Abstract:
The assembly solves a frequent problem when aligning one machine to another machine. Typically, the machine to be aligned has very little clearance in the hold-down bolt holes, and running out of adjustment space while aligning is common. This assembly uses cams in enlarged holes in the machine feet. The cams not only allow the machine to be aligned with holes already drilled into a fixed bedplate, but after the machine is set on the bedplate, also allows the machine to be moved more than twice as much as is now permitted. This allows it to be easily aligned with another piece of equipment that is already fixed in place. The assembly also makes dowelling unnecessary, because the cams are locked into place with a set screw to prevent the machine from moving.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/347,782, filed Jun. 9, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to the installation of two or more machines where accurate alignment between the machines is critical. When connecting two rotating machines, it is necessary to align them to very accurate tolerances to avoid vibration and wear. The tolerance may be as small as a few thousandths of an inch (hundredths of a millimeter). After alignment, they are doweled in place to prevent movement out of alignment. 
         [0003]    Problems arise because the clearances in the hold down bolt holes are sometimes too small to allow the machines to be adjusted for proper alignment. Doweling is time-consuming. A need exists for a doweling-free alignment system with increased tolerances. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The invention is an assembly for installing multiple machines and its method of use. In the prior art, the bolt holes in the feet of machines are formed to have only slightly larger diameters than the bolts themselves. This leaves very little tolerance when aligning one machine to another. 
         [0005]    In this invention, the bolt holes in the feet of the machines are either manufactured to have a much larger diameter or are enlarged at the installation site. Instead of a single bolt holding the foot, two disk-shaped cams fill the hole and the cams and foot are held in place with a bolt, a large washer, and a set screw. One cam is larger than the other. The larger cam has an opening large enough that the smaller cam fits within it. The smaller cam has an hole with a diameter slightly larger than the bolt. Both cams have at least two pits or holes on top, so that they can be turned with a spanner wrench. 
         [0006]    After a first machine is installed, this invention&#39;s user sets the second machine on its bedplate. The user aligns the second machine to the first. For each foot of the second machine, the user puts the larger cam into the hole of the foot, then a locating stud through the cam and the hole in the foot into the bolt hole in the bedplate. The user rotates the larger cam to maximize the distance between the locating stud and the sides of the outer cam opening. The user then places the smaller cam onto the larger cam. 
         [0007]    The user then rotates the cams until they begin to engage. The Inner Cam will then fit into the Outer Cam. (The user may need to use a modest amount of downward pressure to cause the cams to completely engage with one another.) The user puts the set screw into a hole drilled into the side of the foot. The set screw is inserted far enough within this hole that the set screw engages the edge of the larger cam, locking the cam in position. 
         [0008]    The user then removes the locating stud, places the washer in the correct position over the two cams, starts the hold-down bolt into the bedplate, fully tightens the set screw if not already tight enough, and then bolts the assembly into place.
   One aspect of the invention is an assembly for bolting a machine to a bedplate comprising:
       an outer cam having an outer cam opening offset from the center of the outer cam;   an inner cam formed to fit within the outer cam opening, the inner cam having an inner cam opening offset from the center of the inner cam, the bottom of the outer edge of the inner cam being beveled;   a locating stud;   a set screw;   a washer having a diameter greater than the diameter of the outer cam, the top of the inner edge of the washer being beveled, the bottom of the inner edge of the washer being beveled; and   a bolt.   
       Another aspect of the invention is the assembly described above, wherein the outer edge of the outer cam has a groove.   Another aspect of the invention is the assembly described in any aspect above, wherein the outer cam has at least two pits on its top side.   Another aspect of the invention is the assembly described in any aspect above, wherein the inner cam has at least two pits on its top side.   Another aspect of the invention is the assembly as described in any aspect above, wherein the bolt hole of the washer is offset from its center.   Another aspect of this invention is a method for installing a second machine to a previously-installed first machine, the second machine comprising:
       at least one machine foot, each machine foot having a machine foot opening; and a bedplate;
 
the method comprising:
   setting the second machine on its bedplate so that the machine foot openings in are centered over bedplate bolt holes;   aligning the second machine to the first machine;   for each machine foot opening:
           setting an outer cam in the machine foot opening, the outer cam having an outer cam opening offset from the center of the outer cam;   screwing a locating stud through the machine foot opening and outer cam opening into the bedplate bolt hole;   rotating the outer cam to maximize the distance between the locating stud and the edge of the outer cam opening;   placing an inner cam on the outer cam, the inner cam being formed to fit within the outer cam opening, the inner cam having an inner cam opening offset from the center of the inner cam, the bottom of the outer edge of the inner cam being beveled;   rotating the outer cam and the inner cam until they engage;   placing downward pressure on the inner cam to insert into the outer cam opening;   on the side of the machine foot, screwing a set screw into a set screw hole to press the outer edge of the outer cam;   removing the locating stud from the bolt hole;   placing a washer over the outer cam and the inner cam, the washer having a diameter greater than the diameter of the outer cam; and   bolting the washer and the machine foot to the bedplate through the inner cam opening into the bedplate bolt hole.   
           
       Another aspect of the invention is the method described above, further comprising:
       for each machine foot, expanding to the machine foot opening so that the outer cam fits within the machine foot opening.   
       Another aspect of the invention is the method as described in any aspect above, further comprising:
       for each machine foot, drilling a hole into the side of the machine foot running from the side of the machine foot to the machine foot opening.   
       Another aspect of the invention is the method as described in any aspect above, further comprising:
       after installing the hold-down bolt, further tightening the set screw.   
       Another aspect of the invention is the method as described in any aspect above, wherein the outer cam has at least two pits on its top side, and wherein the step of rotating the outer cam to maximize the distance between the locating stud and the edge of the outer cam opening comprises turning a spanner wrench whose prongs are within the pits of the outer cam.   Another aspect of the invention is the method as described in any aspect above, wherein the inner cam has at least two pits on its top side, and wherein the step of rotating the outer cam and the inner cam until they engage comprises turning a spanner wrench whose prongs are within the pits of the inner cam.   Another aspect of the invention is the method as described in any aspect above, wherein the pits on the top of the inner cam are drilled and tapped to accommodate a pulling device.   Another aspect of the invention is the method as described in any aspect above, wherein the outer edge of the outer cam has a groove, and wherein the step of screwing a set screw into a set screw hole to press the outer edge of the outer cam comprises engaging the groove of the outer cam.   Another aspect of the invention is the method as described in any aspect above, wherein the pits on the top of the outer cam are drilled and tapped to accommodate a pulling device.   
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0046]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a prior art installation of a machine foot. 
           [0047]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of an installation of a machine foot using the present invention. 
           [0048]      FIG. 3A  is a plan view of the outer cam. 
           [0049]      FIG. 3B  is a cross-section view of the outer cam. 
           [0050]      FIG. 3C  is an elevation view of the locating stud. 
           [0051]      FIG. 3D  is a plan view of the inner cam. 
           [0052]      FIG. 3E  is a cross-section view of the inner cam. 
           [0053]      FIG. 3F  is an elevation view of the set screw. 
           [0054]      FIG. 3G  is a plan view of the hold-down washer. 
           [0055]      FIG. 3H  is a cross-section view of the hold-down washer. 
           [0056]      FIG. 3I  is an elevation view of the hold-down bolt. 
           [0057]      FIG. 4A  is a plan view of a step of the method of installation of the invention. 
           [0058]      FIG. 4B  is a plan view of a step of the method of installation of the invention. 
           [0059]      FIG. 4C  is a plan view of a step of the method of installation of the invention. 
           [0060]      FIG. 4D  is a plan view of a step of the method of installation of the invention. 
           [0061]      FIG. 4E  is a plan view of a step of the method of installation of the invention. 
           [0062]      FIG. 4F  is a plan view of a step of the method of installation of the invention. 
           [0063]      FIG. 4G  is a plan view of a step of the method of installation of the invention. 
           [0064]      FIG. 4H  is a plan view of a completed installation of the invention. 
           [0065]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of a completed installation of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0066]    Equipment manufacturers often require that, when two rotating machines are connected, they be positioned within strict limits to avoid vibration and wear. Accurate alignment is necessary because couplings may require alignment to within a few thousandths of an inch (5 hundredths of a millimeter). 
         [0067]      FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of the prior art method of installing a machine to a bedplate. In the prior art, when two or more rotating machines are to be connected, the procedure is:
       The bedplates  10  of all the machines are set on the equipment foundation. A bedplate may hold one or multiple machines.   The first bedplate is aligned to the system&#39;s external equipment, e.g., piping for a pump, ductwork for an air compressor, or a vent or chimney for a fan.   The other bedplates, if any, are aligned to the first bedplate and each other.   The bedplate(s) are set in concrete.   There are tapped bolt holes in the bedplate(s) which match the bolt holes in the feet of the machine(s). The feet of the first machine are aligned with the holes in its bedplate.   The first machine is set down on the bedplate  10 .   The first machine is aligned to the external equipment and bolted in place.   Because of the connections to external equipment, it is rarely possible to move the first machine for further alignment with other machines once it is connected to the external equipment.   Then, the feet of the second machine are aligned with the holes  11  in its bedplate  10 .   The second machine is set down on the bedplate  10 .   The second machine is aligned to the first machine and bolted in place.   The feet of the second machine are doweled.       
 
         [0080]    In the prior art, the diameters of the bolt holes  21  for the hold-down bolts  22  in the feet  20  of machines are usually ⅜ inch (10 mm) greater than the hold-down bolt  22 . With the feet  20  centered on the holes  11  and the hold-down bolt  22  in, the feet  20  may move 3/16 inch (5 mm) parallel to the bedplate  10  in any direction. This can be a problem if the pattern of the holes  11  in the bedplate  10  is not the same as the pattern in the machine feet  20 . Additionally when aligning, the machine may need to move more than 3/16 inch (5 mm); this frequently shows up in longer machines, where a small movement at one end is magnified at the other end. 
         [0081]    Due to the size of the dowel holes to be drilled, the usual interference of piping and other obstructions, the possible need to drill dowel holes at an angle, doweling a machine foot is a time-consuming process. 
         [0082]    In the present invention, an assembly using locking cams locates a machine on a fixed bedplate so that the machine has a greater range of movement and need not be doweled. 
         [0083]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the parts of the assembly.  FIG. 3A and 3B  show the Outer Cam  100 , a stainless steel disc whose diameter is about 0.002 inches (0.05 mm) smaller than the diameter of the foot hole  131 . The height of the Outer Cam  100  is about 0.01 inches (0.25 mm) shorter than the machine foot  130 , ensuring that the Hold-down Washer  120  sits flush on the machine foot  130 . The Outer Cam  100  has a large opening  101  offset from center into which the Inner Cam  110  will be placed. 
         [0084]      FIG. 3A  shows the Outer Cam  100  from the top down.  FIG. 3B  shows a cross-section of the Outer Cam  100 . Because of the tight clearance, the disc has chamfered corners  103  to allow easier insertion into the foot hole  131 . In preferred embodiments, there is a groove  104  in the outer edge of the Outer Cam  100  so that the Set Screw  115  will not damage the surface of the cam perimeter, making it more difficult to remove the Outer Cam  100 . In preferred embodiments, the Outer Cam  100  has three holes or pits  102  on the top of the disc to allow the user to use a spanner wrench to rotate the Outer Cam  100 . Two of the pits  102  are tapped to allow for the attachment of a pulling device, due to the tight clearances that might make removing the cam difficult. In alternative embodiments, there are no holes or pits on top of the Outer Cam  100 . 
         [0085]      FIG. 2  also shows the Inner Cam  110 , a stainless steel disc whose diameter is about 0.002 inches (0.05 mm) smaller than the large opening  101  in the Outer Cam  100 . The Inner Cam  110  has a hole  111  offset from center whose diameter is about 0.002 inches (0.05 mm) greater than the Hold-Down Bolt  125 . The height of the Inner Cam  110  is the same as the Outer Cam  100 . 
         [0086]      FIG. 3D  shows the Inner Cam  110  from the top down.  FIG. 3E  shows a cross-section of the Inner Cam  110 . The bottom edge of the hole  111  is beveled  113  to avoid any rough edges of vertical alignment shims around the bolt hole  11 , which can prevent the Inner Cam  110  from sitting flat on the shims. The bottom outer edge of the Inner Cam  110  is beveled  114  in order to help seating the Inner Cam  110  into the Outer Cam  100 . In preferred embodiments, the Inner Cam has three holes or pits  112  on the top of the disc so that a user can rotate the Inner Cam  110  with a spanner wrench. Two of the pits  112  are tapped to allow for the attachment of a pulling device, due to the tight clearances that might make removing the cam difficult. In alternative embodiments, there are no holes or pits on top of the Inner Cam  110 . 
         [0087]      FIG. 2  also shows a Locating Stud  105 , shown in  FIG. 3C  from the side. The Locating Stud  105  is the same thread size as the Hold-down Bolt  120 . The body  106  of the Locating Stud is longer than the sum of the heights of the foot  130  and the Inner Cam  110 . The top  107  of the Locating Stud  105  is formed so that a user may use a wrench to aid removal. The Locating Stud  105  greatly eases establishing the proper position of the Cams  100 ,  110  around the bedplate hole  11  for the Hold-down Bolt  120 . Without the Locating Stud  105 , the user would have difficulty determining the position of the Cams  100 ,  110  where the Hold-Down Bolt  125  fits into the bedplate hole  11 . 
         [0088]      FIG. 2  shows the Hold-down Washer  120 : a steel disc with a height similar to the machine foot  130 . The diameter of the Washer  120  is about 1 inch (25 mm) greater than the diameter of the Outer Cam  100 . In preferred embodiments, the Washer  120  has a hole  121  offset from center by the same amount as the hole  111  is offset in the Inner Cam  110 . In alternative embodiments, the hole  121  is centered in the Washer  120 . The hole  121  is the same size as the hole  111  in the Inner Cam  110 . To allow a standard bolt to tighten flush on the Washer  120 , the top  122  and bottom edges  142  of the hole  121  are beveled.  FIG. 3G  shows a top-down view of the Washer  120 .  FIG. 3H  shows a cross-section of the Washer  120 . 
         [0089]      FIG. 3F  shows the Set Screw used in  FIG. 2 . The screw has a square head  116  and a cupped point  117 . The size and the length of the Set Screw  115  is determined by manufacturing parameters. The length must allow the Set Screw to completely fill the set screw hole  132  and contact the outer edge or groove  104  of the Outer Cam  100 . 
         [0090]    Shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3I , the size and grade of the Hold-down Bolt  125  is determined by the machine manufacturer. The length of the body  126  of the Bolt  125  is slightly shorter than the combined height of the machine foot  130  and the Hold-down Washer  120 . The length of the threaded portion of the Bolt  125  is the either the same height as the bedplate  10  or 1.5 times the diameter of the bolt, whichever is less. 
         [0091]      FIGS. 4A-4H  show the method of installing machines using this invention. The bedplates  10  of the machines are manufactured and installed, and the first machine is installed, as described above under  FIG. 1 . 
         [0092]    The bolt hole  21  of the original machine foot  20  (see  FIG. 1 ) is enlarged from its original diameter so the new foot  130  has a hole  131  slightly larger than the diameter of the Outer Cam  100 . Additionally, a set screw hole  132  is drilled into the side of the foot  130 . In preferred embodiments, these will be done by the machine manufacturer itself. In alternative embodiments, this may be done at the installation site. The set screw hole  132  is in line with the centerline of foot hole  131  and runs between the side of the foot  130  and the foot hole  131 . The set screw hole  132  is tapped to accept Set Screw  115 . 
         [0093]      FIG. 4A  shows the second machine set on its bedplate  10  with the hole  131  for the Outer Cam  100  in the machine foot  130  centered over the bedplate bolt hole  11 . The second machine is then aligned to the first as before, but it now has more possible machine movement for alignment. The machine foot  130  can be moved around the bedplate bolt hole  11  to the limit of the sum of the offsets, greater than the 3/16ths inch allowed in the prior art. 
         [0094]    Alignment of two machines usually begins by setting the correct space between coupling centers. The user sets the distance by moving the second machine closer to or further from the first. This adjustment is set first because there is usually much more leeway in this spacing than in the lateral and angular alignment limits, and a slight change in this distance during other adjustments is not critical. The user will usually next adjust the vertical alignment for both the vertical displacement and vertical angular misalignment by adding or subtracting shims to raise or lower the height of the machine. Finally the user will adjust the lateral displacement and lateral angular alignment by shifting the machine sideways. Those skilled in the art will understand when the order of alignment direction should be altered. 
         [0095]      FIG. 4B  shows one of the second machine&#39;s machine feet  130  on the bedplate  10  after the second machine has been aligned to the first. 
         [0096]      FIG. 4C  shows the machine foot  130  being prepared to be secured. The user places the Outer Cam  100  into the hole  131  of the machine foot  130  and screws the Locating Stud  105  into the bolt hole  11  of the bedplate  10 . The Outer Cam  100  is rotated to maximize the gap  129  between the Outer Cam  100  and the Locating Stud  105 . This is the only position where the Inner Cam  110 , when put on the Locating Stud  105 , will fit into the opening  101  of the Outer Cam  100 . 
         [0097]    In  FIG. 4D , the Inner Cam  110  is put on the Locating Stud  105  and slid down to rest on the Outer Cam  100 . 
         [0098]      FIG. 4E  shows, after rotating the Cams  100 ,  110 , the Inner Cam  110  within the opening of the Outer Cam  100 . To do this, the Outer Cam  100  can be rotated with a spanner wrench while the Inner Cam  110  usually can be rotated by hand. The Cams  100 ,  110  are rotated until the beveled outer edge  114  of the Inner Cam  110  enters the opening of the Outer Cam  100 . The beveled edge  114  of the Inner Cam  110  acts as a wedge, enabling the Cams  100 ,  110  to center themselves with some slight downward pressure. 
         [0099]    In  FIG. 4F , the Set Screw  115  is installed into the hole  132  in the foot  130  and when it is tightened against the outer edge or groove  104  of the Outer Cam  100 , the cams  100 ,  110  are tightened in the foot hole  131 . 
         [0100]    In  FIG. 4G , the user removes the Locating Stud  105 , places the Hold-down Washer  120  over the Cams  100 ,  110 , then begins to screw the Hold-down Bolt  125  into the bolt hole  11  of the bedplate  10 . 
         [0101]      FIG. 4H  shows that, before tightening the Hold-down Bolt  125 , the Hold-down Washer  120  should be rotated until the eccentric covers the maximum amount of area over the Cams  100 ,  110  (here shown in dotted lines). The Set Screw  115  is then given a final tightening, if necessary, and the Hold-down Bolt  125  is torqued to its proper value. Due to the tension between the Cams  100 ,  110  and the Set Screw  115 , the machine foot  130  is locked into position and does not need to be doweled. The installation is complete. 
         [0102]      FIG. 5  shows the completed installation from the side of the machine foot  130  where the Set Screw  115  is installed. 
         [0103]    Those skilled in the art will understand that measurement equivalents between S.I. and imperial systems are approximate and that when a measurement is given in imperial units, the invention can also operate in the near equivalent measurements in S.I., and vice versa.