US4553335A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shaft alignment device
Assignee: Reliance Electric Co
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Filing: 1984-07-16
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Granted: 1985-11-19
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Expires: 2004-07-16
Abstract
Abstract A shaft alignment device for use in aligning two opposed, rotatable shafts connected by a shaft coupling is disclosed, having magnetic base portions adaptable for mounting on the shafts, hubs, or on auxiliary structures secured to the shafts or hubs. The device includes fixed bracket members with pivotally mounted swivel blocks therein. Extension beams project across the coupling from each swivel block to a reference surface on the facing bracket, and measurement indicators measure the degree of deflection of the swivel blocks. A leveling device indicates the relative position of the alignment devices for taking measurements at 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°, and the coordinates obtained are used to plot the aligned positions of the shafts.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph T. Woyton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:39
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B5/00; G01B5/24; G01B5/25; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S33/00; Y10S33/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
An alignment device for use in axially aligning first and second rotatable elements, comprising: a. a first magnetic base portion for mounting on the first rotatable element; b. a second magnetic base portion for mounting on the second rotatable element; c. first and second bracket members secured to said first and second base portions, respectively; d. first and second pivotally mounted swivel blocks disposed in said respective bracket members; e. a first extension means projecting from said first swivel block to said second bracket member for sensing the position of said second rotatable element; f. a second extension means projecting from said second swivel block to said first bracket member for sensing the position of said first rotatable element; and g. at least one measurement device selectively mounted on either of said bracket members for detecting the degree of deflection of each of said swivel blocks and hence the position of said rotatable elements relative to one another.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
An alignment device for use in axially aligning first and second rotatable elements, comprising: a. a first magnetic base portion for mounting on the first rotatable element; b. a second magnetic base portion for mounting on the second rotatable element; c. first and second bracket members secured to said first and second base portions, respectively; d. first and second pivotally mounted swivel blocks disposed in said respective bracket members; e. a first extension means projecting from said first swivel block to said second bracket member for sensing the position of said second rotatable element; f. a second extension means projecting from said second swivel block to said first bracket member for sensing the position of said first rotatable element; and g. at least one measurement device selectively mounted on either of said bracket members for detecting the degree of deflection of each of said swivel blocks and hence the position of said rotatable elements relative to one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
An alignment device as defined in claim 1 in which each of said magnetic base portions includes a magnet disposed therein and a pole piece disposed adjacent said magnet for establishing a magnetic field between said base portions and the rotatable elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
An alignment device as defined in claim 2 in which said pole piece includes a contact means associated with said magnet for contacting the rotatable elements, and a backing plate disposed adjacent said magnet on the side opposite said contact means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
An alignment device as defined in claim 1 in which said bracket members have essentially a U-shape, and said swivel blocks are disposed within the recess in said bracket members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An alignment device as defined in claim 4 in which said swivel blocks include a biasing means for urging said extension means into contact with said bracket members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
An alignment device as defined in claim 1 in which said extension means include marked, calibrated beams, each having a proximal and a distal end, said proximal ends being slidably mounted in said respective swivel blocks for adjusting the length of said beams.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An alignment device as defined in claim 6 in which each of said beams includes a pointed contact foot secured to said distal ends of said beams for contacting said bracket members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
An alignment device as defined in claim 1 in which said measurement device is mounted on said first bracket member and a second measurement device is mounted on said second bracket member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
An alignment device as defined in claim 1 in which a position-indicating device is included therein for determining a starting position for the alignment procedure and determining the position of said device relative to the starting position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
An alignment device as defined in claim 9 in which said position-indicating device is a fluid-filled bubble level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
An alignment device as defined in claim 1 in which said rotatable elements are a pair of shafts in end-to-end relation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
An alignment device as defined in claim 1 in which said rotatable elements are coupling hubs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
An alignment device as defined in claim 1 in which said magnetic base portions include switch means for controlling the path of the magnetic field produced by said base portions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
110 words
An alignment device for use in axially aligning two opposed rotatable elements, said device comprising: a. a magnetic base portion for mounting on one of the rotatable elements; b. a bracket member secured to said magnetic base portion; c. a swivel block pivotally mounted within said bracket member; d. an extension means projecting from said swivel block and having a distal end for sensing the position of the rotatable element opposite the rotatable element upon which said base portion is mounted; and e. a measurement device secured to said bracket member for measuring the degree of deflection of said swivel block relative to the position of said opposite rotatable element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
110 words
An alignment device for use in axially aligning two opposed rotatable elements, said device comprising: a. a magnetic base portion for mounting on one of the rotatable elements; b. a bracket member secured to said magnetic base portion; c. a swivel block pivotally mounted within said bracket member; d. an extension means projecting from said swivel block and having a distal end for sensing the position of the rotatable element opposite the rotatable element upon which said base portion is mounted; and e. a measurement device secured to said bracket member for measuring the degree of deflection of said swivel block relative to the position of said opposite rotatable element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
An alignment device as defined in claim 14 in which said extension means includes a contact means mounted on said distal end and projecting therefrom to said opposite rotatable element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
An alignment device as defined in claim 14 in which said magnetic base portion includes a plurality of interchangeable contact tips for engaging the outer mounting surface of the rotatable elements.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
An alignment device as defined in claim 14 in which said magnetic base portion includes a pair of magnets and pole pieces disposed on both sides of said magnets for establishing a magnetic field between said base portion and the rotatable elements.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
An alignment device as defined in claim 17 in which said pole pieces include a pair of contact tips for engaging the outer mounting surface of the rotatable elements, each one of said tips associated with a respective one of said magnets, and a backing plate disposed adjacent said magnets on the side opposite said contact tips.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
An alignment device as defined in claim 14 in which the rotatable elements are coupling hubs.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
An alignment device as defined in claim 14 in which the rotatable elements are shafts.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
An alignment device as defined in claim 19 in which the rotatable elements include auxiliary members secured to the coupling hubs.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
An alignment device as defined in claim 20 in which the rotatable elements include auxiliary members secured to the shafts.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
85 words
In a shaft alignment device mountable on a rotatable element, a magnetic base portion comprising: a. a magnet means for creating a magnetic field for holding said base portion against the rotatable element; b. contact means disposed adjacent said magnet means and having an outer surface for engaging the mounting surface of the rotatable element; and c. plate means disposed adjacent said magnet means on the side opposite said contact means and having a contact point for engaging a surface area of said rotatable element.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
85 words
In a shaft alignment device mountable on a rotatable element, a magnetic base portion comprising: a. a magnet means for creating a magnetic field for holding said base portion against the rotatable element; b. contact means disposed adjacent said magnet means and having an outer surface for engaging the mounting surface of the rotatable element; and c. plate means disposed adjacent said magnet means on the side opposite said contact means and having a contact point for engaging a surface area of said rotatable element.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
In a shaft alignment device as defined in claim 23, a magnetic base portion in which said portion includes a switch means for changing the path of the applied magnetic field generated by said magnet means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
In a shaft alignment device as defined in claim 23, a magnetic base portion in which said contact means include first and second contact tips having high magnetic permeability.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
52 words
In a shaft alignment device as defined in claim 23, in which said rotatable element has an outer surface and a face portion, a magnetic base portion in which said contact means abut the outer surface of said rotatable element, and said plate means abuts the face portion of said rotatable element.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
In a shaft alignment device as defined in claim 23, in which said rotatable element is a shaft, a magnetic base portion in which said plate means has an outer surface for engaging the outer circumferential surface of the shaft.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
107 words
An alignment device for use in axially aligning two opposed rotatable elements, said device comprising: a. A magnetic base portion for mounting on one of the rotatable elements; b. a bracket member secured to said magnetic base portion; c. pivoted means on said bracket for sensing the position of the rotatable element opposite the rotatable element upon which said base portion is mounted; and d. a measurement device disposed on said bracket member and engaging said pivoted means for sensing the angular position of said pivoted means to measure the axial position of said one rotatable element relative to the axial position of said opposite rotatable element.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
107 words
An alignment device for use in axially aligning two opposed rotatable elements, said device comprising: a. A magnetic base portion for mounting on one of the rotatable elements; b. a bracket member secured to said magnetic base portion; c. pivoted means on said bracket for sensing the position of the rotatable element opposite the rotatable element upon which said base portion is mounted; and d. a measurement device disposed on said bracket member and engaging said pivoted means for sensing the angular position of said pivoted means to measure the axial position of said one rotatable element relative to the axial position of said opposite rotatable element.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
37 words
In a shaft alignment device as defined in claim 28, in which said magnetic base portion has contact means including first and second contact tips with arcuate surfaces for contacting the peripheral surface of said rotatable element.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
54 words
In a shaft alignment device as defined in claim 28, in which said rotatable element has an outer surface and a face portion, and said magnetic base portion has a contact means for abutting the outer surface of said rotatable element and a plate means for abutting the face portion of said rotatable element.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a shaft alignment device as defined in claim 28, in which said magnetic base portion includes a switch means for changing the path of the applied magnetic field generated by said magnet means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-11-18 | 1989-05-20 | 1989-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-11-18 | 1993-05-20 | 1993-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-11-18 | 1997-05-20 | 1997-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |