US3668783A

US3668783A - Spline wear gauge

Info

Publication number: US3668783A
Application number: US16668A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vernon A Riddell
Original assignee: Thiokol Corp
Current assignee: ATK Launch Systems LLC
Priority date: 1970-03-05
Filing date: 1970-03-05
Publication date: 1972-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 1989-06-13
Also published as: NL7102153A; FR2084108A5; CA920801A; DE2110113A1; JPS5326136B1; GB1340129A; BE763804A; NO129112B; SE351036B

Abstract

The spline wear gauge disclosed herein comprises several forms which may be utilized for gauging external or internal splines. Each form comprises two gauge members having circumferentially spaced spline teeth, the teeth on one of the members having an addendum longer than the teeth on the other of the members. The members are rotatable relative to one another so that when they are brought into position adjacent the spline being gauged and rotated relative to one another, one of the members contacts the spline teeth of the spline being gauged at a different position when the other of the members. Any wear on the teeth will be evident by a relative rotational movement that is shown visually by a dial indicator on the gauge body.

Description

United States Patent 51 June 13, 1972 Riddell [54] SPLINE WEAR GAUGE [72] Inventor: Vernon A. Riddell, Mt. Clemens, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Thiokol Chemical Corporation, Bristol, Pa.

[22] Filed: March 5, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 16,668

[5 2] US. Cl. ..33/ 179.5 R

[51] Int. Cl. ..G0lm 13/02 [58] Field of Search ..33/174 A, l79.5 R, 179.5 A, 33/1795 B, 179.5 C, DIG. 14

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,507,049 4/1970 Heldt ..33/179.5 R 2,849,802 9/1958 Stapleton ..33/l 79.5 B

I VIEW- Primary Examiner-Leonard Forman Assistant Examiner-Dennis A. Dearing Altorney-Barnes, Kisselle, Raisch & Choate ABSTRACT The spline wear gauge disclosed herein comprises several forms which may be utilized for gauging external or internal splines. Each form comprises two gauge members having circumferentially spaced spline teeth, the teeth on one of the members having an addendum longer than the teeth on the other of the members. The members are rotatable relative to one another so that when they are brought into position adjacent the spline being gauged and rotated relative to one another, one of the members contacts the spline teeth of the spline being gauged at a different position when the other of the members. Any wear on the teeth will be evident by a relative rotational movement that is shown visually by a dial indicator on the gauge body.

7 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH 13 I972 3, 668, 783 SHEET 10F 4 INVENTOR. VERNON A. RIDDELL BY M 76% M M ATTORNEYS xwzzmmwmlm 3.668.783 SHEET 20F 4 INVENTOR. VERNON A. RIDDELL BY flax/aw, Wee, $440122 ATTOR/VE Y5 PATENTEDJUH 13 I972 3. 668,783 sum 30F 4 X 5/ INVENTOR.

VERNON A. RIDDELL iATENTEDJUN 13 I972 3. 668 783 no. I4

INVENTOR. VERNON A. RIDDELL BY a M W M ATTORNEYS 1 SPLINE WEAR GAUGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is common to make splines with hardened teeth, the hardening being efiective for a predetermined depth on the teeth. As the spline wears in use, the hardened surface wears away and eventually the spline has worn to a position wherein the surface of the teeth of the spline are no longer hardened. It is desirable to be able to sense or gauge the wear of the spline teeth and determine the depth of the wear as it occurs.

In the copending application of Michel P. I-Ieldt and Vernon A. Riddell, Ser. No. 723,976, filed Apr. 22, I968 titled Spline Wear Gauge, and having a common assignee with the present application, there is disclosed and claimed a spline wear gauge comprising two gauge members having circumferentially spaced spline teeth, the teeth on one of the members having an addendum longer than the teeth on the other of the members. The members are rotatable relative to one another so that when they are brought into position adjacent the spline being gauged and rotated relative to one another, one of the members contacts the spline teeth of the spline being gauged at a different position than the other of the members. Any wear on the teeth will be evident by a relative rotational movement that is shown visually by a dial indicator on the gauge body. I

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide an improved spline wear gauge of the type in the aforementioned patent application which will efiectively gauge the wear of the spline teeth, which is relatively simple, low in cost, easily manipulated, and portable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS F IG. 1 is a part sectional plan view of a gauge embodying the invention. I FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the gauge shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3'is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken alongthe line s s in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 1. v

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the gauge shown in FIG. 6. 7

FIG. 8 is a partly diagrammatic view on an enlarged scale of the relative positions of the teeth during gauging'of a spline.

FIG. 9 is a part sectional front view of a modified form of a gauge.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 1010 in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary end view of the gauge shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 12-12 in FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 13-13 in FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 14-14 in FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 8, the problem to which the applicant's invention is directed may be better understood by describing a portion of a workpiece W having spline teeth T, the wear of which is to be gauged. In use the surfaces S of the teeth which are normally hardened wear, the wear occurring because of the intermeshing of the teeth of the spline with the teeth of a mating spline member. As shown in exaggerated form in FIG. 8, the surface S wears in use with respect to a portion of the tooth near the base thereof S".

:The splines conventionally have convolute configurations in accordance with generally accepted standards wherein the shaped portion of the teeth extend radially beyond the pitch diameter to insure good tooth contact throughout.

In accordance with conventional design of spline teeth, the portion S" is of correct configuration and therefore the displacement angularly between the surfaces S" and S is a measure of the wear on the teeth.

In accordance with the invention, the wear is measured by providing two

gauge members

20, 21, that are coaxial and have

teeth

22, 23, respectively, the addendum on the teeth 22 being shorter than the addendum on the teeth 23. When the

gauge members

20, 21 which normally have their teeth axially aligned are brought into position adjacent the spline of the workpiece W which is to be gauged and they are rotated relative to one another, the surface of the teeth 22 will engage the surfaces S and the surface of the teeth 23 will engage the surface S producing a relative displacement between the two

members

20, 21 as a measure of the amount of wear of the spline teeth.

As shown in FIGS. 1-7, the

gauging members

20, 21 are mounted in a body 25 that includes two

sections

26, 27. As shown in FIG. 5, gauging member 20 is telescoped within an opening 27 in body section 26 and a screw 28 extends through the gauging member 20 into engagement with an opening in the body section 27. A flange 30 on the body section 26 engages the body section 26 to clamp the body section 26 against the body section 27.

Gauging member 21 is rotatably mounted in a cavity 31 in gauging member 20. A pushing gauging member 32 is rotatably mounted in a cavity 27a in body section 27 and in fixed gauging member 20. Gauging member 32 includes spline teeth 33 having a length substantially equal to the length of the teeth 22, namely, having a shorter addendum.

As shown in FIG. 3, pushing gauging member 32 includes a radial projection 34. Projection 34 extends into a cavity 35 of a slide 36 that is adapted to be moved transversely in an opening 37. Springs 38a; 38b are interposed between the projection 34 and the ends of the cavity 35. The position of the slide 36 is controlled by a knob 38. Knob 38 is rotatably mounted in body section 27 and actuates an eccentric pin 39 supported thereon that extends into a slot 40 in the slide. In the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the pin 39 maintains the slide 36 and, in turn, the pushing gauging member 32 in a centered position wherein the teeth 33 of the pusher. are axially aligned with the

teeth

22, 23 of the gauging

members

20, 21.

In this position, a spring-loaded ball 41 is, urged by a spring 42 against a notch 43 in the periphery of the movable gauging member 21, thereby tending to center the gauging member 21.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a spring-loaded detent ball 44 in the knob 38 is adapted to engage selectively openings or recesses 45, 45a, 45b in the body section 27 so that the knob can be rotated in one direction or another bringing the detent 44 into engagement with one of the

openings

45a, 45b. In each of these positions, the pin 39 is displaced causing the slide 36 to become displaced to the right or the left, as viewed in FIG. 3 against the action of one of the

springs

38b, 38a.

The gauge further includes a dial indicator 46 of conventional construction having a plunger 47 that is adapted to engage a pin 48 on the movable gauging member 21 and move therewith to indicate the relative displacement of the gauging member 21 with respect to the gauging member 20.

In use, the spline to be gauged is brought into position with the teeth of the spline being gauged adjacent the

teeth

22, 23, 33. The knob is then rotated in one direction or another to bring the detent 44 into engagement with one of the

openings

45a, 45b depending upon which side of teeth are to be gauged for wear. This moves the slide 36 through pin 39 yieldingly urging the pushing member 32 through one of the

springs

38a, 38b and projection 34 against one surface of the teeth of the spline being gauged. This produces a reaction force forcing the body and, in turn, the

teeth

22, 23 into engagement with the opposite surfaces of the teeth of the spline being gauged.

Sincethe addendum of the teeth 23 islonger than the teeth 22, the teeth 23 will engage the surfaces S" adjacent the base of the teeth while the teeth 22 will engage the surfaces S. If there is wear as viewed in-FIG. 8, there will be a relative rotational displacement between the

members

20, 21 resulting in a visual indication on the gauge 46 that is directly related to the degree of wear between the surfaces S and S". i

Q The form of the invention shown in FIGS. 9-14 isintended for gauging internal spline and comprises a body 50 made of two

sections

51, 52 held in assembled relation by screws 53. A first tubular gauging element 54 is fixed to the body section 51 and extends axially therefrom. The end of the section 54 is provided with circumferentially spaced spline teeth 55. A second tubular gauging member 56 is rotatably mounted within the tubular member 54 and has radially extending teeth 57 adjacent to teeth 55. A third pushing gauging member 58 having teeth 59 is fixed by a pin 59 on a rod 60 which is concentric with the members 54, 56 and extends axially through a space 61 in the body section 51. A bushing 62 is fixed on the rod 60 and is journalled in an opening 63 in the body section l.

Bushing 62 includes a radial projection 64 that extends into a cavity 65 of the slide 66 that is mounted for transverse movement in an opening 67. As in the previous form of the invention, springs 68 interposed between the projection 44 and the end of slide 66 yieldingly urge the pushing gauging member 58 toward a central position with respect to the cavity. A knob 70 .is journalled on the housing section 52 and is provided with an eccentric pin 7l thereon that extends into a slot 72 in the slide 66 to control the position of the slide. A spring-loaded ball 73 is adapted to engage one of several detents 74 to hold the knob in any adjusted position as in the previous form of the invention. i

The rotatable gauging element 56 is releasably maintained in a neutral position under the action of a detent ball 75 engaging a V-shaped notch 76 in the periphery of a member 77 that is fixed on the end of the tubular member 56. Ball 75 is mounted in a rotatable member 75a which is moved by a pin 75b on slide 66 extending into a slot 75c in member 75a.

As in the previous form of the invention, the dial gauge 77 having a plunger 78 is adapted to engage a pin 79 on the rotatable gauging member and moves therewith.

In each form of the invention, the positioning member moves along a line tangent to a circle having the axes of the gauging members as a center i The spline wear gauge shown in FIGS. 9-14 is operated in substantially the same manner as that shown in FIGS. l8. The spline to be gauged is brought into position with the teeth of the spline. being gauged adjacent the

teeth

55, 57, 59 when the

teeth

55, 57, 59 are aligned. Knob 70 is then rotated to bring spring-loaded ball 73 into engagement with one or the other of the detents depending upon which side of the teeth of the spline is to be gauged. This causes pin 71 to move slide 66 and, in turn, yieldingly urge the pushing gauging member 58 which is fixed to bushing 62 against one surface of the teeth of the spline being gaugedfThis produces a reaction force forcing the body and, in turn, the

teeth

55, 57 of the gauging members into engagement with the opposite surfaces of the teeth of the spline being gauged. Since the addendum of the teeth 55 is longer than the teeth 57, the teeth 55 will engage the surfaces adjacent the base of the teeth while the teeth 57 will engage the surfaces spaced from the base of the teeth. If there is wear, there will be a relative rotational displacement between the members 54, 56 resulting in a visual indication on the gauge 77 that is directly related to the degree of wear.

I claim:

,1. In a-spline wear gauge, the combination comprising a body, l

' a first gauge member having circumferentially spaced teeth on said body, I

' a second gauge member having circumferentially spaced teeth on said body,

the addendum on one of said teeth on one of said gauge members being longer titan the addendum of the teeth on the other of said spline members,

a third gauge member having circumferentially spaced teeth and being rotatably mounted on said body,

the addendum of the teeth on said first and third gauge members being substantially equal,

the addendum of the teeth on said second gauge member being longer than the addendum of the teeth on said first and third gauge members,

said members being coaxially aligned and in one position having the teeth thereof axially aligned,

means for rotating said third gauge member relative to said first and second gauge members so that a reaction force is produced against one face of the teeth of the spline being gauged to urge the first and second gauge members against the opposite surfaces of at least some of the teeth of the spline member being gauged,

said last-mentioned means comprising a positioning member mounted for reciprocating movement in said body in a line generally tangent to a circle having the axes of said gauge members as a center,

first spring means between said positioning member and said third gauging member yieldingly urging said third gauging member in one direction,

second spring means between said positioning member and said third gauging member ,yieldably urging said third gauging member in an opposite direction,

said teeth of said third gauging member being normally aligned with the teeth of said first and second gauging members, I

manually operable means on said body and engageable with said positioning member moving said positioning member between a normal position and positions to each side of a normal position,

said manually operable means including means for holding said manually operable means in each of said positions,

whereby when said gauge is brought into position adjacent a spline to be gauged and said positioning member is actuated by actuation of the manually operable means to one j position or another from said normal position, the addendum of the teeth of one of said first and second gauge members will engage the teeth of the spline being gauged at one portion'thereof and the addendum of the teeth on the other of said first and second gauge'members will engage the teeth of the spline being gauged at another point radially of the teeth so that the relative displacement angularly of the first and second gauge members will be a measure of the wear of the teeth.

2. The combination set forth in claim tioning member includes a slot,

said third gauging member includes a into said slot, said first spring means being interposed between said projection and one end of said slot,

said second spring means being interposed between said projection and the other end of said slot.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said manually operable means includes a knob rotatably mounted on said body, and means interconnecting said knob and said positioning member.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said means interconnecting said knob andsaid positioning member comprises a pin on said knob and a slot in said positioning member. I Y

5. The combination set forth in claim 1' wherein said teeth on said gauge members extend radially outwardly for gauging an internal spline.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the teeth of said gauge members extend radially inwardly for gauging an external spline.

7. The combination set forth in claim 1 including gauge means on said body responsive to the movement of said 1 wherein said posiprojection extending second gauge member with respect to said first gauge member.

Claims

1. In a spline wear gauge, the combination comprising a body, a first gauge member having circumferentially spaced teeth on said body, a second gauge member having circumferentially spaced teeth on said body, the addendum on one of said teeth on one of said gauge members being longer than the addendum of the teeth on the other of said spline members, a third gauge member having circumferentially spaced teeth and being rotatably mounted on said body, the addendum of the teeth on said first and third gauge members being substantially equal, the addendum of the teeth on said second gauge member being longer than the addendum of the teeth on said first and third gauge members, said members being coaxially aligned and in one position having the teeth thereof axially aligned, means for rotating said third gauge member relative to said first and second gauge members so that a reaction force is produced against one face of the teeth of the spline being gauged to urge the first and second gauge members against the opposite surfaces of at least some of the teeth of the spline member being gauged, said last-mentioned means comprising a positioning member mounted for reciprocating movement in said body in a line generally tangent to a circle having the axes of said gauge members as a center, first spring means between said positioning member and said third gauging member yieldingly urging said third gauging member in one direction, second spring means between said positioning member and said third gauging member yieldably urging said third gauging member in an opposite direction, said teeth of said third gauging member being normally aligned with the teeth of said first and second gauging members, manually operable means on said body and engageable with said positioning member moving said positioning member between a normal position and positions to each side of a normal position, said manually operable means including means for holding said manually operable means in each of said positions, whereby when said gauge is brought into position adjacent a spline to be gauged and said positioning member is actuated by actuation of the manually operable means to one position or another from said normal position, the addendum of the teeth of one of said first and second gauge members will engage the teeth of the spline being gauged at one portion thereof and the addendum of the teeth on the other of said first and second gauge members will engage the teeth of the spline being gauged at another point radially of the teeth so that the relative displacement angularly of the first and second gauge members will be a measure of the wear of the teeth.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said positioning member includes a slot, said third gauging member includes a projection extending into said slot, said first spring means being interposed between said projection and one end of said slot, said second spriNg means being interposed between said projection and the other end of said slot.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said means interconnecting said knob and said positioning member comprises a pin on said knob and a slot in said positioning member.

5. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said teeth on said gauge members extend radially outwardly for gauging an internal spline.

7. The combination set forth in claim 1 including gauge means on said body responsive to the movement of said second gauge member with respect to said first gauge member.