Plane of reference device
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsFranklin D. Qurnell, Charles B. Patterson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A readily transportable device of relative light weight comprising a pair of tensioned guides for providing accurate and stable reference planes. An embodiment comprises a pair of rods or guides in tension between a pair of end members, the end members being spaced apart by a compression member. The tensioned guides provide planes of reference for measuring devices moved therealong adjacent a component to be measured. The device is especially useful for making on-site dimensional measurements of components, such as irradiated and therefore radioactive components, that cannot readily be transported to an inspection laboratory.
Claims31
A plane of reference device comprising:
- a pair of spaced, elongated guides secured in tension between first and second spaced-apart end members;
- compressive load bearing means positioned between said end members to maintain said end members in spaced apart position, the longitudinal axes of said guides and said compressive load bearing means being in a common plane, said guides being formed with threads on at least one end and fitted with nuts for adjustment of the tension in said guides and including spherical ball seating means between said nuts and the adjacent end member.
A plane of reference device comprising:
- a pair of spaced end members;
- a compressive load bearing member positioned between said end members to maintain said end members in spaced apart relation;
- and a pair of spaced, parallel aligned guides secured in tension between said end members, the longitudinal axes of said guides and said compressive load bearing means being in a common plane, the tension in said guides being sufficient to provide realignment forces greater than the torsion resistance of said compressive load bearing means.
A plane of reference device comprising:
- a pair of elongated guides positioned in spaced, parallel alignment between first and second spaced-apart end members;
- compressive load bearing means positioned between said end members to maintain said end members in spaced apart position;
- tension adjusting means operative between said guides and at least one of said end members for placing said guides in tension between said end members whereby parallel alignment of said guides is maintained;
- and spherical ball seating means between said tension adjusting means and the adjacent end member.
A plane of reference device comprising:
- a pair of spaced, elongated guides secured in tension between first and second spaced-apart end members;
- and compressive load bearing means positioned between said end members to maintain said end members in spaced apart position, said compressive load bearing means comprising a beam positioned between said guides.
A plane of reference device comprising:
- a pair of spaced, elongated guides secured in tension between first and second spaced-apart end members;
- and compressive load bearing means positioned between said end members to maintain said end members in spaced apart position, said compressive load bearing means comprising a pair of arcuately shaped side members positioned such that said guides are between said side members.
An arrangement for accurately measuring the dimensions of an elongated self-standing component comprising:
- a pair of elongated, spaced, parallel aligned guides secured in tension between a pair of spaced end members to form a plane of reference;
- compressive load bearing means positioned between said end members to maintain said end members in spaced apart relation, the tension in said guides being sufficient to provide realignment forces greater than the torsion resistance of said compressive load bearing means whereby said guides are maintained in parallel alignment;
- means engaging said elongated component near its opposite ends for positioning said ends of said component in fixed, predetermined positions with respect to said plane of reference whereby the longitudinal axis of said component is generally parallel to said guides;
- a carriage mounted on said guides for movement therealong adjacent said component;
- and a measuring instrument mounted on said carriage for indicating the distance between said carriage and said component as said carriage is moved along said guides.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.