Abstract: A method and device (1) for cutting a sealing band (4) on a reel (2) of web material, in which the reel (2), arranged on a support (8) and coupled to a motorized unwinding device (7), is rotated about its axis (10) until the end edge (6) of the initial turn (5) of the reel (2) passes in front of a sensor (17), which causes the motorized unwinding device (7) to move the edge (6) of the initial turn (5) of the reel (2) towards a cutting member (21) carried by the support (8) and comprising two appendices (22) which are perpendicular to the axis (10) of rotation of the reel (2) and are joined together by a V-shaped concave cutting edge (23); the appendices (22) of the cutting member (21) are elastically urged into contact with the outer periphery (11) of the reel (2), to engage below the free edge (6) of the initial turn (5) from opposite sides of the band (4), and transversely cut the band (4).

Abstract: A construction layout marker has two marker wheels (1 and 2) positioned in tandem on a wheel frame (3) with a handle frame (6) slanted upwardly from the front marker wheel (1). The two marker wheels are positioned a select distance apart and caused to rotate equally with a rotation equalizer (20-23) to coordinate selective marking with both marker wheels. A pivot marker fork (8) in combination with a wheel position marker (45, 46) provide accurate measurement and marking from a desired starting point. Automatically adjustable roller guides (25-31) at each side provide accurate distancing from edges (24) of surfaces (14) being marked. A brake (32) operated from the handle frame (6) holds the tandem marker wheels in fixed marker relationship for transferring marking indicia to parallel or offset construction surfaces and members. Non-slip surfaces (54) for different types of construction materials are positional on the marker wheels. Ink cartridges with felt marker edges are positional in each wheel.

Abstract: A method for reading the shape of any elastically deformable article uses a contact feeler to follow the shape to be read. The contact feeler is applied to the article with a force of particular value adapted to cause localized deformation of the article and the coordinates of the contact feeler are noted at the relevant time. Two successive coordinate readings are systematically carried out, one with a first non-zero set point value of the contact feeler application force and the other with a second non-zero set point value of the application force different than the first set point value. The coordinates for a zero set point value of the contact feeler application force are deduced mathematically from the two coordinate readings.

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.

Abstract: A multi-purpose drawing ruler comprising a ruler body, a direction wheel shaft assembly, two brake assemblies, two reset shafts and two retainers, in which the ruler body is in the form of a straight ruler with markings of length along an edge, a plurality of holes at appropriate positions along the markings for passing through of a drawing pen, a pivot at the right end of the markings and another pivot at the left end of the markings, a rail at the front end for attachment of two retainers, a slot in the middle of the ruler body for installation of the direction wheel shaft assembly, a pair of rail at each end of the slot for installation of a brake assembly, an elliptical hole at each end of the slot and a reset indicator on its top so that after placing of the direction wheel shaft assembly in the slot, each reset shaft is fixed to a screw hole at the direction wheel shaft after passing through the elliptical hole and the hole at the brake assembly is disclosed.

Abstract: A protractor has a main body, a frame and an indicating means. The main body comprises a vertically arranged flat board provided with two pressing edges attached integrally and respectively to upper and lower sides thereof and with a slot. Each of the pressing edges has a plane portion facing outwardly. The frame is disposed inside the slot and is provided with two positioning arms and an arcuate portion bridging the two positioning arms and having scales marked thereon. The indicating means has a shaft base mounted on the frame and a pointer mounted pivotally on a shaft mounted on the shaft base. The pointer has one end extending to reach the scales and other end provided with a balancing weight serving to keep the pointer to remain perpendicular to a horizontal surface, against which an object intended to be measured is set, at the time when the plane portion of the main body is placed on the measured surface of the object.

Abstract: A coordinate measuring instrument, wherein a measuring element support member (1) having a measuring element (2) is movably supported on a mount plate (3), this measuring element (2) is abutted against the surface and the like of a work to be measured, which is mounted on the mount plate (3), and relative movement values between this measuring element (2) and the work are detected to measure a configuration and the like of the work. In this measuring instrument, vertical surfaces (3A, 3B, 50A and 50B) are formed on the mount plate (3) and air bearings (47, 52 and 53) opposed to these vertical surfaces are provided on legs (8 and 9) of the measuring element support member (1), so that the measuring element support member (1) can be regulated in its position in a direction of X-axis.

Abstract: A tool for holding fabric during cutting, measuring, etc., consisting of a handle and a number of sheets, each of a different size and of transparent material, each including the handle selectively connectable to each of the transparent sheets, each sheet having indicia marked on the transparent sheets to assist in cutting, measuring, etc.

Abstract: The invention provides an electronic tilt measuring system for measuring the relative tilts of various platforms such as weapons on a ship. The basic system comprises an inclinometer (1) at each platform, a central control and display unit (2) and a computer (4). The output signals from the inclinometers (1) are passed to the central unit (2) and averaged over a synchronized time period to give an average inclination measurement with respect to the gravity vector over the measurement period. The data is then passed to the computer (4) where it is analysed. The computer (4) is programmed to calculate measured tilts and relative tilts and to produce graphical representations of the data.

Abstract: A depth gauge for a fishing line of the manometric type, having a transparent tube plugged at one end and a valve means closing the other end, allowing a measurable amount of water into the tube and entrapping it therein, a calibrated depth scale to compare the volume of entrapped water to the related depth, and a reset means to release the entrapped water and reset the gauge. The gauge is used when fishing, trolling or casting, wherein maximum depth obtained by the gauge and other attached tackle can be determined when the gauge is retrieved from below the surface of a body of water, whether the gauge is lowered vertically or at any angle from the horizontal into the water.

Abstract: A guide facilitating the movement of a carpentry tool, such as a tape rule or hand-held power saw, across an article includes a U-shaped portion which may be compressed with the fingers about an edge section of the tool and a fence portion joined to the attachment portion for sliding movement along the edge of an article. The fence portion includes a planar mid-section which may be moved in sliding engagement with the article edge and arcuate end sections positioned at opposite ends of the mid-section for protecting the fingers used to compress the U-shaped portion from the edge of the article as the guide is moved therealong.

Abstract: The measurement apparatus comprises a stand supporting a series of measurement segments hinged to one another and having angular position sensors for sensing the angular positions of the measurement segments, a series of hinged support segments adjacent to the measurement segments, link members fixed to the support segments and engaged at least partially around the measurement segments to support them in a direction opposing the force of gravity, and assistance members acting on the support members to counter the force of gravity.

Abstract: A method for determining and, when appropriate, compensating for the linear (heat) expansion of elongated bodies (1), such as physical length scales (1) or of elongated bodies which are intended to support physical length scales on, e.g., instruments or measuring machines equipped with physical length scales, in which measurement errors occur because of length deviations of the scale (1) as a result of deviations from a reference temperature at which the scale was calibrated.The method is mainly characterized by measuring the linear expansion of the body (1) in relation to at least one reference (6) made of a material whose coefficient of linear (heat) expansion (.alpha.) deviates from the coefficient of linear (heat) expansion of the body material, and thereafter determining, when appropriate, a compensation factor for correcting the body length.The invention also relates to an arrangement for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A flush pin gauge for checking the position of a center pin in a coaxial connector includes a housing, a fitting on one end of the housing for attaching to a coaxial connector, and a gauge pin slidingly restrained within the housing for engaging the center pin of the coaxial connector. When the gauge is inserted over the conductor spring within the coaxial connector, the gauge pin engages the center pin and causes it to be moved and causes it to be moved longitudinally of the housing. At an opposite end of the housing, there is provided a gauging apparatus which determines from the position of an end of the gauge pin extending through the housing the depth of the pin below the top of the conductor spring. The gauging apparatus comprises a marker which has a width corresponding to the tolerance allowed for the depth of the center pin so that if the end of the gauge pin falls within the marker width, the conductor is acceptable.

Abstract: An annular gauge for determining the depth of a fishing lure on a fishing line angularly offset from vertical provides a chart displaying depth indicia. Each indicia accurately corresponds to a predetermined angular offset of the line. The indicia itself is positioned on the annular chart at an angularly offset location corresponding to the angle for which the indicia is accurate. As a result, when the gauge is properly aligned on the fishing rod, the approximately proper depth indicia is displayed at the top of the chart when the fishing rod is rotated by the offset angle.

Abstract: Methods for verifying the mechanical integrity of an alignment bracket, particularly a multi-configurable alignment bracket, used for aligning co-rotatable in-line machine shafts, and for determining the amount of alignment bracket "sag" to be accounted for when subsequently employing readings taken with the alignment bracket. The invention employs a previously-established relationship between sag and deflection of the alignment bracket under the influence of a known force to determine sag and to verify mechanical integrity of the alignment bracket in situ, avoiding the need for the usual prealignment sag determination on a separate straight pipe or mandrel. In the practice of the method, the alignment bracket is set up in a position for use, on the actual shafts being aligned. The extension bar of the alignment bracket is positioned above the centerlines of the shafts, and a known force is applied by hanging a known weight at a predetermined point on the alignment bracket.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal display unit comprising liquid twisted nematic liquid crystal material sandwiched between two polarizers. Transparent electrodes are provided on each side of the layer of liquid crystal for locally energizing liquid crystal material in the vicinity of two energized transparent electrodes. Polarized light passing through one polarizer is twisted or not twisted depending upon the energization state of the liquid crystal material and depending upon the second polarizer orientation does or does not pass therethrough. Accordingly, depending upon energization locations, images are formed which can be projected upon a screen. In preferred embodiments the liquid crystal display unit is used in conjunction with a cabinet to provide a low stress work station. A further embodiment includes a folded optical path in combination with the liquid crystal display so as to provide a compact projector.

Abstract: An improved indicating thread gage for gaging the functional fit and individual thread parameters of threaded products, especially taper threaded products. Thread form elements engage the threaded product and are capable of longitudinally traversing the threaded product while an indicator transduces radial displacement of the thread form element.

Abstract: A position measuring apparatus is described wherein a probing unit is connected with a first object and probes the graduation of a measuring scale which is arranged upon a support member. The support member is fastened to a second object. The support member and the second object have different coefficients of thermal expansion. The support member is rigidly connected with an auxiliary support member. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the auxiliary support member differs from the thermal expansion coefficient of the support member. The cross-sections of the support member and the auxiliary support member are chosen so that the resulting coefficient of thermal expansion of the structural combination of the support member and the auxiliary support member is substantially equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the second object.

Abstract: An automatic plumb, level, pointing and distance measuring tool uses a visible laser diode to project a beam in any of several different modes through a beam exit window. The tool, approximately the size and shape of a tape measure, can be placed on one edge to project a tilt-compensated vertical beam. Placed on another edge 90.degree.-rotated, the tool projects through the same exit window a tilt-compensated horizontal beam. When laid on either of its larger flat sides, the tilt compensation becomes inoperative and the tool projects a beam which is fixed relative to the housing. Acoustic distance measurement is facilitated using a second component or target side device which is activated to send an acoustic signal across a space to be measured, toward the laser tool. A receiver in the laser tool detects arrival of the acoustic signal and causes the laser to project a characteristically modulated or pulsed beam, received at a photodetector on the target side device.