Method and apparatus for shaft alignment

Claim 2

Apparatus for aligning a pair of rotatable shafts for operation under thermal equilibrium conditions comprising: change measuring means operably responsive to thermal changes tending to change the relative alignment between said shafts while said shafts are rotated and said apparatus changes from an at-rest ambient condition to a thermal equilibrium operating condition to measure changes in relative alignment between said shafts; said change measuring means comprising a plurality of spaced elongate means including a first elongate member, and a second elongate member, said first elongate member having a predetermined orientation with respect to a projected center line of a first of said shafts, and said second elongate member having a predetermined orientation with respect to a projected center line of a second of said shafts, said first and second elongate members being operable to respond to, and undergo relative movement in accordance with, a change in alignment between said projected center lines of said shafts, and sensing means included with said elongate means and operable in response to said relative movement of said first and second elongate members to detect changes in the relative alignment of said shafts while said shafts pass from said at-rest ambient condition to said thermal equilibrium operating condition; said first elongate member comprising first mouting means fixedly secured relative to said first shaft, and a first plurality of mutually spaced bar means extending generally longitudinally of said first shaft and connected with said first mounting means, said first plurality of bar means defining a polygonal cross section for said first elongate member, oriented transversely of the longitudinal axis of said first shaft, said second elongate member comprising second mounting means fixedly secured relative to said second shaft, and a second plurality of mutually spaced bar means extending generally longitudinally of said second shaft and connected with said second mounting means, said second plurality of bar means defining a polygonal cross section for said second elongate member oriented transversely of the longitudinal axis of said second shaft, said sensing means comprising remotely operable proximity sensing means carried by said elongate means, reference means carried by said elongate means, spaced from said remotely operable proximity sensing means, and disposed in non-contacting relation therewith, and operating means located remote from said remotely operable proximity sensing means and operable to remotely control the operation thereof; said reference means and said remotely operable proximity sensing means being so carried by said first and second elongate members as to be relatively displaceable in accordance with relative displacement of said first and second elongate members; said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable, while being remotely controlled by said operating means, to continuously sense the proximity of said remotely operable proximity sensing means relative to said reference means while being continuously spaced therefrom; display means operable in response to said remotely operable proximity sensing means to display an indication of said proximity of said reference means with respect to said remotely operable proximity sensing means; said remotely operable proximity sensing means cooperating with said reference means, while being continuously spaced therefrom, to detect at least a function of relative horizontal displacement of at least said first and second elongate members, and relative vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members; said remotely operable proximity sensing means cooperAting with said display means to provide a continuous display of said indication of proximity of said reference means with respect to said remotely operable proximity sensing means over a period of operating time while said thermal equilibrium condition is being achieved and provide a display indicative of at least said functions of said relative horizontal and vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members occurring as said apparatus changes from said at-rest ambient condition to said thermal equilibrium operating condition; and said remotely operable proximity sensing means cooperating with said display means to concurrently visually display in said display means indications of at least said functions of relative horizontal and vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members at a location remote from said pair of rotatable shafts, said elongate member means, and said reference means.

Claim 3

An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein: said reference means comprises proximity block means carried by one of said first and second elongate members and having first, vertical face means, and second, horizontal face means; said remotely operable proximity sensing means includes first, transducer probe means displaced from said first, vertical face means in a direction normal thereto and operable to detect the proximity of said first, transducer probe means relative to said first, vertical face means, and second transducer probe means displaced from said second, horizontal face means in a direction normal thereto and operable to detect the proximity of said second transducer probe means relative to said second, horizontal face means; and generally V-shaped bracket means carried by the other of said elongate members and supporting said first and second transducer probe means in mutually perpendicularly oriented relation.

Claim 4

An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein: said reference means comprises first, proximity block means carried by one of said first and second elongate members and having first, vertical face means, and second, horizontal face means, and second, proximity block means carried by said one of said first and second elongate members, spaced longitudinally of said shafts from said first proximity block means, and having third, vertical face means, and fourth, horizontal face means; said remotely operable proximity sensing means includes first, transducer probe means displaced from said first, vertical face means in a direction normal thereto and operable to detect the proximity of said first, transducer probe means relative to said first, vertical face means, and second, transducer probe means displaced from said second, horizontal face means in a direction normal thereto and operable to detect the proximity of said second transducer probe means relative to said second, horizontal face means; third, transducer probe means displaced from said third, vertical face means in a direction normal thereto and operable to detect the proximity of said third, transducer probe means relative to said third, vertical face means, and fourth, transducer probe means displaced from said fourth, horizontal face means in a direction normal thereto and operable to detect the proximity of said fourth transducer probe means relative to said fourth, horizontal face means; first generally V-shaped bracket means carried by the other of said elongate members and supporting said first and second transducer probe means in mutually perpendicularly oriented relation; and second generally V-shaped bracket means carried by said other of said elongate members and supporting said third and fourth transducer probe means in mutually perpendicularly oriented relation.

Claim 5

Apparatus for aligning a pair of rotatable shafts for operation under thermal equilibrium operating conditions as described in claim 1, wherein: said remotely operable pRoxmity sensing means and said reference means are operable to mutually cooperate to detect relative alignment of said elongate member with reference to a periphery of a terminus of one of said shafts, and relative alignment of said second elongate member with reference to a periphery of a terminus of the other of said shafts.

Claim 6

Apparatus for aligning a pair of rotatable shafts as described in claim 1 for operation under thermal equilibrium operating conditions, wherein: said remotely operable proximity sensing means and said reference means are operable to mutually cooperate to detect relative alignment of said plurality of elongate members with respect to an alignment of face portion means of an end of one of said shafts, and relative alignment of said plurality of elongate members with respect to an alignment of a peripheral side means of an end of one of said shafts.

Claim 7

Apparatus for aligning a pair of rotatable shafts for operation under thermal equilibrium conditions comprising: change measuring means operably responsive to thermal changes tending to change the relative alignment between said shafts while said shafts are rotated and said apparatus changes from an at-rest ambient condition to a thermal equilibrium operating condition to measure changes in relative alignment between said shafts; said change measuring means comprising a plurality of spaced elongate means including a first elongate member, and a second elongate member, said first elongate member having a predetermined orientation with respect to a projected center line of a first of said shafts, and said second elongate member having a predetermined orientation with respect to a projected center line of a second of said shafts, said first and second elongate members being operable to respond to, and undergo relative movement in accordance with, a change in alignment between said projected center lines of said shafts, and sensing means included with said elongate means and operable in response to said relative movement of said first and second elongate members to detect changes in the relative alignment of said shafts while said shafts pass from said at-rest ambient condition to said thermal equilibrium operating condition; said sensing means comprising remotely operable proximity sensing means carried by said elongate means, reference means carried by said elongate means, spaced from said remotely operable proximity sensing means, and disposed in non-contacting relation therewith, and operating means located remote from said remotely operable proximity sensing means and operable to remotely control the operation thereof; said reference means and said remotely operable proximity sensing means being so carried by said first and second elongate members as to be relatively displaceable in accordance with relative displacement of said first and second elongate members; said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable, while being remotely controlled by said operating means, to sense the proximity of said remotely operable proximity sensing means relative to said reference means while being continuously spaced therefrom; and said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to cooperate with display means to display an indication of said proximity of said reference means with respect to said remotely operable proximity sensing means: said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to cooperate with said reference means, while being continuously spaced therefrom, to detect at least a function of relative horizontal displacement of at least said first and second elongate members, and relative vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members; said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to cooperate with said display means to provide a display of said indication of proximity of said reference means with respEct to said remotely operable proximity sensing means while said thermal equilibrium condition is being achieved and provide a display indicative of at least said functions of said relative horizontal and vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members occuring as said apparatus changes from said at-rest ambient condition to said thermal equilbrium operating conditions; and said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to cooperate with said display means to visually display in said display means indications of at least said functions of relative horizontal and vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members at a location remote from said pair of rotatable shafts, said elongate members, and said reference means.

Claim 8

Apparatus for aligning a pair of rotatable shafts for operation under thermal equilibrium conditions comprising: change measuring means operably responsive to thermal changes tending to change the relative alignment between said shafts while said shafts are rotated and said apparatus changes from an at-rest ambient condition to a thermal equilibrium operating condition to measure changes in relative alignment between said shafts; said change measuring means comprising a plurality of spaced elongate means including a first elongate member, and a second elongate member, said first elongate member having a predetermined orientation with respect to a projected center line of a first of said shafts, and said second elongate member having a predetermined orientation with respect to a projected center line of a second of said shafts, said first and second elongate members being operable to respond to, and undergo relative movement in accordance with, a change in alignment between said projected center lines of said shafts, and sensing means included with said elongate means and operable in response to said relative movement of said first and second elongate members to detect changes in the relative alignment of said shafts while said shafts pass from said at-rest ambient condition to said thermal equilibrium operating condition; said sensing means comprising remotely operable proximity sensing means carried by said elongate means, reference means carried by said elongate means, spaced from said remotely operable proximity sensing means, and disposed in non-contacting relation therewith, and operating means located remote from said remotely operable proximity sensing means and operable to remotely control the operation thereof; said reference means and said remotely operable proximity sensing means being so carried by said first and second elongate members as to be relatively displaceable in accordance with relative displacement of said first and second elongate members; said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable, while being remotely controlled by said operating means, to sense the proximity of said remotely operable proximity sensing means relative to said reference means while being continuously spaced therefrom; and said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to cooperate with display means to display an indication of said proximity of said reference means with respect to said remotely operable proximity sensing means: said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to cooperate with said reference means, while being continuously spaced therefrom, to detect at least a function of relative horizontal displacement of at least said first and second elongate members, and relative vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members; said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to cooperate with said display means to provide a display of said indication of proximity of said reference means with respEct to said remotely operable proximity sensing means while said thermal equilibrium condition is being achieved and provide a display indicative of at least said functions of said relative horizontal and vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members occuring as said apparatus changes from said at-rest ambient condition to said thermal equilbrium operating conditions; and said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to cooperate with said display means to visually display in said display means indications of at least said functions of relative horizontal and vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members at a location remote from said pair of rotatable shafts, said elongate members, and said reference means.

Claim 9

An apparatus as described in claim 6, wherein: said first elongate member comprises first mounting means fixedly secured relative to said first shaft, and a first plurality of mutually spaced bar means extending generally longitudinally of said first shaft and connected with said first mounting means, said first plurality of bar means defining a polygonal cross section for said first elongate member, oriented transversely of the longitudinal axis of said first shaft; and said second elongate member comprises second mounting means fixedly secured relative to said second shaft, and a second plurality of mutually spaced bar means extending generally longitudinally of said second shaft and connected with said second mounting means, said second plurality of bar means defining a polygonal cross section for said second elongate member oriented transversely of the longitudinal axis of said second shaft.

Claim 10

An apparatus as described in claim 6, wherein: said reference means comprises proximity block means carried by one of said first and second elongate members and having first, vertical face means, and second, horizontal face means; said remotely operable proximity sensing means includes first, transducer probe means displaced from said first, vertical face means in a direction normal thereto and operable to detect the proximity of said first, transducer probe means relative to said first, vertical face means, and second transducer probe means displaced from said second, horizontal face means in a direction normal thereto and operable to detect the proximity of said second transducer probe means relative to said second, horiziontal face means; and generally V-shaped bracket means carried by the other of said elongate members and supporting said first and second transducer probe means in mutually perpendicuarly oriented relation.

Claim 11

An apparatus as described in claim 6, wherein: said reference means comprises first, proximity block means carried by one of said first and second elongate members and having first vertical face means, and second, horizontal face means, and second, proximity block means carried by said one of said first and second elongate members, spaced longitudinally of said shafts from said first proximity block means, and having third, vertical face means, and fourth, horizontal face means; said remotely operable proximity sensing means includes first, transducer probe means displaced from said first, vertical face means in a direction normal thereto and operable to detect the proximity of said first, transducer probe means relative to said first, vertical face means, and second, transducer probe means displaced from said second, horizontal face means in a direction normal thereto and operable to detect the proximity of said second transducer probe means relative to said second, horizontal face means; third, transducer probe means displaced from said third, vertical face means in a direction normal thereto and operable to detect the proximity of said third, transducer probe means relative to said third, vertical face means, and fourth, transducer probe mEans displaced from said fourth, horizontal face means in a direction normal thereto and operable to detect the proximity of said fourth transducer probe means relative to said fourth, horizontal face means; first generally V-shaped bracket means carried by the other of said elongate members and supporting said first and second transducer probe means in mutually perpendicularly oriented relation; and second generally V-shaped bracket means carried by said other of said elongate members and supporting said third and fourth transducer probe means in mutually perpendicularly oriented relation.

Claim 12

Apparatus for aligning a pair of rotatable shafts for operation under thermal equilibrium operating conditions as described in claim 6, wherein: said remotely operable proximity sensing means and said reference means are operable to mutually cooperate to detect relative alignment of said first elongate member with reference to a periphery of a terminus of one of said shafts, and relative alignment of said second elongate member with reference to a periphery of a terminus of the other of said shafts.

Claim 13

Apparatus for aligning a pair of rotatable shafts as described in claim 6 for operation under thermal equilibrium operating conditions, wherein: said remotely operable proximity sensing means and said reference means are operable to mutually cooperate to detect relative alignment of said plurality of elongate members with respect to an alignment of face portion means of an end of one of said shafts, and relative alignment of said plurality of elongate members with respect to an alignment of a peripheral side means of an end of one of said shafts.

Claim 14

In an apparatus for aligning a pair of rotatable shafts for operation under thermal equilibrium conditions, which apparatus comprises: change measuring means operably responsive to thermal changes tending to change the relative alignment between said shafts while said shafts are rotated and said apparatus changes from an at-rest ambient condition to a thermal equilibrium operating condition to measure changes in relative alignment between said shafts; said change measuring means comprising a plurality of spaced elongate means including a first elongate member, and a second elongate member, said first elongate member having a predetermined orientation with respect to a projected center line of a first of said shafts, and said second elongate member having a predetermined orientation with respect to a projected center line of a second of said shafts. said first and second elongate members being operable to respond to, and undergo relative movement in accordance with, a change in alignment between said projected center lines of said shafts, and reference means carried by said elongate means; the improvement comprising: sensing means included with said elongate means and operable in response to said relative movement of said first and second elongate members to detect changes in the relative alignment of said shafts while said shafts pass from said at-rest ambient condition to said thermal equilibrium operating condition; said sensing means comprising remotely operable proximity sensing means operable to be carried by said elongate means in spaced relation with said reference means, and disposed in non-contacting relation therewith, and operating means operable to be located remote from said remotely operable proximity sensing means and remotely control the operation thereof; said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to be so carried by said first and second elongate members as to be relatively displaceable in relation to said reference means in accordance with relative displacement of said first and second elongate members; said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable, while being remotely controlled by said operating means, to sense the proximity of said remotely operable Proximity sensing means relative to said reference means while being continuously spaced therefrom; and display means operable in response to said remotely operable proximity sensing means to display an indication of said proximity of said reference means with respect to said remotely operable proximity sensing means; said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to cooperate with said reference means, while being continuously spaced therefrom, to detect at least a function of relative horizontal displacement of at least said first and second elongate members, and relative vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members; said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to cooperate with said display means to provide a display of said indication of proximity of said reference means with respect to said remotely operable proximity sensing means while said thermal equilibrium condition is being achieved and provide a display indicative of at least said functions of said relative horizontal and vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members occurring as said apparatus changes from aid at-rest ambient condition to said thermal equilibrium operating condition; and said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to cooperate with said display means to visually display in said display means indications of at least said functions of relative horizontal and vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members at a location remote from said pair of rotatable shafts, said elongate members, and said reference means.

Claim 15

In an apparatus for aligning a pair of rotatable shafts for operation under thermal equilibrium conditions, which apparatus comprises: change measuring means operably responsive to thermal changes tending to change the relative alignment between said shafts while said shafts are rotated and said apparatus changes from an at-rest ambient condition to a thermal equilibrium operating condition to measure changes in relative alignment between said shafts; said change measuring means comprising a plurality of spaced elongate means including a first elongate member, and a second elongate member, said first elongate member having a predetermined orientation with respect to a projected center line of a first of said shafts, and said second elongate member having a predetermined orientation with respect to a projected center line of a second of said shafts. said first and second elongate members being operable to respond to, and undergo relative movement in accordance with, a change in alignment between said projected center lines of said shafts, and reference means carried by said elongate means; the improvement comprising: sensing means included with said elongate means and operable in response to said relative movement of said first and second elongate members to detect changes in the relative alignment of said shafts while said shafts pass from said at-rest ambient condition to said thermal equilibrium operating condition; said sensing means comprising remotely operable proximity sensing means operable to be carried by said elongate means in spaced relation with said reference means, and disposed in non-contacting relation therewith, and operating means operable to be located remote from said remotely operable proximity sensing means and remotely control the operation thereof; said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to be so carried by said first and second elongate members as to be relatively displaceable in relation to said reference means in accordance with relative displacement of said first and second elongate members; said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable, while being remotely controlled by said operating means, to sense the proximity of said remotely operable Proximity sensing means relative to said reference means while being continuously spaced therefrom; and display means operable in response to said remotely operable proximity sensing means to display an indication of said proximity of said reference means with respect to said remotely operable proximity sensing means; said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to cooperate with said reference means, while being continuously spaced therefrom, to detect at least a function of relative horizontal displacement of at least said first and second elongate members, and relative vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members; said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to cooperate with said display means to provide a display of said indication of proximity of said reference means with respect to said remotely operable proximity sensing means while said thermal equilibrium condition is being achieved and provide a display indicative of at least said functions of said relative horizontal and vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members occurring as said apparatus changes from aid at-rest ambient condition to said thermal equilibrium operating condition; and said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to cooperate with said display means to visually display in said display means indications of at least said functions of relative horizontal and vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members at a location remote from said pair of rotatable shafts, said elongate members, and said reference means.

Claim 16

In a method of aligning a pair of rotatable shafts of operation under thermal equilbrium conditions and utilizing apparatus comprising: change measuring means operably responsive to thermal changes tending to change the relative alignment between said shafts while said shafts are rotated and said apparatus changes from an at-rest ambient condition to a thermal equilibrium operating condition to measure changes in relative alignment between said shafts; said change measuring means comprising a plurality of spaced elongate means including a first elongate member, and a second elongate member, said first elongate member having a predetermined orientation with respect to a projected center line of a first of said shafts, and said second elongate member having a predetermined orientation with respect to a projected center line of a second of said shafts, and said first and second elongate members being operable to respond to, and undergo relative movement in accordance with, a change in alignment between said projected center lines of said shafts; the steps in said method comprising providing sensing means included with said elongate means and operable in response to said relative movement of said first and second elongate members to detect changes in the relative alignment of said shafts while said shafts pass from said at-rest ambient condition to said thermal equilibrium operating condtion; providing in said sensing means remotely operable proximity sensing means carried by said elongate means, reference means carried by said elongate means, spaced from said remotely operable proximity sensing means, and disposed in non-contacting relation therewith, and operating means located remote from said remotely operable proximity sensing means and operable to remotely control the operation thereof; supporting said reference means and said remotely operable proximity sensing means in association with said first and second elongate members so as to be relatively displaceable in accordance with relative displacement of said first and second elongate members; operating said remotely operable proximity sensing means, while said remotely operable proximity sensing means is being remotely controlled by said operating means, to continuously sense the proximity of said remotely operable proximity seNsing means relative to said reference means while being continuously spaced therefrom; in response to proximity sensing cooperation of said remotely operable proximity sensing means with said reference means, and while said remotely operable proximity sensing means is continuously spaced from said reference means, detecting at least a function of relative horizontal displacement of at least said first and second elongate members, and relative vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members; in response to said operating of said remotely operable proximity sensing means, displaying an indication of said proximity of said reference means with respect to said remotely operable proximity sensing means; continuously displaying said indication of proximity of said reference means with respect to said remotely operable proximity sensing means over a period of operating time while said thermal equilibrium condition is being achieved and providing a display indicative of at least said functions of said relative horizontal and vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members occurring as said apparatus changes from said at-rest ambient condition to said thermal equilibrium operating condition; and concurrently, visually displaying said indications of at least said functions of relative horizontal and vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members at a location remote from said pair of rotatable shafts, said elongate members, and said reference means.

Claim 17

In a method of aligning a pair of rotatable shafts of operation under thermal equilbrium conditions and utilizing apparatus comprising: change measuring means operably responsive to thermal changes tending to change the relative alignment between said shafts while said shafts are rotated and said apparatus changes from an at-rest ambient condition to a thermal equilibrium operating condition to measure changes in relative alignment between said shafts; said change measuring means comprising a plurality of spaced elongate means including a first elongate member, and a second elongate member, said first elongate member having a predetermined orientation with respect to a projected center line of a first of said shafts, and said second elongate member having a predetermined orientation with respect to a projected center line of a second of said shafts, and said first and second elongate members being operable to respond to, and undergo relative movement in accordance with, a change in alignment between said projected center lines of said shafts; the steps in said method comprising providing sensing means included with said elongate means and operable in response to said relative movement of said first and second elongate members to detect changes in the relative alignment of said shafts while said shafts pass from said at-rest ambient condition to said thermal equilibrium operating condtion; providing in said sensing means remotely operable proximity sensing means carried by said elongate means, reference means carried by said elongate means, spaced from said remotely operable proximity sensing means, and disposed in non-contacting relation therewith, and operating means located remote from said remotely operable proximity sensing means and operable to remotely control the operation thereof; supporting said reference means and said remotely operable proximity sensing means in association with said first and second elongate members so as to be relatively displaceable in accordance with relative displacement of said first and second elongate members; operating said remotely operable proximity sensing means, while said remotely operable proximity sensing means is being remotely controlled by said operating means, to continuously sense the proximity of said remotely operable proximity seNsing means relative to said reference means while being continuously spaced therefrom; in response to proximity sensing cooperation of said remotely operable proximity sensing means with said reference means, and while said remotely operable proximity sensing means is continuously spaced from said reference means, detecting at least a function of relative horizontal displacement of at least said first and second elongate members, and relative vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members; in response to said operating of said remotely operable proximity sensing means, displaying an indication of said proximity of said reference means with respect to said remotely operable proximity sensing means; continuously displaying said indication of proximity of said reference means with respect to said remotely operable proximity sensing means over a period of operating time while said thermal equilibrium condition is being achieved and providing a display indicative of at least said functions of said relative horizontal and vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members occurring as said apparatus changes from said at-rest ambient condition to said thermal equilibrium operating condition; and concurrently, visually displaying said indications of at least said functions of relative horizontal and vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members at a location remote from said pair of rotatable shafts, said elongate members, and said reference means.

Claim 18

In a method of aligning a pair of rotatable shafts for operation under thermal equilibrium conditions and utilizing apparatus comprising; change measuring means operably responsive to thermal changes tending to change the relative alignment between said shafts while said shafts are rotated and said apparatus changes from an at-rest ambient condition to a thermal equilibrium operating condition to measure changes in relative alignment between said shafts; said change measuring means comprising a plurality of spaced elongate means including a first elongate member, and a second elongate member, said first elongate member having a predetermined orientation with respect to a projected center line of a first of said shafts, and said second elongate member having a predetermined orientation with respect to a projected center line of a second of said shafts, and said first and second elongate members being operable to respond to, and undergo relative movement in accordance with, a change in alignment between said projected center lines of said shafts; the steps in said method comprising providing sensing means included with said elongate means and operable in response to said relative movement of said first and second elongate members to detect changes in the relative alignment of said shafts while said shafts pass from said at-rest ambient condition to said thermal equilibrium operating condition; providing in said sensing means remotely operable proximity sensing means carried by said elongate means, reference means carried by said elongate means, spaced from aid remotely operable proximity sensing means, and disposed in non-contacting relation therewith, and operating means located remote from said remotely operable proximity sensing means and operable to remotely control the operation thereof; supporting said reference means and said remotely operable proximity sensing means in association with said first and second elongate members so as to be relatively displaceable in accordance with relative displacement of said first and second elongate members; operating said remotely operable proximity sensing means, while said remotely operable proximity sensing means is being remotely controlled by said operating means, to sense the proximity of said remotely operable proximity sensing means relative to said reference means while being continuously spaced therefrom; in response tO proximity sensing cooperation of said remotely operable proximity sensing means with said reference means, said while said remotely operable proximity sensing means is continuously spaced from said reference means, detecting at least a function of relative horizontal displacement of at least said first and second elongate members, and relative vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members; in response to said operating of said remotely operable proximity sensing means, displaying an indication of said proximity of said reference means with respect to said remotely operable proximity sensing means; displaying said indication of proximity of said reference means with respect to said remotely operable proximity sensing means while said thermal equilibrium condition is being achieved and providing a display indicative of at least said functions of said relative horizontal and vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members occurring as said apparatus changes from said at-rest ambient condition to said thermal equilibrium operating condition; and visually displaying said indications of at least said functions of relative horizontal and vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members at a location remote from said pair of rotatable shafts, said elongate members, and said reference means.

Claim 19

In a method of aligning a pair of rotatable shafts for operation under thermal equilibrium conditions and utilizing apparatus comprising; change measuring means operably responsive to thermal changes tending to change the relative alignment between said shafts while said shafts are rotated and said apparatus changes from an at-rest ambient condition to a thermal equilibrium operating condition to measure changes in relative alignment between said shafts; said change measuring means comprising a plurality of spaced elongate means including a first elongate member, and a second elongate member, said first elongate member having a predetermined orientation with respect to a projected center line of a first of said shafts, and said second elongate member having a predetermined orientation with respect to a projected center line of a second of said shafts, and said first and second elongate members being operable to respond to, and undergo relative movement in accordance with, a change in alignment between said projected center lines of said shafts; the steps in said method comprising providing sensing means included with said elongate means and operable in response to said relative movement of said first and second elongate members to detect changes in the relative alignment of said shafts while said shafts pass from said at-rest ambient condition to said thermal equilibrium operating condition; providing in said sensing means remotely operable proximity sensing means carried by said elongate means, reference means carried by said elongate means, spaced from aid remotely operable proximity sensing means, and disposed in non-contacting relation therewith, and operating means located remote from said remotely operable proximity sensing means and operable to remotely control the operation thereof; supporting said reference means and said remotely operable proximity sensing means in association with said first and second elongate members so as to be relatively displaceable in accordance with relative displacement of said first and second elongate members; operating said remotely operable proximity sensing means, while said remotely operable proximity sensing means is being remotely controlled by said operating means, to sense the proximity of said remotely operable proximity sensing means relative to said reference means while being continuously spaced therefrom; in response tO proximity sensing cooperation of said remotely operable proximity sensing means with said reference means, said while said remotely operable proximity sensing means is continuously spaced from said reference means, detecting at least a function of relative horizontal displacement of at least said first and second elongate members, and relative vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members; in response to said operating of said remotely operable proximity sensing means, displaying an indication of said proximity of said reference means with respect to said remotely operable proximity sensing means; displaying said indication of proximity of said reference means with respect to said remotely operable proximity sensing means while said thermal equilibrium condition is being achieved and providing a display indicative of at least said functions of said relative horizontal and vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members occurring as said apparatus changes from said at-rest ambient condition to said thermal equilibrium operating condition; and visually displaying said indications of at least said functions of relative horizontal and vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members at a location remote from said pair of rotatable shafts, said elongate members, and said reference means.

Claim 20

A method of aligning a pair of rotatable shafts for operation under thermal equilibrium operating conditions, as described in claim 14, wherein: said remotely operable proximity sensing means and said reference means cooperate to detect relative alignment of said first elongate member with reference to a periphery of a terminus of one of said shafts, and relative alignment of said second elongate member with reference to a periphery of a terminus of the other of said shafts.

Claim 21

A method of aligning a pair of rotatable shafts for operation under thermal equilibrium operating conditions, as described in claim 14, wherein: said remotely operable proximity sensing means and said reference means cooperate to detect relative alignment of said plurality of elongate members with respect to an alignment of face portion means of an end of one of said shafts, and relative alignment of said plurality of elongate members with respect to an alignment of a peripheral side means of an end of one of said shafts.

Claim 22

In an apparatus for aligning a pair of rotatable shafts for operation under thermal equilibrium conditions, which apparatus comprises: change measuring means operably responsive to thermal changes tending to change the relative alignment between said shafts while said shafts are rotated and said apparatus changes from an at-rest ambient condition to a thermal equilibrium operating condition to measure changes in relative alignment between said shafts; the improvement wherein: said change measuring means includes a plurality of spaced elongate means including a first elongate member, and a second elongate member, said first elongate member being operable to have a predetermined orientation with respect to a projected center line of a first of said shafts, and said second elongate member being operable to have a predetermined orientation with respect to a projected center line of a second of said shafts, said first and second elongate members being operable to respond to, and undergo relative movement in accordance with, a change in alignment between said projected center lines of said shafts, and said elongate means being operable to cooperate with sensing means comprising remotely operable proximity sensing means carried by said elongate means, reference means carried by said elongate means, spaced from said remotely operable proximity sensing means, and disposed in non-contacting relation therewith, and operating means located remote from said remotely operable proximity sensing means and operable to remoteLy control the operation thereof, with said sensing means being operable in response to said relative movement of said first and second elongate members to detect changes in the relative alignment of said shafts while said shafts pass from said at-rest ambient condition to said thermal equilibrium operating condition; said first and second elongate members being operable to carry said reference means and said remotely operable proximity sensing means, so that said reference means and said remotely operable proximity sensing means are relatively displaceable in accordance with relative displacement of said first and second elongate members; said first elongate member comprises first mounting means operable to be fixedly secured relative to said first shaft, and a first plurality of mutually spaced bar means operable to extend generally longitudinally of said first shaft and be connected with said first mounting means, said first plurality of bar means, defining a polygonal cross section for said first elongate member, operable to be oriented transversely of the longitudinal axis of said irst shaft; and said second elongate member comprises second mounting means operable to be fixedly secured relative to said second shaft, and a second plurality of mutually spaced bar means operable to extend generally longitudinally of said second shaft and be connected with said second mounting means, said second plurality of bar means defining a polygonal cross section for said second elongate member operable to be oriented transversely of the longitudinal axis of said second shaft; said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable, while being remotely controlled by said operating means, to sense the proximity of said remotely operable proximity sensing means relative to said reference means while being continuously spaced therefrom; and said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to cooperate with display means to display an indication of said proximity of said reference means with respect to said remotely operable proximity sensing means; said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to cooperate with said reference means, while being continuously spaced therefrom, to detect at least a function of relative horizontal displacement of at least said first and second elongate members, and relative vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members; said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to cooperate with said display means to provide a display of said indication of proximity of said reference means with respect to said remotely operable proximity sensing means while said thermal equilibrium condition is being achieved and provide a display indicative of at least said functions of said relative horizontal and vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members occurring as said apparatus changes from said at-rest ambient condition to said thermal equilibrium operating condition; and said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to cooperate with said display means to visually display in said display means indications of at least said functions of relative horizontal and vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members at a location remote from said pair of rotatable shafts, said elongate members, and said reference means.

Claim 23

In an apparatus for aligning a pair of rotatable shafts for operation under thermal equilibrium conditions, which apparatus comprises: change measuring means operably responsive to thermal changes tending to change the relative alignment between said shafts while said shafts are rotated and said apparatus changes from an at-rest ambient condition to a thermal equilibrium operating condition to measure changes in relative alignment between said shafts; the improvement wherein: said change measuring means includes a plurality of spaced elongate means including a first elongate member, and a second elongate member, said first elongate member being operable to have a predetermined orientation with respect to a projected center line of a first of said shafts, and said second elongate member being operable to have a predetermined orientation with respect to a projected center line of a second of said shafts, said first and second elongate members being operable to respond to, and undergo relative movement in accordance with, a change in alignment between said projected center lines of said shafts, and said elongate means being operable to cooperate with sensing means comprising remotely operable proximity sensing means carried by said elongate means, reference means carried by said elongate means, spaced from said remotely operable proximity sensing means, and disposed in non-contacting relation therewith, and operating means located remote from said remotely operable proximity sensing means and operable to remoteLy control the operation thereof, with said sensing means being operable in response to said relative movement of said first and second elongate members to detect changes in the relative alignment of said shafts while said shafts pass from said at-rest ambient condition to said thermal equilibrium operating condition; said first and second elongate members being operable to carry said reference means and said remotely operable proximity sensing means, so that said reference means and said remotely operable proximity sensing means are relatively displaceable in accordance with relative displacement of said first and second elongate members; said first elongate member comprises first mounting means operable to be fixedly secured relative to said first shaft, and a first plurality of mutually spaced bar means operable to extend generally longitudinally of said first shaft and be connected with said first mounting means, said first plurality of bar means, defining a polygonal cross section for said first elongate member, operable to be oriented transversely of the longitudinal axis of said irst shaft; and said second elongate member comprises second mounting means operable to be fixedly secured relative to said second shaft, and a second plurality of mutually spaced bar means operable to extend generally longitudinally of said second shaft and be connected with said second mounting means, said second plurality of bar means defining a polygonal cross section for said second elongate member operable to be oriented transversely of the longitudinal axis of said second shaft; said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable, while being remotely controlled by said operating means, to sense the proximity of said remotely operable proximity sensing means relative to said reference means while being continuously spaced therefrom; and said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to cooperate with display means to display an indication of said proximity of said reference means with respect to said remotely operable proximity sensing means; said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to cooperate with said reference means, while being continuously spaced therefrom, to detect at least a function of relative horizontal displacement of at least said first and second elongate members, and relative vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members; said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to cooperate with said display means to provide a display of said indication of proximity of said reference means with respect to said remotely operable proximity sensing means while said thermal equilibrium condition is being achieved and provide a display indicative of at least said functions of said relative horizontal and vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members occurring as said apparatus changes from said at-rest ambient condition to said thermal equilibrium operating condition; and said remotely operable proximity sensing means being operable to cooperate with said display means to visually display in said display means indications of at least said functions of relative horizontal and vertical displacement of said first and second elongate members at a location remote from said pair of rotatable shafts, said elongate members, and said reference means.