Abstract:
A skid has a pair of laterally disposed base members and a first and a second support member for mounting a first and second piece of equipment requiring horizontal axial alignment, for example, a pump and a motor. At least one of the first and second support members is releaseably and adjustably vertically attachable to and between the pair of base members. For example, the first support member is a pair of cross members, wherein each of the cross members is attached at their ends substantially perpendicular to the base members forming a right parallelogram. Further, in this example, the second support member is vertically positioned relative to the base members such that a set of holes in each of the second support member and the pair of base members are horizontally aligned and fasteners are used to secure the two to each other in that position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a device for placement between an object and a fixed supporting surface to which the object is mounted, and more particularly to such a device which provides adjustment of the position of the object relative to the fixed supporting surface. In machinery installations, it is common to provide a power source that drives a driven machine. For example, a motor or engine is often mounted adjacent a piece of equipment, such as a pump, gear reducer or the like adapted to be driven thereby. The motor and the driven device are often mounted to the same support plate fixed relative to the supporting surface, for example, a foundation, pad, or floor. In most cases, the height between the motor output shaft and motor mounting structure is different than the height between the input shaft of the driven device and its mounting structure. Placing steel shims between the fixed support plate and the motor and/or the driven device to align the motor output shaft and the input shaft of the driven device customarily accommodates this difference in height. U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,319 to Nielson discloses a mounting device placed between the motor mount and the support plate to make adjustments to this height difference. 
   However, prior art pumps, such as shown in  FIG. 1 , are manufactured with several sizes of casings  118 , for example, three sizes such as 9-inch, 11-inch and 13-inch casings. When a casing size is increased and the load is also increased, a larger motor may be required. When this happens, this creates a problem. Though the casings can be readily changed, the motor mounts typically do not align with the mounting holes in the support plate for the old motor. Additionally, the height difference may be more significant and requires more than the adjustments provided by prior art devices. This typically requires the installation of a new pump skid to accommodate the new motor size and height difference between pump and motor shafts. 
   Thus, there exists a need to increase the versatility of a pump skid to accommodate changes to different motors when a pump casing is changed and/or the pump load is increased. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a mounting device, specifically an equipment skid, and a method which eliminates installation of new equipment skids when at least one of two adjacent pieces of equipment is changed, and in which the relative vertical position of one or both of the pieces of equipment is variable to attain a desired vertical position of one piece of equipment relative to the other. It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple mounting device and method for a piece of equipment which is easy to install and which provides adjustment of the position of one piece of equipment relative to the other. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a device for adjusting the position of an object relative to a supporting surface includes a base adapted for placement on the supporting surface, a support member adapted for placement adjacent the object, and vertical positioning means for adjusting the position of the support member relative to the base, and thereby the position of the object relative to the supporting surface. 
   In one aspect of the invention, a skid is provided for mounting a first and second piece of equipment requiring horizontal axial alignment. The skid comprises a pair of laterally disposed base members, a first support member for supporting the first piece of equipment, and a second support member for supporting the second piece of equipment. At least one of the first and second support members is releaseably attached to and between the pair of base members and is adjustably positioned relative to the pair of base members to substantially provide the required horizontal axial alignment of the first and second pieces of equipment. 
   In one preferred embodiment, the second support member is releaseably attached to and between the pair of base members and is adjustably positioned in the vertical direction relative to the pair of base members. Optionally, the first support member is releaseably attached to and between the pair of base members and is adjustably positioned in the vertical direction relative to the pair of base members. 
   In another embodiment, the first support member comprises a first pair of cross members, wherein each of the first pair of cross members is attached at their ends substantially perpendicular to the base members forming a right parallelogram. Optionally, each of the first pair of cross members is releaseably attached to and between the pair of base members and is adjustably positioned in the vertical direction relative to the pair of base members. 
   In another embodiment, the second support member comprises a second pair of cross members and wherein each of the second pair of cross members is releaseably attached at their ends to and between the pair of base members forming a right parallelogram and is adjustably positioned in the vertical direction relative to the pair of base members. The first support member comprises a first pair of cross members, wherein each of the first pair of cross members is attached at their ends substantially perpendicular to the base members forming a right parallelogram. Optionally, each of the first pair of cross members is releaseably attached to and between the pair of base members and is adjustably positioned in the vertical direction relative to the pair of base members. 
   In another embodiment, the second support member comprises a second mounting plate having a pair of opposing edges and a second pair of side walls extending perpendicularly from the pair opposing edges of the second mounting plate, wherein the second support member is releaseably attached at the second pair of side walls to and between the pair of base members and is adjustably positioned in the vertical direction relative to the pair of base members. The first support member comprises a first pair of cross members, wherein each of the first pair of cross members is attached at their ends substantially perpendicular to the base members forming a right parallelogram. 
   In yet another embodiment, the first support member is releaseably attached to and between the pair of base members and is adjustably positioned in the vertical direction relative to the pair of base members. For example, the first support member comprises a first mounting plate having a pair of opposing edges and a first pair of side walls extending perpendicularly from the pair opposing edges of the first mounting plate. The first support member is releaseably attached at the first pair of side walls to and between the pair of base members and is adjustably positioned in the vertical direction relative to the pair of base members. Additionally, the second support member comprises a second mounting plate having a pair of opposing edges and a second pair of side walls extending perpendicularly from the pair opposing edges of the second mounting plate. The second support member is releaseably attached at the second pair of side walls to and between the pair of base members and is adjustably positioned in the vertical direction relative to the pair of base members. 
   In another preferred embodiment, the first support member comprises a first pair of cross members, wherein each of the first pair of cross members is attached at their ends substantially perpendicular to the base members forming a right parallelogram. Optionally, each of the first pair of cross members is releaseably attached to and between the pair of base members and is adjustably positioned in the vertical direction relative to the pair of base members. In one embodiment, the second support member comprises a second pair of cross members and wherein each of the second pair of cross members is releaseably attached at their ends to and between the pair of base members forming a right parallelogram and is adjustably positioned in the vertical direction relative to the pair of base members. In an alternative embodiment, the second support member comprises a second mounting plate having a pair of opposing edges and a second pair of side walls extending perpendicularly from the pair opposing edges of the second mounting plate, wherein the second support member is releaseably attached at the second pair of side walls to and between the pair of base members and is adjustably positioned in the vertical direction relative to the pair of base members. 
   In a preferred embodiment, each of the pair of base members has a vertical surface with a first plurality of vertically disposed holes extending horizontally through the vertical surface and defining at least one horizontally aligned set of holes. The second support member has at least a mounting plate and a pair of side walls extending perpendicularly from a pair opposing edges of the mounting plate. Each of the pair of side walls has a second plurality of vertically disposed holes extending horizontally through the side walls and defining at least one horizontally aligned set of holes parallel to the mounting plate and which correspond to the at least one horizontally aligned set of holes in the pair of base members. A plurality of fasteners are inserted through the corresponding at least one horizontally aligned set of holes in the pair of side walls and in the pair of base members releaseably securing the second support member to the pair of base members at a selected vertical position relative to the pair of base members. 
   In another preferred embodiment, each of the pair of base members has a vertical surface with a first plurality holes extending horizontally through the vertical surface and defining at least one horizontally aligned set of holes. The second support member comprises a second pair of cross members, wherein each of the second pair of cross members is releaseably attached at their ends substantially perpendicular to the base members forming a right parallelogram and wherein each of the ends of the second pair of cross members has at least one attachment hole. The first plurality of holes are positioned on the vertical face of each of the pair of base members such that the second pair of cross members are attached at a selected vertical and horizontal position to achieve the desired axial alignment of the first and second pieces of equipment. Each of the second pair of cross members has a horizontal surface with a second plurality of holes for attaching the second piece of equipment. A plurality of fasteners inserted through a corresponding set of holes in the ends of the corresponding one of the second pair of cross members with at least one horizontally aligned set of holes in the pair of base members releaseably securing the second pair of cross members to the pair of base members at a selected vertical and horizontal position relative to the pair of base members. 
   In another preferred embodiment, each of the pair of base members has a vertical surface with a first and second plurality of vertically disposed holes extending horizontally through the vertical surface and defining at least a first horizontally aligned set of holes and a second horizontally aligned set of holes. The first support member comprises a first mounting plate and a first pair of side walls extending perpendicularly from a pair opposing edges of the first mounting plate. Each of the first pair of side walls has a third plurality of vertically disposed holes extending horizontally through the side walls and defining at least a first horizontally aligned set of holes parallel to the first mounting plate and which correspond to the first horizontally aligned set of holes in the pair of base members. The second support member comprises a second mounting plate and a second pair of side walls extending perpendicularly from a pair opposing edges of the second mounting plate. Each of the second pair of side walls has a fourth plurality of vertically disposed holes extending horizontally through the side walls and defining at least a second horizontally aligned set of holes parallel to the second mounting plate and which correspond to the second horizontally aligned set of holes in the pair of base members. A plurality of fasteners inserted through the corresponding first and second horizontally aligned sets of holes in the first and second pairs of side walls and in the pair of base members releaseably securing the first support member to the pair of base members a selected first vertical position relative to the pair of base members and releaseably securing the second support member to the pair of base members a selected second vertical position relative to the pair of base members. The first and second vertical positions can be the same or different. 
   The invention further contemplates a method for adjusting the vertical position of a support member relative to a base member. In accordance with the method, the support member is provided with a first and second side wall with each side wall having a first plurality of holes and a skid is provided with the base member having a second plurality of holes. A corresponding set of holes on each of the support member side walls and the skid base member are engaged by a first plurality of securing members to fix their relative position. A third plurality of holes is provided on a mounting plate of the skid and one piece of equipment having mounting holes is mounted thereon by attaching it via the mounting holes to a corresponding set of holes of the third plurality of holes using a second plurality of securing members. 
   The invention further contemplates a method for adjusting the vertical position of a support member relative to a pair of base members. In accordance with the method, the support member is provided having an upper support surface and at least a pair of end surfaces with a first plurality of holes vertically disposed on and horizontally extending through the pair of end surfaces. The pair of laterally disposed base members is provided with a second plurality of holes, wherein each of the pair of base members has a vertical surface and an upper horizontal surface. The support member is placed between the pair of base members. A first set of horizontally aligned holes is selected from the first plurality of holes and the second plurality of holes corresponding to a selected vertical relative placement between the upper support surface and the upper horizontal surface. The first set of horizontally aligned holes are releaseably engaged with a first plurality of securing members to fix the vertical position of the upper support surface relative to the upper horizontal surface. Preferably, the method further comprises providing the upper support surface with a third plurality of holes for mounting a piece of equipment having mounting holes; placing the piece of equipment on the upper support surface; and releaseably attaching the piece of equipment to the upper support surface with a second plurality of securing members using a set of holes of the third plurality of holes corresponding to the mounting holes. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     For a better understanding of the invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following detailed description to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view, partially in cross section, of a prior art skid with a centrifugal pump mounted thereon. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of a skid embodiment according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the skid shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the skid shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the support member  250  from the skid shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the portion encircled by circle  6  in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the support member shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 8  is an end view of the support member shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 9  is a flattened view of the support member shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 10  is an enlarged top view of the support member shown in  FIG. 5 , which shows the motor mounting holes  266  and the hole designations  268 . 
       FIG. 11  is a side elevation view of a skid embodiment according to the present invention with a centrifugal pump mounted thereon. 
       FIG. 12  is a top view of  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 13  is a top view of another skid embodiment according to the present invention, where the vertically adjustable support member has two cross members. 
       FIG. 14  is a side view of the skid shown in  FIG. 13 . 
       FIG. 15  is a top view of another skid embodiment according to the present invention with two support members that are vertically adjustable, where each support member has a support plate. 
       FIG. 16  is a top view of another skid embodiment according to the present invention with two support members that are vertically adjustable, where each support member has two cross members. 
       FIG. 17  is a side view of the skid shown in  FIG. 16 . 
       FIG. 18  is a top view of another skid embodiment according to the present invention with two support members that are vertically adjustable, where one support member has a support plate and the other support member has two cross members. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Reference now should be made to the drawings in which the same reference numbers are used in the different figures to designate the same or similar components. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a motor  112  having an output shaft  130  and a pump  108  having an input shaft  128  adapted to be coupled to motor output shaft  130 . Both motor  112  and pump  108  are mounted to a support skid  100  on a supporting surface  110 . The skid  100  has an upper plate  116  supporting the motor  112  and the pump  108  in axial alignment Z. Motor  112  is provided with a lower mounting plate  126 , and pump  108  likewise includes a pair of spaced lower mounting members  124 . The pump  108  has a casing  118  connected to a pump frame  120  from which extends the pump shaft  128 . In a manner as is known, motor output shaft  130  and pump input shaft  128  are coupled together through a coupling  132  so that pump  108  is driven in response to operation of motor  112 . A coupling guard  114  is also shown. While a motor and pump arrangement is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , it is to be understood that the invention is usable in connection with any two adjacent pieces of equipment in which vertical alignment between the pieces of equipment is desired. To increase the pumping capacity of the pump  108 , the casing  118  can be changed. However, this may require the use of a larger motor. In such a situation, the new motor will have to be aligned with the pump such that the motor and pump shafts are axially aligned. But, the vertically height difference may be too large and require a new pump skid  100 . Additionally, the lower mounting plate  126  many times will have mounting holes that do not match the mounting holes in the skid  100 , thereby requiring additional modifications to the skid  100  or replacement thereof. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 2 through 4 , there is shown an embodiment of a skid  200  according to the present invention. The skid  200  has a pair of laterally spaced base members  210 . In the pump mounting section  202  of the skid  200 , a pair of pump mounting cross members  212  are attached at their respective ends to the inside surface of each of the base members  210 . The cross members  212  have pump mounting holes  218 . The base members  210  have base holes  214   a  and  214   b , forklift holes  224 , holes  220  for attaching lifting eyes, and holes  222  for securing the skid  200  to the supporting surface  110  (see  FIG. 1 ). The skid  200  also has a support member  250 , which is secured to and between the base members  210  in the motor mounting section  204  of the skid  200 . 
   Referring now  FIGS. 5 and 7  through  10 , the support member  250  has a motor mounting plate  252  with side walls  254 ,  256  and end walls  258 ,  260  attached to its perimeter.  FIG. 9  shows the support member  250  in a flatten form. The support member  250  in  FIG. 5  is made from this flatten form shown in  FIG. 9  by mechanically bending the side walls  254 ,  256  and the end walls  258 ,  260  along the dashed lines  270 . The side walls  254 ,  256  have vertically positioned holes  262   a ,  262   b  and  262   c . Each of the vertically positioned holes, for example,  262   a  are at substantially the same vertical distance from the mounting plate  252 . The mounting plate  252  has motor mounting holes  266  preferably with a designation  268  (see  FIG. 10 ) which are used to identify the set of mounting holes  266  to be used in mounting a specific motor. See Table 1 below for an example. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , depending on the motor to be installed, a particular combination of holes  214   a ,  214   b  and holes  262   a ,  262   b ,  262   c  are used to properly vertically position the support member  250  relative to the base member  210 . 
   The side walls  254 ,  256  have a motor designation marking  264  indicating the motor size and/or type corresponding to the holes  262   a ,  262   b ,  262   c  in the side walls  254 ,  256 . Though more combinations of matching holes between holes  262   a ,  262   b ,  262   c  in the side walls  254 ,  256  and the holes  214   a ,  214   b  in the base members  210  may exist, only those combinations with a corresponding motor designation marking  264  showing through a motor designation window  216  in the base member  210  are valid combinations. Referring to  FIG. 6 , for illustration purposes only, the motor designation  215 T on the side wall  254  shows through the window  216  and the arrow Y points to a matching of the holes  214   b  and  262   b.    
   To accommodate a greater number motor sizes or makes, the mounting plate can be rotated, for example, in increments of 90 degrees if the upper surface of the mounting plate is square (see  FIG. 12 ) or 180 degrees if the upper surface of the mounting plate is rectangular is shape (see  FIG. 5 ). Therefore, if a motor designation marking  264  is on the support member  250  but is not displayable through the window  216 , then the support member  250  is rotated prior to insertion into the motor mounting section  204  of the skid  200 . 
   In this case, bolts (not shown) are preferably used to secure the support member  250  to the base members  210  of the skid  200 . It will be appreciated that other types of connecting members, such as rivets, pins, cap screws, or the like, may be used instead of bolts. 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE 1 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
             
               HOLE COMBINATIONS 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               MOTOR FRAME 
               Mounting Plate Mounting Holes * 
             
             
                 
                 
             
             
                 
               215T 
               A, B 
             
             
                 
               254T 
               C, D 
             
             
                 
               256T 
               C, E 
             
             
                 
               324T 
               F, G 
             
             
                 
               326T 
               F, H 
             
             
                 
               284T 
               J, K 
             
             
                 
               286T 
               J, L 
             
             
                 
               364T 
               M, N 
             
             
                 
               365T 
               M, P 
             
             
                 
                 
             
             
                 
               * First letter corresponds to holes on mounting plate closest to pump. Therefore, the last four motors require that the mounting plate be rotated 180 degrees prior to fixing to the base frame of the skid. 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   Referring now to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , there is shown a pump  308  and motor  312  mounted in axial alignment Z to a skid  200  on the supporting surface  110 . Motor  312  is provided with a lower mounting plate  326 , and pump  308  likewise includes a pair of spaced lower mounting members  322 ,  324 . The pump  308  has a casing  318  connected to a pump frame  320  from which extends the pump shaft (not shown), which is covered by the coupling guard  314 . Bolts  330 ,  332 ,  334 ,  336  are used to secure the pump and motor to the skid  200  and the skid  200  to the supporting surface  110 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , there is shown an embodiment of a skid  300  according to the present invention. Skid  300  is similar to skid  200 , except that support member  250  is replaced with adjustable support members  350   a  and  350   b . Each of support members  350   a  and  350   b  is a releaseably attachable cross member similar to cross members  212 , but cross members  350   a  and  350   b  have end plates  352   a ,  354   a ,  352   b  and  354   b  attached, respectively, to the ends thereof. The cross members  350   a ,  350   b  have a plurality of motor mounting holes  366 , preferably with a designation similar to designation  268  (see  FIG. 10 ), which are used to identify the set of mounting holes  366  to be used in mounting a specific motor. Depending on the motor to be installed, a particular combination of holes  214   a ,  214   b  and holes  362   a ,  362   b ,  362   c  are used to vertically position the support members  350   a ,  350   b  relative to the base members  210  using a plurality of fasteners (not shown for the sake of clarity). The end plates  352   a  and  352   b  have a motor designation similar to marking  264  (see  FIG. 6 ) indicating motor size and/or type corresponding to holes  362   a ,  362   b ,  362   c  in the end plates  352   a ,  354   a ,  352   b  and  354   b . Though more combinations of matching holes between holes  362   a ,  362   b ,  362   c  in the end plates  352   a ,  354   a ,  352   b  and  354   b  and the holes  214   a ,  214   b  in the base members  210  may exist, only those combinations with a corresponding motor designation  364  similar to marking  264  showing through a motor designation window  216  in the base member  210  are valid combinations. For example, referring to  FIG. 6 , for illustration purposes only, the motor designation  215 T on the side wall  254  shows through the window  216  and the arrow Y points to a matching of the holes  214   b  and  262   b . To accommodate a greater number of motor sizes or makes, the base members  210  can have additional holes, for example, holes  314   a ,  314   b  to axially move the cross member  352   a . prior to releaseably attaching it to the base members  210 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 15 , there is shown an embodiment of a skid  400  according to the present invention. Skid  400  is similar to skid  200 , except that the cross members  212  have been replaced by a vertically adjustable support member  411  with equipment mounting holes  418 . Support member  411  is similar to support member  250  in all respects, except for the mounting holes  418  in the mounting plate  412  correspond to the pump mounts. The support member  411  has sidewall  452  and  454 , which are like sidewalls  252  and  254  and also have holes like  262   a ,  262   b ,  262   c . The base members also have holes like holes  214   a ,  214   b  for releaseably attaching the support member  411 , specifically its mounting plate  412 , at a desired vertical position relative to the base members  210 . This is similar to what is shown in  FIG. 17 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 16 and 17 , there is shown an embodiment of a skid  500  according to the present invention. Skid  500  is similar to skid  300 , except that the cross members  212  are now cross members  512   a  and  512   b , which are vertically adjustable rather than fixed. The cross members  512   a ,  512   b  are vertically adjustable in the same manner as cross members  350   a , 350   b . The base members  210  have holes  514   a ,  514   b  similar to holes  214   a ,  214   b . The cross members  512   a  and  512   b  have end plates  552   a ,  552   b ,  554   a  and  554   b  attached to the ends of cross members  512   a  and  512   b , respectively. The end plates  552   a ,  552   b ,  554   a  and  554   b  have holes  562   a ,  562   b ,  562   c , which are vertically aligned with and releaseably secured to holes  514   a  or  514   b  to vertically position the support members  512   a  and  512   b  relative to the base members  210 . A designation window  564  can be used in similar fashion to designation window  264  and  364 , but in this case to indicate the type and/or size of pump.