Methods and apparatus for determining the location of a shaft within a vessel
US6546821B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 31, 2002 |
| Grant date | Apr 15, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 31, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2013/006
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for determining the position of an elongate member such as a shaft in relation to a vessel in which the elongate member operates. The apparatus includes a mounting component adapted for placement over the open end of the vessel, one or more movable plungers, and one or more transducers that interact with the respective plungers. The plungers and transducers are supported by the mounting component and disposed below the mounting component. Thus, upon placement of the mounting component over the vessel, the plungers and transducers reside within the vessel while permitting the elongate member to be disposed at its normal operating position within the vessel. If the position of the elongate member is offset from a predetermined desired position within the vessel, the plunger is displaced by a certain magnitude that is detected by the transducer. In this manner, the apparatus can be used to measure the centerline offset and/or the height of the elongate member in relation to the vessel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.