Critical Alignment Measurements - Part 2: Periscope Alignment
Alignment of components is critical throughout the defence industry to ensure both durability and safety of military equipment
The Problem - Periscopes are the eyes of a submarine. A periscope which is operating in misaligned bearings needs more power in the motors to overcome this resistance. The resultant power surge results in a higher noise level being generated which can easily be detected by enemy search craft.
The periscope is approximately 10 metres in length, 25 centimetres in diameter and is raised, lowered and rotated by hydraulic motors. The periscope is mounted in a series of bearings located in the submarine fin and pressure hull structure. Alignment of these bearings is critical and any misalignment can result in distortion of the periscope and possible damage to the bearings themselves. Premature hydraulic motor failure can also occur, due to the extra power demands.
The Solution - All alignment checks are made with reference to a line central to the bore of the lower bearing, which is located in the submarines pressure hull. A Micro Alignment Telescope was mounted in an adjustable support plate situated at the top of the submarine fin. A target mounted in a spider fixture (adjustable target holder) is fitted into the lower bearing bore. A second target is mounted in a second target fixture. The Micro Alignment Telescope is then focused onto both targets. The other targets are then adjusted to be on this reference line.
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Through CEMMNT clients gain access to a wide range of alignment and level measuring instruments, including optical, mechanical and electronic measuring devices from Micro-alignment telescopes, electronic levels to auto-collimators. These systems are capable of measurement of geometric parameters such as straightness, angle, squareness, flatness and are used in a wide range of applications in a variety of industries from machine tools and aerospace to calibration laboratories.
Autocollimators - These instruments can be either digital or visual with manual or software data collection. Parameters such as angle, straightness, squareness and parallelism can all be measured with micron or sub second precision, allowing alignment and measurement of features such as precision guideways or alternatively angle of indexing tables or spindle squareness.
Electronic Levels and Clinometers - Ranging from high precision bubble levels to precision electronic levels, the range of electronic levels and clinometers available are suitable for a wide variety of applications. These devices can measure to sub second accuracy with measurement ranges from 360 degrees and level measurement to 0.1 seconds, enabling measurement of flatness, angle, straightness and more.
Micro-Alignment Telescopes - A popular range of instruments used in industries such as marine and aerospace, the micro-alignment telescope provides precision alignment to micron accuracies. These systems are robust, reliable and portable and are suited to measurement in workshops as well as laboratory environments. A full range of accessories ensure versatility to a wide range of applications