Method and apparatus for aligning turbine rotors

A steam turbine, comprising:

• stator means, including a plurality of stationary blades disposed radially about a central bore, for directing a flow of steam through said central bore;
• rotor means, including a shaft having a plurality of rotating blades mounted thereon, for generating rotary mechanical power from the energy in said steam flow;
• a pair of journal bearings, each including an upper half and a lower half joined together by a bearing shell for mounting within a spherical bore of a bearing pedestal, said journal bearings supporting said shaft at its ends for rotation within said central bore;
• and
• means for aligning said rotor means by supporting said journal bearings centrally within said spherical bores, said aligning means comprising a pair of bearing support pads adjustably attached to the lower half of each journal bearing, each said pad including an outer male spherical surface adapted to conform to said spherical bore to a predetermined percentage of contact therebetween, means for coupling said pair of pads in a fixed relationship relative to said spherical bore, said coupling means being attached to said bearing shell a keyway formed longitudinally in said upper half of each journal bearing substantially bisecting said upper half radially, a third bearing support pad having an inner surface adapted for insertion within said keyway and an outer male spherical, surface adapted to conform to said spherical bore, and means for rigidly attaching said third pad to said upper half.