Gauge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021123713-A1
Application number	US-202017034633-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 28, 2020
Priority date	Oct 24, 2019
Publication date	Apr 29, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A gauge comprising an elongate rod and a head. The rod has an elongate axis. The head has a transverse dimension perpendicular to the elongate axis of the rod. The gauge has an insertion configuration and an inspection configuration, wherein the transverse dimension of the head is greater in the inspection configuration than in the insertion configuration. The head comprises two head portions each with a longitudinally-extending outer surface and a longitudinally-extending inner surface and, in the insertion configuration, the inner surfaces of the head portions are at least partly in abutment with each other. The gauge can be used in a method of measuring an internal dimension of a bore within a component.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A gauge comprising an elongate rod and a head; the rod has an elongate axis;
the head has a transverse dimension perpendicular to the elongate axis of the rod; the gauge has an insertion configuration and an inspection configuration, wherein the transverse dimension of the head is greater in the inspection configuration than in the insertion configuration; and the head comprises two head portions each with a longitudinally-extending outer surface and a longitudinally-extending inner surface and, in the insertion configuration, the inner surfaces of the head portions are at least partly in abutment with each other.

2 . The gauge of claim 1 , wherein in the inspection configuration, the inner surfaces of the head portions are spaced from each other in a transverse direction.

3 . The gauge of claim 1 , wherein a transverse dimension of the rod is greater in the inspection configuration than in the insertion configuration.

4 . The gauge of claim 3 , wherein the rod comprises two rod portions each with a longitudinally-extending outer surface and longitudinally-extending inner surface and wherein, in the insertion configuration, the inner surfaces of the rod portions are at least partly in abutment with each other.

5 . The gauge of claim 4 wherein, in the inspection configuration, the inner surfaces of the rod portions are spaced from each other in a transverse dimension.

6 . The gauge of claim 4 , wherein each head portion is integrally formed with one of the rod portions.

7 . The gauge of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of each head/rod portion comprises an elongate channel.

8 . The gauge of claim 4 , further comprising an insert for spacing the inner surfaces of the head/rod portions in the inspection configuration.

9 . The gauge of claim 8 , wherein the insert comprises opposing longitudinally-extending transverse surfaces which, in the inspection configuration abut the inner surfaces of the head/rod portions.

10 . The gauge of claim 9 , wherein each transverse surface comprises an elongate ridge.

11 . A method of measuring an internal dimension of a bore within a component, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a gauge according to claim 1 in the insertion configuration of the gauge; inserting the gauge into the bore until the head is positioned at the position to be inspected; converting the gauge to its inspection configuration; and determining if the position of the bore to be measured has a greater dimension than the transverse dimension of the head.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein converting the gauge to its inspection configuration comprises moving the inner surfaces of the head portions from abutment with each other such that they are spaced from each other in a transverse dimension.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing an insert and converting the gauge to its inspection configuration by spacing the inner surfaces of the head portions with the insert.

14 . The method of claim 13 , comprising providing the inner surface of each head portion with an elongate channel and providing the insert with opposing longitudinally-extending transverse surfaces each having an elongate ridge and wherein converting the gauge to its inspection configuration comprises seating the opposing ridges in the channels on the inner surfaces of the head portions.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the component is a gas turbine engine component.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the gas turbine engine component is a nozzle guide vane vent and scavenge oil pipe.

Assignees

• Rolls Royce Plc

Inventors

• Burton Jonathan L
• Hook David

Classifications

• G01B3/50 Primary

  of limit-gauge type, i.e. "go/no-go" (G01B3/48 takes precedence) · 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

• F02C7/00

  Features, components parts, details or accessories, not provided for in, or of interest apart form groups F02C1/00 - F02C6/00; Air intakes for jet-propulsion plants (controlling F02C9/00) · CPC title