1). Because the fulcrum
(16') is maintained in a fixed horizontal position by
collar (21), the force applied by ~hreaded bolt ~4)
against machine foot (15) moves that machine foot the
predetermined distance to the right in FIG. 1.
The device of this invention has been described
with respect to the horizontal alignment of an electric
motor. The device is also useful, of course, in
achieving the necessary horizontal alignment of gear
boxes, generators, compressors, turbines, or similar
machines or equipment.
The above description is a description of two
preferred embodiments of the device of this invention, and
should not be construed as creating any limitations on the
scope of the invention.
