Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
  • G01B11/00—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques
  • G01B11/26—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes

Definitions

• This invention relates to improvements in belt drive systems and more particularly to systems that employ a N-belt, or multiple N-belts.
• the disclosed invention is directed toward an efficient way to accurately check the alignment of the components of a belt drive system.
• Misalignment of the belt drive system, and the resulting non-linear movement of the belt may be caused by a plurality of reasons.
• One reason is slack in the belt, generating lateral vibrations of the belt between the pulleys. This belt vibration as the belt travels about the drive pulleys often causes the belt to become misaligned between the pulleys. Additionally, if there is excessive vibration in the entire drive system, the belt may become misaligned.
• Detection of initial and subsequent misalignment, even that of minute misalignment, of any component of the belt drive system can improve the life of the drive system, as well as reduce the belt drive noise.
• U.S. Patent No. 2,590,182 discloses providing a grooved idle pulley in a belt drive system to reduce lateral vibration of the belt as the belt travels between the drive pulleys.
• Other conventional methods to maintain alignment of the belt include providing flanges on the drive pulleys. Belts formed with longitodinal teeth grooves on the underside of the belt, corresponding to grooves in the pulleys may exhibit reduced misalignment. These methods work to maintain a general alignment of the belt between the pulleys, but do not provide a means for measuring minute misalignment of any component of the drive system.
• Normal alignment procedures utilize some type of mechanical straight edge held against the pulleys or gears, for instance, a tautly pulled string or a piece of angle iron. Measurements are often taken by two people due to the cumbersome nature of the method. After the measurement is taken, the straight edge is removed, adjustments are made to the belt drive system, and the straight edge is repositioned to check the alignment. This procedure is repeated until alignment of the system is achieved.
• U.S. Patent 4,249,294 discloses an optical pulley alignment tool.
• the disclosed alignment tools consists of a first member and second member mounted on the pulleys inside the belt drive system.
• a target member has horizontal and vertical alignment markings corresponding to the centerline of the pulley.
• a viewing device having alignment markings corresponding to the markings of the target member is mounted on the centerline of the second pulley. Alignment of the pulleys is determined by any alignment of the target markings and the alignment markings of the viewing device. When the markings of the target align in the viewing device, the pulleys will be in alignment in the horizontal, vertical and angular planes.
• the disclosed invention provides a quick and efficient means for accurately determining alignment of the components of a belt drive system.
• the purpose of this invention is to provide a device for ascertaining non-linear movement of an object.
• a further purpose is to provide an efficient way to accurately check the alignment of the components of a belt drive system.
• a further purpose of the invention is a tool for accurately checking the alignment of the components of the belt drive system.
• a further purpose of the invention is to provide a means for performing quick visual checks of the alignment of the components of the belt drive system.
• a further purpose of the invention is a tool for efficiently checking the alignment of the components of the belt drive system.
• the disclosed invention is achieved by two sets of identical series of lines disposed on two different carrier means.
• One set of lines is made integral with the belt, and the second set of lines overlays the first set and is connected to the first set for a predetermined distance.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a pulley and belt in a belt drive system with the attached disclosed device
• FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the device
• FIG. 3 illustrates the device when indicating a small misalignment of a component of the pulley system
• FIG. 4 is illustrates the device when indicating a larger misalignment of a component of the pulley system.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a drive belt system 1.
• a belt 4 is wrapped about a drive pulley 2 which aides in moving the toothed belt 4 in a direction indicated by the arrow T.
• additional pulleys are present and the belt 4 may travel any path selected by the engineer.
• the illustrated pulley 2 is provided with flanges 3 to maintain positioning of the belt 4; however, not all pulleys may be provided with such flanges 3.
• all the pulleys should be in alignment and there should be no lateral movement of the belt 4; that is, each element of the belt drive system must be in alignment.
• Alignment of the pulleys is determined by the alignment of the centerlines of the pulleys.
• the belt centerline is parallel to the pulley centerline, whether the parallel centerlines are coincident or adjacent.
• the disclosed alignment device 5 is laid on the belt surface 6 in a location visible to the operator or installer.
• FIG. 2 Illustrated in FIG. 2 is one embodiment of the device 5.
• the illustrated device 5 is two sets 7, 8 of identical series of parallel lines 9, 10 disposed on carrier means 11, 12.
• the lines 9, 10 on each set 7, 8 are distanced from each other, forming spaces 13, 14 between the lines 9, 10.
• the width of the spaces 13, 14 is selected to provide a sufficient number of lines 9, 10 for easy visibility of the lines 9, 10 and spaces 13, 14 therebetween. Too many lines will make it harder for the operator to distinguish any misalignment in the belt drives system when using the device 5.
• the lines 9, 10 are distanced from each other by equal or varying amounts.
• the first set 7 is the bottom set and is made integral with the belt surface 6 for measuring misalignment.
• the union of the first set 7 and the belt 4 may be achieved in several ways.
• the first set 7 may be marked as indicia on the belt surface 6, wherein the carrier 11 for the first set 7 is the belt surface 6.
• the first set 7 may be formed on a separate carrier 11, such as paper, plastic film, plastic sheet, or a metal strip, and then adhered to the belt surface 6 when an alignment determination is desired.
• Adhesion to the belt surface 6 can be done in a number of conventional methods such as providing clips or similar attachment means, or adhesive on the underside of the carrier 11.
• the simplest technique is to use a carrier 11 with an adhesive underside which secures the set 7 to the belt surface 6.
• the spaces 13 between the lines 9 of the first set 7 may be formed in a visible color which contrasts with the color of the lines 9. In conjunction with the disclosed methods of forming the first set 7, this may be accomplished in several methods.
• the set 7 is formed as indicia on the belt surface 6, the lines 9 are printed as a color which contrasts with the color of the belt surface 6, thereby creating a contrast between the lines 9 and the spaces 13.
• the set 7 may be a separate pattern printed on the belt surface 6, and the lines 9 and spaces 13 formed in any desired contrasting colors.
• any set of contrasting colors which enable the lines 9 and spaces 13 to be quickly distinguished from another is permissible.
• An example of such a color combination is black lines 9 and yellow spaces 13.
• the spaces 13 may be formed in multiple colors, forming greater contrast between the lines 9 and the spaces 13.
• the second set 8 is on a transparent carrier 12 thereby forming transparent spaces 14.
• the lines 10 may be formed in any color other than a color used for the spaces 13 of the first set 7, ideally the lines 10 are the same color as that used for lines 9.
• the transparent carrier 14 may be a strip of transparent film or plastic sheet, or other similar material.
• the second set 8 is laid over the first set 7, with the lines 10 of the second set 8 being matched up precisely with the lines 9 of the first set 7, i.e. the lines 9, 10 are coincident, so that when viewed from overhead, it appears to be only one set of lines present.
• the second set 8 may be secured to the first set 7 along a select distance forming a secured end 15. Illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the length of the secured end 15 is approximately equal to 20% of the length of the device 5.
• the length of the secured end 15 may vary from at least 5% to 80% of the length of the device. At any selected percentage, the misahgnment of any component of the drive system is still visible.
• the device 5 is employed as illustrated in FIG. 1 and as described in the following manner.
• the device 5 is secured to the belt surface 6 as seen in FIG. 1. If the first set 7 is formed as an indicia on the belt surface 6, the belt 4 is rotated to a point where the indicia is visible to the operator.
• the belt 4 is driven into the pulley 2 so that the secured end 15 of the device is also driven into the pulley 2.
• the free end 16 of the second set 8 is free to shift with any misalignment. Any misalignment of the any component of the belt system 1 is quickly illustrated by the subsequent misalignment 17 of, or interference between, the identical series of lines 9 and 10 of the two sets 7 and 8.
• FIG 3 illustrates a small misahgnment wherein the free end 16 is skewed by a small degree.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a greater misalignment of a component in the system 1 as rendered visible by the misalignment 17 of the two sets of lines 9, 10 of the device 7.
• the embodiment of the device 5 in FIG. 2 illustrated identical series of equally spaced straight lines 9, 10. This is but one possible embodiment of the device 5.
• the criteria for the lines is that there are, on each set 7, 8, at least several lines 9, 10 which are initially coincident when the set 8 is laid over the first set 7 prior to deterrnining the system ahgnment and the configuration of the lines permits a visual indication of misalignment.
• the lines 9, 10 may be present several different formats such as: the lines 9, 10 may be curved in any fashion, the lines 9, 10 may be present on the carriers 11, 12 beyond the secured end 15, one set 7 or 8 may be provided with fewer lines than the other set 8 or 7.
• the disclosed device and method of determining any misahgnment of the system will assist an operator or installer in rendering the drive system plumb to increase the life of the belt and the drive system, as well as reduce noise and improve belt drive system efficiency.
• the disclosed device while described in connection with a drive belt system may be used to determine any non-linear movement of a object wherein it is desired that the object move in a linear path.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Devices For Conveying Motion By Means Of Endless Flexible Members (AREA)
• Length Measuring Devices By Optical Means (AREA)
• Control Of Conveyors (AREA)
• Structure Of Belt Conveyors (AREA)

Priority Applications (9)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=22267892

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (3)

• 1998
  • 1998-09-17 EP EP98947106A patent/EP1112474A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1998-09-17 JP JP2000570529A patent/JP2002525562A/ja active Pending
  • 1998-09-17 WO PCT/US1998/019444 patent/WO2000016039A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1998-09-17 AU AU93963/98A patent/AU9396398A/en not_active Abandoned
• 1999
  • 1999-08-27 TW TW088114713A patent/TW406168B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-09-06 ZA ZA9905734A patent/ZA995734B/xx unknown
  • 1999-09-17 AR ARP990104690A patent/AR017490A1/es active IP Right Grant

Patent Citations (3)

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