Plug gauges and associated systems and methods for taking multiple simultaneous diametric measurements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11168968-B2
Application number	US-201916698691-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2019
Priority date	Nov 27, 2019
Publication date	Nov 9, 2021
Grant date	Nov 9, 2021

Abstract

A plug gauge including a probe housing defining an internal volume and a longitudinal axis, the probe housing includes a first and second openings, a first contact element having a portion extending through the first opening, a first cam member defining a first axis of rotation, the first cam member being in camming engagement with the first contact element such that movement of the first contact element relative to the probe housing causes corresponding rotation of the first cam member about the first axis of rotation, a second contact element having a portion extending through the second opening, and a second cam member defining a second axis of rotation, the second cam member being in camming engagement with the second contact element such that movement of the second contact element relative to the probe housing causes corresponding rotation of the second cam member about the second axis of rotation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A plug gauge comprising:
a probe housing defining an internal volume and a longitudinal axis, said probe housing comprising a first opening into said internal volume and a second opening into said internal volume;
a first contact element received in said internal volume of said probe housing, wherein a portion of said first contact element extends through said first opening;
a first cam member defining a first axis of rotation, said first cam member being in camming engagement with said first contact element such that movement of said first contact element relative to said probe housing causes corresponding rotation of said first cam member about said first axis of rotation;
a second contact element received in said internal volume of said probe housing, wherein a portion of said second contact element extends through said second opening; and
a second cam member defining a second axis of rotation, said second cam member being in camming engagement with said second contact element such that movement of said second contact element relative to said probe housing causes corresponding rotation of said second cam member about said second axis of rotation.

2. The plug gauge of claim 1 wherein a centerpoint of said first opening and a centerpoint of said second opening lie in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said probe housing.

3. The plug gauge of claim 2 wherein said centerpoint of said second opening is displaced a non-zero angle about said longitudinal axis relative to said centerpoint of said first opening.

4. The plug gauge of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first contact element and said second contact element are substantially spherical.

5. The plug gauge of claim 1 further comprising:
a first biasing element biasing said first cam member into camming engagement with said first contact element, and
a second biasing element biasing said second cam member into camming engagement with said second contact element.

6. The plug gauge of claim 1 wherein:
said first cam member defines a camming surface in camming engagement with said first contact element, said camming surface being curved, and
said second cam member defines a camming surface in camming engagement with said second contact element, said camming surface being curved.

7. The plug gauge of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first axis of rotation and said second axis of rotation are substantially aligned with said longitudinal axis of said probe housing.

8. The plug gauge of claim 1 further comprising a first sensor sensing said rotation of said first cam member about said first axis of rotation and a second sensor sensing said rotation of said second cam member about said second axis of rotation.

9. The plug gauge of claim 8 further comprising:
a first shaft fixedly connected to said first cam member and rotatable with said first cam member about said first axis of rotation; and
a second shaft fixedly connected to said second cam member and rotatable with said second cam member about said second axis of rotation.

10. The plug gauge of claim 9 wherein said first shaft is at least partially received within said second shaft.

11. The plug gauge of claim 9 further comprising:
a first extension member fixedly connected to said first shaft and radially extending from said first shaft, wherein said first extension member is operatively associated with said first sensor; and
a second extension member fixedly connected to said second shaft and radially extending from said second shaft, wherein said second extension member is operatively associated with said second sensor.

12. The plug gauge of claim 1 further comprising:
a first retainer member positioned to inhibit movement of said first contact element relative to said probe housing along said longitudinal axis, wherein said first contact element is positioned between said first retainer member and said first cam member; and
a second retainer member positioned to inhibit movement of said second contact element relative to said probe housing along said longitudinal axis, wherein said second contact element is positioned between said second retainer member and said second cam member.

13. The plug gauge of claim 1 further comprising:
a third contact element received in said internal volume of said probe housing, wherein a portion of said third contact element extends through a third opening in said probe housing, wherein said third contact element is aligned with said first contact element along a first contact element axis; and
a fourth contact element received in said internal volume of said probe housing, wherein a portion of said fourth contact element extends through a fourth opening in said probe housing, wherein said fourth contact element is aligned with said second contact element along a second contact element axis.

14. The plug gauge of claim 13 :
wherein said third contact element is in camming engagement with said first cam member, and
wherein said fourth contact element is in camming engagement with said second cam member.

15. The plug gauge of claim 13 further comprising:
a third cam member defining a third axis of rotation, said third cam member being in camming engagement with said third contact element such that movement of said third contact element relative to said probe housing causes corresponding rotation of said third cam member about said third axis of rotation; and
a fourth cam member defining a fourth axis of rotation, said fourth cam member being in camming engagement with said fourth contact element such that movement of said fourth contact element relative to said probe housing causes corresponding rotation of said fourth cam member about said fourth axis of rotation.

16. The plug gauge of claim 15 further comprising a central shaft, wherein said first cam member, said second cam member, said third cam member, and said fourth cam member are rotatably connected to said central shaft.

17. The plug gauge of claim 1 wherein said probe housing, said first contact element, said first cam member, said second contact element, and said second cam member comprise a probe portion of said plug gauge, and further comprising a coupling portion connected to said probe portion.

18. A system for taking multiple simultaneous diametric measurements of a bore formed in a structure, said system comprising:
said plug gauge of claim 1 sized to be received in said bore; and
a support connected to said plug gauge.

19. A method for taking multiple simultaneous diametric measurements of a bore formed in a structure, said method comprising:
inserting said plug gauge of claim 1 into said bore while said plug gauge is at a first orientation with respect to said longitudinal axis;
rotating said plug gauge about said longitudinal axis to a second orientation with respect to said longitudinal axis; and
withdrawing said plug gauge from said bore.

20. A plug gauge comprising:
a probe housing defining an internal volume and a longitudinal axis, said probe housing comprising a first opening into said internal volume, a second opening into said internal volume, a third opening into said internal volume, and a fourth opening into said internal volume, wherein said first opening, said second opening, said third opening, and said fourth opening are aligned in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said probe housing;
a first contact element received in said internal volume of

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Gray Everette D
• Albrecht Mark
• Chan Kwok Tung

Classifications

• G01B5/12

  internal diameters · CPC title

• G01B3/46 Primary

  Plug gauges for internal dimensions with engaging surfaces which are at a fixed distance, although they may be preadjustable · CPC title