GB1563858A - Aligning and levelling apparatus for machinery - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN ALIGNING AND LEVELLING APPARATUS FOR MACHINER (71) We, FAnRAT MACHINERY Li\tiTEO of Balmoral Road, Altrincham, County of Chester, a British Company, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement :- This invention relates to improvements in levelling devices for machinery and machine tools.

It has been proposed to employ a pair of wedges in a casing for levelling machinery and machine tools in which a regulating screw passes through the casing and into the smaller end of one wedge, rotation of the screw drawing the wedge forward to raise the effective height of the two wedges with an external stop to prevent relative lateral movement between the wedges.

A wedge levelling device is a mounting system for very large accurate machine tools which require very precise alignment and also rigid connection to foundations.

The principat advantage of this type of support as an alternative to, for example, jacking screws or simple packings, is that the point of suport, i. e. the mounting, is concentric with the holding down bolt, so that high tension can be induced into the holding down bolt without danger of introducing distortion into the machine bed due to bending moments that can be created by jacking up points out of line with the holding down bolt.

It has been found that there are disadvantages in the known constructions and the object of this invention is to improve the wedge levelling device.

According to the invention a wedge levelling device for machinery compr ; és a casing formed of malleable iron and housing upper and lower wedges, the inclined lower face of the upper wedge engaging the inclined upper face of the lower wedge. a regulating screw passing through the casing and into the largeur end of the lower wedge, two guide pins set in the casing and extending into vertical keyways in the side faces of the upper wedge, and holes formed through the centre of the top wedge and through the base of the casing to receive a holding down bolt, which bolt also passes through a slot in the lower wedge to allow movement thereof by the regulating screw.

The wedge levelling device may be bolted directly to the foundation before the machine is mounted thereon.

The invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings showing one embodiment wherein : Fig. 1 is a part longitudinal section through the levelling device; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same; Fig. 3 is a plan of same.

A wedge leveller comprises a cast base casing I formed of malleable iron and housing an upper wedge 2 and a lower wedge 3. The upper wedge 2 is mounted to project above the casing 1 and is formed with an inclined lower face to engage an inclined upper face of the lower wedge 3.

A regulating or lead screw 4 is screwed into the larger end of the wedge 3 and retained in one end of the base casing I to push or pull the lower wedge 3 when adjustment is made by rotaiton of the regulating screw 4.

In order to prevent the upper wedge 2 from being displaced horizontally when the lower wedge 3 is being adjusted, two dowel pins 5 set into the sides of the base casing I extend into vertical keyways machined into the side faces of the upper wedge. This means that the upper wedge 2 can be moved up and down but not sideways when the lower wedge 3 is adjusted.

A hole 7 is formed in the upper wedge 2 in line with a hote 8 in the casing to receive a holding down bolt 9 securing a machine 10 to be levelled to the upper wedge 2. The bolt 9 may screw into the bottom of the casing (Fig. I) or may pass through into a non-shrink grout 11 (Fig.

2).

The upper surface of the upper wedge 2 is levelled by screw 13 engaging screw holes 14 in the casing for use when the lenelling device has to be levelled up prior to grout- ing in and prior to the machine being positioned thereon.

The lower wedge 3 is formed with an oval slot 15 to allow for the necessary movement of the wedge without it being interferred with by any bolts passing through the device.

The upper surface of the upper wedge 2 may be flat as shown or it may be concave to receive a spherical seat top for supporting the machine.

At one end of the base casing are two recesses (not shown) in the side walls which enable a sideways adjuster to be fitted, when and if required. Such sideways adjusters may be dropped into place after the machine has been installed.

It is sometimes necessary to have these sideways adjusters to provide ad justment of the machine in the lateral direction and to prevent any lateral movement of the machine during operation.

All the joint faces between casing and lower and upper wedges are accurately machined and treated with a high pressure molybdenum dry lubricant to facilitate ease of adjustment.

The levelling device is preferably made in four sizes identical in construction for machines of differing sizes.

Claims (4)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS :

1. A wedge levelling device for machinery comprising a casing formed of malleable iron and housing upper and lower wedges, the inclined lower face of the upper wedge engaging the inclined upper face of the lower wedge, a regulating screw passing through the casing and into the larger end of the lower wedge, two guide pins set in the casing and extending into vertical keyways in the side faces of the upper wedge, and holes formed through the centre of the top wedge and through the base of the casing to receive a holding down bolt, which bolt also passes through a slot in the lower wedge to allow movement thereof by the regulating screw.

2. A wedge levelling device as in Claim I in which the casing is provided with screw holes to receive levelling screws.

3. A wedge levelling device as in Claims I or 2 in which the top of the upper wedge is concave to receive a spherical seat top to support a machine.

4. A wedge levelling device for machinery substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.