US 4,539,753 A · Inspection tool

Abstract

An inspection tool for determining the location of a hole in a surface, having: a shaft sized for insertion in the hole and holding the tool in fixed relative relation thereto during tool usage, the shaft having a longitudinal axis in alignment with the center line of the hole when inserted therein; a first member having a substantially spherical surface portion, the first member being attached to the shaft, with the center point of the spherical portion of the first member aligned along the shaft axis; and a second member having a substantially spherical surface portion, the second member being attached to the first member remote from the shaft, with the center point of the spherical portion of the second member aligned along the shaft axis, the spherical portion of the second member having a smaller radius of curvature than the spherical portion of the first member; and a collar attached to the shaft between the shaft and the first member, the collar having an engagement surface extending radially outward from the shaft axis for engaging the surface in which the hole is located and holding the first and second members at predetermined distances above the surface. The spherical portions of the first and second members are made optically discernible, such as by use of contrasting colors. In an alternative disclosed embodiment, the spherical portions of the first and second members have substantially equal radii of curvature, and the second member is removably attached to the first member. The second member has a concave portion facing toward the first member for nesting of a portion of the first member therein.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An inspection tool for use with a coordinate measuring machine to determine the location of a hole in a surface, comprising:

centering means for holding the tool in fixed relative relation to the hole during tool usage, and providing a reference line in alignment with the center line of the hole, said centering means having a member positionable in the hole;
first means measurable by the machine for determining coordinates of a first point aligned along said reference line, said first means being attachable to said centering means and having a substantially spherical surface portion positionable external of the hole and having a center point coincident with said first point;
and
second means measurable by the machine for determining coordinates of a second point aligned along said reference line, distant from said first point, said second means being attachable to said first means and having a substantially spherical surface portion positionable external of the hole and having a center point coincident with said second point, said substantially spherical surface portions of said first and second means having differing radii of curvature, whereby said coordinates of said first and second points may be used to determine the center line of the hole, the coordinates of the point of intersection of the center line with the known plane of the surface being the location of the hole.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Inspection tool

Life of this patent

Inspection tool

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18