US3908444A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method of clearance and vibration measurement in rotary machines
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-08-20
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1993-08-20
Abstract
Abstract One or more tangential bores communicating with the clearance between a rotor or a shaft and the adjacent machine casing are provided, so that light beams may be projected through the clearance to measure the clearance and to detect variations therein, as measured by the amount of light that passes through the clearance. Observation of the clearance at two or more positions distributed about the circumference of the rotor makes it possible to determine the behavior of the rotor and its shaft. Axial clearance is similarly determined for observation of axial displacement or vibration. Observation of radial clearance may also be made with axially distributed measurements. Pressure seals and mirrors for the light channels are shown. For small clearances, the use of a laser as a light source is desirable.
Inventors
- 👤 Udo Peter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01H; G01H1/00; G01H1/003; G01H1/006; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/14; G01B15/00; G01H9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
In a rotary machine having a rotor arranged for rotation in a fixed structure with a small radial clearance therefrom, an apparatus for detecting radial distortion, deviation or vibration of said rotor or said fixed structure comprising: a bore (4) in said fixed structure (2) directed tangentially to said rotor (1) and communicating with the clearance space between said rotor and said fixed structure, so that the sight through said bore is partially obstructed by said rotor at least for some amount of distortion or deviation of said rotor or of said fixed structure; and means (5, 6) for observing variations in the degree of obstruction (8) of the sight of said bore.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
In a rotary machine having a rotor arranged for rotation in a fixed structure with a small radial clearance therefrom, an apparatus for detecting radial distortion, deviation or vibration of said rotor or said fixed structure comprising: a bore (4) in said fixed structure (2) directed tangentially to said rotor (1) and communicating with the clearance space between said rotor and said fixed structure, so that the sight through said bore is partially obstructed by said rotor at least for some amount of distortion or deviation of said rotor or of said fixed structure; and means (5, 6) for observing variations in the degree of obstruction (8) of the sight of said bore.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 for detecting distortion, deviation or vibration in a rotary machine in which said observing means includes emitter means (5) for emitting rays of radiant energy in a direction tangential to said rotor (1) through said bore (4) and said clearance (8), and detector means (6) responsive to the intensity of the rays passing through said bore and said clearance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
85 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 for measuring distortion, deviation or vibration in a rotary machine in which said bore (4) is provided at each end with reflectors (59, 72) and said observing means includes emitter means (64) for illuminating one (69) of said reflectors with a beam of electromagnetic radiation rays of wavelength shorter than a millimeter and detector means (74) illuminated by the other (72) of said reflectors and responsive to the rays from said emitter (64) passing through said bore (4).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
130 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 for detecting distortion, deviation or vibration in a rotary machine in which said observing means includes means for emitting (64) rays of radiant energy and projecting said rays through said bore (4); means for detecting (74) the said rays which have passed through said bore, and first and second sealing means for sealing off at least the lengthwise central portion of said bore from the outside of said machine and having a portion transparent to said rays located in the path of said rays through said sealing means, said first sealing means being located between said central portion of said bore and said emitting means and said second sealing means being located between said central portion of said bore and said detecting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which said transparent portion of said seal is provided with heating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparaTus as defined in claim 3 in which said reflector means are adjustable for accurately directing rays from said emitter means through said bore and thence to said detector means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which a plurality of bores (4) tangential to said rotor (1) are provided, each with its observing means, and in which two of said bores are substantially at the same axial position but displaced 90 degrees circumferentially of said rotor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
96 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said rotor also has a small axial clearance from said fixed structure and in which additional bores (38) are provided communicating with said axial clearance respectively for illuminating said axial clearance and for receiving illumination through said clearance and additional observing means are provided for illuminating an axial clearance and detecting illumination effected therethrough for observing axial distortion, deviation or vibration, said apparatus also having a plurality of bores tangential to said rotor, each with a separate observing means, for detection of radial distortion, deviation or vibration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which a plurality of bores tangential to said rotor are provided, each with its observing means and in which at least some of said bores are relatively axially displaced.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which said bores are relatively displaced both radially and axially, said radial displacement being arranged for progressive detection of radial displacement of said rotor.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of observing distortion and vibration in a rotary machine affecting clearance between the periphery of a rotor of said machine and an adjacent fixed structure of said machine which comprises simultaneously projecting, while said machine is running, beams of radiant energy rays tangentially of said rotor through said clearance respectively at axially spaced locations and respectively centered at incrementally different radial distances from the central axis of said rotor, simultaneously detecting the intensity of said radiant energy rays of each of said beams passing through said clearance and causing visible traces of the time course of said respective detected intensities to be displayed.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of observing distortion and vibration in a rotary machine affecting clearance between the periphery of a rotor of said machine and an adjacent fixed structure of said machine which comprises simultaneously projecting, while said machine is running, beams of radiant energy rays tangentially of said rotor through said clearance respectively at axially spaced locations and respectively centered at incrementally different radial distances from the central axis of said rotor, simultaneously detecting the intensity of said radiant energy rays of each of said beams passing through said clearance and causing visible traces of the time course of said respective detected intensities to be displayed.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of measuring distortion and vibration in a rotary machine affecting clearance between a rotor of said machine and a closely adjacent fixed structure of said machine which comprises simultaneously projecting, while said machine is running and interacting with a medium under pressure at least in said clearance, a plurality of beams of radiant energy rays through transparent entry and exit seals into and out of said machine and through said clearance at respectively different locations of said clearance, including a plurality of radial clearance locations spaced apart circumferentially of said rotor through which said respective beams are projected tangentially of said rotor and at least one axial clearance location through which one of said beams is projected along a path parallel to a chord of a radial cross-section of said rotor, simultaneously detecting the intensity of said radiant energy rays of each of said beams passing through the respective clearance locations and causing visible traces of the time course of said respective detected intensities to be displayed.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of measuring distortion and vibration in a rotary machine affecting clearance between a rotor of said machine and a closely adjacent fixed structure of said machine which comprises simultaneously projecting, while said machine is running and interacting with a medium under pressure at least in said clearance, a plurality of beams of radiant energy rays through transparent entry and exit seals into and out of said machine and through said clearance at respectively different locations of said clearance, including a plurality of radial clearance locations spaced apart circumferentially of said rotor through which said respective beams are projected tangentially of said rotor and at least one axial clearance location through which one of said beams is projected along a path parallel to a chord of a radial cross-section of said rotor, simultaneously detecting the intensity of said radiant energy rays of each of said beams passing through the respective clearance locations and causing visible traces of the time course of said respective detected intensities to be displayed.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of measuring distortion and vibration in a rotary machine having a rotor, equipped with a multiplicity of uniformly spaced, radially projecting members extending to the same radial distance, arranged to move with a small clearance between the ends of said members and a fixed structure which comprises projecting, while said machine is running, a beam of radiant energy rays tangentially of said rotor through said clearance, detecting the intensity of said radiant energy rays of said beam passing through said clearance, detecting the amplitude of oscillations of said intensity produced by dead centering of the vane extremities of said projecting member in said beam, and observing the ratio of said detected intensity to said detected oscillation amplitude as a measure of said clearance where said beam is projected through said clearance.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of measuring distortion and vibration in a rotary machine having a rotor, equipped with a multiplicity of uniformly spaced, radially projecting members extending to the same radial distance, arranged to move with a small clearance between the ends of said members and a fixed structure which comprises projecting, while said machine is running, a beam of radiant energy rays tangentially of said rotor through said clearance, detecting the intensity of said radiant energy rays of said beam passing through said clearance, detecting the amplitude of oscillations of said intensity produced by dead centering of the vane extremities of said projecting member in said beam, and observing the ratio of said detected intensity to said detected oscillation amplitude as a measure of said clearance where said beam is projected through said clearance.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |