E FF E CT S O N CR A N K S H A F T / CO M P RE S S O R

A L IG N M EN T

EF F EC TS O N C RA N K S H A F T / CO M P R ES S O R
A L IG N M E N T

V E R T IC A L

V E R T IC A L

S U M P T E M P.
U N IT G R O W S
V E R TIC A L LY

H E A T !!!
H O R IZ O N A L

H O R IZ O N A L

C O LD

F ig . # 1
I n w o r k in g w it h c r a n k s h a f t a l i g n m e n t ( H o r i z on t a l ) a n d ( V e r t i c a l ) p la n e s
s h o u l d a lw a y s b e c o n s i d e r e d . I n d e a l i n g w i t h c o m p r e s s o r c y l in d e r s t h is w i l l
s t i ll h o l d t r u e .
A l w a y s k e e p in m i n d t h a t t h e u n i t w il l g r o w a s t h e o p e r a t i n g t e m p e r a t u r e s
i n c r e a s e . T h i s g r o w t h w il l e f f e c t t h e a l ig n m e n t .

F ig . # 2
A s t h e t e m p e r a t u r e o f t h e u n i t in c r e a s e s t h e c e n t e r l i n e o f t h e c r a n k s h a f t
m o v e s u p w a r d b u t t h e c r o s s h e a d p e d e s t a l w i ll n o t c h a n g e in e l e v a t i o n .
T h e r e a s o n t h e p e d e s t a l w i l l n o t c h a n g e in e l e v a t i o n i s t h a t i t is a w a y f r o m
t h e h e a t o f t h e u n i t . W h e n s e t t i n g t h e p e d e s t a l t h e co r r e c t p r e l o a d s h o u l d
b e u s e d t o e n s u r e t h e h o r iz o n a l p l a n e o f t h e c o m p r e s s o r r o d w i l l r u n t r u e
a t t h e n o r m a l o p e r a t i n g t e m p e r a t u r e o f t h e u n it . I n m o s t c a s e s a p p r o x . . 0 0 4
p r e lo a d o f t h e c r o s s h e a d w i l l o f f s e t t h i s t e m p e r a t u re c h a n g e .
N o t e : T h i s p r e lo a d o n t h e p e d e s t a l w i l l c h a n g e f r o m o n e u n i t t o
t h e n e x t d e p e n d in g o n t h e t y p e .

E F F E C TS O N C R A N K S H A F T / C O M P R E S S O R
A L IG N M E N T
V E R TIC A L

E FF E C TS O N C R A N K S H A F T / C O M P R E S S O R
A LI G N M E N T

TH E R M A L G R O W T H
O F T H E D IS C H A R G E
V E S S E L.

V E R TIC A L

C O L D SU P P O R T
A L LO W D IS C H A R G E
V E S S E L TO F R E E H A N G

FO R C ES
A P P L IE D
TO BA SE

H E A T !!!

H E A T !! !

H O R IZ O N A L

RO D
CL

H O R IZ O N A L

C O LD

F ig. #3
E x c e s s i v e p e d e s t a l p r e l o a d o r i m p r o p e r d is c h a r g e p u l s a t i o n v e s s e l
s a d d le a d j u s t m e n t c a n c r e a t e p r o b le m s i n t h e m a i n b e a r i n g a r e a .
I n m o s t c a s e s t h e d i s c h a r g e p u ls a t i o n v e s s e l s g e t v er y h o t d u r in g t h e
o p e r a t i o n o f t h e u n it a n d w i l l g r o w . I f t h e s a d d l e s a r e a d u s t e d t o t ig h t
t h e g r o w t h o f t h e p u l s a t i o n v e s s e ls w i ll li f t t h e c o m p r e s s o r c y li n d e r .
S D - 1 2 1 - 3 C o o p er - B e s se m e r S t a n d a rd c o v e r s t h e a d j u s t m en t o f t h e
p u l sa t i o n v e ss e l sa d d l e s o r c h o ck s.

C O LD

F i g. # 4
C o o p e r - B e s s e m e r r e c o m m e n d s u s i n g c o l d c y li n d e r s u p p o r t s a n d c o m e w it h
a l l n e w u n i t s . T h e s e s u p p o r t s s h o u ld b e c o n s t r u c t e d o f a g o o d s c h e d u le 8 0
m a t e r i a l a n d s h o u l d o n l y b e u s e d to s u p p o r t t h e w e ig h t o f t h e c y l in d e r a n d
t h e p u l sa t i o n v es s e l s n o t t o c o rr e c t r o d ru n - o u t s .
C o o p e r - B e s s e m e r S t a n d a r d S C - 3 4 - 7 o u t l in e s t h e f u n c t i o n a n d p ip e s i z e
s e le c t io n f o r t h e c o m p r e s s o r c y l i n d e r c o l d s u p p o r t s .

JM Crank

 With the lower main bearings in position and coated

with oil, the crankshaft can be lowered into the frame.
The crankshaft is a one piece design that may, or may
not have attached counterweights depending on the
type application.
Some Crankshafts have external weights attached to
the compressor crossheads
Some cases may have the crankshaft throws machined
to except counterweights. They are attached by studs
and nuts.
There are many ways to balance units to meet the dynamic
balance requirements on various applications of
compression.

 The bearing surface of the crankpin, or the journal

has a smooth bearing finish and must be treated
with respect.
Never allow this finish to be damaged or any debris to
enter into the bearing contact areas.

It may be wise to mention that the backside of the

bearing shell and the bearing bore must free of any
debris or high spots.
Inspect the backside of the bearings for any
unwanted babbit build up that may have occurred
during bearing production.

Questions???