AU619045B2

AU619045B2 - Shaft coupling with alignment mean

Info

Publication number: AU619045B2
Application number: AU41698/89A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John P. Gamlin; Charles C. Heald
Original assignee: Ingersoll Rand Co
Current assignee: Ingersoll Rand Co
Priority date: 1988-10-04
Filing date: 1989-09-22
Publication date: 1992-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 2009-09-22
Also published as: SE8903120L; CN1015565B; IT1233011B; IT8921795A0; FR2637336A1; GB2223560A; GB2223560B; SE8903120D0; AU4169889A; CN1041642A; JPH02142923A; CA1316004C; JPH0587690B2; GB8921157D0; DE3933154A1

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specificati6n Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: nt Class9 Int. Class i i Applicant(s): Ingersoll-Rand Company 200 Chestnut Ridge Road, Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, UNITED STATES OF

AMERICA

Address for Service is: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Complete Specification for the invention entitled: SHAFT COUPLING WITH ALIGNMENT MEAN Uur Ref 147845 POF Code: 1428/1428 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): -1-6 6006 P. NACHTIGA/ SECRETARY Note: No legalization or P other witness required To: The Commissioner of Patents.

'18/7/78 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne, Australia I

A,.

1 Docket No. 0488-IR-CA SHAFT COUPLING WITH ALIGNMENT ADJUSTMENT MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a coupling for rigidly interconnecting the shafts of rotating machinery in axial alignment and more particularly to a coupling containing means for adjusting the axial alignment of a pair of axially aligned shafts interconnected by the coupling.

Two general types of couplings are used for interconnecting the shafts of rotating machinery. One type o o 10 is known as a "flexible coupling". In using a flexible 0oo coupling, each piece of machinery includes a bearing So' support system that independently and completely supports a0oo its rotating shaft without the need of additional support o o from outside cf the machinery. The shafts of such 15 machinery are interconnected by the flexible coupling that absorbs any misalignment of the shafts. The designers of such machinery attempt to position the machinery with the oco shafts in axial alignment but recognize that the machinery may not be in exact axial alignment or may move out of axial alignment after installation. Such misaligiment is roo handled by the flexible coupling allowing the machinery to oo operate without the need for the shafts to be in perfect axial alignment.

0 0 0 The second type of coupling is kncin as a "rigid S coupling". A rigid coupling is normally used in the situation where the bearing support system for one of the pieces of machinery is inadequate to fully and independently support the shaft of such machinery by itself -1- F tn" Docket No. 0488-IR-CA and relies on the bearing support system of the interconnected piece of machinery. In using the rigid coupling, the two pieces of machinery are connected together by a means such as a common support system which anchors the two pieces of machinery in fixed relationship relative to each other and the shafts are interconnected by the rigid coupling with the intention that they be in good axial alignment. However, the shafts are not always in perfect alignment and frequently much effort is expended to insure that the shafts are in axial alignment and remain in such alignment during use of the machinery. The alignment problems %ith a rigid coupling are more likely to arise as the distance between the interconnected machinery becomes greater. This invention relates to a rigid coupling.

-U11ARll rF--TE IETllvnI An object of this invention is to provide a r id coupling for rigidly interconnecting the rotati g shafts of machinery together in axial alignment and i nluding means I for adjusting the axial alignment of suc- shafts when necessary and locking the shafts in finally adjusted relative position to prevent themfrom moving out of such alignment position during oper ion.

Another object of t invention is to provide a shaft coupling of the rigi type which allows the end portion of 25 one shaft to swil in the coupling and contains plural adjustment me ers spaced around the end portion of the one shaft to e the end portion of the shaft to a swiveled positi relative to the coupling and to the axis of the oth rihaft engaqed in 9hp r.nullin]---- ^y Ie~ L~^r -rrx; Ynrn SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided a coupling for interconnecting a pair of axially aligned shafts together for transmitting torque from one shaft to the other shaft, said coupling comprising an elongate cylindrical body having an axial bore therein extending over its length adapted to receive the adjacent ends of both shafts in substantial axial alignment, means for keying the ends of each shaft to the adjacent coupling body for transmitting torque between said shafts through said coupling body, fulcrum means on said coupling for firmly grasping one of said shafts at a point spaced from t its end over a relatively short distance along the lergth 15 of the coupling, the bore of said body being spaced from said fulcrum means and being substantially larger than the end of said one shaft whereby said one shaft can tilt 9000oo along its length about the fulcrum means of said coupling allowing the axis of said one shaft to tilt to an inclined position relative to the axis of the coupling body and means in said coupling body for engaging the end of said one shaft and urging it to said inclined position relative 00 to the axis of said coupling body for adjusting said one oon shaft relative to the coupling to change the relative 0000 axial alignment between the two shafts and to lock the one S° shaft in the changed axial alignment position.

4*4444 s t 4 *c I I

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40 2a C I o aa-i I Docket No. 048C-IR-CA BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Fig. 1 is vertical section of a centrifugal pump located in a pipeline with its driven shaft extending vertic,,lly upward and connected by the coupling of this invention to a motor mounted above the pump on a frame supported on the pump body with its driving shaft extending vertically downward in line with the axis of the pump shaft.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the coupling of this invention with portions being cut away to show the details of the connection between the coupling and the shafts.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The pump 1 shown in the drawings is a centrifugal pump and is known in the industry as a vertical inline type of pump. The pump 1 includes a casing 6 having an inlet 7 and an outlet 8 adapted to be connected to the spaced ends of a pipeline (not shown) which usually supports the pump 1.

The pump 1 is conventional and includes a centrifugal impeller 9 rotating in a pump chamber 10 connected to the inlet 7 and outlet 8. The pump impeller 9 is mounted on the lower end of a shaft 11 extending vertically upward from the impeller 9 and is supported in a bushing 12 and a seal 13 mounted in the pump casing 6.

-3- Docket No. 0488-IR-CA The pump 1 is driven by a driver such as the electric motor 15 mounted with its shaft 16 extending vertically downward in line with the pump shaft 11. It should be recognized that the driving means could be another type of driver such as, for example, a steam turbine and that the invention is not limited to any particular type of driving means. The motor 15 includes an end plate 17 surrounding the shaft 16 and mounted on a support frame 20 located between the pump 1 and the motor 15. The support frame includes several vertical legs 21 extending between a top ring 22 and a bottom ring 23. The bottom ring 23 of the support frame 20 sits on and is bolted to the casing 6 of pump 1 and the top ring 22 is bolted to the end plate 17 of the motor 15, resulting in the motor 15, support frame 0o 15 and pump 1 being integrated into a single rigid unit which o is intended to hold the two shafts 11 and 16 in axial 0 0 alignment.

0o The two shafts 11 and 16 are interconnected by a coupling 25 which is an embodiment of this invention. The O, 20 coupling 25 includes an elongate cylindrical body, also designated 25, having a bore 26 extending between its upper end 27 and lower end 28. The coupling 25 is split axially O into a pair of semi-arcuate halves 29 and 30 which when 00 installed are held together by bolts 31 located at both ends of the coupling and extending between the halves 29 and 30 as shown in Fig. 2. The two halves 29 and 30 are o o clamped together around the ends of the pump and motor shafts 11 and 16 to interconnect the shafts together for transmitting driving torque from the motor 15 to the pump 1.

Both the shafts 11 and 16 are keyed to the coupling -4- Docket No. 0488-IR-CA by keys 32 in a conventional manner. The motor shaft 16 includes an annular groove near its lower end which receives a pair of ring sections 33 that fit into a corresponding internal annular groove in the coupling for locking the shaft 16 axially in the coupling 25. One of the ring sections 33 is locked in place in the coupling by a screw 34 extending through a bore in the coupling half 30 and threading into the corresponding ring section 33.

A shaft extension 36 is fixed to the upper end of the pump shaft 11 by means of a threaded portion 37 on the extension 36 received in a corresponding threaded hole in the end of the shaft 11. A washer 38 is located between the extension 36 and the shaft 11 with the threaded portion 37 of the extension 36 extending through the washer 38.

The washer 38 is larger than the shaft 11 and is received in an internal groove formed in the coupling 25 to axially lock the pump shaft 11 in the coupling 25 in the same manner that the ring sections 33 lock the shaft 16 axially in the coupling 25. The upper or outer end of the shaft extension 36 is formed with wrench engaging flats 39 to enable the use of a wrench for threading the extension 36 I in place on the end of shaft 11. The washer 38 is held in position by a screw 40 extending through a bore in the coupling half 30 and threading into the periphery of the I washer 38.

4 4 The bore 26 of the coupling 25 is enlarged midway of its length to form the chamber 43 receiving the shaft extension 36. The majority of the shaft extension 36 is located in the chamber 43 where it is spaced from the walls of the chamber 43 so that it can be moved side-to-side.

'$4 4 C 0 It 4 0 Docket No. 0488-IR-CA The remainder of the shaft 11 and the extension 36 is held by the coupling 25 over a relatively small length of the coupling 25 so that the portion of the coupling 25 holding the shaft 11 and extension 36 serves as a fulcrum about which the shaft 11 and shaft extension 36 can pivot as the upper end of the shaft extension 36 is moved from side-to-side in the chamber 43. Moving the shaft extension 36 in the chamber 43 can serve to change the alignment of the shaft 11 in relation to the coupling Means is provided for moving the shaft extension 36 in the chamber 43 and locking the shaft extension 36 in place after the completion of the adjustment. As shown in Fig.

4, four headless adjustment screws 44, similar to set screws, are threaded in the walls of the coupling 25 at ninety degrees relative to eachother about the shaft extension 36. Each screw 44 is formed on its outer end for engagement by a turning tool such as, for example, an allen wrench and includes a pad 45 on its inner end for engaging the side of the shaft extension 36. Each pad 45 is larger than the threaded portion of the screw 44 so that the screw 44 must be inserted into its threaded hole from the inside of the coupling 25 prior to being installed around the shafts 11 and 16. Making the pads 45 larger than the threaded holes prevents the screws 44 from accidently backing out of their holes during use, in the event they become loose, which is not supposed to happen, but may occur under unusual and unexpected circumstances.

It should be seen now that the screws 44 can be used to adjust the relative position of the shaft extension 36, and its connected shaft 11, in the chamber 43 to adjust the alignment of the shaft 11 relative to the shaft 16 for -6- 1 Docket No. 0488-IR-CA aligning the shafts after the coupling 25 is mounted on the shafts. In addition, the screws 44 serve to lock the shaft 11 in its relative position to the coupling 25 during the following operation of the pump 1 and motor The screw 34 is used to hold the coupling half 30 in place on the shaft 16 during assembly of the coupling and the screw 40 holds the coupling half 30 on the shaft 11 during assembly. The screws 34 and 40 remain in place during operation of the coupling although they only serve a o° 10 function during assembly and disassembly of the coupling Oat 0 While only one embodiment of this invention is shown O. and described in detail, this invention is not limited mere±y to the specifically described embodiment, but contemplates other embodiments and variations utilizing the concepts and teachings of this invention.

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Claims

1. A coupling for interconnecting a pair of axially aligned shafts together for transmitting torque from one shaft to the other shaft, said coupling comprising an elongate cylindrical body having an axial bore therein extending over its length adapted to receive the adjacent ends of both shafts in substantial axial alignment, means for keying the ends of each shaft to the adjacent coupl ng body for transmitting torque between said shafts through said coupling body, fulcrum means on said coupling for firmly grasping one of said shafts at a point spaced from its end over a relatively short distance along the length of the coupling, the bore of said body being spaced from said fulcrum means and being substantially larger than the end of said one shaft whereby said one shaft can tilt along its length about the fulcrum means of said coupling allowing the axis of said one shaft to tilt to an inclined position relative to the axis of the coupling body and means in said coupling body for engaging the end of said one shaft and urging it to said inclined position relative to the axis of said coupling body for adjusting said one shaft relative to the coupling to change the relative axial alignment between the two shafts and to lock the one shaft in the changed axial alignment position.

2. The coupling of claim 1 wherein said coupling body is split along its axis into a pair of semi-arcuate halves and fastener means is provided to clamp said halves 0XtiLty together around the portions of axaiAally aligned shafts. 4 Ii j cAiU Docket No. 0488-TR-CA 1

3. The coupling of claim 2 wherein the means for 2 engaging,and urging tlie end of said one shaft to an axially 3 adjusted position includes several screws threaded into the 4 coupling body at spaced locations around said one shaft and having means on their ends to engage said one shaft. 1

4. The coupling of claim3, wherein the means on the 2 ends of said screws are larger than the threaded holes 3 receiving said screws thereby preventing said screws from 4 backing completely out of said threaded holes during operation of the coupling. 1

5. The coupling of claim 4 wherein said one shaft 2 includes a shaft extension removably attached to its end 3 and extending into the enlarged portion of said bore and 4 with the adjustment screws engaging said shaft extension. AED. 22 CpLtebUC 1989 SPHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK 0 Attorneys for: INGERSOLL-RAND COMPANY -9- 1\ 7 C*i

6. A coupling according to claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED: 21 October 1991 PHILLI-PS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: 4 .0 INGERSOLL-RAND COMPANY 4,4 4 444, 4 4 .4 4444 444~ *444t4 4 4 4!4444 4 4 44 44 2221Z 10