Patent Application
20050235511
The invention is directed to a mechanical radius gauge suitable for measuring the inner and outer radii of pipes, tubes and other curved surfaces.
Radius gauges are well known, and usually comprise a set of arcs of known radius which can be fitted to exterior and interior surfaces of pipes and tubes. An electronic version to measure the radius of a curved surface is commercially available, but applicant is not aware of its principles or internal mode of operation. Otherwise applicant has no knowledge of devices related to instant invention.
The invention comprises a main longitudinal body with a slot in which slides an indicator, the main longitudinal body ends in a central contact point. Paired arms on either side of the main longitudinal body provide movable side contact points. The side arms are mechanically linked to the indicator and movement of the side contact points relative to the central contact point moves the indicator. The indicator slides against an empirically derived scale giving the radius of the surface measured. The invention can measure either inner (concave) radii or outer (convex) radii. A variable arc can be attached to the contact points, three point contact is necessary in practice to define the true radius of a curve.
It is a principal object of the invention to provide a radius gauge comprising a central contact projection aligned with a central slot with an indicator slide associated with a scissors linkage, which has operatively associated therewith contact arms having side contact points spaced apart from the central contact point, so that when the central and side contact points touch a curved surface the scissors linkage locates the indicator slide uniquely for each radius of the curved surface. It is subsidiary object of the invention that the scissors linkage comprises paired indicator arms pivoting about a pivot pin in the indicator slide and paired pivot arms pivoting a pivot pin in the central projection, with each indicator arm linked to each pivot arm by a pivot pin. It is a further subsidiary object of the invention that each contact arm is linked to one of the pivot arms and projects beyond the central projection pivot to the side contact point, whereby the central and side contact points can touch a convex curved surface. It is a further subsidiary object of the invention that each contact arm is linked to one of the pivot arms and projects a distance less than the central projection pivot to the side contact point, whereby the central and side contact points can touch a concave curved surface. A further subsidiary object of the invention that each contact arm is pivotally linked to a pivot pin on each pivot arm, and each contact arm has a link arm having therein a slot slidably engaging a carriage bolt on the pivot arm, so the contact arm can be moved from a locked open position to a folded position, whereby the side contact points of the contact arms in locked open position together with the central contact point can touch a concave curved surface. A further subsidiary object of the invention that each contact arm is pivotally linked to a pivot pin on each pivot arm, and each contact arm has a recess to engage a carriage bolt the pivot arm, so the contact arm can be moved from a locked open position to an unlocked folded position, whereby the side contact points of the contact arms in open position together with the central contact point can touch a convex curved surface. A further subsidiary object of the invention is that the contact points have recesses to engage pins from a variable arc. A further subsidiary object of the invention is to provide a variable arc, attachable to the radius gauge, which is a flexible rectangular sheet, with paired end brackets and to engage the contact point recesses. A further subsidiary object of the invention is to provide flex aperture in the variable arc. Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following specification, accompanying drawings and appended claims.
The invention in one broad aspect is directed to a radius gauge, which has a main longitudinal body with a central contact projection at one end, and a central longitudinal slot aligned with the central contact projection. The slot has a first slot end nearer the projection and a second slot end further from the projection. Typically the body and projection have a common longitudinal axis. An indicator slide is slidably mounted in the slot. A scissors linkage joins the indicator slide to the longitudinal body being attached by a first pivot pin to the indicator slide and a second pivot pin to the body. The scissors linkage has operatively associated therewith contact arms, which have side contact points spaced apart from the central contact point. When these central and side contact points touch a curved surface the scissors linkage locates the indicator slide uniquely for each radius of the curved surface. The main longitudinal body conveniently has two planar faces. Preferably the indicator slide has at least one indicator point on at least one side of the slot. More preferably the longitudinal body has two opposed faces and at least one scale on one face extending along a side of the slot. This scale has marked thereon radii indicia corresponding to the position of the side contact points, at least one indicator point of the indicator slide indicating the radius on the scale corresponding to side contact point positions. Preferably the indicator slide has two plates, each plate abutting one face and extending across the slot. More preferably the indicator slide has a lock comprising a bolt passing through the plates and a brake knob threadably engaging the bolt. The pivot pins are perpendicular respectively to body and slide. Preferably the scissors linkage comprises paired indicator arms pivoting about the first indicator pivot pin and paired pivot arms pivoting about the second body pivot pin, each indicator arm being linked to each pivot arm by a hinge pivot pin. The hinge pivot pin is typically a pin or rivet passing through both arms. Preferably the paired indicator arms are pivotally mounted on the indicator pivot pin on either side of the indicator slide, while the paired pivot arms are pivotally mounted on the fixed pivot pin on either side of the projection. The pivot pins are typically a pin or rivet and extend on both sides of the indicator slide and the projection. The indicator arm on one side of the indicator slide is linked to the pivot arm on the same side of the contact projection by a first hinge pivot pin, the indicator arm on the other side of the indicator slide being linked to the pivot arm on the same side of the contact projection by a second hinge pivot pin. In one form each contact arm is linked to one of the pivot arms and the contact arm projects from the pivot arm beyond the second body pivot pin to the side contact point, whereby the central and side contact points can touch a convex curved surface. Preferably each contact arm is pivotally linked to a pivot pin on each pivot arm, and each contact arm has a recess to engage a carriage bolt on each pivot arm, so the contact arm can be moved from a locked open position to an unlocked folded position, whereby the side contact points of the contact arms in open position together with the central contact point can touch a convex curved surface. In another form each contact arm is linked to one each pivot arm and projects a distance less than the central projection point to a side contact point, whereby the central and side contact points can touch a concave curved surface. Preferably each contact arm is pivotally linked to a hinge pivot pin on each pivot arm, and each contact arm has a link arm having therein a slot slidably engaging a carriage bolt on the pivot arm, so the contact arm can be moved from an open position to a closed position, whereby the side contact points of the contact arms in open position together with the central contact point can touch a concave curved surface. Preferably a first pivot arm-contact arm pair is pivotally mounted and fixedly joined on a first side of the contact projection and a second pivot arm-contact arm pair is pivotally mounted and fixedly joined on a second side of the contact projection. Preferably the contact points have recesses to engage pins from a variable arc. The side contact points have one recess and the central contact point has two recesses. A variable arc may be employed with the radius gauge. This variable arc to engage the radius gauge comprises a flexible rectangular sheet, having paired metal end brackets to engage the side contact point recesses, and a center bracket to engage the central contact point recesses. More preferably the variable arc has flex apertures, which conveniently together form extended longitudinal triangles lying between the diagonals of the rectangular sheet separated by transverse strips. More preferably the sheet comprises any resilient material, such as metal, lexan, or materials of similar properties as known to those skilled in the art, such as engineering plastics.
In a further broad aspect the invention is directed to a radius gauge comprising a main longitudinal body having a central contact projection at one end, with a central longitudinal slot aligned with the central contact projection. This slot having a first slot end nearer the projection and a second slot end further from the projection. An indicator slide is slidably mounted in the slot, having at least one indicator point on at least one side of the slot. The indicator slide has two plates, each plate abutting one face and extending across the slot. The indicator slide has a lock comprising a bolt passing through the plates and a brake knob threadably engaging the bolt. The longitudinal body has two opposed faces and at least one scale on one face extending along a side of the slot, the scale having marked thereon radii indicia corresponding to the position of the side contact points. The indicator point(s) of the indicator slide indicating the radius on the scale corresponding to side contact point positions. A scissors linkage comprises paired indicator arms pivotally mounted on the first indicator pivot pin on either side of the indicator slide, and paired pivot arms are pivotally mounted on the fixed pivot pin on either side of the projection. The indicator arm on one side of the indicator slide is linked to the pivot arm on the same side of the contact projection by a first contact hinge pivot pin, the indicator arm on the other side of the indicator slide is linked to the pivot arm on the same side of the contact projection by a second contact hinge pivot pin. The scissors linkage has operatively associated therewith contact arms having side contact points spaced apart from the central contact point. When the central and side contact points touch a curved surface the scissors linkage locates the indicator slide uniquely for each radius of the curved surface. In one form each contact arm is pivotally linked to a hinge pivot pin on each pivot arm, and each contact arm has a link arm having therein a slot slidably engaging a rivet on the pivot arm, so the contact arm can be moved from an open position to a closed position, whereby the side contact points of the contact arms in open position together with the central contact point can touch a concave curved surface. In another form each contact arm is pivotally linked to a pivot pin on each pivot arm, and each contact arm has a recess to engage a carriage bolt on each pivot arm, so the contact arm can be moved from a locked open position to an unlocked folded position, whereby the side contact points of the contact arms in open position together with the central contact point can touch a convex curved surface.
Numeral 10 generally indicates the inner radius gauge to measure concave surfaces, having inner radius gauge 12 and preferred but optional variable arc 14. Radius gauge 12 has body 16, extending from center contact point 18 to end 20. Indicator slide 22 slides in slot 24, with indicator points 26 on either side, which indicate radius in either metric or imperial measures on scale plate 28. Radius gauge body 16 has optional end bulges 30, which were found when present to make handling easier. Indicator slide 22 has also has brake or locking knob 32 and indicator hinge 34. Pivotally attached to indicator slide 22 by indicator hinge 34 is upper indicator arm 36 and lower indicator arm 38. Indicator arm 36 is pivotally attached at outer pivot hinge 40 to pivot arm 42, similarly indicator arm 38 is pivotally attached at outer pivot hinge 44 to pivot arm 46. Pivot arms 42 and 46 are both pivotally attached to center contact hinge 50. Contact arm 52 is pivotally attached to pivot arm 42 by contact hinge 54, link arm 56 and link arm slot 58 engage locking nut bolt assembly 60, allowing contact arm 52 to be moved from an extended measuring position to a folded collapsed position. Similarly contact arm 62 is pivotally attached to pivot arm 46 by contact hinge 64, link arm 66 and link arm slot 68 engage locking nut bolt assembly 60, allowing contact arm 62 to be moved from an extended measuring position to a folded collapsed position. Contact arm 52 has outer contact point 72 with associated retention recess 74, contact arm 62 has outer contact point 76 and associated retention recess 78. Center contact point 18 has paired retention recesses 82 and 84. Optional variable arc 14 has flexible body 86, end brackets 88 and 90 and center bracket 92. End brackets 88 and 90 have slots 94 and 96 respectively allowing attachment to recess 74 in contact arm point 72 and to recess 78 in contact arm point 76 by rivets or pins which allow allow limited movement of brackets 88 and 90 with respect to contact arms 54 and 62. Center bracket 92 has paired apertures 98 and 100 which similarly allow attachment by rivets or pins to recesses 82 and 84 in center contact point 18. Variable arc 14 is flexible allowing it to fit curved surfaces, with center bracket 92 fixed relative to gauge body 16 and center contact point 18, while outer brackets 88 and 90 can move with respect to contact arm points 72 and 74 to allow variable arc 14 to conform to curvature of a surface measured.
Outer radius gauge 210 is generally similar to inner radius gauge 10, and measures convex surfaces having outer radius gauge 212 and preferred but optional variable arc 14, identical to that associated with inner radius gauge 10. Radius gauge 212 has body 16, extending from center contact point 18 to end 20. Indicator slide 22 slides in slot 24, with indicator points 26 on either side, which indicate radius in either metric or imperial measures on scale plate 28. Radius gauge body 16 has optional end bulges 30, which were found when present to make handling easier. Indicator slide 22 has also has brake or locking knob 32 and indicator hinge 34. Pivotally attached to indicator slide 22 by indicator hinge 34 is upper indicator arm 236 and lower indicator arm 238. Indicator arm 236 is pivotally attached at outer contact hinge 240 to pivot arm 242, while indicator arm 238 is similarly pivotally attached at outer contact hinge 244 to pivot arm 246. Pivot arm 242 is pivotally mounted on center contact hinge 250 above body 16, while similarly pivot arm 246 is pivotally mounted on center contact hinge 250 below body 16. Contact arm 252 is pivotally mounted by contact hinge 254 on and above pivot arm 242, which has locking nut bolt assembly 260 which engages recess 258 of contact arm 252. Contact arm 252 has terminal outer contact point 272 with retention recess 274. Contact arm 262 is pivotally mounted by contact hinge 264 below above pivot arm 246, which has locking nut bolt assembly 270 which engages a recess of contact arm 262. Contact arm 262 has terminal outer contact point 276 with retention recess 278. Optional variable arc 14 is identical to that of
Variable arc 14 is flexible sheet 86, formed of 0.1 in. (2½ mm) resilient material, such as metal, lexan or material of similar properties known to those skilled in the art, such as engineering plastics. Sheet 86 has flex apertures 134, 136, 138, 140 and 142, 144, 146 of general triangular (134, and 142) and trapezoidal (136, 138, 144, and 146) shape, which allow flexing of the variable arc to conform to a surface, these apertures have rounded apexes to avoid cracking from fatigue. The apertures generally conform to an extended triangle formed by the diagonals of variable arc 14 separated by transverse strips for reinforcement. Sheet 86 has end attachment apertures 124 and 126 for attachment of metal end brackets 96 and 98 and center attachment apertures 128 for attachment of center bracket 100. Scales 130 (metric) and 132 (imperial) are present (as shown they are reversed as they would be readable from the gauge or back side of variable arc 14). Eyelets 148 attach brackets 88, 90 and 92 to variable arc 14. Apertures 124 and 16 are grouped as close as possible since attachment plates 150 and 152 of brackets 88 and 90 form a rigid plane, making the ends of variable arc tangential rather than circumferential. ⅛ inch (3 mm) rivet 154 in slot 94 of bracket 88, rivets 156 and 158 in apertures 98 and 100 of bracket 92 and rivet 160 in slot 96 of bracket 90, engage retention recesses 74, 78, 82 and 84 of inner radius gauge 10, and retention recesses 74, 78, 182 and 184 of outer radius gauge 210. The brackets are 0.035 inch (0.9 mm) steel.
The elements are metal, powder coated, or anodized aluminum of 0.10 or 0.125 in. thickness (2½ to 3 mm), and are laser cut to shape for precision manufacture, 0.10 inch is preferred as it is easier to laser cut without edge slag formation. The powder coating may be clear, opaque and/or colored to taste. The nylon washers are generally 0.03 in. (¾ mm) thick with inner diameters suitable for the bolts, pins and rivets and appropriate outer diameters as is readily understood by those skilled in the art. Screws, bolts and nuts are stainless steel or zinc or similar appropriate material as readily understood by those skilled in the art. Thumb nuts can be any suitable material, as those skilled in the art are aware, but plastic is preferred for reduction of wear. The contact ends side and center in all cases have radii of 0.125 in. (3 mm). The scale board is 15/1000 in. (⅜ mm) thick and made from lexan, or materials of similar properties, as known to those skilled in the art, which is readily printed on, the printing is underneath and can be read through the board, so does not wear off.
In use the embodiments of
The scale markings of scale 28 were originally determined empirically, by marking indicator positions against known pipe diameters. An attempt was made to derive an equation which would give positions corresponding to diameters using a computer program, but this proved far beyond the skill or knowledge of the programmer, who was unable to produce a satisfactory working equation or program. The empirical scale positions were checked by simulating scale models of radius gauges of the invention, using AutoCAD, a computerised drawing program, and testing these against scale models of concave and convex arcs of known radius. The completed radius scales were then tested against known pipe diameters, internal and external, and found accurate within ½% for radii from 6 to 144 inches (150 to 3600 mm). As indicated on the scale board the markings are accurate to 1/1000 inch, with respect to their location. The movement of the scissors linkage multiplies the movement of the contact points by up to nine times. At 144 inches an inch difference in radius corresponds to about 1/1000 inch difference in outer contact point location, or a movement of about 9/1000 inch on the scale. The described embodiments are about 12 in. (30 cm) wide by about 16 in. (40 cm) long, these dimensions can be readily changed to measure larger or smaller radii.
As those skilled in the art would realize these preferred described details and materials and components can be subjected to substantial variation, modification, change, alteration, and substitution without affecting or modifying the function of the described embodiments.
Although embodiments of the invention have been described above, it is not limited thereto, and it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations form part of the present invention insofar as they do not depart from the spirit, nature and scope of the claimed and described invention.
