US4258474A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for aiding measurement of preformed tubes
Assignee: US Bank NA
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Filing: 1979-10-22
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Granted: 1981-03-31
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Expires: 1999-10-22
Abstract
Abstract A method of measuring the bends in a preformed tube by locating in space, with a mechanical tube-engaging apparatus, the centerline of each straight tube section. Where the bends are measured of a tube which is longer than the physical boundaries of the apparatus, adjacent portions of the tube are successively positioned within the boundaries of the apparatus and the centerlines of sufficient straight tube sections are located with the tube in successive positions to correlate the tube position and orientation at the successive tube positions. In measuring a tube with a straight section of such a length that bends at either end thereof cannot be correlated at successive tube positions within the physical boundaries of said apparatus, an apparatus is attached to the straight section of the tube to create simulated bends within the long straight section, enabling measurement of the bends at each end of the long straight section.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank M. DuMez
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:59
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B7/00; G01B7/28; G01B21/00; G01B21/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of measuring preformed tubes with long straight sections using an instrument which spatially locates centerline points, comprising: attaching each end of a bent tube to the long straight section of a preformed tube, said bent tube having two straight sections defining a bend; measuring said bent tube as if it were part of the preformed tube; moving said preformed tube so that unmeasured sections of said preformed tube are within the instrument boundaries but leaving sufficient previously measured spatial reference sections within the instrument boundaries to enable the spatial relation of separately measured sections to be determined; remeasuring said spatial reference sections; repeating the above steps with additional attached bent tubes until the unmeasured sections adjacent the long straight section of the preformed tube are within the instrument boundaries; and measuring said adjacent unmeasured sections.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of measuring preformed tubes with long straight sections using an instrument which spatially locates centerline points, comprising: attaching each end of a bent tube to the long straight section of a preformed tube, said bent tube having two straight sections defining a bend; measuring said bent tube as if it were part of the preformed tube; moving said preformed tube so that unmeasured sections of said preformed tube are within the instrument boundaries but leaving sufficient previously measured spatial reference sections within the instrument boundaries to enable the spatial relation of separately measured sections to be determined; remeasuring said spatial reference sections; repeating the above steps with additional attached bent tubes until the unmeasured sections adjacent the long straight section of the preformed tube are within the instrument boundaries; and measuring said adjacent unmeasured sections.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said bent tube is attached so that the plane of its centerline is the plane of the centerline of the long straight section of said preformed tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said spatial reference sections are the straight sections of said bent tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
185 words
In the method of measuring the bends in a preformed tube by locating in space with a mechanical tube-engaging apparatus the centerline of each straight tube section, where the bends are measured of a tube which is longer than the physical boundaries of the apparatus by successively positioning adjacent portions of the tube within the boundaries of the apparatus and repeatedly locating the centerlines of sufficient straight tube sections with the tube in successive positions to correlate the tube position and orientation at the successive tube positions, the improvement for measuring a tube with a straight section of such a length that the bends at either end thereof cannot be correlated at successive tube positions within the physical boundaries of said apparatus, comprising: attaching at least one tube element with straight sections defining a bend, to the long straight section of said tube; repeatedly locating in space the centerline of the bend-defining straight sections of said tube element at successive tube positions with the long straight section of the tube within the physical boundaries of said apparatus to correlate the bends at either end thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
185 words
In the method of measuring the bends in a preformed tube by locating in space with a mechanical tube-engaging apparatus the centerline of each straight tube section, where the bends are measured of a tube which is longer than the physical boundaries of the apparatus by successively positioning adjacent portions of the tube within the boundaries of the apparatus and repeatedly locating the centerlines of sufficient straight tube sections with the tube in successive positions to correlate the tube position and orientation at the successive tube positions, the improvement for measuring a tube with a straight section of such a length that the bends at either end thereof cannot be correlated at successive tube positions within the physical boundaries of said apparatus, comprising: attaching at least one tube element with straight sections defining a bend, to the long straight section of said tube; repeatedly locating in space the centerline of the bend-defining straight sections of said tube element at successive tube positions with the long straight section of the tube within the physical boundaries of said apparatus to correlate the bends at either end thereof.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
72 words
An apparatus for aiding in measurement of the bends of a preformed tube with a long straight section, comprising: a tube element with a bend between two straight sections: means for attaching each end of said bent tube element to the long straight section of said preformed tube so that the centerline of the long straight section of said preformed tube lies in the plane of the centerline of said tube element.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
72 words
An apparatus for aiding in measurement of the bends of a preformed tube with a long straight section, comprising: a tube element with a bend between two straight sections: means for attaching each end of said bent tube element to the long straight section of said preformed tube so that the centerline of the long straight section of said preformed tube lies in the plane of the centerline of said tube element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for attaching said bent tube element comprises a tube-engaging surface which contains a V-shaped recess and a means for urging the straight section of said preformed tube into the recess of said tube-engaging surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-03-30 | 1984-09-29 | 1985-03-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-03-30 | 1988-09-29 | 1989-03-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-03-30 | 1992-09-29 | 1993-03-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |