Thrust monitoring and balancing apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for monitoring and balancing the axial load on the rotor assembly of a rotating machine that includes an adjustable balancing means for applying a controlled axial force on the rotor assembly of a rotating machine to offset unbalancing forces acting on said rotor, a flow circuit for applying a pressurized fluid against a surface on the rotor assembly whereby the back pressure in the circuit varies in response to variations in the axial load, sensor means for determining the back pressure in said circuit, and means responsive to the sensor means for automatically adjusting the balancing means to maintain the back pressure at said given value at which the axial load on the rotor assembly is balanced.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means ! responsive to the sensor means is a microprocesser.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said balancing means; includes a chamber containing a pressurized working fluid that acts against the rotor structure to apply an axially directed load thereagainst, and an electrically controlled valve operatively connected to the microprocessor to regulate the pressure in the chamber.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for adjusting the position of said flow circuit in reference to said surface on the rotor.

Claim 6

Apparatus for monitoring and balancing the axial load on the rotor assembly of a rotating machine that inlcudes an adjustable balancing means for applying a controlled axial force on the rotor assembly of a rotating machine to offset unbalancing forces acting upon the rotor structure, a pair of opposed surfaces on the rotor assembly, a source of pressurized fluid that is at a given pressurel level, a first flow circuit for applying said pressurized fluid to one of the surfaces, a second flow circuit for applying said pressurized fluid to the other of said surface, locating means for positioning the flow circuit in relation to the opposing surface so that the same back pressure ! is produced in each circuit when the axial forces acting on the rotor assembly are balanced, detecting means for sensing a difference in the back pressure in the two circuits indicating an unbalanced axial load on the rotor assembly, control means responsive to the detecting means for adjusting the balancing means when an unbalanced condition is detected to apply an offsetting force on the rotor structure to balance the axial loading thereon.

Claim 7

Apparatus for monitoring and balancing the axial load on the rotor assembly of a rotating machine that inlcudes an adjustable balancing means for applying a controlled axial force on the rotor assembly of a rotating machine to offset unbalancing forces acting upon the rotor structure, a pair of opposed surfaces on the rotor assembly, a source of pressurized fluid that is at a given pressurel level, a first flow circuit for applying said pressurized fluid to one of the surfaces, a second flow circuit for applying said pressurized fluid to the other of said surface, locating means for positioning the flow circuit in relation to the opposing surface so that the same back pressure ! is produced in each circuit when the axial forces acting on the rotor assembly are balanced, detecting means for sensing a difference in the back pressure in the two circuits indicating an unbalanced axial load on the rotor assembly, control means responsive to the detecting means for adjusting the balancing means when an unbalanced condition is detected to apply an offsetting force on the rotor structure to balance the axial loading thereon.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said opposing surfaces are located on a radial flange extended on the rotor assembly.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the locating means includes a gaging block having a pair of radially disposed arms each of which is positioned adjacent to one of the opposing surfaces on the flange.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said balancing means includes a balancing chamber located in a stationary component of the machine adjacent a moving rotor component, means to deliver a pressurized substance into the chamber to apply a controllable balancing force on the rotor assembly and an adjustable control valve for regulating the rote flow of said substance into the chamber to control said balancing force.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said detecting means is a servo-amplifier that has a drive cylinder for regulating the control valve and a pilot valve connected to the flow circuits for controlling the drive cylinder in response to variation in the back pressure sensed in the two flow circuits.

Claim 14

The method of claim 10 that includes the steps of providing the opposed surfaces on the end faces of a flange secured to the rotor assembly.

Claim 15

The method of claim 11 that includes the further step of mounting the discharge end of the flow circuits in a gage block and adjusting the gage block in reference to the flange to equalize the back pressure in the circuits.