Self centering bore measurement unit
AssigneeSiemens Energy, Inc.
InventorsDaniel Fraser, Erik A. Lombardo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a bore measurement unit having an elongate main body with first and second ends. A first adjustment mechanism is disposed near the first end and a second adjustment mechanism is disposed near said second end. The adjustment mechanisms expand or contract, through triangulating arms, to relative diameters, such that when the unit is inserted into a hollow bore it may be centered therein. A measuring portion of the unit measures the internal diameter of the bore. The measuring unit includes at least one sensor and preferably takes more than three readings at each distance of insertion to formulate a best fit circle of the inner bore diameter.
Claims20
A bore measurement unit comprising:
- an elongate main body having a first end and a second end;
- a first adjustment mechanism disposed near said first end, the first adjustment mechanism expanding or contracting to relative diameters;
- a second adjustment mechanism disposed near said second end, the second adjustment mechanism expanding or contracting to relative diameters;
- a measuring portion associated with said main body, the measuring portion adapted to measure the internal diameter of the bore of a hollow member;
- wherein when said elongate main body is inserted into a bore of a hollow member, said first and second adjustment mechanisms are expanded to generally center said elongate main body within said bore such that said measuring portion may measure the internal diameter thereof.
A method of measuring the inner bore diameter of a hollow shaft, said method comprising:
- inserting an elongate measuring device comprising a first adjustment mechanism, a second adjustment, mechanism, and a measuring portion into the inner bore, the adjustment members adjustable to relative diameters;
- adjusting the relative diameters of the first adjustment mechanism and the second adjustment mechanism such that the adjustment mechanisms each abut the inner bore at their relative diameters to generally center the elongate measuring device within the bore;
- activating the measuring portion to take a plurality of measurement readings of the inner bore in an area adjacent to the measuring portion.
A bore measurement unit for measuring the internal diameter of a hollow member having a bore with a longitudinal axis, the bore measurement unit comprising:
- an elongate main body having a longitudinal axis;
- two adjustment mechanisms associated with said main body, the adjustment mechanisms each triangulating to expand and position the longitudinal axis of the elongate main body along the longitudinal axis of the bore when the elongate main body is inserted therein;
- a rotating sensor, the rotating sensor taking a plurality of readings of the internal diameter of the hollow member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.