Gage

Claim 2

A gage engageable with first and second surface regions of a workpiece for providing a measurement comprising: a supporting structure; a first measuring element including a contact engageable with the first surface region with the zone of contact between said contact and said first surface region defining a contact location; means for mounting said first measuring element on the supporting structure for movement relative thereto with said contact of said first measuring element moving along a first path; a second measuring element including a contact engageable with the second surface region with the zone of contact between said second surface region and the last mentioned contact defining a contact location; means for mounting said second measuring element on said supporting structure generally in alignment with said first path; the mounting means for one of said measuring elements including means for mounting the contact of said one measuring element for movement relative to said supporting structure along a second path which is generally transverse to a line extending between said contacts of said measuring elements, such movement of said contact of said one measuring element moving the associated contact location; indicator means responsive to the position of said first measuring element along said first path for providing an indication of said measurement; means for controllably moving said contact of said one measuring element along said second path whereby said contact of said second measuring element and said first path can be accurately aligned; and means for fixing said contact of said one measuring element in any one of a plurality of positions along said second path.

Claim 3

A gage as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for controllably moving includes cam means for moving the contact of said one measuring element along said second path.

Claim 4

A gage as defined in claim 1 wherein said one measuring element is said second measuring element.

Claim 5

A gage as defined in claim 1 wherein said one measuring element is said second measuring element and the mounting means therefor includes a body and means for pivotally mounting said body on said supporting structure, said means for controllably moving including cam means cooperating with said body and said supporting structure for pivoting said body.

Claim 6

A gage as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for fixing includes a screw and an over-sized bore in said body, said screw extending through said bore and into said supporting structure with said bore having a sufficiently large cross sectional area to allow limited pivotal movemEnt of said body relative to said supporting structure, said screw being tightenable to fix said body in any one of a plurality of positions.

Claim 7

A gage for providing a measurement of a cavity defined by an arcuate wall comprising: a supporting structure; a first measuring element including a contact engageable with the wall; means for mounting said first measuring element on the supporting structure for movement relative thereto along a first path; a second measuring element including a contact engageable with the wall; means for mounting said second measuring element on said supporting structure; the mounting means for one of said measuring elements including means for mounting the contact of said one measuring element for movement relative to said supporting structure along a second path which is generally transverse to said first path and which extends generally circumferentially of said cavity when the measuring elements are inserted into the cavity to provide said measurement, such movement of such contact along said second path allowing said contacts to be positioned in the same diametral plane; indicator means responsive to the position of said first measuring element along said first path for providing an indication of said measurement; means for controllably moving said contact of said one measuring element along said second path; and means for fixing said contact of said one measuring element in any one of a plurality of positions along said second path.

Claim 8

A gage for providing a measurement of a cavity defined by an arcuate wall comprising: a supporting structure; a first measuring element including a contact engageable with the wall; means for mounting said first measuring element on the supporting structure for movement relative thereto along a first path; a second measuring element including a contact engageable with the wall; means for mounting said second measuring element on said supporting structure; the mounting means for one of said measuring elements including means for mounting the contact of said one measuring element for movement relative to said supporting structure along a second path which is generally transverse to said first path and which extends generally circumferentially of said cavity when the measuring elements are inserted into the cavity to provide said measurement, such movement of such contact along said second path allowing said contacts to be positioned in the same diametral plane; indicator means responsive to the position of said first measuring element along said first path for providing an indication of said measurement; means for controllably moving said contact of said one measuring element along said second path; and means for fixing said contact of said one measuring element in any one of a plurality of positions along said second path.

Claim 9

A gage adapted to make a measurement of a cavity wherein said cavity is defined by arcuate wall means, said gage comprising: a supporting structure; a first measuring element; means for mounting said measuring elements on the supporting structure for movement along a first generally rectilinear path; a centering device; said centering device including a body, at least three circumferentially spaced contacts, means for mounting said contacts on said body with at least a first of said contacts being movable relative to said body to vary the distance between said first contact and a second of said contacts to thereby facilitate insertion of said contacts into cavities of different sizes; means for mounting said body on said supporting structure for pivotal movement of said body relative to the supporting structure about a pivotal axis, said pivotal axis extending generally transverse to said first path; means for fixing said body in any one of a plurality of positions about said pivotal axis; said second contact being generally aligned with said first path; and indicator means responsive to the position of said first measuring element relative to said second contact for providing an indication of said measurement.

Claim 10

A gage adapted to make a measurement of a cavity wherein said cavity is defined by arcuate wall means, said gage comprising: a supporting structure; a first measuring element; means for mounting said measuring elements on the supporting structure for movement along a first generally rectilinear path; a centering device; said centering device including a body, at least three circumferentially spaced contacts, means for mounting said contacts on said body with at least a first of said contacts being movable relative to said body to vary the distance between said first contact and a second of said contacts to thereby facilitate insertion of said contacts into cavities of different sizes; means for mounting said body on said supporting structure for pivotal movement of said body relative to the supporting structure about a pivotal axis, said pivotal axis extending generally transverse to said first path; means for fixing said body in any one of a plurality of positions about said pivotal axis; said second contact being generally aligned with said first path; and indicator means responsive to the position of said first measuring element relative to said second contact for providing an indication of said measurement.

Claim 11

A gage as defined in claim 7 including cam means for moving said body about said axis, said cam means including a cam mounted for movement on one of said body and said supporting structure and a cam follower mounted on the other of said body and said supporting structure.

Claim 12

A gage adapted to make a measurement of a cavity wherein the cavity is defined by arcuate wall means comprising: a supporting structure; a measuring element; means for mounting said measuring element on said supporting structure for movement along a first path relative to said supporting structure; a centering device including a body, at least three circumferentially spaced contacts, means for mounting said contacts on said body with first and second of said contacts being movable to vary the distance between said first and second contacts and a third of said contacts to thereby facilitate insertion of said contacts into cavities of different sizes, and biasing means for urging said first and second contacts away from said third contact; the movement of said measuring element along said first path being generally toward and away from said third contact; means for mounting said body on said supporting sTructure, said first and second contacts being on opposite sides of said measuring element and said third contact being generally diametrically opposite said measuring element, said measuring element and said contacts being insertable into said cavity and into engagement with the wall thereof; indicator means responsive to the position of said measuring element relative to the third contact for providing a measurement of said cavity; an actuator mounted on said supporting structure for movement relative thereto; means drivingly connecting said actuator and said measuring element whereby movement of said actuator moves said measuring element along said first path; and a mounting member interconnecting said first and second contacts for movement together, at least a portion of said mounting member lying along said first path whereby movement of said actuator to move said measuring element generally closer to said third contact causes said finger element to engage said mounting member to thereby move said first and second contacts to reduce the distance between the first and second contacts and the third contact.

Claim 13

A gage adapted to make a measurement of a cavity wherein the cavity is defined by arcuate wall means comprising: a supporting structure; a measuring element; means for mounting said measuring element on said supporting structure for movement along a first path relative to said supporting structure; a centering device including a body, at least three circumferentially spaced contacts, means for mounting said contacts on said body with first and second of said contacts being movable to vary the distance between said first and second contacts and a third of said contacts to thereby facilitate insertion of said contacts into cavities of different sizes, and biasing means for urging said first and second contacts away from said third contact; the movement of said measuring element along said first path being generally toward and away from said third contact; means for mounting said body on said supporting sTructure, said first and second contacts being on opposite sides of said measuring element and said third contact being generally diametrically opposite said measuring element, said measuring element and said contacts being insertable into said cavity and into engagement with the wall thereof; indicator means responsive to the position of said measuring element relative to the third contact for providing a measurement of said cavity; an actuator mounted on said supporting structure for movement relative thereto; means drivingly connecting said actuator and said measuring element whereby movement of said actuator moves said measuring element along said first path; and a mounting member interconnecting said first and second contacts for movement together, at least a portion of said mounting member lying along said first path whereby movement of said actuator to move said measuring element generally closer to said third contact causes said finger element to engage said mounting member to thereby move said first and second contacts to reduce the distance between the first and second contacts and the third contact.

Claim 14

A gage as defined in claim 9 wherein said mounting member carries said first and second contacts and means for mounting said mounting member on said body for movement toward and away from said third contact, said biasing means urging said mounting member generally away from said third contact.

Claim 15

A gage as defined in claim 9 including means for mounting said third contact on said body for movement relative to said body in a direction generally toward and away from said measuring element and means for fixing said third contact in any one of a plurality of positions relative to said body.

Claim 16

A gage as defined in claim 9 including means for adjusting the biasing force of said biasing means.

Claim 17

A gage as defined in claim 9 wherein said body mounting means mounts said body for movement about a pivotal axis which is generally transverse to said first path, said body being pivotal about said pivotal axis to adjust the circumferential location of said contacts relative to said measuring element, said gage including means for fixing said body in any one of a plurality of different positions about said pivotal axis.