Plural Axes Center For Common Axis Patents (Class 33/661)
  • Patent number: 11137240
    Abstract: A pipe alignment tool for aligning a pair of pipes is disclosed. The tool includes an anchor member configured to abut the pair of pipes and a spindle coupled to the anchor member. The tool further includes a block in threaded engagement with the spindle and adapted to move axially along an axis of the spindle in response to a rotation of the spindle about the axis. The block includes a first retention structure and a second retention structure. Furthermore, the tool includes a flexible member for supporting the pair of pipes and adapted to be disposed around the pair of pipes and engaged with the first retention structure and the second retention structure. The flexible member is tightened about the pipes upon the rotation of the spindle in a first direction, wherein the tightening of the flexible member facilitates the alignment of the pair of pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventor: Kenneth Richard Vickers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9623987
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for aligning stringers. A tool comprises an index feature, a body, a number of legs, and a biasing member. The index feature indicates a centerline of an enclosure. The body has a longitudinal axis running substantially parallel to the centerline of the enclosure. The number of legs is moveably associated with the body. The biasing member contacts the body. The biasing member biases the number of legs towards a selected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Mohammed A. Alhussaini, Paul Ronald Gehlsen
  • Patent number: 6609305
    Abstract: A process and device are provided for determining the axial position of two spindles or shafts, for example on machine tools, with respect to parallel offset and angular offset. The process includes moving both an optical transmitting device and also an optical receiving device each into at least three different rotary positions. In this way, pertinent circles can be defined by which the location of the axis of rotation of the first spindle or the center of rotation of the second spindle can be computed in relation to one another. The parallel offset of the spindles can thus be determined in the horizontal and in the vertical plane. To determine the angular offset of the two spindles, another measurement of this type must be taken in which the optical transmitting device and the receiving device are mounted interchanged with one another on the spindles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Pruftechnik Dieter Busch AG
    Inventor: Heinrich Lysen
  • Patent number: 6223102
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are specified for alignment of the shaft W1 of a rotating machine M1 in a predetermined nominal position by moving the machine M1 on the base, as well as an apparatus for carrying out the method. The instantaneous position of the shaft W1 is detected in a known manner by a sensor device 7, which provides electrical position signals corresponding to the difference between the instantaneous position of the shaft W1 and the shaft nominal position. These position signals, the known relative position of the mounting points 6 of the machine M1 on the base with respect to the predetermined reference points on this base, and other geometric measurement data are used by a computer to calculate correction values for position corrections to be made at the individual mounting points 6 of the machine M1, and these correction values are brought to the attention of the alignment technician 4, for the magnitude and direction for each mounting point 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Pruftechnik Dieter Busch AG
    Inventor: Dieter Busch
  • Patent number: 6185828
    Abstract: A position signal transmitter (1) for indicating the position of a servo drive includes a housing (2) adapted to be connected to the servo drive, and a switching shaft (4) that is rotatably supported in the housing and adapted to be coupled in a positive manner to an operating shaft of the servo drive. At least one switching cam (24A, 24B ) provided with an internal gearing (28) is mounted on the shaft (4) so that the internal gearing (28) engages an externally geared section (29A, 29B ) of the wall of the shaft (4). The externally geared section (29A, 29B ) of the shaft wall is elastically deflectable in a substantially radial direction toward the central rotational axis (30) of the switching shaft (4). One or more mechanical or inductive switches are mounted in the housing (2) to be cooperatively actuated by the switching cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Armatic Gesellschaft fuer automatische Armaturen mbH
    Inventor: Michael Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5514952
    Abstract: Axial alignment detection apparatus for a shaft rotatable about an axis includes alignment indicating means rotatable by the shaft and comprising a plurality of detectable elements; and detector means for detecting the elements and alignment of the shaft as a function of the elements; the elements comprising at least one reference element and at least one alignment dependent element, wherein the reference and alignment elements have a detectable alignment dependent relationship to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Parkinson
  • Patent number: 5508609
    Abstract: Axial alignment detection apparatus for a shaft rotatable about an axis includes alignment indicating means rotatable by the shaft and comprising a plurality of detectable elements; and detector means for detecting the elements and alignment of the shaft as a function of the elements; the elements comprising at least one reference element and at least one alignment dependent element, wherein the reference and alignment elements have a detectable alignment dependent relationship to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Product Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Parkinson, Herbert F. Gee
  • Patent number: 5479718
    Abstract: A shaft alignment wherein a pair of substantially identical clamping members are mounted on the shafts which are to be aligned, with each clamping member having a peripheral reading surface which is generally flat. Each clamping member has a support rod adjustably positioned thereon and projecting generally axially in a skewed relationship relative to the axial direction of the shaft. Each support rod mounts a gauge assembly adjustably positioned for cooperation with the flat reading surface on the other clamping member. The clamping members are mounted on the shafts so as to be generally axially aligned, whereupon the skewed relationship of the support rods permits them to be positioned in generally parallel relationship with one another, with the respective gauge assemblies being adjustably positioned to cooperate with the reading surface on the opposed clamping member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Durametallic Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas E. Cook
  • Patent number: 5435073
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for aligning fixed and movable shafts includes members fastened to each shaft to extend substantially normal to the axis thereof and with indicators on the free ends thereof. Rigid members couple the free ends so that misalignment will be reflected in the indicators and necessary movement to align the shafts calculated from a simple formula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: David L. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 5371953
    Abstract: The specification discloses apparatus for aligning rotatable in-line machine shafts. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides an alignment system having a sensed point positioned for rotation with the shaft to be aligned to provide a reference point against which misalignment is measured. The position of the sensed point is adjustable in three-dimensional space by an adjustment system so that the sensed point may be easily secured in a desired location to eliminate errors attributable to movement of the sensed point or improper location of the sensed point. In addition, the alignment system provides a capacitive displacement system to more accurately sense the sensed point, binary blocks to facilitate proper vertical positioning of the sensed point, and an improved chain assembly to facilitate mounting of the alignment system and to reduce errors of the type common to conventional alignment systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Computational Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Nower, Arthur R. Crawford, Kenneth R. Piety, Marvin L. Ward
  • Patent number: 5263261
    Abstract: Methods and systems for acquiring offset data for aligning co-rotatable in-line machine shafts. Two sets of offset data, each set for example representing relative displacement in a radial direction between a reference point referenced to one of the shafts and a particular point on the other of the shafts at given angular positions, are collected at a plurality of measurement angular positions. The measurement angular positions are not necessarily the 0.degree., 90.degree., 180.degree. and 270.degree. angular positions at which measurements are traditionally taken. Preferably, measured offset data is collected during continuous rotation of the shafts in their normal direction of rotation or at convenient positions where the rotation is halted. Measured offset data may be collected at as few as three angular positions, but preferably is collected at more than three angular positions, and typically at a multiplicity of angular positions such as thirty or forty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Computational Systems, Incorporated
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Piety, Daniel L. Nower
  • Patent number: 4982489
    Abstract: A tool set for gauging and repairing concentricity of a workpiece bore axial section with the pitch diameter of the internal threads in the bore includes a gauge sleeve, a gauge rod, a reamer, and a stop collar. For gauging concentricity of the internal threads with the axial section, the sleeve is first inserted within the bore and threaded into a concentric relationship with the bore internal threads, and, then, the rod is inserted through the sleeve. The rod has an inner end which can extend from the sleeve and within the bore axial section such that the rod inner end will extend through a predetermined distance if the axial section of the bore is concentric with the sleeve and thus with the pitch diameter of the internal threads within the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Haugen
  • Patent number: 4709485
    Abstract: A cylindrical alignment housing is fixed to a housing of one of two axially aligned items of equipment. A cylindrical bearing housing is concentrically positioned around the cylindrical alignment housing, such that the cylindrical bearing housing is rotatably supported at a given position on the cylindrical alignment housing, which is fixed to the housing of the aforesaid one item of equipment. A mechanical coupling is provided between the bearing housing and the shaft of the other of the two equipment items that the bearing housing and the shaft will rotate in concert. A laser is positioned on the rotatable bearing housing and a prism is positioned on the other of the two items of equipment. The cylindrical bearing housing and the shaft of the aforesaid other equipment item are rotated together in concert, and measurements are taken using the laser and prism to determine whether the shafts are properly aligned with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Donald E. Bowman