Method for determining the orientation of two shafts connected via two universal joints and a third shaft with a pivot joint

1. Method for aligning a first shaft relative to a second shaft which are connected or can be connected to one another via two universal joints and a third shaft, using a laser alignment device which has at least one light source for emitting a laser beam in at least one first measurement head and at least one detector which can be read out two-dimensionally for receiving the light beam in at least one second measurement head, the at least one first measurement head being mounted on at least the first shaft and the at least one second measurement head being mounted on at least the second shaft with a respective holding device, comprising the following steps:

a) positioning of the measurement heads by shifting each measurement head along the respective holding device with the respective holding device and pivoting of the pivot joint so that the at least one light beam strikes the at least one detector at at least one point of impact,

b) measuring the at least one point of impact of the laser beam on the at least one detector with an optical alignment device and determining the orientation of the measurement heads as a rotary position relative to the axis of the one of the first and second shafts in a first measurement position with a component in the measuring heads,

c) using one of a movable machine or machine component or holding devices for respectively turning one of the shafts and components of the alignment device around the shafts into a second measurement position, and using the respective holding device for re-aligning of the pivot joint and radial shifting of the measurement head of the alignment device,

d) then, with the component in the measuring heads, measuring the at least one point of impact of the at least one light beam on the at least one detector and measuring the orientation of the measurement heads relative to the said one of the first and second shafts in a second measurement position,

e) repeating the steps c) and d) for measuring in at least a third measurement position when the results of the measurements from steps b) and d) exceed stipulated tolerances, and

f) with a computational device, determining an offset angle between the axes of the first and second shafts from the results of at least steps b) and d), and

g) correcting of the angular alignment of the shafts by changing the position of a movable machine or machine component to which carries at least one of the first and second shafts.

2. Method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a relative three-dimensional orientation of the first and second measurement position is determined with at least one inclinometer connected to at least one of the measurement heads.

3. Method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a relative three-dimensional orientation of the first and second measurement position is determined with at least one rotary angle transducer on one of the first and second shafts.

4. Method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the measurement of the impact points of the at least one light beam on the at least one detector takes place in step d) simultaneously with determination of the angle between the axes of the first and second shafts in step f).

5. Method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the measurement of the impact points of the at least one light beam on the at least one detector takes place in step e) simultaneously with determination of the angle between the axes of the first and second shafts in step f).