CA1102543A - Centering device - Google Patents
Centering deviceInfo
- Publication number
- CA1102543A CA1102543A CA325,201A CA325201A CA1102543A CA 1102543 A CA1102543 A CA 1102543A CA 325201 A CA325201 A CA 325201A CA 1102543 A CA1102543 A CA 1102543A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- chains
- passage
- sliding movement
- block
- gauge according
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A centre gauge of the type used in the repair and straightening of metal structures such as vehicle chassis comprises a T-shaped pendant block with suspension chains of adjustable equal length for connection to laterally spaced support points. The suspension members are bead chains confined for sliding movement within a bifurcated through-passage in the block, the passage being disposed symmetrically with respect to a vertical plane of symmetry of the block and being held in mutually interlocking engagement to ensure length adjustment of the chains by equal amounts.
A centre gauge of the type used in the repair and straightening of metal structures such as vehicle chassis comprises a T-shaped pendant block with suspension chains of adjustable equal length for connection to laterally spaced support points. The suspension members are bead chains confined for sliding movement within a bifurcated through-passage in the block, the passage being disposed symmetrically with respect to a vertical plane of symmetry of the block and being held in mutually interlocking engagement to ensure length adjustment of the chains by equal amounts.
Description
5~
This invention relates to centering devices, and is applicable for example to a device commonly referred to as a centre gauge, of the type consisting of a pendant block adaped to be suspended from laterally spaced support points by flexible suspension members of adjustable equal length such that the block when suspended must always hang in a position which is central with respect to the ~upport points. Centre gauges of this type are commonly used in automobile repair shops and the like, in which metal structures to be straightened have to be checked for longitudinal alignment. A plurality of centre gauges suspended from a metal structure at longitudinally spaced positions are checked for visual alignment to determine whether the structure is true.
The suspension members must be adjustable in length to enable the pendant block to be raised or lowered with respect to the support points~ and it is important that such vertical adjustment be made without changing the relative lengths of the suspen~ion members. For maintaining equality of length of thQ
suspension members it is known to provide a common pay-out device within the pendant block, the device comprising a pair of ratchets to which the suspension members are attached and coupled to one another by a cog wheel so as to ensure that any length adjustment of either suspen~ion member will be accompanied by an equal length adjustment of the other member.
A disadvantage of this known device is that it requires moving parts other than the suspension members themselves.
The present invention in its broadest aspect provides a centering device comprising a guide member and a pair of flexible chains extending therefrom, the chain-R being extendable by equal ~k .
:
increments. The guide member has a bifurcated through-passage through which the chains extend, the chains being confined in mutual interlocking engagement in a portion of said through-passage so that sliding movement of either chain is accompanied by an equal sliding movement of the cther.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a centre gauge of the type referred to which does not require moving parts.
A centre gauge in accordancc with the present invention comprises a pendant block having an internal bifurcated through-passage consisting of a main passage terminating at the lower end of the block and a pair of branch passages terminating at the upper end of the block, the through-passage being disposed symmetrically with respect to a vertical plane of symmetry of the block, and a pair of flexible chains located in said pasæages for sliding movement therealong. The chains are confiaed in mutual interlocking engagement where they extend th~ough said main passage, 80 that sliding movement of either chain i8 accompanied by an e~aual sliding movement of the other. The gauge include~ yieldable means for applying a resistance to sliding movement of the chains sufficient to pxevent such move-ment when the block i8 ~uspended.
However, as noted hereinafter, the invention is not restricted in application to centre gauges of the type referred ~5 to above.
one embodiment of the invention as applied to a centre gauge is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the centre gauge 3~ 5~3 showing the way in which it is used;
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the centre gauge ~howing its component parts;
Figure 3 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the 5 centre gauge: and Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 in Figure 3.
Referring to Figure 1, the centre gauge compri~es a T-ghaped pendant block 10 having a vertical medial plane of symmetry denoted by line A-A, and suspended by fle~ible chains 11, 12 from laterally spaced support points 13, 14 provided by a pair of longitudinal members 15~ 16 of a metal structure to be straightened. The chains 11, 12 are of equal length, the medial plane A-A lying centrally between the support pointR.
The pendant block 10 can be raised or lowered with respect to the support point~, the block in a ~owered position being denoted by numeral 10'. As will be seen from Figure 1~ although the chains 11 and 12 have been extended they have been extended by equal amounts and the pendant block ha~ remained in a central pOBitiO~l .
Referring now to Figures 2 to 4, the pendant block 10 i8 a T-shaped body, which may be an aluminum alloy caYting but i8 preferably a pla~tic body formed by injection moldîng, having a cros~-portion 17 defining an upper end and a vertîcal shank portion 18 termînatîng at a lower end. The block comprises a pair of complementary T-shaped members 19, 20 which are se~ured in cooperative engagement by screws 21. The interface between the T-shap~d me~bers lies normal to the vertîcal medial plane of symmetry A-A. ~he face of the T-~haped member 19 which engages the complementary face of the T-shaped member 20 is .
.~ . . ......... .. . , .. - .
- . .. .
channelled to provide a through-pas~age contiguous with the interface, the mouth of the channel being ~overed by the face of member 20. The through-passage so formed comprises a main passage 22 terminating in an opening 23 at the lower end of the pendant block, and a pair of branch passages 24, 25 which ter-minate in respective flared openings 26, 27 at opposite ends of the cross-portion 17 at the upper end of the block. These passages are disposed symmetrically with respect to the vertical medial plane of symmetry of the block.
A pair of bead chains 28, 29 are located in the throygh-passage for sliding movement therein. Theæe chains extend ~,''b~ ,' through the branch passages 24, 25 respectively, and through the main passage 22. The chain~ are confined within these passages, and in the main passage 22 they are conined in mutually interlocking engagement such that any sliding movement of either chain is necessarily accompanied by an equal movement of the other chain. A palr of resilient inserts of T.F.E. 30, 31 are located within recesses 32, 33 in the T-shaped members and engage the chains so as to exert a resistance to ~liding of the chains. This resistance must be small enoughlto permit adjustment of chain length, but sufficient to prevent sliding of the chainq under the weight of the pendant block 10 when the block is suspended in the manner shown in Figure 1. TO
adjust the resistance exerted, adjustable set screws 34 are provided in the member 20 which bear on the insert 31.
Although the invention has been particularly described in its application to a centre gauge, it is to be understood that the invention has broader applications, being applicable generally to devices wherein chains or chain-like members are .
required to be extended always by equal increments from a datum position as, for example, in the control of domestic and theatre curtain movements or in the control of door movements.
. . .
.
This invention relates to centering devices, and is applicable for example to a device commonly referred to as a centre gauge, of the type consisting of a pendant block adaped to be suspended from laterally spaced support points by flexible suspension members of adjustable equal length such that the block when suspended must always hang in a position which is central with respect to the ~upport points. Centre gauges of this type are commonly used in automobile repair shops and the like, in which metal structures to be straightened have to be checked for longitudinal alignment. A plurality of centre gauges suspended from a metal structure at longitudinally spaced positions are checked for visual alignment to determine whether the structure is true.
The suspension members must be adjustable in length to enable the pendant block to be raised or lowered with respect to the support points~ and it is important that such vertical adjustment be made without changing the relative lengths of the suspen~ion members. For maintaining equality of length of thQ
suspension members it is known to provide a common pay-out device within the pendant block, the device comprising a pair of ratchets to which the suspension members are attached and coupled to one another by a cog wheel so as to ensure that any length adjustment of either suspen~ion member will be accompanied by an equal length adjustment of the other member.
A disadvantage of this known device is that it requires moving parts other than the suspension members themselves.
The present invention in its broadest aspect provides a centering device comprising a guide member and a pair of flexible chains extending therefrom, the chain-R being extendable by equal ~k .
:
increments. The guide member has a bifurcated through-passage through which the chains extend, the chains being confined in mutual interlocking engagement in a portion of said through-passage so that sliding movement of either chain is accompanied by an equal sliding movement of the cther.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a centre gauge of the type referred to which does not require moving parts.
A centre gauge in accordancc with the present invention comprises a pendant block having an internal bifurcated through-passage consisting of a main passage terminating at the lower end of the block and a pair of branch passages terminating at the upper end of the block, the through-passage being disposed symmetrically with respect to a vertical plane of symmetry of the block, and a pair of flexible chains located in said pasæages for sliding movement therealong. The chains are confiaed in mutual interlocking engagement where they extend th~ough said main passage, 80 that sliding movement of either chain i8 accompanied by an e~aual sliding movement of the other. The gauge include~ yieldable means for applying a resistance to sliding movement of the chains sufficient to pxevent such move-ment when the block i8 ~uspended.
However, as noted hereinafter, the invention is not restricted in application to centre gauges of the type referred ~5 to above.
one embodiment of the invention as applied to a centre gauge is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the centre gauge 3~ 5~3 showing the way in which it is used;
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the centre gauge ~howing its component parts;
Figure 3 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the 5 centre gauge: and Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 in Figure 3.
Referring to Figure 1, the centre gauge compri~es a T-ghaped pendant block 10 having a vertical medial plane of symmetry denoted by line A-A, and suspended by fle~ible chains 11, 12 from laterally spaced support points 13, 14 provided by a pair of longitudinal members 15~ 16 of a metal structure to be straightened. The chains 11, 12 are of equal length, the medial plane A-A lying centrally between the support pointR.
The pendant block 10 can be raised or lowered with respect to the support point~, the block in a ~owered position being denoted by numeral 10'. As will be seen from Figure 1~ although the chains 11 and 12 have been extended they have been extended by equal amounts and the pendant block ha~ remained in a central pOBitiO~l .
Referring now to Figures 2 to 4, the pendant block 10 i8 a T-shaped body, which may be an aluminum alloy caYting but i8 preferably a pla~tic body formed by injection moldîng, having a cros~-portion 17 defining an upper end and a vertîcal shank portion 18 termînatîng at a lower end. The block comprises a pair of complementary T-shaped members 19, 20 which are se~ured in cooperative engagement by screws 21. The interface between the T-shap~d me~bers lies normal to the vertîcal medial plane of symmetry A-A. ~he face of the T-~haped member 19 which engages the complementary face of the T-shaped member 20 is .
.~ . . ......... .. . , .. - .
- . .. .
channelled to provide a through-pas~age contiguous with the interface, the mouth of the channel being ~overed by the face of member 20. The through-passage so formed comprises a main passage 22 terminating in an opening 23 at the lower end of the pendant block, and a pair of branch passages 24, 25 which ter-minate in respective flared openings 26, 27 at opposite ends of the cross-portion 17 at the upper end of the block. These passages are disposed symmetrically with respect to the vertical medial plane of symmetry of the block.
A pair of bead chains 28, 29 are located in the throygh-passage for sliding movement therein. Theæe chains extend ~,''b~ ,' through the branch passages 24, 25 respectively, and through the main passage 22. The chain~ are confined within these passages, and in the main passage 22 they are conined in mutually interlocking engagement such that any sliding movement of either chain is necessarily accompanied by an equal movement of the other chain. A palr of resilient inserts of T.F.E. 30, 31 are located within recesses 32, 33 in the T-shaped members and engage the chains so as to exert a resistance to ~liding of the chains. This resistance must be small enoughlto permit adjustment of chain length, but sufficient to prevent sliding of the chainq under the weight of the pendant block 10 when the block is suspended in the manner shown in Figure 1. TO
adjust the resistance exerted, adjustable set screws 34 are provided in the member 20 which bear on the insert 31.
Although the invention has been particularly described in its application to a centre gauge, it is to be understood that the invention has broader applications, being applicable generally to devices wherein chains or chain-like members are .
required to be extended always by equal increments from a datum position as, for example, in the control of domestic and theatre curtain movements or in the control of door movements.
. . .
.
Claims (10)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A centering device comprising a guide member, the guide member defining a bifurcated through-passage consisting of a main passage terminating at one end of the guide member and a pair of branch passages, a pair of flexible chains located in the through-passage for sliding movement therealong, each of the flexible chains extending through said main passage and a respective one of said branch passages, the chains being confined in mutual inter-locking engagement within the main passage such that sliding movement of either chain is accompanied by an equal sliding movement of the other chain, and yieldable means applying a resistance to sliding movement of the chains.
2. A centering device according to Claim 1, wherein the flexible chains are bead chains.
3. A centre gauge comprising:
a pendant block having upper and lower ends, means defining within the pendant block a bifurcated through-passage consisting of a main passage terminating at said lower end and a pair of branch passages terminating at said upper end, the pendant block having a vertical plane of symmetry and said through-passage being symmetrically disposed with respect to said vertical plane of symmetry, suspension means for the pendant block consisting of a pair of flexible chains located in the through-passage for sliding movement therealong, each of said flexible chains extending through said main passage and a respective one of said branch passages, and the chains being confined in mutual inter-locking engagement within the main passage such that sliding movement of either chain is accompanied by an equal sliding movement of the other chain, and yieldable means applying a resistance to sliding movement of the chains sufficient to prevent such movement when the block is suspended.
a pendant block having upper and lower ends, means defining within the pendant block a bifurcated through-passage consisting of a main passage terminating at said lower end and a pair of branch passages terminating at said upper end, the pendant block having a vertical plane of symmetry and said through-passage being symmetrically disposed with respect to said vertical plane of symmetry, suspension means for the pendant block consisting of a pair of flexible chains located in the through-passage for sliding movement therealong, each of said flexible chains extending through said main passage and a respective one of said branch passages, and the chains being confined in mutual inter-locking engagement within the main passage such that sliding movement of either chain is accompanied by an equal sliding movement of the other chain, and yieldable means applying a resistance to sliding movement of the chains sufficient to prevent such movement when the block is suspended.
4. A centre gauge according to Claim 3, wherein the flexible chains are bead chains.
5. A centre gauge according to Claim 4, wherein the pendant block is a T-shaped body having a cross-portion defining said upper end and a vertical shank portion terminating at said lower end.
6. A centre gauge according to claim 5, wherein the pendant block is a composite body comprising a pair of complementary T-shaped members secured in engagement along an interface which is normal to said vertical plane of symmetry and contiguous with said through-passage.
7. A centre gauge according to claim 6, wherein said yieldable means is a resilient pad located within the block and positioned to engage the interlocking bead chains within said main passage.
8. A centre gauge according to claim 7, including adjustable screws extending through one of the T-shaped members and engaging the resilient pad for adjusting the resistance to sliding movement applied by said pad.
9. A centre gauge according to Claim 6, wherein the T-shaped members are aluminum alloy castings.
10. A centre gauge according to claim 6, wherein the T-shaped members are of molded plastic.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US89605978A | 1978-04-13 | 1978-04-13 | |
| US896,059 | 1978-04-13 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1102543A true CA1102543A (en) | 1981-06-09 |
Family
ID=25405558
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA325,201A Expired CA1102543A (en) | 1978-04-13 | 1979-04-09 | Centering device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1102543A (en) |
-
1979
- 1979-04-09 CA CA325,201A patent/CA1102543A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |