Method and apparatus for statically aligning shafts and monitoring shaft alignment

A shaft alignment apparatus for aligning a first shaft with a second shaft, comprising:

• first mount means carrying a first dual-axis radiation sensing means, the first mount means mounted on the first shaft;
• second mount means carrying a second dual-axis radiation sensing means, the second mount means mounted on the second shaft;
• first radiation means for providing a first radiation beam, the first radiation means carried on the first mount means and oriented to project the first radiation beam to the second dual-axis radiation sensing means and generate a second signal;
• a second radiation means for providing a second radiation beam, the second radiation means carried on the second mount means and oriented to project the second radiation beam to the first dual-axis radiation sensing means and generate a first signal;
• and
• readout means having defined alignment conditions and being responsive to the first signal and the second signal for visually displaying shaft alignment, whereby with adjustment of the first shaft with respect to the second shaft, alignment of the first shaft with the second shaft will be indicated by the readout means when the first signal and the second signal coincide with the defined alignment conditions.

Static shaft alignment apparatus, comprising:

• a first dual-axis radiation sensing means mounted on a first mount means;
• a second dual-axis radiation sensing means mounted on a second mount means;
• a first radiation source carried on the first mount means and oriented to provide a first radiation beam to the second dual-axis radiation sensing means to generate a second signal;
• a second radiation source carried on the second mount means and oriented to provide a second radiation beam to the first dual-axis radiation sensing means to generate a first signal;
• and
• readout means having defined alignment conditions and being responsive to the first signal and second signal for visually displaying alignment.

A method of statically aligning a first shaft with a second shaft, wherein the first shaft has mounted thereon a first dual-axis radiation sensing means and a first radiation source providing a first radiation beam and the second shaft has mounted thereon a second dual-axis radiation sensing means and a second radiation source providing a second radiation beam, and readout means having defined alignment conditions, comprising the steps of:

• orienting the first radiation beam to the second dual-axis radiation sensing means and generating a second signal representing the orientation of the first radiation beam;
• orienting the second radiation beam to the first dual-axis radiation sensing means and generating a first signal representing the orientation of the second radiation beam;
• sensing the first signal and second signal at the readout means and visually displaying the orientation of the first radiation beam and the second radiation beam;
• and
• adjusting the first shaft with respect to the second shaft until the first signal and the second signal are replicating the defined alignment conditions on the readout means.

A method of statically aligning a first shaft with a second shaft, wherein the first shaft has mounted thereon a first dual-axis radiation sensing means and first radiation source providing a first radiation beam and the second shaft has mounted thereon a second dual-axis radiation sensing means and a second radiation source providing a second radiation beam, and readout means having defined alignment conditions, comprising the steps of:

• sensing the position of the first radiation beam on the second dual-axis radiation sensing means and generating a second signal representing the position of the first radiation beam;
• sensing the position of the second radiation beam on the first dual-axis radiation sensing means and generating a first signal representing the position of the second radiation beam;
• and
• replicating the defined alignment conditions on the readout means by adjusting the first shaft with respect to the second shaft until the first signal and second signal coincide with the defined alignment conditions.

Apparatus for monitoring the alignment of a driving unit having a driving shaft and a driven unit having a driven shaft, the driving shaft and the driven shaft interconnected by a coupling, comprising:

• a first support mounted on the driving unit, the first support carrying a first dual radiation sensing means;
• a second support mounted on the driven unit, the second support carrying a second dual-axis radiation sensing means;
• first means carried on the first support for providing a first alignment radiation beam oriented to impinge upon the second dual-axis radiation sensing means and a generate a second signal;
• second means carried on the second support for providing a second alignment radiation beam oriented to impinge upon the first dual-axis radiation sensing means and generate a first signal;
• and
• readout means having defined alignment conditions and being responsive to the first signal and the second signal for visually displaying the alignment of the driving shaft with respect to the driven shaft.

A method of monitoring operating changes in the alignment of a driving unit having a driving shaft and a driven unit having a driven shaft, the driving shaft and driven shaft interconnected by a coupling, wherein the driving unit has mounted thereon a first dual-axis radiation sensing means and means for providing a first alignment radiation beam, and the driven unit has mounted thereon a second dual-axis radiation sensing means and means for providing a second alignment radiation beam, and readout means having defined alignment conditions, comprising the steps of:

• sensing the position of the first alignment radiation beam on the second dual-axis radiation sensing means and generating a second signal representing the position of the first alignment radiation beam;
• sensing the position of the second alignment radiation beam on the first dual-axis radiation sensing means and generating a first signal representing the position of the second alignment radiation beam;
• sending the first signal and the second signal to the readout means for visual display;
• and calibrating the first and second signals to coincide with the defined alignment conditions, whereby the first and second signals will monitor operating changes in the alignment of the driving unit with respect to the driven unit as compared to the defined alignment conditions.