United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

Arinc, Inc.

Geoffrey P Engels

Mark C Thomas

Two (or more) components must be aligned to each other in the pitch, roll, and azimuth axes. One component is adjustable relative to the other non-adjustable component. The pitch and roll angles are measured with a high accuracy digital protractor. The readings are taken from fixed reference points on the non-adjustable and the adjustable components, and the position of the adjusting component is modified until the pitch and roll of the adjusting component matches the pitch and roll of the non-adjusting component. The azimuth angle is measured by using two line generating lasers, one that produces a visible azimuth axis on the non-adjustable component and the other which produces the visible azimuth axis on the adjustable component. The separation of the two lines is measured such that one measurement is in close proximity to the laser generators and the other is at a distance from the laser generators. The measurements are then compared and the position of the adjustable component is adjusted as required to make the measurements the same. This allows for alignment in the azimuth axis to be achieved with rapid and high degree of accuracy with minimal training and equipment.

Alignment structure

The alignment of two pieces of machinery is achieved so that centerlines of rotating shafts of each piece are in-line. The methods and systems include a) rotating a shaft on a first unit, the first unit including a laser holder assembly for projecting a light source in a circle around a centerline of the first shaft, b) projecting the light source from the laser holder assembly to a target on a second unit, the second unit having a second shaft, c) adjusting a horizontal and vertical position of the second unit to align a centerline of the second shaft with a center of the circle produced by the light source, d) reversing the position of the laser holder assembly on the first unit and the target on the second unit, e) rotating the second shaft on the second unit so that the laser holder assembly on the second unit projects the light source around the centerline of the second shaft, f) adjusting an angular position of the second unit to align the centerline of the second shaft with the center of the target, and optionally reducing the size of the circle produced by the light source to more precisely determine its center.

The drive shaft assembly has a variable length. Each end of the drive shaft assembly has a flange for attaching to whatever is intend thereon such as a gear box drive or fan mount, and a female threaded attachment on the opposite side of the flange. A slide is secured in this attachment. The slide has a bore therein with longitudinal ball bearing races partially along the length of the wall. Each end of the shaft has opposing ball bearing races as compared to those in the slide and has further thereon an o-ring retainer. A sufficient number of ball bearings are placed in each race to allow for movement of the shaft in the slide. The o-ring is placed on the shaft after the bearings are inserted. After this the slide is secured to the flange.

Linear ball bearing drive shaft

The invention is a helicopter blade crack detection system for blades that are hollow and pressurized or evacuated to a low pressure A rotating assembly having a rotating indicator assembly photo-optically communicates to an airframe detection assembly providing high reliability, ease of maintenance, and EMI secured.

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Warner Robins, GA, United States of America

Geoffrey P Engels