Internal Patents (Class 33/542)
  • Patent number: 5259119
    Abstract: An automatic inner diameter measuring apparatus which includes an inner diameter measuring gauge head having at least one contacting element capable of being inserted into bores of an object to be measured and moving in a radial direction of the bore. A stocker is provided which is capable of holding a plurality of inner diameter measuring gauge heads corresponding to different diameters. A three-dimensional moving instrument is provided for detachable coupling with the inner diameter measuring gauge head to facilitate a three-dimensional movement with reference to the object to be measured and the inner diameter measuring gauge. A drive device for the three-dimensional moving instrument is provided. A plurality of master ring gauges supported on a ring gauge support are provided to set an inner diameter measuring gauge head attached thereto to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Susumu Yoshioka, Tetsuhiko Kubo, Tadao Nakaya
  • Patent number: 5259121
    Abstract: An apparatus for the automatic and simultaneous checking of holes comprises plug gauge devices (11-16) with gauging heads (70, 71) and elements for coupling to a support. The coupling elements are substantially constituted by parallel shafts (29-32) displacing the gauging heads (70, 71) from a rest position to a measurement position, and vice versa, through rotational displacements automatically controlled by relevant actuation devices (60-65). The angular position of the shafts is detected by transducers (52-55), which are connected to a processing unit (58) also receiving the signals of the gauging heads (70, 71). The plug gauge devices comprise further heads (86-89) coupled to rotatable rods (82, 83) for simultaneously gauging diametral dimensions of a hole (10) communicating with the other holes (4-9) and transversal to them. The apparatus is particularly adapted for checking the holes of a cylinder block of an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Marposs Societa' per Azioni
    Inventors: Mario Possati, deceased, Edoardo Possati, heir, Marco Possati, heir, Carlo Dall'Aglio, Luciano Ventura
  • Patent number: 5251381
    Abstract: A device for the angularity of a hole has a housing, a pivotally movable probe, and a digital display for displaying angular deviation of the probe from a home position. The device can additionally or alternatively have a signaling device to signal angular deviation of the probe past a predetermined angular deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Northrop Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn V. Turner, Omer D. Shearhart
  • Patent number: 5226240
    Abstract: A measurement gauging device for an orifice meter having a restricting orifice plate, and pressure tap holes through the meter tube flanges, or through the orifice plate holding device (commonly called an orifice fitting), each side of the orifice plate to measure differential pressure through the meter tube. The measurement gauge includes a shank receivable through and rotatable in each of the pressure tap holes. An arm is moveable about an axis passing through and perpendicular to the shank. A mechanism is provided to move the arm between an extended position perpendicular to the shank and a retracted position substantially parallel to the shank wherein rotation of the shank while the arm is perpendicular will rotate the arm radially within the meter tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Williams Natural Gas Company
    Inventor: Stephen T. Stark
  • Patent number: 5224274
    Abstract: A contact gage having a pair of elongated, pivotal gaging levers mounted in laterally spaced, side-by-side association and having lateral gaging contacts at the forward ends thereof. A V-shaped motion translation reed is mounted on and symmetrically between the rear ends of the gaging levers and has a central contact which moves linearly, perpendicular to the arc of relative pivotal movement of the gaging levers, to translate the relative pivotal movement of the gaging levers into linear movement of the central contact. The central contact is engaged by a linear pickup to detect the position of the contact and thereby detect the lateral distance between the gaging contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: The Edmunds Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: William J. Blaiklock
  • Patent number: 5216818
    Abstract: A pair of anvil pins are mounted at their lower ends on a pair of spaced carriers, which reciprocate beneath a work supporting surface in horizontally spaced, colinear paths. The pins project upwardly through an elongate slot in the work surface and into a bore in an annular workpiece positioned on the surface. One carrier is urged by a spring in one direction to cause its anvil pin to urge the outer periphery of the workpiece into a V-shaped recess in a locator plate that is adjustably secured on the work surface, thereby to center the workpiece over the slot. An indicator mounted on the other carrier has a resilient probe extending between the carriers to urge them apart, and thereby to urge their pins against diametrally opposite sides of the bore, whereby a readout on the gage will indicate the extent to which the I.D. of the bore differs from a predetermined value. One pin is adjustable on its carrier to accomodate the gage for measuring particularly large or small bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Quality Measurement Systems Corp.
    Inventors: David W. Rucinski, Ronald Aurnou, Joel A. Neal
  • Patent number: 5214379
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for inserting and moving a sensing assembly with a mechanical positioning assembly to a desired remote location of a surface of a specimen under test and measuring angle and/or deflection by sensing the change in the impedance of at least one sensor coil located in a base plate which has a rotatable conductive plate pivotally mounted thereon so as to uncover the sensor coil(s) whose impedance changes as a function of deflection away from the center line of the base plate in response to the movement of the rotator plate when contacting the surface of the specimen under test. The apparatus includes the combination of a system controller, a sensing assembly, an eddy current impedance measuring apparatus, and a mechanical positioning assembly driven by the impedance measuring apparatus to position the sensing assembly at a desired location of the specimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Engmin J. Chern
  • Patent number: 5205047
    Abstract: A method for checking dimensions of parts foresees the use of a gauging head (2) with at least a movable feeler (14) that contacts the surface (6) of the part (4) to be checked and a transducer (20) that provides a signal responsive to the position of the feeler (14). The checking, that is performed dynamically in correspondence with one or more checking locations, involves mutual movements between the head (2) and the part (4) and a sliding between the movable feeler (14) and the surface (6).In order to eliminate malfunctions introduced by frictional forces arising during the sliding, the method includes performing two scanning motions in correspondence with each checking location, according to two opposite directions, detecting values of the signal of the transducer (20) for each scanning motion, and averaging the detected values to obtain a value representative of the dimension to be checked, or of its deviation from a nominal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Marposs Societa' per Azioni
    Inventor: Franco Danielli
  • Patent number: 5193289
    Abstract: A long arm bears a probe at its end and is arranged in such a way that it can swivel by small angular amounts. This low-mass and slowly movable system is protected by a protective device from which it emerges only partly during the measuring operation. A lowering device which both decouples and entrains, interacts with a damping element. An article to be measured is pushed onto the protective device, an actuating device is pressed and the probe slowly emerges from the protective device and ultimately rests in a defined manner and with adequately low force on a layer of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Inventor: Helmut Fischer
  • Patent number: 5189808
    Abstract: A gauge for measuring the depth of a hole countersink in a workpiece for a fastener, or for measuring the protrusion height of a fastener head above the surface of the workpiece, includes a tapered cylindrical case for holding a transducer such as an LVDT, and a probe assembly removably mounted on the lower end of the case. The probe assembly includes a foot having an annular contact ring at its lower end for contacting the workpiece around the hole or around the fastener head to establish the reference position from which the measurement is to be taken. A probe is mounted in a well in the foot for axial sliding movement therein and is captured within the food by a connector which is screwed onto the upper end of the foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Evans, Curtis L. Gnagy, William F. Herold, Christopher W. Lagerberg, Bruce W. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5157845
    Abstract: Device comprising a support (21-23) with a seat (27, 27') housing a measuring cell (24, 24') having a feeler (6, 6') adapted to contact the part to be checked and with a strain gauge transducer (12-17) for detecting the feeler position. In order to obtain a device with very small overall dimensions and high accuracy and repeatability, the measuring cell (24, 24') comprises an integral element (1) having a support portion (2) fixed in the seat (27, 27'), a free portion (4, 4') carrying the feeler (6, 6') and an intermediate resiliently deformable portion (3, 3'), whereto there is fixed a strain gauge (13) of the transducer (12-17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Marposs Societa' Per Azioni
    Inventors: Mario Possati, Carlo Dall'Aglio
  • Patent number: 5134783
    Abstract: A method of thread timing for a rotary shouldered connection is presented. A ring gage which has a first and second scribe line thereon is used to establish a male timed rotary connection of a first tool. The angular distance between the first and second scribe lines is the advance timing correction (ATC), i.e., the angular distance between hand tight face-up and full torque make-up of a rotary connection comprising the male timed rotary connection of the first tool and a female timed rotary connection of a second tool. The second scribe line (indicative of the ATC) is transferred onto the first tool. A pin gage which has a third scribe line thereon is used to establish the female connection of the second tool. The third scribe line on the pin gage corresponds to the first scribe line on the ring gage. The third scribe line is transferred onto the second tool. When the first and second tools are rotatively connected at full torque, the transferred lines on the tools are in general angular alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: Teleco Oilfield Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl A. Perry
  • Patent number: 5105554
    Abstract: An instrument for measuring the dimensions of a rigid object (10) comprises a fixed member (1), a mobile member (2) slidably mounted on the fixed member, means for indicating the resulting measurement, and a locking device (3) allowing the mobile member (2) to be moved on the fixed member (1) to hold two bearing points (X, X') on the members in contact with the object (10) being measured with a substantially constant bearing force. The locking device comprises a first sleeve (20) slidably mounted on the mobile member (2) under the action of springs (24), and a second sleeve (30) slidably mounted on the fixed member (1) and inside which is a tipping ring (36) connected by a rod (40) to the first sleeve. The second sleeve (30), by acting on the first sleeve (20), enables loading the springs (24) to produce the bearing force when the instrument is in contact with the object (10) being measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Schnyder & Cie S.A.
    Inventors: Urs Schnyder, Robert Wust
  • Patent number: 5083384
    Abstract: Device comprising a support (50) with a seat (51) housing a measuring cell (53) with a movable armset (54) having a feeler (61) adapted to contact the part to be checked. In order to reduce the overall dimensions of the device, while guaranteeing the seat sealing and the stiffness of the movable armset, the seat (51) is closed by a metal lamina (62) coupled to the support (50) and a resilient seal (64) coupled to the metal lamina (62) and the feeler (61).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Marposs Societa' per Azioni
    Inventors: Mario Possati, Carlo Dall'Aglio
  • Patent number: 5063687
    Abstract: The adjustable measuring parallel has a head assembly that includes upper and lower slider blocks that are mated to each other at an incline, which may be a common transversal incline. The upper slider block is connected to a movable extender rod member which has connected to its other end a ferromagnetic core. The lower slider block is connected to a stationary extender member which is threaded to a handle that has a cavity in which a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) is fitted. By moving the movable extender member in directions along the longitudinal axis of the instrument, the upper slider block is forced against the lower slider block such that relative movements are effected between the two slider blocks along a direction orthogonal to the parallel surfaces of the slider blocks, or the longitudinal axis of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Equipment Development Services
    Inventor: Frank A. Olshefsky
  • Patent number: 5010658
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hole profile gage comprising a probe that senses deviations in the contour of the inner surface of a bore while it is retracted through the bore. The profile gage includes a processing unit that samples the output from the probe, develops a profile for the hole, and evaluates whether the profile is within predetermined tolerance limits. In a preferred embodiment, the probe comprises a split ball probe coupled with a transducer. In use, the probe is retracted through the bore by a spring coupled with a damping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: LTV Aerospace and Defense Company
    Inventors: Jerry T. Griffith, Scott J. Pleva
  • Patent number: 4993163
    Abstract: Gauge for checking linear dimensions of mechanical pieces comprising a support, two arms movable with respect to the support, two feelers respectively fixed to the arms for contacting the piece to be checked and a position transducer having two mutually movable elements respectively fixed to the movable arms. At least one of the two elements of the transducer is fixed to the relevant movable arm by screw, nut-screw coupling and between the screw and the nut-screw there is arranged a thread insert, having at least one polygonal coil, which permits adjustment of the mutual position of the elements of the transducer, while assuring a stable adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Marposs Societa' per Azioni
    Inventors: Mario Possati, Narciso Selleri, Guido Golinelli
  • Patent number: 4987768
    Abstract: Apparatus and an associated method for inspecting a container neck for the desired shape includes an upper body portion having an elongated bore therethrough, and a downwardly projecting lower body portion having a passageway generally aligned with the bore. The lower body portion has an outer surface corresponding to the desired shape of the inner portion of the container neck but of a size corresponding to the minimum permissible inside diameter of the container neck. In one embodiment the lower body portion has at least one vent opening to facilitate improved container neck inspection. Sealing material is provided such that when the container neck is of the desired shape the lower body portion will be received within the neck in such a manner that the passageway will be in sealed communication with the container interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: AGR International, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry M. Dimmick, Paul Schneider, Richard Spryn
  • Patent number: 4982505
    Abstract: A gauge for measuring both the depth and the diameter of a bore hole comprises a member having a first longitudinal slot therethrough and a surface perpendicular to the slot to engage the face of the bore hole; a first arrangement slidably engaging the slot adjacent one end thereof having a first protrusion extending below the surface; a second arrangement slidably engaging the member adjacent the other end of the slot having first and second arms thereon each disposed at a given angle with respect to and on opposite sides of the member, each of the first and second arms having a second protrusion extending below the surface; the first protrusion and second protrusions engaging a selected one of an inner surface of the bore hole and an outer surface concentric with the inner surface of the bore hole to cooperate in aligning the member with the center line and the diameter of the bore hole; a third arrangement slidably engaging the first slot and the member to measure the depth of the bore hole; and a fourth a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Inventor: Silvano Pocci
  • Patent number: 4977681
    Abstract: A bore gauge having a fixed and an opposing automatically-adjustable contact anvil, each such anvil having an extended length in the direction of the axis of the bore being gauged, the gauge having a body about which is adjustably secured a reference plate which sets the depth at which the contact anvils make contact with the inner wall of the device the bore of which is being measured, the adjustable contact anvil being mechanically coupled to the dial-actuating rod of a dial indicator for reading the bore diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Inventor: Stephen L. Jiles
  • Patent number: 4924595
    Abstract: A measuring arrangement for form measurement of cylinders, comprises a measuring arm insertable into a cylinder space, a measuring sensor which is guided by the measuring arm, movable translatorily in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the measuring arm and driveable independently of the measuring arm in a circumferential direction, a sensing pin which is displaceable radially and along an axis of the measuring sensor and arranged for sensing a geometry of walls of cylinders, a driving arm which is movable translatorily and rotatably and having an end, the measuring arm being formed as a thin sensing body which is in operative connection with the end of the driving arm, formed bending-resistant, and extends parallel to the driving arm, the sensing body having an end which is spaced from the driving arm and carries the measuring sensor, and the measuring sensor being provided with the sensing pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Dr.-Ing. Ludwig Pietzach GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Manfred Wamser, Knud Overlach
  • Patent number: 4922622
    Abstract: A measuring device which has a tape connected at one end to one end of a shaft and the tape is scrolled around the shaft. The visible surface of the tape includes a scale having a set of marks which defines a system of measuring units. The tape is inserted into a tube and allowed to spring open against the inner wall of the tube. A measurement can then be obtained for the internal circumference of the tube or the internal diameter of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: H.B.D. Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: F. Merrill Galloway
  • Patent number: 4905378
    Abstract: Disclosed is a measuring device for determining both absolute and comparative depths of the countersunk portions of countersunk holes drilled in a workpiece, the measuring device being capable of centering itself within a hole being measured so that repetitive measurements can be made early and accurately; further the measuring device is capable of measuring the depth of a countersunk hole through a template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Lockheed Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond F. Culver, Sudershan K. Khurana
  • Patent number: 4884346
    Abstract: A gauging apparatus for making at least one displacement measurement comprises an elongated flexure member having a pair of spaced apart and substantially parallel body sections. Each body section has an extending portion for contacting a workpiece to be gauged and movable from one position to another corresponding to a displacement measurement. Spaced apart and substantially parallel top and bottom sections join the parallel body sections forming a unitary flexure member having a central opening. The flexure member includes a plurality of webs formed by a sufficiently thin section of material so as to form a hinge. Each of the parallel body sections include a pair of spaced webs for permitting the top and bottom sections to move in parallel motion. The bottom section includes an additional pair of web for permitting movement of the respective extending portions toward and away from each other and a proportional movement of the bottom section in response to such movement of the respective extending portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Assignee: GTE Valenite Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Cook
  • Patent number: 4872269
    Abstract: An automatic cylinder profiling gage system comprises a measuring head adapted to fit into a cylinder and including a number of transducers associated therewith, each transducer generating a positional signal corresponding to the distance from the head to the interior wall. The gage further includes a processor adapted to receive the signals, compare them with stored data indicative of the profile of an ideal cylinder so as to determine deviation therefrom. The system is further adapted to provide a visual display of data relating to cylinder profile. The gage system may further include calibration means as well as particular computer programs for processing information generated thereby to provide statistical or other information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Inventor: Karl Sattmann
  • Patent number: 4805309
    Abstract: A gauge for travel along and continuous monitoring of deviations in the dimensions of a structural channel member or the like includes a wheeled carriage which carries individual gauges for tracking and monitoring deviations in the web width, flange angle and flange height of the member as the carriage moves therealong. The gauge is adjustable for use on members having different nominal web width and flange height dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Hideo Koike
  • Patent number: 4790079
    Abstract: A gaging tool for checking the alignment of spaced apart holes located on a common axis, having particular utility for checking the alignment of bearing seats on half round yokes for universal joints. A pair of gage bushings are secured in the bearing seats by retaining straps. An alignment bar is passed through the internal gage bore of one of the bushings. When the bearing seats or holes are in alignment, the alignment bar will pass into the other of the pair of gage bushings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventor: Richard P. Meyers
  • Patent number: 4787149
    Abstract: Gauge for checking linear dimensions of mechanical pieces comprising a support, two arms movable with respect to the support, two feelers respectively fixed to the arms for contacting the piece to be checked and a position transducer having two mutually movable elements respectively fixed to the movable arms. Each feeler is fixed to the relevant movable arm by screw, nut-screw coupling and between the screw and the nut-screw there is arranged a thread insert, having at least one polygonal coil, which permits adjustment of the position of the feeler, while assuring a stable adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: Marposs Societa' per Azioni
    Inventors: Mario Possati, Narciso Selleri, Guido Golinelli
  • Patent number: 4766674
    Abstract: The device is intended for an independent measuring apparatus which can be displaced on a measurement plane on which a part to be measured is immobilized. This device comprises a slide which is displaceable along a slideway of the apparatus perpendicular to the measurement plane, a carriage mounted for displacement in said same direction against opposing forces of two springs intended for the applying of a sensing force, and a support bearing a probe which is mounted for displacement on the carriage in a direction perpendicular to that of the vertical slideway. Upon the search for the point of regression of the probe which is necessary for the detection of the two diametrically opposite points of a bore of the part to be measured, the entire apparatus is immobile on the measurement plane and only the feeler support is displaced on the carriage. Automation of the search for the point of regression is also shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Tesa A.A.
    Inventors: Adriano Zanier, Charles-Henri Zufferey
  • Patent number: 4703264
    Abstract: A probe (10) for scanning the interior of a curved conduit (28) has a carrier (12) with a rotatable portion (12b). Sensor means (18) are secured to the rotatable portion (12b) and are aligned with respect to the curvature of the conduit by means of an elongated flat strip (20), secured to the rotatable portion (12b) and extending longitudinally therefrom. Driving means (14) is provided to urge the probe (10) longitudinally through the conduit (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence J. Edwards
  • Patent number: 4663858
    Abstract: A slit measurement device (10) is provided for taking various measurements of slit thickness along the slit's length. The device (10) includes a thin elongated probe (14) that is insertable into the slit (18) and which has a wide but flat end portion (26). The probe (14) is rotated in both a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction with rotation in both directions being constrained by the slit's walls (66,68). The total amount of rotation is used to calculate slit thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Thomas C. Mahoney
  • Patent number: 4659988
    Abstract: Apparatus for measuring precise distances between the turbine shaft and the interior surfaces of the inner and outer cylinders of a turbine is disclosed. A mandrel carrying proximity transducers is placed inside the inner and outer cylinders and rotated to preselected points. A proximeter generates a radio frequency electromagnetic field which is radiated in the immediate area of the proximity transducers. Energy losses caused by eddy currents generated in the interior surface of inner and outer cylinders are converted into linear output by a computer. Distances between the interior surface of the turbine and the transducers are calculated from the linear output. Comparison of measurements made with the top halves of the turbine removed with measurements made with the turbine halves installed permit determination of the "sag" in the turbine spindle introduced when the turbine is assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Inventors: John G. Goff, George W. Johnson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4651436
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for measuring the deviation from a straight line of an elongated passage having opposing sides. The apparatus comprises a member sufficiently bendable and sufficiently large that it can pass through the passage in contact with both of the sides of the passage. Included is a means for measuring the amount that the member bends as it passes through the passage, means for moving the member through the passage between its opposing sides, and means to indicate, collect, and analyze the resultant electrical signals. The apparatus is most useful in measuring and locating deformations in the tubes of the steam generators of nuclear reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Inventor: Peter S. Gaal
  • Patent number: 4596952
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring precise distances between the turbine shaft and the inner cylinder is disclosed. A mandrel carrying proximity transducers is placed inside the inner cylinder and rotated to preselected points. A proximeter sends a voltage to the transducers and the voltage drop from the transducers to the preselected points on the inner surface of the inner cylinder is measured. Then, the top halves of the turbine are installed and voltage drop for the same points is recorded. A computer compares the voltages and converts the difference into engineering units to allow determination of the "sag" in the turbine spindle that will be introduced when the complete turbine is assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1986
    Inventors: John G. Goff, George W. Johnson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4570354
    Abstract: A radius of curvature transducer has an integrally molded body, flexible in a bending mode with two contained wire guide tubes extending the length thereof, spaced laterally from and parallel to the body neutral axis and displaced 90.degree. angularly about the neutral axis. A push-pull wire is fixed to one end of the body and extends freely through each wire guide. An LVDT sensor, having a movable core, is coupled to the free end of each push-pull wire. As the body is subjected to bending, the wires are displaced in the passages and in turn displace the moving member in the LVDT causing signal outputs indicative of the difference in length of the path along which the wire extends relative to the neutral axis. Calculations convert the signals to radius of curvature indications and indications of the coordinates of one end of the transducer body relative to the other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1986
    Assignee: Humphrey Inc.
    Inventor: Charles S. Hindes
  • Patent number: 4562648
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring dimensions, in particular diameters and axial dimensions of parts with rotational symmetry, comprises a support, a system of slides movable with respect to the support, motors for displacing the slides, transducers adapted to provide signals indicative of the positions of the slides and measuring means carried by the system of slides. In order to perform, accurately and quickly, measurements on different types of parts, the system of slides comprises a longitudinal slide and two slides movable simultaneously and symmetrically along the same transversal directions. The measuring means comprise two measuring heads each of which is fixed to a relevant transversal slide and adapted to measure both in longitudinal and transversal directions. The measurements of the parts are obtained by combining the signals of the transducers and those provided by the measuring heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: Finike Italiana Marposs S.p.A.
    Inventor: Franco Danielli
  • Patent number: 4543726
    Abstract: An apparatus for ascertaining the extent of deviation of the actual position of a hole in a bulky workpiece from the desired position has a mandrel which is reciprocable to move its conical tip into and from the opening. The tip is followed by a main portion which fits snugly into the opening. If the hole is out of position, the mandrel is shifted laterally during penetration of its tip into the hole as a result of sliding movement of the external surface of the tip relative to the surface surrounding the hole. The extent of lateral movement of the mandrel in several direction is monitored by discrete gauges which transmit signals denoting the extent of deviation of actual position of the hole from the desired position in the respective directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1985
    Inventors: Gerhard Lauer, Alfred Morawietz, Jurgen Wild
  • Patent number: 4516326
    Abstract: There is disclosed an electromechanical device which uses a digital depth ge micrometer with a probe in combination with a read-out voltmeter to provide automatically recordable profiles of impacted crater sections. The circuit electrically connected to the voltmeter has a Zener circuit which transposes the mechanical movement of the probe to readable and recordable electronic signal information. In one example of its use the recorded data refer to the profile of an exploded metallic crater formed by the impact of a shaped-charge ballistic warhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Vincent J. Calcagno, Jr.