US1227492A - Key-gage. - Google Patents

Description

J. C. ROSS.

KEY GAGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY SI, I9I6. I 1&2279492 Patented May 22, 1917.

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@fila I JOHN COWAN ROSS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

KEY-GAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

vlPatented May 22, 191W?.

Application filed May 31, 1916. Serial No. 100,849.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jol-IN CowAN Ross, citizen of the United States, and resident of Boston, in the county of Suolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Key-Gages, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to key gages of the character shown in Letters Patent No.

lo 1,175,819, granted to me March 14, 1916, and in my application for Letters Patent of the United States led December 24, 1915,' Serial No. 68,524. In key gages of the type shown in said patent and patent application,

if'the key is not held firmly and accurately in place by hand in the key way, inaccuracies and errors will arise in the use of the key gage. When the key gage is held in place by hand it has been found diiiicult without 2O extreme care and some measure of skill to manipulate the gage without danger of displacing the key slightly from its accurate position in the key way. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide means in proximity to the entrance opening of the key way adapted to engage the shoulder of a key in the key way and hold it firmly in place. It is also an object of the invention to provide means for holding the rotary barrel and the adjustable key stop described -in my said patent application in any of their several positions of adjustment, and also to accomplish the further purpose of holding the key in place in the key way and holdingl the barrel and adjustable key stop in position by means of the same latch. These and other features will hereinafter be more fully described and particularly lpointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a key gage containing the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of said key gage;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in vertical section through the latch and latch carrying finger showing a key in the key gage; and

Fig. 4 is an end view similar to Fig. 2 but showing in cross section a key in the key way.

A represents the frame or housing of the gage, having a key way a which opens through one end of the frame. A sight aperture a is provided in the side of the frame at the side of the key way to expose to view the notched edge of the key and the ends of the gage pins c which are movably mounted in the frame A.

B is a barrel or cylinder mounted to turn within the frame to vary the distances between the several gage pins, as explained in my said former application. The rotary barrel B is located alongside of the key way and extends through the end of the frame at one side of the key way opening. The end of the barrel is provided with a series of notches o, which are preferably of varying depths, and constitute key stops to engage the shoulder 7c of the key K and determine the penetration of the key into the key way. Adjustable guide screws d, d, one on each side of the gage, are provided to bear against the sides of the key within the usual grooves which run lengthwise of the key to aid in holding the key in position.

The parts thus far described may be sub stantially the same as the corresponding parts described more in detail in my said former patent and patent application.

At the end of the frame A through which the key way opens and from which the end of barrel B projects, there is iiXed a latchcarrying finger E, which projects over the end of the barrel and over the rotary key stop. The finger E is secured to the frame by means of a screw c which passes through the top of the frame A into the top of the latch-carrying finger. rIhe finger E is provided with a longitudinal bore containing a latch consisting of the rod ,f and the head z. Said latch is yieldingly pressed forward by a coil spring g lodged in said bore behind the rod f. l The head la, of the latch is preferably tapered on all four sides, or made in substantially pyramidal form'so as to provide a bevel on all four sides for the purpose hereinafter described. The latch normally projects into engagement with one of the series of notches b, which constitute the key stops, and forms means for yieldingly holding the rotary barrel B and the adjustable key stop in any one of its several adjusted positions. rIhe latch is also in proximity to one end of the key way opening in position to engage the shoulder 7c of the key, and the bevel surfaces on the inner and outer sides of the head 7L, when engaged by the shoulder k of the key, permit the latch to yield both when the key is being thrust into the key way and when it is being pulled out of the key Way. The latch-carrying finger E, Which projects across the ace of the adjustable key stop at the end of the barrel B, serves both as a housing and support for the latch, and also to prevent the dislodgment of the barrel from the iframe.

"With this construction When the key is inserted in the key Way, in the position shown in Fig. 8, the latch Will engage the outer side of the shoulder 7c and hold the key in its proper position so that both hands of the operator are free for the manipulation of the gage pins and other parts. Moreover. whether the key is in the gage or not said latch will also engage the notches on the end of the barrel constituting the key stops, thereby holding the barrel and key stops in the desired position of adjustment; and when the key i's out of the gage the bevel surfaces at the sides oi" the latchwwill permit the latch to yield as the barrel and notched key stop are rotated, and to snap into the successive notches Z) thereby aiding in bringing the latter into correct registry With the key Way.

I claim:

l. A key gage of the character described comprising a frame having a key-Way, and a latch carried by the frame in proximity to one end of the key-Way opening, adapted to engage the shoulder of a key in the key- Way.

2. A key gage of the character described comprising a frame having a key-Way, a

latch carried by the frame in proximity to one end of the key-Way opening, adapted to engage the shoulder of a key in the key- Way, and a spring normally pressing said latch forward, said latch being beveled on both its outer side and its inner side to yield to the movement of the key in either direction.

3. A key gage of the character described comprising a frame having a key-Way, an adjustable key stop adapted to determine the penetration of the key intothe key-Way, and a latch carried by the :trame adapted yieldingly to hold said adjustable key stop in any one of .its several adjusted positions.

4. A key gage of the character described comprising a frame having a key-Way, an adju-stable key-stop Yadapted to determine the penetration of the key into the key-Way, and a latch carried by the frame in proximity to one end of the key-Way opening, adapted both to engage the yshoulder of a key in the keyuvay and to hold said adjustable key-stop in any one of its several adjusted positions.

5. A key gage of the character described comprising a frame having a key-Way, a rotary barrel at one side of the key-Way adapted to adjust gage pins, and a latch carried by the frame adapted yieldingly to hold said barrel in any one of its several adjusted positions.

6. A key gage of the character described comprising a frame having a key-\vay, a rotary barrel at one side of the key-Way adapted to adjust gage pins, and a latch carried by the iframe in proximity to one end of the key-Way opening, adapted both to engage the shoulder of a key in the key- Way and to hold said barrel in any one of its several adjusted positions.

7. A key gage of the character described comprising a frame having a key-Way, a rotary barrel at .one side of the key-Way and extending through the end of the frame at one side of the key-'Way opening, a latchcarrying finger lixed to the Jframe and projectingover the end of the barrel, and a latch on said iinger adapted to hold said barrel in any one of its several adjusted positions.

8. A key gage of the character described comprising a frame having a key-Way, a rotary barrel at one side of the key-Way and extending through the end of the frame at one side of the key-Way opening, a latchcarrying inger fixed to the iframe and projecting over the end of the barrel, and a latch on said finger adapted both to engage the shoulder of a key in the key-Way and to hold said barrel in any one of its several adjusted positions.

9. A key gage of the character described comprising a frame having a key-Way, a rotary key stop at one side of the key-Way opening, having a series of notches adapted severally to determine the penetration of a key into the key-Way, latch-carrying finger fixed to the frame and projecting over the rotary key-stop, and a latch on said iinger adapted both to engage the shoulder of a key in the keyavay and to engage said notches and hold the rotary key stop in adjusted position. f

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 26th day of May, 1916.

JOHN CGWAN' ROSS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C.

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