Micrometer measuring devices

Claim 2

A micrometer measuring device comprising: a. a frame having a first reference means; b. a spindle mounted in said frame for axial movement and having a threaded section; c. a control nut extending partially around a longitudinal portion of the threaded section of said spindle and having threads mating with those of the spindle; d. means for positioning the control nut at a set longitudinal distance from the first reference means, and e. resilient force applying means acting transverse to the axis of said spindle for continuously urging the mating threads of the spindle and nut into tight engagement with each other to maintain the roots and crests of the threads of the spindle in continuous alignment with the roots and crests of tHe control nut and provided for accurate readings of the micrometer, the resilient force applying means comprising a floating second nut means spaced from, non-engaging with, and opposing said control nut and having threads mating with those of the threaded section of the spindle, and a biasing means engaged with said second nut means for urging said second nut means against said spindle.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein said biasing means is a spring.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1 including adjusting means to vary the tension of said biasing means.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 wherein the threaded length of said control nut is about at least twice the pitch diameter of the threads of said spindle.

Claim 6

The device of claim 4 wherein the threaded length of said second nut means is the same as the threaded length of said control nut.

Claim 7

The device of claim 1 wherein said control nut is fixed to said frame.

Claim 8

The device of claim 1 wherein said control nut and said second nut means are identical half nuts.

Claim 9

The device of claim 1 wherein the threaded length of said spindle is at least two inches to provide a micrometer range of zero to two inches.

Claim 10

The device of claim 1 including a direct reading counter mechanism connected to the spindle for indicating the micrometer measurement.

Claim 11

The device of claim 9 wherein gears connect the counter mechanism to the spindle and a choker plate prevents the gears from binding.

Claim 12

The device of claim 10 wherein the choker plate engages the counter mechanism to position it in the micrometer frame.

Claim 13

The device of claim 11 wherein the choker plate engages one end of the counter mechanism and said biasing means engages an opposite end of the counter mechanism to aid in positioning it in the micrometer frame.

Claim 14

The device of claim 12 wherein said biasing means is an L-shaped flat leaf spring.

Claim 15

The device of claim 13 wherein said leaf spring comprises a contact arm engaged with said second nut means and a base arm perpendicular to said contact arm.

Claim 16

The device of claim 14 including an adjusting screw engaged with said base arm to vary the tension of the leaf spring.

Claim 17

The device of claim 9 wherein said biasing means is a flat leaf spring and said second nut means is pivotally engaged with said spring.

Claim 18

The device of claim 1 wherein one of said control nuts and second nut means has two spaced apart threaded sections.

Claim 19

The device of claim 17 wherein the threads of the other of said control nut and second nut means are between said spaced apart threaded sections.

Claim 20

The device of claim 1 wherein said control nut and said opposing second nut means are each contacted by biasing means acting transverse to the spindle axis.

Claim 21

The device of claim 19 wherein said biasing means connects said control nut and opposing nut.

Claim 22

The device of claim 19 wherein said biasing means comprises a generally U-shaped spring frame having a bifurcated first end plate to provide two spaced spring arms, with one of said spring arms acting on the control nut and the other of said spring arms acting on the second nut means.

Claim 23

The device of claim 21 wherein a direct reading counter mechanism is secured to said spring frame and is connected to the spindle for indicating the micrometer measurement.

Claim 24

The device of claim 22 wherein said spring frame comprises said first end plate, a second end plate parallel to said first end plate and a connecting plate, said counter mechanism is secured to said connecting plate, said second end plate has an opening, and the spindle extends through the opening to position the counter mechanism within the frame.

Claim 25

The device of claim 19 wherein said control nut and said second nut means each have a groove perpendicular to the axis of the spindle and said biasing means is a U-shaped spring having a first spring leg seated in the groove of the control nut and a second spring seated in the groove of the second nut means.

Claim 26

The device of claim 1 wherEin said second nut means comprises first and second quarter nuts each having a groove perpendicular to the axis of the spindle, and said biasing means comprise a flat leaf spring having a bifurcated end to provide two spring arms, one of which is seated in the groove of said first quarter nut and the other of which is seated in the groove of said second quarter nut.

Claim 27

The device of claim 1 including a magazine mounted within the frame and having a tape provided with indicating measurements.

Claim 28

The device of claim 26 wherein the tape is wound on two spaced apart spools and is a plastic film having elastic recovery to provide a spring like action in the spools.

Claim 29

The device of claim 27 wherein a magazine drive plate is rotatably mounted to said frame and has at least one radially extending slot, a rotatable member is fixed to one of the spools, and a pin extends from said member parallel to the spool axis and is engaged in said slot.

Claim 30

The device of claim 28 including a magazine control knob connected to said drive plate for rotating the drive plate and thereby turn said pin and rotatable member to adjust the position of the tape on said spools.

Claim 31

The device of claim 29 including a spindle control knob connected to the spindle for rotating it and a shaft mounted on said frame for rotatably supporting the magazine and spindle control knobs adjacent each other.

Claim 32

The device of claim 30 wherein said shaft is a spindle drive shaft extending from the threaded section of the spindle externally of the frame, said spindle control knob is secured to the spindle drive shaft, and said magazine control knob is rotatably mounted about the spindle drive shaft to enable it to be rotated without causing rotation of the spindle drive shaft and to enable the spindle drive shaft to be rotated without causing rotation of the magazine control knob.

Claim 33

A direct reading micrometer for measuring workpieces of zero to two inches comprising: a. a frame having a first reference means; b. a spindle mounted in said frame and having a threaded section of at least two inches in length; c. a direct reading counter mechanism connected to the spindle for indicating the micrometer measurement; d. a control nut extending partially around a longitudinal portion of the threaded section of said spindle and having threads mating with those of the spindle; e. means for positioning the control nut at a set longitudinal distance from the first reference means, and f. resilient force applying means acting transverse to the axis of said spindle for continuously urging the mating threads of the spindle and nut into tight engagement with each other to maintain the roots and crests of the threads of the spindle in continuous alignment with the roots and crests of the control nut and provide for accurate readings of the micrometer, the resilient force applying means comprising a floating second nut means, spaced from non-engaging with, and opposing said control nut and having threads mating with those of the threaded section of the spindle, and a biasing means engaged with said second nut means for urging said second nut means against said spindle.

Claim 34

A direct reading micrometer for measuring workpieces of zero to two inches comprising: a. a frame having a first reference means; b. a spindle mounted in said frame and having a threaded section of at least two inches in length; c. a direct reading counter mechanism connected to the spindle for indicating the micrometer measurement; d. a control nut extending partially around a longitudinal portion of the threaded section of said spindle and having threads mating with those of the spindle; e. means for positioning the control nut at a set longitudinal distance from the first reference means, and f. resilient force applying means acting transverse to the axis of said spindle for continuously urging the mating threads of the spindle and nut into tight engagement with each other to maintain the roots and crests of the threads of the spindle in continuous alignment with the roots and crests of the control nut and provide for accurate readings of the micrometer, the resilient force applying means comprising a floating second nut means, spaced from non-engaging with, and opposing said control nut and having threads mating with those of the threaded section of the spindle, and a biasing means engaged with said second nut means for urging said second nut means against said spindle.

Claim 35

The micrometer of claim 32 wherein said biasing means is a coil spring.

Claim 36

The micrometer of claim 33 including a magazine mounted within the frame and having a tape provided with indicating measurements.

Claim 37

The micrometer of claim 34 wherein a spindle drive shaft extends from the threaded section of the spindle externally of the frame, a spindle control knob is secured to the spindle drive shaft for rotating the spindle, and a magazine control knob is connected to the magazine for adjusting the position of the tape and is rotatably mounted about the spindle drive shaft to enable it to be rotated without causing rotation of the spindle drive shaft and to enable the spindle drive shaft to be rotated without causing rotation of the magazine control knob.

Claim 38

The micrometer of claim 35 wherein the tape is wounD on two spaced apart spools, a magazine drive plate is rotatably mounted to said frame, and has at least one radially extending slot, a rotatable member is fixed to one of the spools, and a pin extends from said member parallel to the spool axis and is engaged in said slot, and said magazine control knob is connected to said drive plate for rotating the drive plate and thereby turn said pin and rotatable member to adjust the position of the tape on said spools.

Claim 39

The micrometer of claim 36 wherein said tape is a plastic film having elastic recovery to provide a spring like action on the spools.

Claim 40

The device of claim 1 wherein said biasing means is a coil spring.

Claim 41

The device of claim 38 wherein said second nut means has a recess and one end of said coil spring is seated in said recess.

Claim 42

The device of claim 26 wherein a first rotatable member is attached to one of said spools, a second rotatable member is attached to the other of said spools, and a connecting means connects said rotatable members to transmit rotary motion from said first rotatable member to said second rotatable member and thereby drive said spools.

Claim 43

The device of claim 40 wherein a magazine drive plate is rotatably mounted to said frame and has at least one radially extending slot, and a pin extends parallel to the spool axes from one of said connecting means and rotatable members and is engaged in said slot.

Claim 44

The micrometer of claim 34 wherein the tape is wound on two spaced apart spools and is a plastic film having elastic recovery to provide a spring like action in the spools.

Claim 45

The micrometer of claim 42 wherein a first rotatable member is attached to one of said spools a second rotatable member is attached to the other of said spools, and a connecting means connects said rotatable members to transmit rotary motion from said first rotatable member to said second rotatable member and thereby drive said spools.

Claim 46

The micrometer of claim 43 wherein a magazine drive plate is rotatably mounted to said frame and has at least one radially extending slot, and a pin extends parallel to the spool axes from one of said connecting means and rotatable members and is engaged in said slot.

Claim 47

The micrometer of claim 33 wherein said second nut means has a recess and one end of said coil spring is seated in said recess.

Claim 48

The micrometer of claim 45 wherein the other end of said coil spring is connected to an adjusting means for adjusting the tension of said spring.

Claim 49

The micrometer of claim 46 wherein the axis of said coil spring is substantially perpendicular to the axis of said spindle.

Claim 50

The micrometer of claim 39 wherein the other end of said coil spring is connected to an adjusting means for adjusting the tension of said spring.

Claim 51

The micrometer of claim 48 wherein the axis of said coil spring is substantially perpendicular to the axis of said spindle.