Vertical shaft alignment tool

An inclinometer assembly for measuring the plumb of a shaft comprising:

• an inclinometer module for measuring the plumb indication of the assembly;
• an inclinometer base on which the inclinometer module is mounted;
• a mount magnet to attach and stabilize the inclinometer base to the shaft, and
• a threaded knob to engage/disengage the mount magnet to the shaft.

An inclinometer assembly for measuring the plumb of a shaft comprising:

• an inclinometer module for measuring the plumb indication of the assembly;
• an inclinometer base on which the inclinometer module is mounted;
• a mount magnet to attach and stabilize the inclinometer base to the shaft, and
• wherein the inclinometer base provides a single line contact with the shaft.

An inclinometer assembly for measuring the plumb of a shaft comprising:

• an inclinometer module for measuring the plumb indication of the assembly;
• an inclinometer base on which the inclinometer module is mounted;
• a mount magnet to attach and stabilize the inclinometer base to the shaft;
• and
• wherein the mount magnet includes an anti-rotation mechanism comprising a dowel that fits a slot in the inclinometer base;
• and
• wherein the inclinometer base has a slot for receiving the dowel of the mount magnet.

A proximity probe assembly for measuring the distance to a shaft comprising:

• a proximity probe base;
• a mount magnet base;
• an extension bracket which is attached to the proximity probe base and the mount magnet base;
• a proximity probe which is attached to the proximity probe base;
• and
• a mount magnet which is attached to the mount magnet base,
• wherein the proximity probe base comprises a micrometer slide for adjusting the gap between the proximity probe and the shaft.

A vertical shaft alignment tool comprising:

• means for measuring the inclination of a shaft;
• means for measuring the position of the shaft with respect to a fixed reference;
• and
• means for communicating the inclination and position readings to a computing device.

A method of aligning a vertical shaft comprising the steps of:

• providing a vertical shaft alignment tool comprising:
• a plurality of inclinometers assemblies to measure the deviation from plumb of a shaft;
• and
• at least one data acquisition device capable of communicating with at least one of the inclinometer assemblies and proximity probe assemblies;
• measuring a first and second set of static inclination readings of the shaft at a first elevation of the shaft using a static plumb method;
• calculating a static plumb position of the shaft based on the first and second set of static inclination readings;
• measuring a first, second, third and fourth set of rotational inclination readings of a center of rotation of the shaft at a second predetermined elevation of the shaft using a rotational plumb method;
• calculating an inclination of a center of rotation of the shaft at the second predetermined elevation of the shaft based on the first, second, third and fourth set of rotational inclinational readings;
• and
• calculating a shaft centerline throw circle based on the static inclination of the shaft and the inclination of the center of rotation of the shaft.