The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 03, 1985
Filed:
Apr. 27, 1984
Oleg Klufas, Schenectady, NY (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for axially aligning axially coupled shafts of a steam turbine includes means for changing the elevation of the outboard end of each shaft. The outboard end of each shaft is rotatably supported by a bearing above a turbine foundation. Means is included for measuring the supporting force at the bearing. A strain gauge is disposed on the surface of each shaft which provides an output signal indicative of the degree of bending of that shaft. The apparatus includes means for comparing and minimizing the output signals of the strain gauges by affecting the means for changing the elevation and comparing the resultant output signals at different levels of elevation. The method for axially aligning two axially coupled shafts includes measuring the degree of bending on the surface of the shaft, changing the elevation of the outboard end of each shaft, measuring the supporting force at each bearing at each outboard end of the shaft, comparing the signals representative of the bending at different levels of elevation, minimizing the signals, and repeating the step of changing the elevation and the step of comparing the signals, and recording the supporting forces during the minimization step to obtain the optimal axial alignment of the axially coupled shafts.