Adjustable leveling kit and associated installation method

Abstract

A kit includes an adjustable chock provided with a first component having screw threads and with a second component having screw threads cooperating with the screw threads of the first component and having a lower bearing surface, and with a bearing element provided with a lower bearing surface in contact with an upper bearing surface of the first component, and with an upper bearing surface. The kit further includes at least one friction ring adapted to be mounted against the lower bearing surface of the second component or against the upper bearing surface of the bearing element.

Claims

1. A kit adapted for use in an adjustable chock, the kit comprising: a first component having a first component upper bearing surface, the first component upper bearing surface comprising a flat, axially outermost, radially extending portion; a second component threadably engaged with the first component, the second component having a second component lower bearing surface and a second component upper bearing surface, the second component upper bearing surface comprising a radially outermost portion and a radially innermost annular flat portion, the radially outermost portion of the second component upper bearing surface sloping such that an axial length of the second component decreases from a radially outermost point of the radially innermost annular flat portion of the second component upper bearing surface to a radially outermost point of the second component upper bearing surface; a bearing element provided with a bearing element lower bearing surface in contact with the first component upper bearing surface, the bearing element lower bearing surface not being in contact with the flat, axially outermost, radially extending portion, the bearing element also having a bearing element upper bearing surface; and a friction ring adapted to be mounted against either one of the groups of the second component lower bearing surface and the bearing element upper bearing surface in a way that eliminates a direct contact of the either one of the group of the second component lower bearing surface and the bearing element upper bearing surface with a corresponding one of the group of a supporting surface and a supported surface.

2. The kit according to claim 1, wherein a friction coefficient of the friction ring is at least zero point six five (0.65).

3. The kit according to claim 1, wherein the friction ring comprises a steel substrate.

4. A kit adapted for use in an adjustable chock, the kit comprising: a first component having a first component upper bearing surface; a second component threadably engaged with the first component and having a second component lower bearing surface; a bearing element provided with a bearing element lower surface in contact the first component upper bearing surface, the bearing element having a bearing element upper bearing surface; a first friction ring adapted to be mounted against the second component lower bearing surface; and a second friction ring adapted to be mounted against the bearing element upper bearing surface.

5. The kit according to claim 4, wherein the first friction ring is configured to cover the entire second component lower bearing surface.

6. The kit according to claim 4, wherein the second friction ring is configured to cover the entire bearing element upper bearing surface.

7. The kit according to claim 4, wherein the first friction ring has lower and upper first friction ring frontal faces, the lower and upper first friction ring frontal faces each provided with a coating, the coating comprising a layer having a plurality of diamond particles embedded therein.

8. The kit according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of diamond particles has a mean size of between ten micrometers (10 m) and fifty-five micrometers (55 m).

9. The kit according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of diamond particles occupy between eight percent (8%) and sixty percent (60%) of the layer.

10. The kit according to claim 4, wherein the second friction ring has lower and upper second friction ring frontal faces, the lower and upper second friction ring frontal faces each provided with a coating comprising a layer having a plurality of diamond particles embedded therein.

11. The kit according to claim 4, wherein the first friction ring comprises a steel substrate.

12. The kit according to claim 11, wherein the first friction ring comprises two opposite coatings each having a nickel layer with a plurality of diamond particles embedded therein.

13. The kit according to claim 12, wherein the second friction ring comprises a steel substrate.

14. The kit according to claim 13, wherein the second friction ring comprise two opposite coatings each having a nickel layer with a plurality of diamond particles embedded therein.

15. A method for levelling and anchoring a machine to a support, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first component having a first component upper bearing surface; threadably engaging a second component with the first component, the second component having a second component lower bearing surface; positioning a bearing element in contact with the first component such that a bearing element lower surface contacts the first component upper bearing surface, the bearing element having a bearing element upper bearing surface; positioning first friction ring against the second component lower bearing surface; and positioning a second friction ring against the bearing element upper bearing surface.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of joining the machine to the support via a fastener which extends through the first friction ring, the second component, the first component, the bearing element, and the second friction ring.

17. The method according to claim 16, adjusting a relative position of the first component and the second component.

18. The method according to claim 16, adjusting a relative position of the first component and the bearing element to level the machine.

19. The method according to claim 16, tightening the fastener so as to secure the relative position between the first component and the second component and to secure the relative position between the first component and the bearing element.

20. A kit adapted for use in an adjustable chock, the kit comprising: a first component having a first component upper bearing surface; a second component threadably engaged with the first component, the second component having a second component lower bearing surface; a bearing element provided with a bearing element lower bearing surface in contact with the first component upper bearing surface, the bearing element also having a bearing element upper bearing surface; and a friction ring adapted to be mounted against either one of the group of the second component lower bearing surface and the bearing element upper bearing surface, the friction ring being metallic, wherein the friction ring comprises a steel substrate, wherein the friction ring comprises two opposite coatings each having a nickel layer with a plurality of diamond particles embedded therein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) At least one of the embodiments of the present invention is accurately represented by this application's drawings which are relied on to illustrate such embodiment(s) to scale and the drawings are relied on to illustrate the relative size, proportions, and positioning of the individual components of the present invention accurately relative to each other and relative to the overall embodiment(s). Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from this disclosure that the present invention is not limited to the scaled drawings and that the illustrated proportions, scale, and relative positioning can be varied without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the broadest descriptions set forth in any portion of the originally filed specification and/or drawings. The present invention and its advantages will be better understood by studying the detailed description of specific embodiments given by way of non-limiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawings on which:

(2) FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a known adjustable chock,

(3) FIG. 1B shows a partial cross-section of the adjustable chock of FIG. 1A in operational use, and

(4) FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of a kit according to an example of the invention, in operational use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from this disclosure that when a range is provided such as (for example) an angle/distance/number/weight/volume/spacing being between one (1 of the appropriate unit) and ten (10 of the appropriate units) that specific support is provided by the specification to identify any number within the range as being disclosed for use with a preferred embodiment. For example, the recitation of a percentage of copper between one percent (1%) and twenty percent (20%) provides specific support for a preferred embodiment having two point three percent (2.3%) copper even if not separately listed herein and thus provides support for claiming a preferred embodiment having two point three percent (2.3%) copper. By way of an additional example, a recitation in the claims and/or in portions of an element moving along an arcuate path by 3 at least twenty (20) degrees, provides specific literal support for any angle greater than twenty(20) degrees, such as twenty-three(23) degrees, thirty(30) degrees, thirty-three-point five(33.5) degrees, forty-five(45) degrees, fifty-two(52) degrees, or the like and thus provides support for claiming a preferred embodiment with the element moving along the arcuate path thirty three-point five(33.5) degrees. As shown on FIG. 2, the kit comprises an adjustable chock 100 mounted to connect a frame 1 of a machine to a foundation or support 2. Anchoring the frame 1 of the machine to the support 2 is here done with an anchor bolt 3.

(6) The adjustable chock 100 comprises a first component 110 or shaft element, a second component 120 or lower adjustable part and a third component or bearing element 130. The first, second and third components 110, 120, 130 are coaxial along a vertical axis Z-Z. The chock 100 is symmetrical relative to the longitudinal axis Z-Z. The first, second and third components 110, 120, 130 are made, for example, of steel, preferably high-grade steel.

(7) As will be described latter, the kit further comprises first and second friction shims 140, 150 respectively axially mounted between the second component 120 of the chock and the support 2, and between the bearing element 130 of the chock and the frame 1 of the machine. The first and second friction shims 140, 150 and the chock 100 of the kit may be delivered as three separate parts.

(8) The first component 110 of the adjustable chock comprises a lower portion 111 and an upper flange 112. The first component 110 is provided with an outer screw thread 111b. The outer screw thread 111b is formed on the outer surface of the lower portion 111. The upper flange 112 protrudes radially outwards with respect to the lower portion 111. The upper flange 112 has an upper bearing surface 113 at least partly of upwardly concave shape. The upper surface 113 is rotationally symmetrical. The upper surface 113 forms the upper surface of the first component 110.

(9) The first component 110 has a first through-hole 115 extending axially from the upper surface 113 to a lower surface 114 of the first component 110. The first through-hole 115 has an inner diameter configured for accommodating a shank 3a of the bolt 3. The bolt 3 comprises the shank 3a and a threaded part 3b, for fitted bolts, the shank 3a having a diameter bigger than the diameter of the threaded part 3b.

(10) The second component 120 of the adjustable chock is provided with a lower bearing surface 121 and an upper surface 122. The lower and upper surfaces 121, 122 axially delimit the second component 120. The lower surface 121 is axially opposite to the upper surface 122. The upper surface 122 is located axially on the side of the upper flange 112 of the first component. The second component 120 is also provided with an inner bore and with an outer surface (not referenced) which are axially delimited by the lower and upper surfaces 121, 122. The bore is provided with inner screw threads 123 configured to engage with the outer screw threads 111b of the first component 110. The screw threads 111b, 123 cooperate together and provide a vertical adjustment.

(11) The first component 110 is movable with respect to the second component 120 between a partially screwed position, shown on FIG. 2, in which the threads 111b of the first component 110 partially cooperate with the threads 123 of the second component 120 and a totally screwed position, not shown, in which the lower surface of the upper flange 112 of the first component axially abuts against the upper surface 122 of the second component.

(12) As previously mentioned, the first friction shim 140 of the kit is axially mounted between the second component 120 of the adjustable chock and the support 2. The friction shim 140 is axially mounted between the lower surface 121 of the second component and the support 2. The friction shim 140 has an annular form. The friction shim 140 covers the entire lower surface 121 of the second component. The radial dimension of the friction shim 140 is substantially equal to the radial dimension of the lower surface 121.

(13) The friction shim 140 is provided with opposite lower and upper frontal faces which axially delimit the axial thickness of the friction shim. The lower frontal face of the friction shim 140 is in axial contact with the support 2. The upper frontal face of the friction shim 140 is in axial contact with the second component 120.

(14) Preferably, the friction coefficient of the friction shim 140 is at least equal to zero point six five (0.65). For example, the friction shim 140 may comprise a steel substrate and two opposite coating each having a layer, for example a nickel layer, and diamond particles embedded in the layer. For example, the thickness of the steel substrate may be equal to zero point one (0.1) mm. The mean diamond particles size may be comprised between 10 m and 55 m. The diamond concentration on the surface layer may be comprised between 8% and 60%. The thickness of each layer may be comprised between 5 m and 30 m. Each of the lower and upper frontal faces of the friction shim 140 is formed by the layer and the protruding diamond particles of the coating.

(15) The bearing element 130 of the adjustable chock sits on the first component 110. The bearing element 130 sits on the upper flange 112 of the first component 110. The bearing element 130 is provided with a lower bearing surface 131 and an upper bearing surface 132. The lower surface 131 is axially opposite to the upper surface 132. The lower surface 131 is in contact with the upper surface 113 of the first component. The lower surface 131 has a convex shape and is rotationally symmetrical.

(16) The lower surface 131 and the upper surface 113 are complementarily shaped so as to facilitate slight adjustment of the positions between the first component 110 and the bearing element 130 relative to one another, for example, in order to accommodate slight deviations from the frame 1 of the machine and the support 2.

(17) The radius of curvature of the lower surface 131 of the bearing element 130 corresponds to the radius of curvature of the upper surface 113 of the first component 110. In the illustrated example, the upper bearing surface 132 of the bearing element 130 extends radially.

(18) As previously mentioned, the second friction shim 150 of the kit is axially mounted between the bearing element 130 of the adjustable chock and the frame 1 of the machine. The friction shim 150 is axially mounted between the upper bearing surface 132 of the bearing element and the frame 1. The friction shim 150 sits between the frame 1 and the bearing element 130. The friction shim 150 has an annular form. The friction shim 150 covers the entire upper bearing surface 132 of the bearing element. The radial dimension of the friction shim 150 is substantially equal to the radial dimension of the upper bearing surface 132.

(19) The friction shim 150 is provided with opposite lower and upper frontal faces which axially delimit the axial thickness of the friction shim. The lower frontal face of the friction shim 150 is in axial contact with the bearing element 130. The upper frontal face of the friction shim 150 is in axial contact with the frame 1 of the machine.

(20) Preferably, the friction coefficient of the friction shim 150 is at least equal to zero point six five (0.65). Similarly to the friction shim 140, the friction shim 150 may for example comprise a steel substrate and two opposite coating each having a layer, for example a nickel layer, and diamond particles embedded in the layer. For example, the thickness of the steel substrate may be equal to zero point one (0.1) mm. The mean diamond particles size may be comprised between 10 m and 55 m. The diamond concentration on the surface layer may be comprised between 8% and 60%. The thickness of each layer may be comprised between 5 m and 30 m. Each of the lower and upper frontal faces of friction shim 150 is formed by the layer and the protruding diamond particles of the coating.

(21) The bearing element 130 of the adjustable chock and the friction shim 150 are able to move with respect to the first component 110 allowing the inclination of the upper frontal face of the friction shim 150 to be adjusted with respect to the bottom surface of the frame 1 of the machine, so that flat contact of the lower frontal face of the friction shim 140 on the support 2 can be achieved, as well as flat contact of the upper frontal face of the friction shim 150 with the bottom surface of the frame 1 of the machine to be supported.

(22) As illustrated, the kit is sandwiched between the frame 1 of the machine and the support 2 and securely held in place by the bolt 3 and a nut 4 screwed on a part of the shank 3a extending beyond the machine 1.

(23) The height H of the kit is adjusted between a minimal total height and a maximal total height by means of screwing the first component 110 further into or further out of the second component 120. Indeed, by rotating the first component 110 with respect to the second component 120, the vertical distance bridged by the kit can be set as desired.

(24) During the installation of the kit between the frame 1 of the machine and the support 2, the friction ring 140 is axially interposed between the second component 120 of the adjustable chock and the support 2, and the friction ring 140 is axially interposed between the bearing element 130 of the adjustable chock and the frame 1. There is no direct contact between the adjustable chock 100 and between the frame 1 and the support 2.

(25) In the illustrated example, the first component 110 of the adjustable chock is provided with an outer screw thread 111b and the second component 120 is provided with an inner screw thread 123. Alternatively, the second component 120 may be provided with an outer screw thread cooperating with an inner screw thread of the first component 110.