Thermal adjustment apparatus for rotating machines.

摘要

A method and apparatus for setting the positioning between a first rotating member and a second fixed or rotating member in a rotary machine comprises controlled thermal elements positioned on the frame supporting the members and/or on the rotating member(s) itself to counteract the effects of centrifugal force on the rotating member(s) to thereby approximately maintain the setting between the members. The temperature of the frame controlled by the thermal elements can be maintained in proportion to the speed of rotation of the rotary member(s) to maintain the setting of the rotary machine throughout its operating speed range. A predefined temperature may be set by the thermal elements prior to the manual setting of the rotary machine so that the temperature of the frame and/or rotating member(s) can be controlled to compensate for wear of the rotating member(s) in machines wherein such member(s) encounters wear over operating time.