US2953854A - Slide caliper with dial indicator and vibrator - Google Patents

Description

SLIDE CALIPEIR WITH DIAL INDICATOR AND VIBRATOR Filed Sept. 26, 1958 Sept. 27, 1960 E. w. JOHNSTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lllL IN VE IV TOR EARL n. JOHNSTON B gma/ w Altar/18y Sept. 27, 1960 E. w. JOHNSTON 2,953,854

SLIDE CALIPER WITH DIAL INDICATOR AND VIBRATOR Filed Sept. 26. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /N l/E N TOR EA KL M. JOHNSTON Alla/n ey Um'w tat SLIDE CALIPER WITH DIAL INDICATOR AND VIBRATOR Earl W. Johnston, Worcester, Mass., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Sept. 26, 1958, Ser. No. 763,561

6 Claims. (Cl. 33-147) This invention relates generally to measuring devices and, more particularly, to a slide caliper.

The object of the invention is to provide a caliper which can be made at low cost and will serve to indicate quickly the diameter of the bearing in a wire-drawing die with a high degree of accuracy.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention comprises a base having a wall upstanding therefrom and a table carried by the wall. One caliper leg is fixed vertically to the wall. A cooperating leg is carried on slide rods movable along the wall. Both legs have fingers projecting upwardly through a hole in the table for engagement with a die or the like placed thereon.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description and explanation which refer to the accompanying drawings illustrating the present preferred embodiment. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view;

Figure 2 is a side elevation;

Figure 3 is an end elevation;

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken along the plane of line IVIV of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective of the caliper legs with parts removed for clarity.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the device of my invention comprises a length of channel afiording a base 11, a wall 12 upstanding thereon and a shelf 13. Vertically extending bearing blocks 14 and 15 are secured to one side of wall 12 in spaced relation. Each block is provided with a pair of vertically spaced slide ball bearings 16 in which a pair of parallel bars 17 are reciprocable. These bars are slidable in holes through a fixed caliper leg 18 secured vertically to the same side of the wall as the blocks. A movable caliper leg 19 is secured to the bars 17 parallel to leg 18. A counterweighted bell-crank 20 is pivoted to wall 12 and its shorter arm is connected by a spring 21 to one of bars 17, thus exerting a force constantly tending to move leg 19 away from leg 18.

A dial gage 22 is mounted horizontally on block 15 so that its stem is actuated by leg 19 through an extension 23 held against the leg by a spring 24. The gage stem has a finger-operable extension 25 on the other end by which the movable leg 19 may be manually caused to approach the fixed leg 18. The upper end of each leg has a recess or cut-out 26 therein (Figures 4 and 5) provided with a clamp block 27 secured therein by screws 28. The recesses in the faces of the legs are themselves recessed as at 29, (Figures 2 and 5) to accommodate fingers 30'. The shape of the recesses in the faces of the legs and that of the fingers permits limited angular adjustment of the fingers about the axes "ice of screws 28 by means of screws 31 engaging the outer edges of the fingers at their lower ends Screws 31 are turned into tapped holes drilled along the meeting planes of the legs and blocks 27.

A strap 32 is secured to shelf 13 by a screw 33 overhanging one end of the shelf with cushioning pads 34 of rubber or like material therebetween. A table 35 secured to the inboard end of the strap by screws 36 overlies legs 18 and 19 and has an opening 37 therein through which the reduced upper ends of fingers 30 project. Thus, merely by pressing extension 25 to close the fingers partially against the force of crank 20, the article I having a hole therein to be measured, such as a die 38, may be easily placed over the ends of the fingers 30 and deposited on the table.

A vibrator 39 is mounted on a bracket 40 secured to wall 12 at the opposite end from gage 22. The movable element of the vibrator is connected to the overhanging end of strap 32. Vibrations imparted to the strap are transmitted therealong and to table 35, thereby causing centering of the die relative to the fingers 30 so as to secure an accurate measurement of its bearing. It will be evident that the final position of the movable finger relative to the fixed finger determines the reading of gage 22. When the die is removed from the fingers, the counterweighted crank 20 overcomes the restoring spring of the gage pointer-and forces it to an extreme position determined by stops 41 limiting angular movement of the crank. The device is initially set, after properly adjusting fingers '30 by screws 31, by placing a die or gage of known inside diameter on the fingers and then observing the zero error of the gage or making the necessary zero adjustment thereof.

A sheet metal cover 42 secured to wall 12 encloses the moving parts. A push-button switch 43 on table 35 controls vibrator 39. Energization of the latter for only a moment suffices to cause accurate centering of a die placed on the table over the caliper fingers 30.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides a simple and inexpensive yet accurate 7 and easily manipulable slide caliper for small distances,

i.e., within the range of a dial gage. The device may be easily adapted for use as an outside caliper instead of the inside caliper shown.

Although I' have disclosed herein the preferred embodiment of my invention, I intend tocover as well any change or modification therein which may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A caliper comprising a base having a vertical wall, a vertical caliper leg fixed to said wall, a cooperating caliper leg parallel to said fixed leg, means mounting said cooperating leg for sliding movement along said wall toward and from said fixed leg, a table overlying said wall having an opening therethrough above said legs and contact fingers on said legs, respectively, protruding upwardly through said opening.

2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1, characterized by said means including spaced slide bearings on one side of said wall and parallel bars slidable in said bearings, said cooperating leg being secured to said bars.

3. Apparatus as defined by claim 1, characterized by a vibrator mounted on said wall and vibration transmitting means extending from said vibrator to said table.

4. Apparatus as defined by claim 3, characterized by said transmitting means being a strap having a cushioned a e-al ae.

leg.

fective to urge the cooperating leg away from the fixed References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bradbury Mar. 4, 1924 Aller Oct. 8, 1940 Neif Mar. 26, 1946 Etchell Sept. 2, 1958

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