Alignment tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12188366-B2
Application number	US-202217900524-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2022
Priority date	Aug 31, 2022
Publication date	Jan 7, 2025
Grant date	Jan 7, 2025

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a tubular or cylindrical body including a shaft, a shoulder, and a neck, the shaft coupled to the shoulder, the shoulder coupled to the neck, the shoulder having a greater diameter than respective diameters of the shaft and the neck. The example apparatus includes a plug coupled to the shoulder at a first plug edge and coupled to a first fastener at a second plug edge, the first fastener including a hole. The example apparatus includes a second fastener coupled to the first fastener, the second fastener extending through the tubular body, the plug, and the first fastener.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a tubular body including a shaft, a shoulder, and a neck, the shaft coupled to the shoulder, the shoulder coupled to the neck, the shoulder having a greater diameter than respective diameters of the shaft and the neck;
a plug coupled to the shoulder at a first plug edge and coupled to a first fastener at a second plug edge, the first fastener including a hole; and
a second fastener coupled to the first fastener, the second fastener extending through the tubular body, the plug, and the first fastener.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first fastener is a threaded nut, the second fastener is a cap screw, and wherein the tubular body, the plug, the threaded nut, and the cap screw define a motor alignment tool, the motor alignment tool coupled to a motor, the shaft extending from the motor to facilitate alignment of the motor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the tubular body is a first tubular body, the plug is a first plug, the threaded nut is a first threaded nut, the cap screw is a first cap screw, and further including a gearbox alignment tool to facilitate an alignment of a gearbox with the motor, the gearbox alignment tool including a second tubular body, a second plug, a second threaded nut, and a second cap screw.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein tightening the second cap screw causes an axial displacement of the second threaded nut from a first position to a second position, wherein the second position is nearer the second tubular body than the first position, and wherein a diameter of the second plug increases to contact the gearbox in response to the axial displacement.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the tubular body includes first ridges protruding into the plug and toward the threaded nut, and wherein the threaded nut includes second ridges protruding into the plug and towards the tubular body, the threaded nut threadably coupled to the cap screw.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein a first end of the tubular body includes a second hole with a counterbore, the second hole extending through the shaft, the shoulder, and the neck to a second end of the tubular body.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the second cap screw further includes:
threads at a first end of the second cap screw; and
a socket head at a second end of the second cap screw.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first plug edge and the second plug edge are beveled, and wherein the plug includes radially outward extending protrusions.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first fastener includes threads to threadably couple the first fastener to the second fastener.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , the tubular body further including a first flat member and a second flat member to secure the shaft for tightening of the second fastener.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tubular body is a unitary member.

12. An alignment apparatus for a motor-driven propeller comprising:
a motor tool coupled to a motor of the motor-driven propeller, the motor tool extending from the motor to facilitate an alignment of the motor-driven propeller;
a gearbox tool coupled to a gearbox of the motor-driven propeller and extending from the gearbox to facilitate the alignment; and
at least one of the gearbox tool or the motor tool including:
a tubular body including a shaft, a shoulder, and a neck, the shaft coupled to the shoulder, the shoulder coupled to the neck;
a plug coupled to the shoulder at a first plug edge and coupled to a first fastener at a second plug edge, the first fastener including a hole; and
a second fastener extending through the tubular body, the plug, and the first fastener.

13. The alignment apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first fastener is a threaded nut, the second fastener is a cap screw, wherein to tighten the cap screw causes a displacement of the threaded nut from a first position to a second position, wherein the second position is nearer the tubular body, and wherein the displacement of the threaded nut causes the plug to increase in diameter to contact at least one of the gearbox or the motor.

14. The alignment apparatus of claim 12 , the tubular body including first ridges protruding into the plug and towards the first fastener, the first fastener including second ridges protruding into the plug and towards the tubular body.

15. The alignment apparatus of claim 13 , wherein a first end of the tubular body includes a second hole that extend through the shaft, the shoulder, and the neck to a second end of the tubular body.

16. The alignment apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first fastener is a cap screw that further includes:
threads at a first end of the cap screw; and
a socket head at a second end of the cap screw.

17. The alignment apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the first plug edge and the second plug edge are beveled, and wherein the plug includes at least one protrusion that extends radially outward.

18. The alignment apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the tubular body is a one-piece body.

19. A method comprising:
inserting a gearbox alignment tool into a gearbox;
tightening a first fastener of the gearbox alignment tool;
inserting a motor alignment tool into a motor;
tightening a second fastener of the motor alignment tool; and
aligning the motor and the gearbox based on the motor alignment tool and gearbox alignment tool.

20. The method of claim 19 , further including:
pinning the gearbox and the motor into an aligned location;
removing the motor or the gearbox from the aligned location;
inserting a shaft; and
replacing the motor or the gearbox to the aligned location.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Neubauer Mark E

Classifications

• F16H2057/02021

  with means for adjusting alignment · CPC title

• F16H57/02

  Gearboxes; Mounting gearing therein · CPC title

• F05D2240/60

  Shafts · CPC title

• F05D2230/644

  for adjusting the position or the alignment, e.g. wedges or eccenters · CPC title

• F16H2057/0062

  Tools specially adapted for assembly of transmissions · CPC title