V
APPARATUS FOR LEVELING AND
LINING SHAFTING
The first apparatus explained in this chapter was designed by the late Chas. A. Bauer, and is a highly perfected instrument.
For those who have lined and leveled shafting with an engineer's transit and level it is unnecessary to say anything of the advantages of that method over the cruder methods usually employed. It is not only done much more rapidly and economically, but the greater accuracy with which the work is done goes on paying dividends in decreased friction and loss of power and in lessening of wear.
Fig. 50.
The apparatus we now illustrate (Fig. 50) has at the top a hook, which is passed over the shaft, as indicated; on the straight portion of this hook are two sliding jaws which are so set that the shaft will just pass between them. Set into the face of this hook is a commercial 6-inch steel rule which facilitates the setting of the jaws, and they are of course so set that the tubular portion of the hook or leveling rod is centered vertically under the shaft. Within the outer tube, which is about 1 inch outside diameter and nicely japanned, is another tube, and inside this a third tube, these being arranged à la telescope slide, and clamps being provided so that the length or distance from the shafting to the target may be anything desired from 4 to about 10 feet. At the lower end of the third or inner tube is a swiveling head to which the target is attached, and nurled nuts at this point give means of adjusting the sighting point of the target to the exact hight of the transit or level sighting line.
The target is a brass plate 5½ inches diameter, on the face of which is a recess milled for the reception of a second commercial steel rule, which in this case is vertical and can be moved vertically and clamped in any desired position with reference to a line drawn upon the target. At the center of this scale is a very small hole through which the light of a hand flash lamp may shine to form the sighting point. The slot through the target at the right of the scale is provided with a single thickness of white cloth, which permits enough light to pass through it to help in finding the target in the field of the telescope.
The object of providing a vertical adjustment for the rule on the target is so that when passing from one diameter of shafting to another in the same line, as sometimes happens, the scale can be moved up or down just half the difference of diameter and the sighting point thus be kept at a constant hight.
Fig. 51.
The target is readily detached from the rod, and may then be placed upon the small standard (Fig. 51) which has at its base a V adapted to go over the shaft. The standard is tubular and the wire (about 1/8 inch diameter) may be adjusted and clamped at the desired hight. The target fits over the wire as shown (rear view of target) for leveling lines of shafting that may be near the floor, or, with the target removed, the V and wire form a sort of length gage or caliper with which the shaft may be made parallel to a line or wire stretched at the side of it. Two different lengths of wire are provided for this purpose.
The plumb-bob shown is part of the equipment and is a very superior article. A new feature it possesses is in having its larger portion hexagonal instead of round, so when laid down upon a plank or scaffolding it will lie there instead of promptly rolling off and falling to the floor. The entire apparatus is, we think, very well designed for its purpose.
Tool for Leveling Shafting
The instrument shown in Fig. 52 is a good one for use in leveling up shafting. It can be made to fit several sizes of shaft, or all the sizes ordinarily found in a factory.
When the instrument is placed on any piece of shaft and leveled up with the attached level, the plumb line will hang exactly the same distance from the shaft center every time. In this case the distance of line from center is 6 inches.
A handy apparatus for use in leveling up long lines of shaft can be made as follows.
Fig. 52.
Fig. 53.......Fig. 54
Take two pieces of finished material, fasten together as in Fig. 53 and cut out as shown at A and B in Fig. 54. The opening A is made so that the piece can be hung over the shaft, and the opening B is made for the reception of a wooden straight-edge.
Make the straight-edge out of 1¼-inch stuff. Be sure that the edges are parallel, the width just enough less than the width of opening B, Fig. 55, to enter it, and the length 6 or 8 feet, to suit convenience. Use the apparatus with a level, as in Fig. 55, taking care that the suspension pieces are always on the same size shaft.
Fig. 55.