Tool for measuring relative distance between two adjacent surfaces and method therefor

A tool for measuring radial distance variations between two adjacent surfaces, comprising:

• a body movable between said surfaces;
• contact means attached to one side of said body to maintain constant contact with at least two points on one of said surfaces;
• frame means movably coupled and pivotable relative to said body, said frame means including at least two extensions biased against the other of said surfaces;
• transducer means responsive to pivotal movements of said frame means relative to said body, as said body is moved between said surfaces, for converting said movements to corresponding radial distance variations.

Apparatus to measure concentricity between upper and lower surfaces, comprising:

• a body having an upper portion and a lower portion;
• a plurality of lower fingers coupled to said lower portion of said body to be in continuous contact with said lower surface;
• a frame movably pivotally coupled to said body and movable about said upper and lower portions, said frame having attached thereto at least one upper finger movable in a direction opposite to the movement direction of said frame;
• an element slidably fitted within said body and pushing against said frame to continually pivotally bias said upper finger against said upper surface;
• and
• transducer means responsive to the movement of said slidable element for measuring pivotal movements translated by said upper finger to said slidable element as said body is moved between said surfaces to thereby measure the concentricity between said upper and lower surfaces.

A method of measuring the relative distance between two adjacent surfaces, comprising the steps of:

• (a) positioning a body having a first contact means having at least two contact points, a second contact means having at least another two contact points and a transducer means between said surfaces;
• (b) maintaining said first contact means in constant contact via said two contact points with one of said surfaces;
• (c) maintaining said second contact means via said another two contact points in constant contact with the other of said surfaces by pivoting said second contact means relative to said first contact means to bias said second contact means against said transducer means;
• and
• (d) utilizing said transducer means to convert any pivotal movement of said second contact means, as said body is sandwichedly moved along said adjacent surfaces, to a corresponding relative distance between said surfaces.