Method for laterally moving industrial machine
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsMichael Alan Davi, Jayan Kaadaapuram George, Matthew Robert Martin, Sean Cornelius O'Meara, John Russell Yagielski
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Abstract
A method for laterally moving an industrial machine is provided. The method may include: supporting the industrial machine on a pair of rail elements configured to be positioned laterally below and support the industrial machine, the rail elements allowing the industrial machine to be moved laterally from a first operative position to a second, maintenance position. A pair of linear actuators configured to laterally move the industrial machine from the first, operative position to the second, maintenance position.
Claims18
A method of laterally moving an industrial machine for maintenance, the method comprising:
- supporting the industrial machine on a pair of rail elements configured to be positioned laterally below and support the industrial machine, the rail elements allowing the industrial machine to be moved laterally from a first operative position to a second, maintenance position by interacting with a pair of skids configured to couple laterally to an underside of the industrial machine and a pair of segmented support rails, wherein the supporting includes:
- raising the industrial machine above a pair of machine foundations, each machine foundation including a pair of opposing piers on opposite lateral sides of the industrial machine;
- installing a first segmented support rail at a first axial position of the industrial machine and supported laterally by the opposing piers of one of the machine foundations;
- installing a second segmented support rail at a second axial position of the industrial machine and supported laterally by opposing piers of the other of the machine foundations, each segmented support rail extending a distance beyond a periphery of the industrial machine on at least one end;
- coupling a first skid laterally to an underside of the industrial machine and in alignment with the first segmented support rail;
- coupling a second skid laterally to the underside of the industrial machine at the second axial position and in alignment with the second segmented support rail;
- lowering the industrial machine such that each skid is aligned in contact with a respective support rail;
- and
- moving the industrial machine laterally using a pair of linear actuators, each linear actuator engaging a respective rail element and configured to laterally move the industrial machine from the first, operative position to the second, maintenance position by interacting with a respective skid of the pair of skids, wherein the moving includes applying a force using the pair of linear actuators to laterally move the industrial machine as each skid slides along a respective segmented support rail.
A method of laterally moving an industrial machine for maintenance, the method comprising:
- raising the industrial machine above a pair of machine foundations, each machine foundation including a pair of opposing piers on opposite lateral sides of the industrial machine;
- installing a first segmented support rail at a first axial position of the industrial machine and supported laterally by the opposing piers of one of the machine foundations;
- installing a second segmented support rail at a second axial position of the industrial machine and supported laterally by opposing piers of the other of the machine foundations, each segmented support rail extending a distance beyond a periphery of the industrial machine on at least one end;
- coupling a first skid laterally to an underside of the industrial machine and in alignment with the first segmented support rail;
- coupling a second skid laterally to the underside of the industrial machine at the second axial position and in alignment with the second segmented support rail;
- lowering the industrial machine such that each skid is aligned in contact with a respective support rail;
- and
- moving the industrial machine laterally using a pair of linear actuators, each linear actuator coupled to a respective skid and configured to laterally move the industrial machine from a first, operative position to a second, maintenance position as each skid slides along a respective segmented support rail.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.