Generator rotor centering device
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsJohn Seipold, Lucas Peterson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A centering device for centering a rotor shaft of a generator to a gearbox shaft of a gearbox in a genset assembly is disclosed. The centering device comprises a clamp assembly configured to be oriented on the rotor shaft and the gearbox shaft wherein the clamp assembly is further configured to be tightened to force the rotor shaft to coaxially align with the gearbox shaft. A method of using the centering device in a genset assembly to coaxially align the gearbox shaft with the rotor shaft of a generator is disclosed.
Claims18
A centering device for centering a rotor shaft of a generator to a gearbox shaft of a gearbox, the centering device comprising:
- a clamp assembly configured to be oriented on the rotor shaft and the gearbox shaft, the gearbox shaft having a hub retention washer, the hub retention washer having a protruding diameter matching a diameter of the rotor, wherein the clamp assembly is configured to be oriented on the rotor shaft configured to be tightened to force the rotor shaft to radially align with the hub retention washer connected to the gearbox shaft;
- and
- an at least one alignment bolt configured to secure the clamp assembly around the rotor shaft and the gearbox shaft.
A method of radially aligning a rotor shaft of a generator to a gearbox shaft of a gearbox, the method steps comprising:
- providing a hub retention washer connected to the gearbox shaft, the hub retention washer comprising a protruding diameter matching a front of the rotor shaft;
- orienting a centering device around the hub retention washer and the rotor shaft;
- and
- tightening the clamp assembly to provide a centering force until the rotor shaft and gearbox shaft are radially aligned.
A genset assembly, comprising:
- a generator including a rotor;
- a gearbox including a gearbox shaft and a hub retention washer on the gearbox shaft, whereby the rotor operatively coupled to rotate with the gearbox shaft;
- and
- a centering device configured around the rotor and the hub retention washer to coaxially align the rotor shaft and gearbox shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.