# US 5,877,405 A · Gage for measuring the intensity of shot-blast peening using non-magnetic test strips held in place by spring-loaded plungers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,877,405 A - Document ID: US5877405A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/864,121 - Filed: 1997-05-28 - Granted: 1999-03-02 - Earliest claimed: 1997-05-28 - Assignees: Electronics, Inc. - Inventors: Jack M. Champaigne - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5877405A ## CPC - G01L 1/06: by measuring the permanent deformation of gauges, e.g. of compressed bodies - C21D 7/06: by shot-peening or the like - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) - C21D: MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING (surface treatment of metallic material involving at least one process provided for in class C23 and at least one process covered by this subclass C23F17/00; unidirectional solidification of eutectic materials or unidirectional demixing of eutectoid materials C30B) ## Abstract An Almen type gage to measure the deflection of a test strip relative to a supporting surface to provide an indication of shot blasting intensity includes curved surfaces extending from the support surface for supporting the test strip. A holding block is also mounted on the support surface. Plungers carried by the holding block opposite the curved surface clamp the test strip between the spring loaded plungers and the curved surface. The holding block is undercut to accommodate the test strip so that the weight of the holding block is not borne by the test strip and the test strip is retained on the supporting surface by the force of the spring loaded plungers clamping the test strip against the curved surface. Since the weight of the holding block is not borne by the test strips, the holding force is constant and the weight of the holding block does not corrupt measurement of the deflection of the test strip. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Gage for measuring the displacement of a test strip used to measure the intensity of shot blasting comprising a stand having a support surface for supporting said test strip, an indicator for measuring deflection of said test strip relative to said support surface and for providing a visual indication of said deflection, a holding block supported by said support surface and extending over said test strip, said support surface and said holding block including supports for supporting said holding block off of said test strip whereby deflection of the test strip will be unaffected by the weight of the block, and spring loaded members carried by the holding block and movable relative thereto for holding said test strip on said support surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Gage as claimed in claim 1, wherein curved surfaces project above said support surface and said spring loaded members engage said test strip opposite said curved surfaces to pinch said test strip against the curved surfaces to thereby retain the test strip on the support surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) Gage as claimed in claim 2, wherein said holding block includes feet engaging said stand to support said holding block over said test strip. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) Gage as claimed in claimed in claim 3, wherein said holding block includes an undercut portion extending over the test strip whereby the weight of the holding block is not borne by the test strip when the holding block is installed on the stand. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) Gage as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said spring loaded members include a housing, a plunger slidably mounted in said housing, and a spring yieldably urging said plunger toward said curved surface. ### Claim 6 Gage for measuring the displacement of a test strip used to measure the intensity of shot blasting comprising a stand having a support surface for supporting said test strip, an indicator for measuring deflection of said test strip relative to said support surface and for providing a visual indication of said deflection, said surface including supporting members for supporting said test strip, and spaced apart, spring loaded members engaging portions of the strip opposite said supporting members for yieldably clamping said test strip against said supporting members. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) Gage as claimed in claim 6, wherein said supporting members include curved surfaces projecting above said support surface, said spring loaded members engaging said test strip opposite said curved surfaces to pinch said test strip against the curved surfaces to thereby retain the test strip on the support surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) Gage as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of said spring loaded members include a housing, a plunger slidably mounted in said housing, and a spring yieldably urging said plunger against said curved surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) Gage as claimed in claim 6, wherein said strip is defined between corners, said supporting members being located at said corners, each of said spring loaded members being located over said supporting members and including a spring loaded plunger clamping said test strip against a corresponding one of said supporting members. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) Gage as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of said supporting members is a curved surface engaging a common side of the test strip, each of said spring loaded members including a spring loaded plunger over a corresponding one of said curved surfaces to engage a side of said test strip opposite said common side of the test strip to thereby clamp the test strip against the curved surfaces. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) Gage as claimed in claim 6, wherein said supporting members each engage a common side of the test strip and each of the spring loaded members include a spring loaded plunger over a corresponding one of said supporting members to thereby clamp the test strip against the supporting surfaces. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) Gage as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of said spring loaded members is mounted in a holding block supported on said stand over the test strip. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) Gage as claimed in claim 12, wherein said holding block includes feet engaging said stand to support said holding block over said test strip. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) Gage as claimed in claim 13, wherein said holding block includes an undercut portion extending over the test strip whereby the weight of the holding block is not borne by the test strip when the holding block is installed on the stand.