US2814995A

US2814995A - Mounting device

Info

Publication number: US2814995A
Application number: US311194A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Herbert M Sullivan; Robert C Bransfield
Original assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co
Current assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co
Priority date: 1952-09-24
Filing date: 1952-09-24
Publication date: 1957-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 1974-12-03

Description

DeC- 3, v1957 H. M. SULLIVAN, JR, ET AL 2,814,995?

' MOUNTING DVICE Filed sept. 24, 1952 2 Smets-sheet 1 INVENTORS H. M. suLLlvAN TR. R.c. BRANsFlEf.

.wf/wav AOR Dec. 3, 1957 H. M. SULLIVAN, JR, ETAL '2,814,995 l MOUNTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed sept. 24, 1952 V A w l JNVENT'oRs. H. M. SULLIVAN, TR. R.C. BRANSFIELD Ajo/@NZS United States Patent MOUNTING DEVICE Herbert M. Sullivan, Jr., and Robert C. Bransiield, Borger,

Tex., assignors to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Application September 24, 1952, Serial No.` 311,194 8 Claims. (Cl. 1025-218) This invention relates toa mounting device particularly adapted for use in supporting a pump or other heavy apparatus.

Heretofore, considerable diiiiculty has been experienced in providing suitable supports for heavy apparatus, such as motorspump units, compressors, and the like. In oil reiineries, pumps have suction and discharge lines which oftentimes carry fluids at high temperatures, and these lines have horizontally and vertically extending portions which expand and contract as the hot fluids are passed therethrough, and the llow of such materials is stopped. The resultinghorizontal and vertical forces mechanically transmitted to the pump `by the suction and discharge lines are of considerable magnitude and are capable of damaging a rigid pump mounting. Further, due to the uneven distribution of weight on the frame or bed plate supporting the pump, diculties are encountered in maintaining the support accurately in a level position.

In accord-ance with this invention, a mounting device is provided capable of taking up the stresses produced by horizontal and vertical expansion of the lines connected to the pump or other apparatus supported thereby, and the mounting is so constructed that the bed plate can be accurately leveled after the pump has been installed.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved load-supporting mounting device.

-lt is a further object to provide a mounting device for a pump which is not damaged by horizontal or vertical expansion or contraction of the lines lconnected to the pump.-

lIt is .a still further object to provide a mounting device which can be rapidly and conveniently leveled after instal-lation of the pump -or similar piece of heavy .apparatus carried thereby. Y

It is a still further object to provide a mounting device which is reliable in operation, easily adjusted, economical to manufacture, and which has a long life under adverse conditions.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an end view of a motor-pump assembly;I

Figure 2 is 4a top view of .a mounting device constructed in accordance with the invention;

-Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the structure of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a vertical .sectional View, partially in elevation, of lone of the spring mountings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, I have shown an assembly including a pump and a motor 10a, the pu-mp having a suction line 11 and a discharge line 12, the suction `and discharge lines incorporating a verticallyextending portion 13 and a horizontally-extending portion 14. The pump is carried by the novel mounting device of this invention which is indicated generally by reference numerals and 19. It will be noted that expansion or contraction of the vertical and horizontal .

portions

13, 14

rice

of the suction and discharge lines 11, 12: produces 4a corresponding stress upon the -mounting device 115. In accor-dance with this invention, the mounting device is constructed so that limited horizontal or vertical movement of the support can take place responsive to these stresses, thereby preventing damage to the supporting structure or pump. Further, the pump bed plate can be leveled after the unit has been installed.

'The detailed structure of the mounting device performing these functions is shown -by Figures 2 and 3, and this device includes stationary base means 1d and an auxiliary supporting structure 17 supported upon vertically yieldable means such as spring assemblies 18. A load supporting structure, such as a rectangular frame 19, disposed for horizontal movement relative to the auxiliary supporting structure 17.

lt will be noted that frame 19 is of generally rectangular construction and is provided with two diagonally extending braces 20 and 2l. This frame can constitute the bed plate of the pump 10 of Figure l or, alternatively, it can constitute a sub-bed plate supporting the main bed plate, not shown, of the pump.

The frame 19 is provided with two

sets

22, 23 and 24, 25 of lugs which are securely fastened to the frame, preferably :at the respective corners thereof, and the two sets of l-ugs cooperate with pipes or

`rods

26 and 27, respectively, which form a part of the auxiliary supporting structure 17, so as to detine a slidable connection between these parts. lt will be evident, therefore, that the frame 19 is capable of limited horizontal movement relative to the

rods

26, 27 so that stresses caused by expansion of horizontal sections of the pump discharge and suction lines merely cause sliding movement ofthe bed plate along the rods without damaging the pump or supporting structure. iIn this connection, it will be noted that best results are obtained where the longest horizontal sections of the lines connected to the pump yare generally parallel to the rods 26 .and 27. To facilitate the described sl-iding movement, the lugs .can be provided with suitable grease fittings, one of which is indicated by reference numeral 30.

Each of the

rods

26, 27 is supported by tvv-o spring assemblies 18 disposed at the respective ends thereof. Referring to Figure 3, it will be noted that each spring assembly includes a generally cylindrical sleeve yor cap 32 t-o which is secured a radiallyeprotruding socket 33. The respective ends of the rod or pipe 27 iit within and are supported 'by the sockets 33. lPipe 26 is supported in a similar manner by the two adjacent .spring assemblies 18. Referring Anow to Figure 4, which shows the detailed construction of each of the spring assemblies 18, it will be noted that the lower portion of cap 32 extends downwardly into a generally cylindrical casing 36 buried beneath the surface of the earth in a concrete foundation 36a, the lower end of the casing being closed by an end plates 37. A cover plate 37a is provided to prevent material from entering the casing 36. An elongated threaded adjusting rod 38 is mounted in a vertical position `within the casing 36 and concentric therewith, this rod extending upwardly through `the cap 32 and having an upwardly protruding portion 39. .The .lower end of the adjusting nod 38 is received within a bearing block 40 secured to the end plate 37.

Threaded to the rod 38 is an annular disk or liange 41 having a plurality of radially-extending slots disposed about its periphery within which are received a plural-ity of keys 42 which extend vertically and protrude inwardly from the casing 36. The keys 42 prevent rotation of the disk 41 but perrnit axial or longitudinal movement thereof upon the rod 38. Consequently, .as the rod 38 rotated, the disk 41 is moved vertically along `thekeys 42; "Such `movement of the rod can be elfeeted, `f'oii enainple by y 3 inserting a suitable pin through a diametric 'bore 43 provided .at the top protruding portion 39 of the adjusting rod.

An annular member such as flange 44 is secured to the lower end of cap or sleeve 32 and encircles the adjusting rod 38. A strong helical spring 45 encircles the adjusting rod 38, the upper end of the spring being secured to 44 and the lower end of the spring being secured to the disk 41, which, therefore, constitutes a spring-supporting member.

It will be evident that the weight of the pump is supported by the frame 19, Figure 2, which, in turn, is supported by the pipes or

rods

26, 27 the ends of which are in turn .supported by the caps 32 so that the thrust produced by the weight of the pump is transmitted through the respective springs 45 of the assemblies 118 to the disk-s 41 and, thence, through the adjusting rod and bearing block 40 to the guound. Accordingly, each disk 41, although it is movable vertical-ly with respect to the stationary base defined by the casing 36 and end plate 37, is effective in transmitting the thrust produced by the weight of the pump from the spring to the stationary base structure.

It will be evident that stresses resulting from contraction or expansion of the vertical portions 13 of the pump suction and discharge lines will be transmitted to the supporting structure and result in a vertical movement thereof, as permitted by the suspending springs 45, rather than resulting in damage to the pump or support as would be the case if the support were rigid vertically. Furthermore, by rotating the adjusting rods 38, the amount of thrust transmitted by the springs 45 can be individually varied as desired. As a corollary to this, the vertical posi- :tion of each of the four corners of the structure, as defined by the ends of the pipes or

rods

26, 27, can be individually adjusted, thereby permitting the frame or bed plate 29 to be leveled after the pump `and its connections have been installed. The engagement of the lugs with the rods or pipes 26, 2.7 permits horizontal movement of the pump relative to the supportresponsive to horizontal stresses imposed by expansion or contraction of the horizontally extending portion 14 of the suction and discharge lines 11 and 12. Finally, it will be noted that the frame 19 is disposed generally at the level of the surface of the earth, i. e., slightly above it, while the spring supports themselves and their 'associated structure are mounted below the level of `the surface of the earth. This keeps to a minimum protruding parts which tend to interfere with maintenance of the pump or other equipment, and permits the mounting height of the supported equipment to be vthe same as with `an ordinary mounting. Where the supported equipment is 'a pump, the low mounting permits more net positive suction head -on the pump impeller when pumping from a vessel of fixed height, which oftentimes means the difference between reliable and unreliable pump operation. The provision of the keys and non-rotatable disk 41 provides a very positive action when the spring support is adjusted, rand the unit is very readily dismantled for maintenance or repair due to the novel construction of the spring :assemblies.

While the invention has been described in connection with a present, preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that this description is illustrative only and is not intended to limit the invention.

This case is related to Serial No. 335,894 tiled February 9, 1953, now Patent No. 2,708,084, and Serial No. 379,753, filed September 14, 1953, same assignee.

We claim:

1. A mounting device comprising, in combination, stationary base means, two pairs of spring assemblies carried by said base means, a pair of spaced parallel horizontal rods carried by the respective pairs of spring assemblies, each yspring of said assemblies extending vertically and transferring :a portion of the thrust imparted to the rod supported thereby to said base means, means for adjusting said springs individually to vary the proportion of the 4 thrust transferred by the individual springs, a generall rectangular frame structure adapted to support a load, and two sets of lugs secured to'said frame structure, each set of lugs cooperating with one of said rods to define a sliding connection therewith, whereby said frame is mounted for horizontal and vertical movement relative to said stationary base means.

2. An improved pump means comprising, in combination, a stationary base means, two pairs of spring assemblies carried 'by said base means, a pair of spaced parallel horizontal rods carried by the respective pairs of spring assemblies, each spring of said assemblies extending vertically and transferring a portion of the thrust imparted to the rod supported thereby to said base means, means for ladjusting said springs individually to vary the proportion of the thrust transferred by the individual springs, a generally rectangular frame structure, two sets of lugs secured to said frame structure, each set of lugs cooperating with one lof said rods to deline a sliding connection, whereby said frame is mounted for horizontal and vertical movement relative to said stationary base means, a pump secured to and carried by said frame, said pump having a suction line and a discharge line, said lines including a vertically-extending portion and a horizontally-extending portion, said horizontally-extending portion being generally parallel to said rods.

3. A mounting device comprising, in combination, stationary base means, an auxiliary supporting structure, a plurality of spring assemblies supporting said auxiliary structure and carried by said base means, each spring assembly including a vertical threaded adjusting rod, an annular disk threaded to said rod having at least one radially-extending slot formed in the edge thereof, a generally cylindrical casing surrounding said rod and having at least one vertically-extending key protruding inwardly therefrom and fitting within the slot on said disk, whereby the disk is constrained against rotation and rotation of the rod causes axial movement of the disk, a bearing block receiving the bottom end of said adjusting rod, an annular spring support encircling said adjusting rod and secured to said auxiliary supporting structure, and a helical spring having one end thereof secured to said spring support and the other end thereof secured to said annular disk, said spring encircling said adjusting rod, and a load supporting structure carried by and mounted for horizontal movement relative to said auxiliary structure.

4. A mounting device comprising, in combination, stationary base means, two pairs of spring assemblies carried by said stationary means, a pair of spaced, parallel, hori- Zontally-extending rods supported by the respective pairs of spring assemblies, -a generally rectangular frame adapted to support a load and having two sets of lugs secured thereto, each set of lugs cooperating with one of said rods to form a sliding connection therewith, whereby the frame is adapted for horizontal and vertical movement relative to said base means, each spring assembly including a vertical threaded adjusting rod, an annular disk threaded to said adjusting rod having rat least one radially-extending slot formed in the edge thereof, a generally cylindrical casing surrounding said adjusting rod and having at least one vertically-extending key protruding inwardly therefrom and fitting within the slot on said disk, whereby the disk is constrained against rotation, and rotation of the adjusting rod causes Iaxial movement of the disk, a bearing block receiving the bottom end of said adjusting rod, an annular spring support encircling said adjusting rod and secured to the adjacent one of said horizontally-extending rods, and a helical spring encircling said adjusting rod, one end of said spring being attached to said annular disk, and the other end of said spring being attached to said annular `spring support.

5. ln combination, a stationary base, a load supporting structure, and a spring mounting for said structure includying an elongated threaded vertical adjust-ing rod, an annular disk carried by the threaded portion of said rod and having a plurality of slots extending radially inward from the periphery thereof, a casing concentric with and surrounding said adjusting rod, a plurality of vertically eX- tending, inwardly protruding keys, one for each slot, carried by said casing and tting within the respective slots to prevent rotation of said annular disk, a base plate at the bottom of said casing, a bearing block carried by said base plate and receiving the lower end of said adjusting rod, an annular support encircling said rod and secured to said load supporting structure, and a helical spring encircling said rod, one end of said spring being secured to said annular `disk and the other end of said spring being secured to said annular support.

6, The combination of claim wherein the load supporting structure is disposed just above the level of the surface of the earth, and wherein said casing and its associated parts are buried beneath the surface of the earth.

7. In combination, a stationary base, a load supporting structure, `a spring mounting for said structure including an elongated threaded -adjusting rod, said rod being freely rotatable, a `casing concentric with and surrounding said rod, a supporting member for the spring carried by the threaded portion of said rod, means carried by said casing and adapted to register with complementary means carried by said lsupporting member to constrain the latter 'against rotation, whereby rotation of said rod effects 1ongitudinal movement of said supporting member, a spring supported member, and a spring having the respective ends thereof secured to said members, said supported member being secured to and movable with said load supporting structure, said supporting member being mounted in thrust-transferring relation to said stationary base.

8. In combination, a stationary base, a load supporting structure, and a spring mount-ing for said structure including an elongated threaded adjusting rod, said rod being freely rotatable, a casing concentric with and surrounding said rod, a supporting member for the spring carried by the threaded portion of said rod, locking means yextending radially inward from said casing vand adapted to register with complementary locking means carried by said supporting member to constrain the latter against rotation, whereby rotation of said rod eiTects longitudinal movement of -said supporting member, `a spring supported member, and a spring having the ends thereof secured to said members, said supported member being secured to and movable with said load supporting structure, said supporting member being mounted in thrust-transferring relation to said stationary base.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,491,423 Rice Apr. 22, 1924 1,523,987 Spreen lan. 20, 1925 1,570,591 Mercer Jan. 19, 1926 1,986,132 Bigelow Ian. 1, 1935 2,383,655 Johnson Aug. 28, 1945 2,456,612 Baudry Dec. 21, 1948 2,468,043 Crede et al. Apr. 26, 1949 2,540,525 Howarth Feb. 6, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,847 Great Britain of 1911 707,308 Germany June 18, 1941