Diameter gage for rings and round objects

• US 5,103,571 A
• Filed: 01/08/1991
• Issued: 04/14/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: P.I.M.S. LLC
• Original Assignee: John E. Richards
• Inventors: Richards, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAROIAN, HARRY
• Application Number:
  US07/638,612
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 33/555.1, 33/555.4, 33/561.1
• US Class Current: 33/555.4
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/201 for measuring roundness

Abstract

A gage apparatus for determining uniformity in the inside or outside diameter of flexible rings and generally round objects based on the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. A spring biased lever pivotally mounted on a support plate has a releasable clamp at one end. An indicator is engaged with the lever to indicate the amount of pivotal movement thereof. A thin flexible band of stiff material has one end secured to a spool on the support plate and a portion of its length passes slidably through the clamp and forms a circular loop and its terminal end is fixed to the clamp. The ratio of the distance from the pivot point of the lever to the connection with the band is pi (3.1416) times the distance from the pivot point to the connection with the indicator whereby circumferential measurements are converted and indicated as diametric measurements. As the lever pivots, the diameter of the circular looped portion of the band will increase or decrease.

Claims

1. A gage apparatus for determining uniformity in the diameter of flexible rings and generally round objects based on the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter comprising;

a support for receiving and supporting an annular ring or generally round object,

diametrically expansible and retractable ring engagement means on sad support engagable with a circumference of the ring or generally round object,

lever means pivotally mounted on said support and operatively connected with said ring engagement means to pivot upon expansion or retraction thereof,

controlled pressure means operatively connected with said lever means for controlling the pressure exerted on a circumference of the object being measured by said ring engagement means,

indicator means on said support operatively connected with said lever to indicate the amount of pivotal movement thereof,

said ring engagement means and said indicator means being spaced relative to the pivot point of said lever such that the ratio of the distance from the pivot point to the lever connection with said ring engagement means is pi (3.1416) times the distance from the pivot point to the lever connection with said indicator means whereby circumferential measurements are converted and indicated as diametric measurements, and

said indicator means may be set to zero with said ring engagement means engaged on the circumference of a master ring of a known precise diameter and when said ring engagement means is engaged on the circumference of the object to be measured, the difference between the known diameter and the diameter of the object being measured will be indicated.

2. A gage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein

said indicator means is connected with said lever at a distance of 1.00" from the pivot point thereof and said lever is connected to said ring engagement means at a distance of 3.1416" from said pivot point.

3. A gage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein

said lever means comprises a generally rectangular lever pivotally mounted on said support and having releasable clamp means at one end,

said ring engagement means comprises a thin flexible band of stiff material having one end adjustably secured to said support and a portion of its length passing slidably through said clamp means and forming a circular loop fitting an outside diameter of said ring and its terminal end fixed to said clamp means such that as said lever pivots, the diameter of the circular looped portion of said band will increase or decrease.

4. A gage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein

said lever means comprises a generally rectangular lever pivotally mounted on said support and having releasable clamp means at one end,

said ring engagement means comprises a thin flexible band of stiff material having one end adjustably secured to said support and a portion of its length passing slidably through said clamp means and forming a circular loop fitting an inside diameter of said ring and its terminal end fixed to said clamp means such that as said lever pivots, the diameter of the circular looped portion of said band will increase or decrease.

5. A gage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein

said lever means comprises a generally rectangular lever pivotally mounted on said support and having releasable clamp means at one end,

said ring engagement means comprises a thin flexible band of stiff material having one end adjustably secured to said support and a portion of its length passing slidably through said clamp means and forming a circular loop and its terminal end fixed to said clamp means such that as said lever pivots, the diameter of the circular looped portion of said band will increase or decrease, whereby

with said clamp means released, the looped portion of said band may be set to firmly engage the circumference of a master ring having a known precise diameter and then said clamp means tightened to secure said band to said lever and said indicator means set to zero, and thereafter,

said mater ring may be removed and replaced with an object to be measured and said band firmly engaged with the circumference thereof by the force of said controlled pressure means bearing on said lever and said lever is allowed to pivot corresponding to the changes in the circumference between the master ring and the object being measured, such that

changes in the circumference will pivot said lever and cause said indicator means to show a change in reading corresponding to the diameter change of the measured object.

6. A gage apparatus according to claim 5 wherein

said releasable clamp means is located at one end of said lever at a distance of 3.1416" from the pivot point of said lever, and

said indicator means is operatively connected to said lever at a distance of 1.00" from the pivot point of said lever.

7. A gage apparatus according to claim 6 wherein

said releasable clamping means comprises a clamp member at the outer end of said lever having a clamping surface located 3.1416" from the pivot point of said lever.

8. A gage apparatus according to claim 5 wherein

said band has one end secured and wound on a spool rotatably mounted on said support.

9. A gage apparatus according to claim 8 including

drag means disposed between said support and said spool to provide a light drag on said spool such that it will not turn freely to prevent accidental unwinding of said band.

14. A gage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein

said controlled pressure means comprises a sleeve member mounted on said support member and spaced laterally relative to the pivot point of said lever,

resilient means within said sleeve, and

a plunger member slidably mounted in said sleeve and urged partially outward therefrom by said resilient means to engage said lever and resiliently urge it to pivot about the lever pivot point.

15. A gage apparatus according to claim 14 including

an adjustment screw threadedly received in said sleeve and engaged on said resilient means for adjusting the pressure of engagement of said plunger member with said lever.

16. A gage apparatus according to claim 1 including

calibrations on said adjustment screw corresponding to the pressure being applied to said lever.

17. A gage apparatus according to claim 1 including

an aperture through said support member to receive a finger of the user to facilitate lifting the measured ring or object from said support member.

10. A gage apparatus according to claim including

a guide member secured on said support adapted to slidably receive a portion of said band and guide said band into a circular configuration to engage the circumference of a ring or other object to be measured.

11. A gage apparatus according to claim 10 in which

said band is secured and wound of said spool at one end and extends in a path outwardly from said spool, curves upwardly and is releasably gripped by said clamp at the end of said lever, and passes slidably through said guide member, and then loops around to form a circular loop, and the terminal end of said band is fixed to said guide member, such that

as said lever pivots, said band gripped at the outer end of said lever will slide freely through said guide member and cause the diameter of the looped portion of said band to increase or decrease.

12. A gage apparatus according to claim 11 in which

said band has a straight portion extending between said clamp member and said guide member.

13. A gage apparatus according to claim including

an eccentric member pivotally mounted beneath said lever near its outer end and movable between an engaged position to maintain said lever in an intermediate position for setting the gage to a master ring and a disengaged position to serve as a down stop when said gage is used.