Patent ID: 11906084
Assignee: nan
Field: Machine tools (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  B  G | IPC B  F  G

Claim 3:
4. A process for supporting and aligning a pipe flange having first and second sides, a plurality of first angularly spaced-apart first bolt holes defined in the flange first side, a plurality of second angularly spaced-apart second bolt holes defined in the flange second side, the first and second plurality of bolt holes being arranged on the flange so that some of the plurality of first bolt holes are associated with corresponding second bolt holes of the plurality of second bolt holes; the steps comprising:
providing a first leveling unit and a second leveling unit, each leveling unit including a U-shaped spring-loaded wire having first and second legs, each leg having a distal end and a proximal end, a spring connecting the proximal ends of the first and second legs of each leveling unit together, the spring biasing the legs of each leveling unit so that the distal ends of the first and second legs of each leveling unit are biased toward each other, a stainless steel ball bearing on the distal end of each of the first and second legs of each leveling unit, each ball bearing being spherical in shape and having a central axis, the ball bearings on the first and second legs of each leveling unit being axially co-linear relative to each other and being sized to be seated in the bolt holes defined in the flange, the spherical ball bearings on the first and second legs respectively of each leveling unit being accommodated in associated flange bolt holes in the first and second sides of the flange respectively to mount each leveling unit on the flange;
positioning the first leveling unit on the flange by a process which includes the steps of flexing the first and second legs of the first leveling unit away from each other against the bias of the spring on the first leveling unit; moving the ball bearings of the first leveling unit apart from each other; locating the ball bearings of the first leveling unit on the opposite sides of the flange; positioning the first ball bearing of the first leveling unit in one of the plurality of first flange holes on the first side of the flange; positioning the second ball bearing of the first leveling unit in a corresponding second hole on the second side of the flange; releasing the first and second legs of the first leveling unit to seat the first ball bearing of the first leveling unit in the flange hole on the first side of the flange and the second ball bearing of the first leveling unit in the associated second flange hole on the second side of the flange;
positioning the second leveling unit on the flange by a process which includes the steps of flexing the first and second legs of the second leveling unit away from each other against the bias of the spring on the second leveling unit; moving the ball bearings of the second leveling unit apart from each other; locating the ball bearings of the second leveling unit on the opposite sides of the flange; positioning the first ball bearing of the second leveling unit in a first flange hole that is angularly spaced-apart from the first flange hole having the first ball bearing of the first leveling unit seated therein; positioning the second ball bearing of the second leveling unit in a corresponding second hole which is angularly spaced-apart from the second flange hole having the second ball bearing of the first leveling unit seated therein; releasing the first and second legs of the second leveling unit to seat the first ball bearing of the second leveling unit in the flange hole on the first side of the flange at which the first ball bearing is positioned and the second ball bearing of the second leveling unit in the associated second flange hole on the second side of the flange at which the second ball bearing of the second leveling unit is positioned;
resting a torpedo level on the seated ball bearings on the first side of the flange;
resting the torpedo level on the seated ball bearings on the second side of the flange; and
adjusting the flange until the associated flange holes on the first and second sides of the flange are level with each other.