Shaft bearing wear measuring apparatus

Claim 1

On-line apparatus for measuring the wear of a ship's propeller shaft bearing, comprises determining means for determining the displacement of the ship's propeller shaft in a vertical direction and providing an electrical signal corresponding thereto, the determining means includes a movable member, spacially related to the shaft, moving means connected to the member for moving the member in the vertical direction until the member makes contact with the shaft, said moving means includes an open bottom first housing having a sealed upper opening through which the member passes and a port through which a fluid may enter or exit; a diaphragm affixed to said member and to the bottom portion of said housing forming an expandable chamber within said first housing so that as a fluid enters the expandable chamber the diaphragm is distended in the direction of the shaft, moving the member into contact with the shaft, a supply of fluid, and manually operative means connected to the port in the first housing and to the fluid supply for providing fluid from said supply and for releasing fluid from the expandable chamber, and electrical signal means connected to the movable member for providing the electrical signal in accordance with the position of the movable member; and measurement means connected to the electrical signal means for providing a measurement of the shaft bearing wear in accordance with the electrical signal.