Means for and method of gauging articles

Claim 2

Gauging device for sensing changes in the dimensional measurements of, or measuring, an elongate article passing through it and containing a passage for the article, a chamber in the passage interjacent the entrance to and the exit from the passage, a first duct to admit a controlled constant supply of low pressure fluid to the chamber, a fluid logic circuit, and a second duct to convey fluid from the chamber to be fed into the fluid logic circuit, variations in the rate of escape of fluid through the space defined by the surface of the article and the surface of the passage affecting the flow rate of the fluid from the chamber through the second duct, such affected flow rate acting as a control signal to the fluid logic circuit.

Claim 3

Gauging device as claimed in claim 1 in which the first duct and the second duct are coaxial, either one of the ducts being the annular duct.

Claim 4

Gauging device as claimed in claim 1 including controlling means mounted adjacent the entrance to or the exit from the passage by which the effective bore of the passage may be restricted.

Claim 5

Gauging device as claimed in claim 3 in which the controlling means is a ring of flexible material compressed in an axial direction.

Claim 6

Gauging device as claimed in claim 3 in which the controlling means is a die.

Claim 7

Gauging device as claimed in claim 1 in which the fluid is air.

Claim 8

Gauging device as claimed in claim 1 in which the elongate article is incendiary or detonating cord or fuse.

Claim 9

Gauging device as claimed in claim 1 in which the elongate article is a fiber thread, wire, rod, tube or other article of desired cross section of metal, metal alloy, synthetic plastics or natural material.

Claim 10

The gauging device of claim 1 wherein said fluid logic circuit is also the source of supply of said low-pressure fluid.

Claim 11

Method of sensing changes in the dimensional measurements of, or measuring, an elongate article comprising passing the elongate article through a passage and a chamber interjacent the entrance to and the exit from the passage in a gauging device, admitting a controlled constant supply of low-pressure fluid to the chamber through a first duct and allowing fluid to flow from the chamber through a second duct to a fluid logic circuit, changes in the dimensional measurements of the of the elongate article causing variations in the rate of escape of fluid from the chamber through the space between the surface of the article and the surface of the passage aNd such variations affecting the rate of flow of the fluid through the second duct, the affected flow rate acting as a control signal to the fluid logic circuit.

Claim 12

Method of sensing changes in the dimensional measurements of, or measuring, an elongate article comprising passing the elongate article through a passage and a chamber interjacent the entrance to and the exit from the passage in a gauging device, admitting a controlled constant supply of low-pressure fluid to the chamber through a first duct and allowing fluid to flow from the chamber through a second duct to a fluid logic circuit, changes in the dimensional measurements of the of the elongate article causing variations in the rate of escape of fluid from the chamber through the space between the surface of the article and the surface of the passage aNd such variations affecting the rate of flow of the fluid through the second duct, the affected flow rate acting as a control signal to the fluid logic circuit.

Claim 13

Method of sensing changes in the dimensional measurements of or measuring, an elongate article as claimed in claim 10 and including the step of supplying low pressure fluid to said chamber from said fluid logic circuit.

Claim 14

Method of sensing changes in the dimensional measurements of, or measuring, an elongate article as claimed in claims 10 in which the fluid is air.

Claim 15

Method of sensing changes in the dimensional measurements of, or measuring, an elongate article as claimed in claim 10 and including the step of actuating a warning device with the fluid logic circuit in response to the control signal.