Support interface for modularized rotating equipment for land use

Abstract

A modular industrial system module, A support structure including an elongated support member having a vertical upper surface; A rotating device supported on the aforementioned support structure, comprising a rotatable component configured to rotate about a rotation axis; A base plate having a vertical upper surface and a vertical lower surface opposite to the upper surface, wherein the rotating equipment is supported on the upper surface of the base plate; and A support interface connected between the lower surface of the base plate and the upper surface of the support member, A self-leveling chock defining a first longitudinal axis and a second longitudinal axis rotatable relative to the first longitudinal axis in order to maintain the first longitudinal axis in a vertical position, Support interface, A module equipped with [the following features].

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Cross - Reference to Related Applications) None applicable.

[0002] (Statement Regarding Research and Development Sponsored by the Federal Government) None applicable.

Background Art

[0003] Modular industrial systems, i.e., "plants", are used in a variety of industrial applications, including the transportation and processing of various types of fluids using fixed and rotating equipment. Conventionally, industrial systems have been constructed in a "stick - built" manner, in which the industrial system is typically constructed on - site according to the specifications of a given industrial application. For example, a process system or plant may be constructed on - site in a stick - built manner, in which case all of the components and associated equipment that make up the process system are constructed and assembled at the location where the process system is to be installed. This may include constructing a custom - made foundation and the steel support structure above it at the installation site, and these constructed foundation and support structures remain permanently at the installation site for the life of the process system (there may be cases where this location is difficult to access or there are other problems with usability), after which the foundation and support structures can be decommissioned and disassembled. After the construction of the foundation and support structures, rotating equipment such as fixed equipment and dynamic compressor strings (and other remaining equipment) are installed at the installation site, thus completing the construction of the process system in a stick - built manner. In this process, many of the equipment of the process system need to be assembled on - site rather than in a controlled environment such as a factory or module yard, which is costly, time - consuming, labor - intensive, and potentially dangerous. Furthermore, many of the equipment that makes up a stick - built process system is designed and manufactured specifically for a particular process system and thus cannot be reused in another system, and the cost of constructing the equipment cannot be reduced. [[ID=二十一]] [Overview of the Initiative]

[0004] One embodiment of a modular industrial system module is: A support structure including an elongated support member having a vertical upper surface, A rotating device supported on the aforementioned support structure, comprising a rotatable component configured to rotate about a rotation axis, A base plate having a vertical upper surface and a vertical lower surface opposite to the upper surface, wherein the rotating equipment is supported on the upper surface of the base plate, and A support interface connected between the lower surface of the base plate and the upper surface of the support member, comprising a self-leveling chock defining a first longitudinal axis and a second longitudinal axis rotatable relative to the first longitudinal axis to maintain the first longitudinal axis in a vertical direction, In some embodiments, the rotating device comprises one or more support legs coupled to and in contact with the upper surface of the base plate. In some embodiments, the support interface further comprises a mounting pad positioned between the self-leveling chock and the lower surface of the base plate. In some embodiments, the mounting pad has a vertical upper surface machined to a flatness of 0.001 inches. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the upper surface of the support member is machined to a flatness of 0.001 inches. In some embodiments, the self-leveling chock comprises a first washer having a first frustoconical surface and a second washer having a second frustoconical surface that slides in contact with the first frustoconical surface. In some embodiments, the module comprises a fastener extending through the self-leveling chock and the base plate to secure the support interface to the lower surface of the base plate.

[0005] One embodiment of a modular industrial system module is: A support structure including an elongated support member having a vertical upper surface, A rotating device supported on the aforementioned support structure, comprising a rotatable component configured to rotate about a rotation axis, A base plate having a vertical upper surface and a vertical lower surface opposite to the upper surface, wherein the rotating device is supported on the upper surface of the base plate, and A support interface comprising a self-leveling chock, which is coupled between the lower surface of the base plate and the upper surface of the support member, and includes a first washer having a first frustoconical surface and a second washer having a second frustoconical surface that slides in contact with the first frustoconical surface, In some embodiments, the rotating device comprises one or more support legs coupled in contact with the upper surface of the base plate. In some embodiments, the support interface further comprises a mounting pad positioned between the self-leveling chock and the lower surface of the base plate. In some embodiments, the mounting pad has a vertical upper surface machined to a flatness of 0.001 inches. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the upper surface of the support member is machined to a flatness of 0.001 inches. In some embodiments, the first washer has a first plane opposite to the first frustoconical surface, and the second washer has a second plane opposite to the second frustoconical surface.

[0006] One embodiment of a modular industrial system module is: A support structure including an elongated support member having a vertical upper surface, A rotating device supported on the aforementioned support structure, comprising a rotatable component configured to rotate about a rotation axis, A base plate having a vertical upper surface and a vertical lower surface opposite to the upper surface, wherein the rotating device is supported on the upper surface of the base plate, and A support interface coupled between the lower surface of the base plate and the upper surface of the support member, comprising a mounting pad that contacts the lower surface of the base plate and a self-leveling chock that contacts the upper surface of the support member, wherein the self-leveling chock is configured to maintain planar contact between the mounting pad and the lower surface of the base plate, and planar contact between the self-leveling chock and the upper surface of the support member. In some embodiments, the rotating device comprises one or more support legs coupled to and in contact with the upper surface of the base plate. In some embodiments, the mounting pad has a vertical upper surface machined to a flatness of 0.001 inches. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the upper surface of the support member is machined to a flatness of 0.001 inches. In some embodiments, the self-leveling chock defines a first longitudinal axis and a second longitudinal axis rotatable relative to the first longitudinal axis to maintain the first longitudinal axis vertically. In some embodiments, the self-leveling chock comprises a first washer having a first frustoconical surface and a second washer having a second frustoconical surface that slides in contact with the first frustoconical surface. In some embodiments, the first washer has a first plane opposite to the first frustoconical surface, and the second washer has a second plane opposite to the second frustoconical surface.

[0007] For a detailed description of the various embodiments, please refer to the following drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a modular industrial system according to the principles described herein. [Figure 2] This is a side view of one embodiment of a module of the modular industrial system shown in Figure 1, in accordance with the principles described herein. [Figure 3] This is an enlarged side view of one embodiment of the support legs of the module shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4]This is a side view of one embodiment of the support interface of the module shown in Figure 2, according to the principles described herein. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The following description relates to various embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the examples disclosed herein have broad applications, and that any description of an embodiment is merely illustrative and does not imply that the scope of this disclosure, including the claims, is limited to that embodiment. Drawings are not necessarily to scale. Certain features and components in this specification may be shown in an exaggerated or somewhat schematic form.

[0010] In the following description and claims, the terms “includes” and “equipment” are used in an open-ended manner and should be interpreted as “includes, but not limited to.” The terms “couple” or “couples” mean either an indirect or direct connection. Therefore, when a first device couples with a second device, the connection may be by a direct connection between the two devices or by an indirect connection established through other devices, components, nodes, and connections. Furthermore, as used herein, the terms “axial” and “in the axial direction” generally mean along or parallel to a given axis (e.g., the central axis of a body or part), while the terms “radial” and “radially” generally mean perpendicular to a given axis. For example, axial distance refers to a distance measured along or parallel to an axis, and radial distance refers to a distance measured perpendicular to an axis. In this specification, terms such as “approximately,” “about,” and “substantially” mean within 10% (i.e., plus or minus 10%) of the stated value. Therefore, for example, an angle of "approximately 80 degrees" refers to an angle in the range of 72 to 88 degrees. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified in the context, all ranges described herein should be interpreted as including both endpoints, and open-ended ranges should be interpreted as including only commercially practical values. Similarly, all lists of values ​​should be considered to include intermediate values ​​unless otherwise specified in the context.

[0011] As mentioned above, traditionally, industrial systems are constructed on-site using an on-site assembly method. Because the on-site environment is not controlled and potentially dangerous, this poses a risk to workers engaged in the assembly of these industrial systems. Furthermore, much of the equipment used in constructing industrial systems using the on-site assembly method is designed and built specifically for that particular industrial system. Therefore, it cannot be easily reused for future applications, making it difficult to reduce the costs associated with equipment construction, resulting in high overall expenses.

[0012] To address some of the problems associated with locally assembled industrial systems, some operators of industrial systems are beginning to adopt so-called "modular" industrial systems, which are composed of general-purpose components or modules rather than custom-made ones. These modules are first assembled in a controlled environment and then transported to the planned site for the industrial system. Upon arrival at the site, the modules are installed on a foundation and connected to each other, allowing the desired industrial system to be formed at the site while minimizing assembly and construction work. Furthermore, the modules that make up the industrial system can be separated and rearranged after the industrial use in which the system was involved has ended, in order to reduce the costs associated with the initial construction. As a result, the rearranged modules can be reused in a future industrial system at a different site than the original. In addition, since these modules are not specifically designed for a particular industrial use, a large number of modules can be manufactured so that they can be used for a variety of different industrial applications.

[0013] While modular industrial systems can address some of the challenges associated with on-site assembly industrial systems, as mentioned above, they also present new challenges not present in conventional on-site assembly systems. In particular, modules are typically placed on the terrain defining the site for the industrial system, but are often not connected to the underlying continuous foundation (e.g., the underlying continuous foundation blocks). Although the time and cost of constructing a modular industrial system can be minimized overall because there is no need to construct a foundation at the site, the absence of a continuous, rigid concrete foundation creates new and additional challenges in providing sufficient structural support to the equipment within the modular industrial system modules.

[0014] In particular, at least some of the equipment constituting a modular industrial system, such as rotating machinery, is highly susceptible to the deflection of the support structure that physically supports it. For example, a dynamic compressor and its drive unit (hereinafter referred to as the dynamic compressor string) may be particularly susceptible to the deflection of the support structure and vibrations transmitted through the support structures that constitute the modules of the modular industrial system. Furthermore, the structural steel that constitutes the structural supports of a modular industrial system is typically less rigid than the typical concrete foundations used in field-assembled industrial systems, and has lower damping performance than the materials that constitute the continuous foundations (e.g., concrete) of conventional field-assembled industrial systems. Therefore, the structural response of the support structure of a modular industrial system to vibrations (e.g., vibrations due to the operation of rotating machinery) differs from the structural response of the support structure of a field-assembled industrial system supported by a continuous foundation below.

[0015] Traditionally, when industrial equipment such as rotating machinery is mounted to the structural support of a specific module in a modular industrial system, stainless steel shims are used to connect the industrial equipment to the support structure, ensuring the equipment is level, by placing them in the support interface formed between the base plate of the industrial equipment and the support structure. However, the process of inserting shims into the support interface is usually time-consuming and labor-intensive. Furthermore, shims cannot be easily adjusted after initial installation.

[0016] Furthermore, because the structural steel forming the structural support is not as rigid as a continuous concrete foundation, the structural support is subject to natural sagging, and in at least some applications, the structural support may deflect vertically by more than 0.001 inches per foot (in / ft). This natural sagging of the structural support alters the contact between the base plate of the industrial equipment and the structural support, and as a result, vibrations may be transmitted from the base plate of the industrial equipment to the structural support. In this way, vibrations other than those intentionally monitored by monitoring equipment (e.g., radial vibrations caused by rotating components of the industrial equipment) may be falsely detected by monitoring equipment, resulting in the industrial equipment being unintentionally tripped by the monitoring equipment, leading to unnecessary shutdowns of the industrial equipment and production losses in modular industrial systems. In other words, the transmission of undesirable vibrations through the support interface may cause monitoring equipment associated with the industrial equipment to detect false vibration signals, leading to the industrial equipment being unintentionally tripped and unnecessary shutdowns of the industrial equipment.

[0017] Therefore, embodiments of a support interface for a modular rotating device including a modular dynamic compressor string are described herein, which are for minimizing the transmission of vibrations through the support interface that can occur due to incomplete contact between the support interface and its associated support structure. In particular, embodiments of the support interface described herein include a self-leveling chuck that defines a first longitudinal axis and a second longitudinal axis that is rotatable relative to the first longitudinal axis to maintain the first longitudinal axis in a vertical direction. The support interface may further include a mounting pad (e.g., a machined mounting pad), where the self-leveling chuck is configured to maintain planar contact between the mounting pad and the lower surface of a base plate that supports the rotating device, and planar contact between the self-leveling chuck and the upper surface of a support member of the support structure. As used herein, "planar contact" is defined as a state in which two opposing surfaces arranged parallel to each other contact each other without having any angle, even if it is slight. Further, the self-leveling chuck may include a first washer having a first conical surface and a second washer having a second conical surface that slidably contacts the first conical surface to maintain the planar contact.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a modular industrial system 1 is shown. The modular industrial system 10 can be used, for example, to implement various industrial applications including the transportation and processing of various fluids. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the modular industrial system 10 generally includes a plurality of modules 20, 30, and 40 that are assembled at an installation site 11 of the modular industrial system 10. Note that the modular industrial system 10 does not have a continuous foundation for structurally supporting the modules 20, 30, and 40 below the modules, and these modules 20, 30, and 40 are directly supported by the ground 12 of the installation site 11.

[0019] In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, each module 20, 30, and 40 comprises a portable support structure 15 and a set of distinct modular industrial equipment 25, 35, and 45 supported by the support structure 15 of modules 20, 30, and 40 in a support interface described later. For example, industrial equipment 25 may comprise one or more rotating machines and is therefore also referred to herein as rotating equipment 25. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, rotating equipment 25 generally comprises a dynamic pressure compressor string, but in other embodiments, it is understood that rotating equipment 25 may comprise any type of equipment having components that rotate around a rotation axis, such as centrifugal pumps, compressors (e.g., centrifugal fans, centrifugal blowers, compressor strings or trains having one or more casings, with or without gears), and other rotating equipment such as electric motors, steam turbines, or gas turbine drivers. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, rotating equipment 25 comprises a monitoring device 27 configured to monitor one or more specific parameters of rotating equipment 25, including one or more specific vibrations generated during its operation. For example, the monitoring device 27 may include one or more radial vibration probes mounted at specific locations on the rotating machine 25 to monitor specific vibrations that indicate the current state or health of the rotating machine 25. The monitoring device 27 may be configured to automatically trip or stop the rotating machine 25 if any of these specific monitoring vibrations exceed a predetermined threshold.

[0020] In addition to the rotating equipment 25 of module 20, the modular industrial system 10 further includes industrial equipment 35 of module 30 of system 10 and industrial equipment 45 of module 40. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the industrial equipment 35 includes one or more heat exchangers, and the industrial equipment 45 includes one or more tanks or pressure vessels. Modules 20, 30, and 40 can be easily constructed and assembled at a location remote from the intended installation site 11 of the modular industrial system 10, such as in one or more controlled environments (e.g., one or more factories or module yards). The constructed modules 20, 30, and 40 are then transported to the intended installation site 11 by truck, rail, ship, etc., where the modules 20, 30, 40 are combined to form the modular industrial system 10, or each module is individually installed on its respective foundation support. As shown in FIG. 1, to minimize the cost associated with the construction of the modular industrial system 10, modules 20, 30, and 40 are directly supported by the ground 12 rather than by a foundation pre-constructed at the intended installation site 11. After transportation to the intended installation site 11, the industrial equipment 25, 35, and 45 of modules 20, 30, and 40 are fluid-connected via a plurality of fluid conduits connected between the respective modules 20, 30, and 40 of the modular industrial system 10.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 2-4, one embodiment of a module 100 of a modular industrial system is partially shown. Module 100 generally includes a support structure 110 and industrial equipment in the form of modularized rotating equipment 120. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the support structure 110 includes an elongated support member or beam 112 that has a central axis or longitudinal axis 115 and defines a first or upper support surface 114 on which the rotating equipment 120 is supported. However, it will be understood that in other embodiments, the shape and geometry of the support beam 112 may differ from that shown in FIGS. 2-4. Further, it will be understood that the support structure 110 may include other components and features in addition to the support beam 112 shown in FIGS. 2-4.

[0022] The rotating equipment 120 of module 100 includes a motor or prime mover 122 (e.g., an electric motor, a gas turbine, or a steam turbine), a gearbox 124, and a centrifugal or axial-flow compressor 126 that is driven. The rotating equipment 120 further includes an elongated base plate 130 that physically supports the prime mover 122, the gearbox 124, and the compressor 126 of the rotating equipment 120. The compressor 126 includes one or more rotating components 127 (e.g., compressor impellers) that are rotatable around the rotation axis 129 of the compressor 126. Furthermore, the rotating equipment 120 includes a monitoring device 128 for monitoring one or more parameters of the rotating equipment 120. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the rotating equipment 120 includes a compressor 126 with a gearbox 124, but it will be understood that the configuration of the rotating equipment 120 may differ from those shown in Figures 2-4. For example, in other embodiments, the rotating equipment 120 may include a compressor that does not include a gearbox 124, and instead, the driven compressor may be directly connected to a variable-speed drive device such as a steam turbine or a gas turbine.

[0023] The base plate 130 extends longitudinally along a central or longitudinal axis parallel to the rotation axis 129 of the compressor 126. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the base plate 130 of the rotating equipment 120 has a first (i.e., vertically upper) support surface 132 on which the prime mover 122, gearbox 124, and compressor 126 are supported, and a second (i.e., vertically lower) support surface 134 opposite the upper support surface 132. Furthermore, the base plate 130 includes a traverse member 136 extending vertically between the support surfaces 132 and 134 of the base plate 130, thereby providing the base plate 130 with an I-beam having an I-shaped cross-section. However, it should be understood that in other embodiments, the shape and geometry of the support beam 112 may differ from those shown in Figures 2 to 4. Furthermore, it should be understood that the support structure 111 may include other components and features in addition to the support beams 112 shown in Figures 2-4.

[0024] Multiple support interfaces 150 are positioned between the lower support surface 134 of the base plate 130 of the rotating equipment 120 and the upper support surface 114 of the support beam 112 of the support structure 110. In particular, the support interfaces 150 are spaced apart along the lower support surface 134 of the base plate 130, and each support interface 150 is directly coupled to both the lower support surface 134 of the base plate 130 and the upper support surface 114 of the support beam 112. In other embodiments, the number of support interfaces 150 may differ from the number shown in Figure 2, and it will be understood that in at least some embodiments, there may be only one support interface 150. The support interfaces 150 connect the rotating equipment 120 to the support beam 112 of the support structure 110, thereby transferring structural loads and other loads from the rotating equipment 120 to the support structure 110, and finally from the support structure 110 to the ground on which the module 100 is installed. As will be described later, the support interface 150 is configured to minimize or dampen vibrations transmitted between the rotating equipment 120 and the support beam 112 of the support structure 110.

[0025] In particular, as shown in Figure 3, the upper support surface 132 of the base plate 130 is coupled to at least one of the support legs 140 (hereinafter referred to as support legs 140) that are directly attached to the prime mover 122, the gearbox 124, and the compressor 126. In particular, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the vertically lower support surface 142 of the support leg 140 is positioned in contact with the mounting base 133 of the base plate 130, and the base 133 defines at least a portion of the upper support surface 132 of the base plate 130. The fastener 144 extends through both the lower support surface 142 of the support leg 140 and the upper support surface 132 of the base plate 130, and the end of the fastener 144 is housed in a receiving portion 134 formed in the base 133. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the fastener 144 connects the support leg 140 to the base plate 130 by screwing it into the base 133 (for example, via threads formed on the inner surface of the receiving portion 134). It will be understood that the fastener 144 does not significantly dampen vibrations transmitted from the base plate 130 to equipment placed on it (e.g., the prime mover 122, gearbox 124, and compressor 126), or vibrations transmitted from such equipment to the base plate 130. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the fastener 144 is intended solely to facilitate the coupling of the equipment to the base plate 130.

[0026] As mentioned above, the support structure 110 of module 100 is not supported by a continuous foundation (e.g., a concrete foundation) located below module 100. In this configuration, the central axis 115 of the support beam 112 is allowed to deflect or sag vertically, as indicated by the arrow 117 in Figure 2. This vertical deflection 117 causes the central axis 115 to curve, and consequently the upper support surface 114 also curves in correspondence with the central axis 115. In this way, the upper support surface 114 forms a concave curve rather than a two-dimensional (2D) plane. The curvature of the upper support surface 114 of the support beam 112 changes the contact state formed between the support interface 150 and the upper support surface 114 of the support beam 112. Therefore, unless stray vibrations (vibrations not specifically monitored by the monitoring device 128) are effectively attenuated and suppressed by the support interface 150 itself, these stray vibrations may be undesirably transmitted through the support interface 150.

[0027] One embodiment of the support interface 150 is shown in particular in Figure 4. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the support interface 150 generally includes a machined mounting pad 152, a designed self-leveling chock 160, and a fastener 170. The mounting pad 152 has a first (i.e., vertically upward) engaging surface 153 that contacts the lower surface 134 of the base plate 130 of the modularized rotating equipment 120 (shown in Figures 1 and 2). The engaging surface 153 of the mounting pad is machined to form a plane for contact with the lower surface 134 of the base plate 130. For example, in exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the engaging surface 153 is machined to a flatness of 0.001 inches and a surface finish of 250 microinches to ensure substantially full contact between the mounting pad 152 and the base plate 130 along a flat, horizontally extending plane. In some embodiments, at least 90% of the engaging surface 153 contacts the base plate 130 along a flat, horizontally extending plane. It will be understood that the nearly complete contact between the support interface and the base plate 130 and support beam 112 facilitates the minimization of vibration transmission between the base plate 130 and support beam 112 via the support interface 150.

[0028] Furthermore, in exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the upper surface 114 of the support beam is also machined in a manner consistent with the machining of the engaging surface 153 of the mounting pad 152. Furthermore, in exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the mounting pad 152 is formed from austenitic stainless steel, but it will be understood that the material forming the mounting pad 152 may differ in other embodiments. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the upper surface 114 of the support beam 112 is machined to a flatness of 0.001 inches and a surface finish of 50 microinches, ensuring nearly full contact between the support beam 112 and the self-leveling chock 160 of the support interface 150 along a flat, horizontally extending plane.

[0029] The self-leveling chock 160 ensures that the mounting pad 152 is kept horizontal (for example, horizontal with respect to the ground on which the module 100 is located), thereby ensuring that the mounting pad 152 extends horizontally with respect to the ground even if the support beam 112 is in a non-horizontal position due to a downward sag of the support beam 112 (for example, the deflection 117 shown in Figure 2), causing the upper surface 114 of the support beam 112 to extend at an angle other than zero with respect to the horizontal. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the self-leveling chock 160 includes a designed steel chock. Furthermore, in exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the self-leveling chock 160 generally includes an annular first (i.e., vertically upper) washer 161 and an annular second (i.e., vertically lower) washer 165. The upper washer 161 has a flat or planar vertically upper engaging surface 162 and a vertically lower frustoconical surface 163 opposite the engaging surface 162. The lower washer 165 has a vertically upper frustoconical surface 166 and a flat or planar vertically lower engaging surface 167 opposite the frustoconical surface 166. In some embodiments, washers 161 and 165 are each formed from a steel alloy such as austenitic steel. Furthermore, in exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the support interface 150 further includes a convex washer 180 positioned between the mounting pad 152 and the washer 161 of the self-leveling chock 160.

[0030] The frustoconical surfaces 163 and 166 of washers 161 and 165 are in sliding contact with each other, so that the engaging surface 162 of the upper washer 161 remains horizontal even if the engaging surface 167 of the lower washer 165 is not horizontal. In particular, the upper washer 161 has a first (i.e., upper) longitudinal axis 164 and the lower washer 165 has a second (i.e., lower) longitudinal axis 168, and when both engaging surfaces 162 and 167 are horizontal (see Figure 4), the lower longitudinal axis 168 is parallel to or coaxial with the upper longitudinal axis 164. However, the sliding contact between the frustoconical surfaces 163 and 166 of washers 161 and 165 allows the lower longitudinal axis 168 to rotate relative to the upper longitudinal axis 164, thereby allowing the lower longitudinal axis 168 to extend at a non-zero angle with respect to the upper longitudinal axis 164. In particular, the lower washer 165 slides against the upper washer 161, allowing the lower longitudinal axis 168 to rotate in a direction that is not at a zero angle with respect to the upper longitudinal axis 164 in response to the sagging of the support beam 112. As a result, the upper surface 114 of the support beam 112 is no longer horizontal. In this way, the upper longitudinal axis 164 of the upper washer 161 is maintained in an orientation perpendicular to the vertical, even when the lower longitudinal axis 168 is oriented at a non-zero angle with respect to the vertical (for example, not perpendicular to the horizontal, but at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal).

[0031] By enabling the lower washer 165 to rotate in conjunction with the support beam 112 in response to the sagging of the support beam 112, the engaging surface 167 of the lower washer 165 can maintain planar contact with the upper surface 114 of the support beam 112 even when the support beam 112 sags. Furthermore, by enabling the lower washer 165 to rotate relative to the upper washer 161, the engaging surface 162 of the upper washer 161 can maintain a state of planar contact with the lower surface 134 of the base plate 130.

[0032] Furthermore, the engaging surface 153 of the mounting pad 152 can also maintain planar contact with the lower surface 134 of the base plate 130 while the upper longitudinal axis 164 is maintained in a vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane. By maintaining planar contact between the mounting pad 152 and the base plate 130, and between the lower washer 165 and the support beam 112, the transmission of vibrations through the support interface 150 can be minimized. As described above, by minimizing the transmission of vibrations through the support interface 150, it is possible to prevent the monitoring equipment 128 from mistakenly detecting stray vibrations transmitted through the support interface 150 and unnecessarily tripping the rotating equipment 120. Moreover, in this way, the equipment supported by the base plate 130 (e.g., prime mover 122, gearbox 124, and compressor 126) can maintain a horizontal state under dynamic load even if the support beam 112 below the support structure 110 sags.

[0033] It is understood that simply moving the support interface 150 from its current position between the base plate 130 and the support beam 112 to another position between the support leg 140 and the base plate 130 will not maintain the same vibration damping function. Such a change would allow vibrations to be transmitted between the sagging support beam 112 and the base plate 130, and as a result, whether or not the support interface 150 is present between the base plate 130 and the mounting leg 140 of the supported equipment, the vibrations of the base plate 130 will ultimately be transmitted to the equipment supported on it.

[0034] As particularly shown in Figure 4, the fastener 170 of the support interface 150 extends through its central portion between a first (i.e., vertically upper) end 171 and a second (i.e., vertically lower) end 173 opposite the upper end 171. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the lower end 173 of the fastener 170 is housed in a receiving portion 119 formed on the upper surface 114 of the support beam 112, and the fastener 170 is attached to the support beam 112 by screwing the lower end 173 of the fastener 170 to the support beam 112. Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the upper end 171 of the fastener 170 is screwed to a double lock nut assembly 174, thereby fixing the fastener 170 to the base plate 130. The double lock nut assembly 174 includes a pair of lock nuts 175 screwed onto the upper end 171 of the fastener 170 and a washer 176 positioned in contact with the base plate 130. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the fastener 170 and the lock nut assembly 174 are used to attach or secure the support interface 150 to the base plate 130 and the support beam 112, but it will be understood that in other embodiments, a variety of different mechanisms may be used to secure the support interface 150 to the base plate 130 and the support beam 112.

[0035] While exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art can modify these embodiments without departing from the scope and teachings of the present invention disclosed herein. The embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not limiting. Many variations and modifications are possible of the systems, apparatus, and processes disclosed herein, and these are within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein, but is limited only by the subsequent claims, which include all equivalents of the subject matter of the claims. Unless otherwise specified, the steps in the method claims may be performed in any order. The inclusion of identifiers such as (a), (b), (c) or (1), (2), (3) preceding the steps in the method claims is not intended to specify a particular order of steps, but is used to facilitate subsequent reference to those steps.

Claims

1. A modular industrial system module, A support structure including an elongated support member having a vertical upper surface; A rotating device supported on the aforementioned support structure, comprising a rotatable component configured to rotate about a rotation axis; A base plate having a vertical upper surface and a vertical lower surface opposite to the upper surface, wherein the rotating equipment is supported on the upper surface of the base plate; and A support interface connected between the lower surface of the base plate and the upper surface of the support member, A self-leveling chock that defines a first longitudinal axis and a second longitudinal axis that is rotatable relative to the first longitudinal axis in order to maintain the first longitudinal axis in a vertical direction. Support interface, A module equipped with [the following features].

2. The module according to claim 1, wherein the rotating device comprises one or more support legs that are in contact with and coupled to the upper surface of the base plate.

3. The module according to claim 1, further comprising a mounting pad disposed between the self-leveling chock and the lower surface of the base plate, the support interface.

4. The module according to claim 3, wherein the mounting pad has a vertical upper surface that is machined to a flatness of 0.001 inches.

5. The module according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the upper surface of the support member is machined to a flatness of 0.001 inches.

6. The module according to claim 1, wherein the self-leveling chock comprises a first washer having a first frustoconical surface and a second washer having a second frustoconical surface that slides in contact with the first frustoconical surface.

7. The module according to claim 1, further comprising a fastener that extends through the self-leveling chock and the base plate and fixes the support interface to the lower surface of the base plate.

8. A modular industrial system module, A support structure including an elongated support member having a vertical upper surface; A rotating device supported on the aforementioned support structure, comprising a rotatable component configured to rotate about a rotation axis; A base plate having a vertical upper surface and a vertical lower surface opposite to the upper surface, wherein the rotating equipment is supported on the upper surface of the base plate; and A support interface connected between the lower surface of the base plate and the upper surface of the support member, A self-leveling chock comprising a first washer having a first frustum-shaped surface and a second washer having a second frustum-shaped surface that slides in contact with the first frustum-shaped surface, Support interface, A module equipped with [the following features].

9. The module according to claim 8, wherein the rotating device comprises one or more support legs that are in contact with and coupled to the upper surface of the base plate.

10. The module according to claim 8, wherein the support interface further comprises a mounting pad disposed between the self-leveling chock and the lower surface of the base plate.

11. The module according to claim 10, wherein the mounting pad has a vertical upper surface that is machined to a flatness of 0.001 inches.

12. The module according to claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the upper surface of the support member is machined to a flatness of 0.001 inches.

13. The module according to claim 8, wherein the first washer has a first plane on the opposite side of the first frustoconical surface, and the second washer has a second plane on the opposite side of the second frustoconical surface.

14. A modular industrial system module, A support structure including an elongated support member having a vertical upper surface; A rotating device supported on the aforementioned support structure, comprising a rotatable component configured to rotate about a rotation axis; A base plate having a vertical upper surface and a vertical lower surface opposite to the upper surface, wherein the rotating device is supported on the upper surface of the base plate; and A support interface coupled between the lower surface of the base plate and the upper surface of the support member, comprising a mounting pad that contacts the lower surface of the base plate and a self-leveling chock that contacts the upper surface of the support member, wherein the self-leveling chock is configured to maintain planar contact between the mounting pad and the lower surface of the base plate, and planar contact between the self-leveling chock and the upper surface of the support member. A module equipped with [the following features].

15. The module according to claim 14, wherein the rotating device comprises one or more support legs that are in contact with and coupled to the upper surface of the base plate.

16. The module according to claim 14, wherein the mounting pad has a vertical upper surface that is machined to a flatness of 0.001 inches.

17. The module according to claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the upper surface of the support member is machined to a flatness of 0.001 inches.

18. The module according to claim 14, wherein the self-leveling chock defines a first longitudinal axis and a second longitudinal axis that is rotatable relative to the first longitudinal axis in order to maintain the first longitudinal axis in a vertical direction.

19. The module according to claim 14, wherein the self-leveling chock comprises a first washer having a first frustoconical surface and a second washer having a second frustoconical surface that slides in contact with the first frustoconical surface.

20. The module according to claim 19, wherein the first washer has a first plane on the opposite side of the first frustoconical surface, and the second washer has a second plane on the opposite side of the second frustoconical surface.

Images