Adjustable Support Apparatus for Machinery

Abstract

A support has first and second members positioning between a machine and a foundation to support an axial load therebetween. Each member has one face bearing an axial force and has a spherical face on the other end. The two spherical face mate with one another to oppose the axial forces between the machine and the foundation. A shim holder positions between the support and the foundation and affixes to the foundation to hold one or more shims. One of the members can have two components with intermediate faces mating one another. The faces have spiraling surfaces so that the two components can be rotated relative to one another to change the axial dimension of the member.

1 . A support apparatus, comprising:
 a first member positioning between first and second planes for a machine and a foundation, the first member having first and second faces, the first face bearing a first force from the first plane, the first member transferring the first axial force to the second face, the second face having a spherical surface;   a second member positioning between the first and second planes and having third and fourth faces, the fourth face bearing a second force from the second plane, the second member transferring the second axial force to the third face, the third face having a spherical surface and engaging the second face of the first member to oppose the first and second forces against one another; and   one or more shims positioning between the support apparatus and the first or second planes.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second members define bores therethrough for passage of an anchor bolt between the first and second planes. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second members each have a slot defined in a side of the member and communicating with the bore. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second members each comprise a closure piece disposing in the slot and enclosing the bore. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising means for holding the closure piece in the slots. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more shims comprise a shim holder positioning between the second member and the second plane, the shim holder affixing to the second plane and holding the one or more shims between the shim holder and the second plane. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the shim holder has first and second edges, the first edge affixing to the second plane, the second edge defining an open slot for passage of an anchor bolt between the first and second planes. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a jack screw bolting to the first plane and having a distal end for engaging the second plane to adjust orientation of the first plane relative to the second plane. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the spherical surface of the second face is concave and defined by a radius, and wherein the spherical surface of the third face is convex and defined by the radius. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second and third faces of the first and second members maintain contact for transferring the first and second forces between the first and second planes whether the first and second planes are parallel or non-parallel. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first member comprises first and second components positioning together, the first component having the first face, the second component having the second face, each of the first and second components having intermediate faces with spiraling surfaces matting one another, the first and second components being rotatable relative to one another to adjust an axial dimension of the first member. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the spiraling surfaces of the first and second components comprise a plurality of steps. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising means for maintaining the first and second components at a point of rotational alignment. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising means for limiting the first and second components from rotating beyond a point of rotational alignment. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of serrations defined on the spiraling surfaces of the first and second components to maintain rotational alignment between them. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a lock positioning through one of the first and second components and having a distal end positioning through a portion of the other component to maintain rotational alignment between the first and second components. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the second member comprises third and fourth components positioning together, the third component having the third face, the fourth component having the fourth face, each of the third and fourth components having intermediate faces with spiraling surfaces matting one another, the third and fourth components being rotatable relative to one another to adjust an axial dimension of the second member. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second faces each has a planar surface. 
   
   
       19 . A support for supporting a machine on a foundation, the support comprising:
 an upper member positioning between the machine and the foundation and having a first upper face and a first lower face, the upper member defining a first bore for passage of an anchor bolt between the machine and the foundation, the first upper face bearing a downward force from the machine, the upper member transferring the downward force to the first lower face, the first lower face having a spherical surface;   a lower member positioning between the machine and the foundation and having a second upper face and a second lower face, the lower member defining a second bore for passage of the anchor bolt, the second lower face bearing an upward force from the foundation, the lower member transferring the upward force to the second upper face, the second upper face having a spherical surface and engaging the first lower face of the upper member to oppose the upward and downward forces against one another;   a shim holder positioning between the lower member and the foundation and affixing to the foundation; and   one or more shims positioning between the shim holder and the foundation.   
   
   
       20 . The support of  claim 19 , wherein the upper member comprises first and second components positioning together, the first component having the first upper face, the second component having the first lower face, each of the first and second components having intermediate faces with spiraling surfaces matting one another, the first and second components being rotatable relative to one another to adjust an axial dimension of the upper member. 
   
   
       21 . The support of  claim 20 , wherein the lower member comprises first and second components positioning together, the first component having the second upper face, the second component having the second lower face, each of the first and second components having intermediate faces with spiraling surfaces matting one another, the first and second components being rotatable relative to one another to adjust an axial dimension of the lower member. 
   
   
       22 . A method of supporting a machine on a foundation, comprising:
 positioning a support around an anchor bolt bolting the machine to the foundation, the support having first and second members, the first and second members having spherical surfaces matting with one another and transferring load between the machine and the foundation;   adjusting upper and lower planar surfaces of the support to first and second planes defined by the machine and the foundation by moving the spherical surfaces of the first and second members relative to one another;   positioning a shim holder between the lower planer surface of the support and the foundation; and   positioning one or more shims between the shim holder and the foundation.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein positioning the support around the anchor bolt comprises fitting the anchor bolt through side slots in the first and second members. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising positioning closure pieces in the side slots of the first and second members. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising holding the closure pieces in the side slots with at least one holder positioned about the first and second members. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein positioning the shim holder comprises fitting an open slit in the shim holder around the anchor bolt. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein positioning the shim holder comprises affixing an end of the shim holder to the foundation. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising adjusting an axial dimension of the support by rotating first and second components of the first or second member relative to one another, each of the first and second components having intermediate faces with spiraling surfaces matting one another, the first and second components being rotatable relative to one another to adjust the axial dimension. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising locking the first and second components at a point of rotational alignment. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising limiting the first and second components from rotating beyond a point of rotational alignment.