Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – With lifting or handling means for primary component or... – Position adjusting means; e.g. – leveling
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-08
2001-07-24
Wilkens, Janet M. (Department: 3636)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
With lifting or handling means for primary component or...
Position adjusting means; e.g., leveling
C052S126700, C052S512000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263621
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to leveling apparatuses and, more particularly, to an apparatus for securing and leveling equipment and machinery.
Equipment often must be secured to a floor or wall for stability, for seismic reasons or for maintaining alignment with other equipment. In addition to anchoring, some equipment requires adjustment during or after field installation, for instance, to level the equipment or to align the equipment with other equipment.
It is common to align or level equipment using adjusters installed adjacent the equipment anchors. Adjustment in this manner, however, applies torque to the equipment relative to the anchoring. Such torque could distort the equipment. Although spacers or shims are commonly used to control distortion, the exact height of the appropriate spacer or shim is not known before the need for it has arisen. Therefore, a large variety of spacers or shims is kept in inventory.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to eliminate the distortion of anchored equipment resulting from leveling or alignment. It also would be desirable to level or align equipment without having to maintain spacers or shims in inventory.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a leveling and securing apparatus includes an anchor bolt installed through a center of an aligning device and into a floor. The aligning device includes a hollow adjuster threaded through a section or extension of the equipment. The aligning device also includes a leveling pad positioned on the floor and on which the adjuster rests. The adjuster and leveling pad contact each other with matched spherical surfaces. The anchor bolt is installed through the adjuster and leveling pad and has clearance for lateral motion within the aligning device. The equipment is raised or lowered by threading the adjuster up or down within the equipment. Lateral adjustment of the equipment is facilitated by the freedom of the anchor bolt to move laterally within the aligning device and leveling pad.
The above described leveling and securing apparatus facilitates leveling of equipment without spacers or shims. Also, due to the location of the anchor bolt in the center of the aligning device, anchored equipment is leveled and aligned without distortion of the equipment.
REFERENCES:
patent: 944461 (1909-12-01), Olander
patent: 2940784 (1960-06-01), Fell
patent: 3361410 (1968-01-01), Messer
patent: 5511760 (1996-04-01), Kambara
patent: 6024330 (2000-02-01), Mroz et al.
patent: 2405368 (1975-08-01), None
Gruber Gene A.
Murray Thomas R.
Nimityongskul Paitoon
Vara Carmine F.
Wendt Randolph N.
Armstrong Teasdale LLP
Cabou Christian G.
General Electric Company
Wilkens Janet M.
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