Centering gauge tool

Claim 2

A centering gauge tool for determining the concentricity of a bore about a central axis, said tool comprising a substantially conical core having an axis of elongation and peirphery tapering from tail end to a leading end, a plurality of elongated fingers spaced apart about the periphery of said core, means for pivotably connecting said fingers to the core adjacent the leading end, resilient means for urging said fingers radially outwardly from the periphery of said core, stop means for limiting the radial outward travel of said fingers to the same radius relative to the axis of elongation of said core, normally open switch means associated with each finger adapted to be closed upon depression of the associated finger to overcome the urging of said resilient means, indicator means and a source of electrical energy connected in an electrical circuit with each of said switch means, the periphery of said core having a slot corresponding to each finger for receiving the respective finger when depressed, whereby upon insertion of said tool within a bore of a diameter less than a diameter defined by the radial outward travel of said fingers adjacent the tail end and larger than the leading end one or more of said indicator means will signal depression of the respective fingers upon engagement with the wall of the bore.

Claim 3

A centering gauge tool as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said indicator means comprises a visual means.

Claim 4

A centering gauge tool as recited in claim 2, wherein said visual means comprises illumination means.

Claim 5

A centering gauge tool as recited in claim 1, wherein said stop means comprises an annular member fastened to the tail end of said core about said fingers.

Claim 6

A centering gauge tool as recited in claim 1, including means fastened to the tail end of said core and adapted to be inserted into a chuck.

Claim 7

A centering gauge tool for determining the concentricity of a bore about a central axis, said tool comprising a substantially conical core having an axis of elongation and a periphery tapering from a tail end to a leading end, a plurality of elongated fingers spaced apart about the periphery of said core, means for pivotably connecting said fingers to the core adjacent the leading end, resilient means for urging said fingers radially outwardly from the periphery of said core, stop means for limiting the radial outward travel of said fingers to the same radius relative to the axis of elongation of said core, normally open switch means associated with each finger adapted to be closed upon depression of the associated finger to overcome the urging of said resilient means, an indicator ring fastened to the tail end of said core, said ring having means for mounting indicator means and a source of electrical energy, means for connecting said source of electrical energy is an electrical circuit with each of said switch means, whereby upon insertion of said tool within a bore of a diameter less than a diameter defined by the radial outward travel of said fingers adjacent the tail end and larger than the leading end one or more of said indicator means will signal depression of the respective fingers upon engagement with the wall of the bore.

Claim 8

A centering gauge tool for determining the concentricity of a bore about a central axis, said tool comprising a substantially conical core having an axis of elongation and a periphery tapering from a tail end to a leading end, a plurality of elongated fingers spaced apart about the periphery of said core, means for pivotably connecting said fingers to the core adjacent the leading end, resilient means for urging said fingers radially outwardly from the periphery of said core, stop means for limiting the radial outward travel of said fingers to the same radius relative to the axis of elongation of said core, normally open switch means associated with each finger adapted to be closed upon depression of the associated finger to overcome the urging of said resilient means, an indicator ring fastened to the tail end of said core, said ring having means for mounting indicator means and a source of electrical energy, means for connecting said source of electrical energy is an electrical circuit with each of said switch means, whereby upon insertion of said tool within a bore of a diameter less than a diameter defined by the radial outward travel of said fingers adjacent the tail end and larger than the leading end one or more of said indicator means will signal depression of the respective fingers upon engagement with the wall of the bore.

Claim 9

A centering gauge tool as recited in claim 6, wherein each of said indicator means comprises a visual means.

Claim 10

A centering gauge tool as recited in claim 7, wherein said visual means comprises illumination means.

Claim 11

A centering gauge tool as recited in claim 6, wherein said stop means comprises an annular lip formed on said ring and disposed about said fingers.

Claim 12

A centering gauge tool as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said indicator means comprises a visual means.

Claim 13

A centering gauge tool as recited in claim 10, wherein said visual means comprises illumination means.

Claim 14

A centering gauge tool as recited in claim 11, including means fastened to the tail end of said core and adapted to be inserted into a chuck.

Claim 15

A centering gauge tool as recited in claim 6, wherein the periphery of said core comprises slots corresponding to each finger for receiving the respective finger when depressed.

Claim 16

A centering gauge tool as recited in claim 13, wherein said stop means comprises an annular lip formed on said ring and disposed about said fingers.

Claim 17

A centering gauge tool as recited in claim 14, wherein each of said indicator means comprises illumination means.

Claim 18

A centering gauge tool for determining the concentricity of a bore about a central axis, said tool comprising a substantially conical core having an axis of elongation and a periphery tapering from a tail end to a leading end, a plurality of elongated fingers spaced apart about the periphery of said core, means for pivotably connecting said fingers to the core adjacent the leading end, resilient means for urging said fingers radially outwardly from the periphery of said core, stop means for limiting the radial outward travel of said fingers to the same radius relative to the axis of elongation of said core, normally open switch means associated with each finger adapted to be closed upon depression of the associated finger to overcome the urging of said resilient means, indicator means and a source of electrical energy connected in an electrical circuit with each of said switch means, said tail end of said core including means adjacent thereto defining a cylindrical member of smaller diameter than the diameter of said conical core at said tail end of said conical core, each of said fingers overlying said cylindrical member, and each of said switch means comprises at least one electrical contact fastened to said cylindrical member beneath a respective finger, whereby upon insertion of said tool within a bore of a diameter less than a diameter defined by the radial outward travel of said fingers adjacent the tail end and larger than the leading end of one or more of said indicator means will signal depression of the respective fingers upon engagement with the wall of the bore.

Claim 19

A centering gauge tool for determining the concentricity of a bore about a central axis, said tool comprising a substantially conical core having an axis of elongation and a periphery tapering from a tail end to a leading end, a plurality of elongated fingers spaced apart about the periphery of said core, means for pivotably connecting said fingers to the core adjacent the leading end, resilient means for urging said fingers radially outwardly from the periphery of said core, stop means for limiting the radial outward travel of said fingers to the same radius relative to the axis of elongation of said core, normally open switch means associated with each finger adapted to be closed upon depression of the associated finger to overcome the urging of said resilient means, indicator means and a source of electrical energy connected in an electrical circuit with each of said switch means, said tail end of said core including means adjacent thereto defining a cylindrical member of smaller diameter than the diameter of said conical core at said tail end of said conical core, each of said fingers overlying said cylindrical member, and each of said switch means comprises at least one electrical contact fastened to said cylindrical member beneath a respective finger, whereby upon insertion of said tool within a bore of a diameter less than a diameter defined by the radial outward travel of said fingers adjacent the tail end and larger than the leading end of one or more of said indicator means will signal depression of the respective fingers upon engagement with the wall of the bore.

Claim 20

A centering gauge tool as recited in claim 16, wherein each finger includes an electrical contact engagable with a respective electrical contact of said cylindrical member.

Claim 21

A centering gauge tool as recited in claim 16, including an indicator ring fastened to the tail end of said core, said stop means comprising an annular lip formed on said ring and disposed about said cylindrical member and about said fingers.

Claim 22

A centering gauge tool as recited in claim 18, wherein said ring comprises means for mounting said indicator means and said source of electrical energy.

Claim 23

A centering gauge tool as recited in claim 19, wherein each of said indicator means comprises illumination means.