Measuring tool usable with a paint applicator

• US 6,378,220 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2000
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Boucher, Gil, Tiessen, David A, Baioff, Danny
• Primary Examiner(s): BENNETT, GEORGE B
• Application Number:
  US09/546,767
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 116/28.R, 116/35.R, 116/51, 116/52, 116/53, 116/209, 335/02, 336/00, 336/13, 336/45, 337/00, 337/01, 335/57, 335/59, 335/60, 427/8, 118/712, 118/713, 239/73
• US Class Current: 33/502
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/14 for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures G01B5/24 takes precedence

Abstract

The spacing between a paint applicator and an auto body surface can be measured by a tool that is screwable onto the applicator in place of the paint spray head. The measuring tool includes a mounting fixture and a deflectable wand having an effective length that corresponds to an optimum spacing between the auto body surface and paint applicator. The paint applicator can be calibrated (adjusted) while the measuring tool is affixed to the applicator. All paint applicators in the system can be calibrated by a single pass of an auto body through the paint booth in which the paint applicators are located.

Claims

1. A tool for adjusting the distance between a paint applicator and an automotive body surface, said tool comprising:

a probe, and

a fixture for mounting said probe on a paint applicator;

said fixture comprising an abutment member coaxial with said probe, and an internally threaded collar rotatable on said abutment member for temporarily retaining said abutment member in a fixed position relative to said paint applicator.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the paint applicator has a tubular paint supply passage member and a paint spray bell removably secured to said paint supply passage member, said paint spray bell being removed from said tubular paint supply passage member in order to install said tool on the paint applicator.

3. The tool of claim 1, wherein said probe is slidably adjustable on said fixture, whereby the effective length of the tool is variable to obtain different spacings between a paint applicator and an automotive body surface.

4. The tool of claim 1 wherein said probe comprises a wand support extending from said fixture, an elongated wand aligned with said wand support, and a spring means connecting said wand to said wand support, whereby said wand is resiliently deflectable when brought into contact with an automotive body.

5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the paint applicator includes a tubular paint supply conduit and a paint spray bell removably secured to said paint supply conduit, said paint spray bell being removed from said conduit in order to install said tool on the paint applicator;

said probe comprising a rod extending through said abutment member for insertion into the paint supply conduit, an elongated wand aligned with said rod, and a coil spring means connecting said wand to said rod, whereby said wand is resiliently deflectable when brought into contact with an automotive body.

6. The tool of claim 5, wherein said rod is slidably adjustable relative to said abutment member, whereby the effective length of the tool is variable to obtain different spacings between a paint applicator and an automotive body surface.

7. A tool for adjusting the distance between a paint applicator and an automotive body surface, said tool comprising:

a probe insertable onto the paint applicator,

a fixture slidable on said probe, said fixture having means thereon for temporarily securing the fixture to a paint applicator so that said probe extends outwardly away from the applicator;

said probe having markings thereon designating optimum spacings between the paint applicator and the automotive body surface, whereby the paint applicator can be adjusted to conform with said optimum spacings.

8. The tool of claim 7 wherein said fixture comprises a sleeve encircling said probe for abutment against a tubular paint supply conduit in the paint applicator;

said probe comprising a rod slidably extending through said sleeve.

9. The tool of claim 8 and further comprising a set screw for locking said rod in selected positions of adjustment relative to said sleeve.

10. The tool of claim 7, wherein said fixture comprises a sleeve encircling said probe for abutment against a tubular paint supply passage member of the paint applicator, and an internally threaded collar rotatable on said sleeve for temporarily retaining said sleeve in a fixed position relative to the tubular paint supply passage member;

said probe comprising a rod slidably extending through said sleeve.

11. The tool of claim 10 and further comprising a set screw for locking said rod in selected positions of adjustment relative to said sleeve.

12. The tool of claim 7 wherein the paint applicator includes a tubular paint supply passage member and a paint spray bell removably secured to said passage member, said paint spray bell being removed from said tubular paint supply passage member in order to install said tool on the paint applicator.

13. The tool of claim 7, wherein said markings consist of grooves spaced along said rod for selective registry with an end surface of said sleeve, whereby said end surface serves as a reference point for determining the effective length of the probe.

14. The tool of claim 7, wherein said probe comprises a wand support slidably extending through said fixture, a deflectable wand aligned with said rod, and a coil spring means connecting said wand to said rod;

said wand having a spherical tip formed of a material that is incapable of scratching an automotive body surface.