US902738A - Centering device. - Google Patents

Description

L. J. JONES.

GENTERING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1907.

902,738. Patented Nov. 3,1908.

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LLOYD J. JONES, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

CENTERING DEVICE Application filed July 11, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LLOYD J. Jones, citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centering Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for locating centers and is more especially applicable to the process of determining and positioning the centers of journal boxes, bushings, collars, etc. although its usefulness is practically unlimited in the art of machine construction.

The paramount objects of my invention are to provide a convenient and practical instrument by means of which the center of any internally circularly curved surface within the capacity of the appliance may be accurately determined; to furnish a device for the purpose stated that can be quickly adjusted to meet the variations in the diametrical lengths of the parts to be mensurated, and to provide means for temporarily indicating the center when found.

Further objects are to promote economy both of time and material in h ying out work, and to supply a simple, efficient and durable implement for the objects specified.

The usual method of obtaining the centers of boxes or bushings is to employ a strip of wood to which a piece of thin metal is attached, such as tin, or, which is considered preferable, a strip of lead is made use of to obtain the required point which is indicated the metal surface. The strip of lead thus prepared is fitted Within the box to be centered, which is done by careful and laborious alternate trimming and swedging or stretching the soft metal strip. Repeated trials are necessary before the piece is of the proper length and it must be held with sufficient firmness to allow of the impression to be made by the point used to locate the center. It will be readily understood that this method is crude and inaccurate unless great care is used and the time consumed in the repeated clipping or hammering to beat out the shortened strip to the extent required 'for the variation in the diameters, amounts to so much as to enhance the cost of such procedure beyond reasonable limits. I avoid this waste of time and material and attain increased accuracy as above stated by the employment of the device illustrated in Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

Serial No. 383,178.

the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved centering instrument; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 3 is a rear view.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral indicates the body of the device, cylindrical in cross section and having reinforced or enlarged ends, cut away on the sides to leave connecting bridges 11, and furnished with slots 12. Upon one side of the said body 10, and midway of the ends is located a boss 13, in which is inserted a circular cup shaped disk 14, which has a central lug provided with threads which engage similar threads cut internally in the said boss 13. The side or lip of the said cup forms a sort of frame within which is run a plate or field of lead, or other soft metal suited to the pur ose. The face of this plate or field is flush with the lip of the cup and performs the function of a receiving or impression surface upon which is scribed or otherwise marked the lo cation of the center when obtained. As the material of this impression plate is a soft metal any marks or indentures made therein may be readily obliterated by the use of a scraper or burnisher which may be the edge or face of any tool or metal piece which may be at hand. The said body is provided with a longitudinal bore 10 which is of equal di ameter throughout and extends entirely through the body. This bore is furnished with a comparatively thin and soft lining or skin 17 which forms a bushing for centering members or centers, in the form of screws 18, 18 which are inserted in the body from each end and have a sliding fit in said lining, the soft metal of which the latter is composed preventing wear of the threads, with which said screws are furnished throughout their entire length.

One side of each screw is supplied with a spline 19 which extends the full length of the screw body. This spline is adapted to be engaged by a pin 20 inserted through the wall of the body portion, there being one such pin at each end for the respective screws. The function of these pins and corresponding splines is to prevent any relative movement between the screws and the incasing body when the said screws are operated. The 0 crating means consist of duplicate knurled t iumb nuts 21 which are inserted in the slots 12. In addition to the nurling which affords an aid to the fingers in turning the nuts, the face of each nut is furnished with spaced holes 22 in which a rod or spanner wrench may be inserted to afford greater power in turning the nut.

The outer end of the screw 18 is supplied with a conical engaging center or point 23 and the external end of the other screw 18' is provided with a double point 24. One of the engaging centers may be formed with a single flattened edge, but I prefer, however, the double pointed form. The object of giving this shape to the point is to prevent turning of the appliance when pressure is applied to the field during the use of the tool after it has been set in position.

The tool is applied by inserting it into the bore to be centered with the field 16 projecting towards the operator. The thumb nuts are then turned until the points of the screws engage opposite walls of the cavity and if necessary a rod is used to set the screws 'irmly so that the device will be self supporting. The field being properly surfaced the necessary marks may be made in the soft metal needed to locate the center of curvature. The appliance is then removed by retracting the screws by the nuts 21, and the tool is then applied to another box or other cavity the center of which it is desired to locate.

I11 the ordinary formation of boxes or bushings, especially in locomotive frame construction, it is usual to find a fillet of considerable size, and it is necessary to place the subtending strip or tool below the said fillet in order to secure a position therefor, and when the common method of using a lead strip is employed allowance must be made for this contingency. With the use of my centering field, however, the lead plate can be set flush with the face of the work, whatever may be the size of the said fillet.

It will thus be seen that the centering of a large number of boxes having different dimensions may be accomplished with a single device and with a great economy in time and labor.

The field of lead may be used an indefinite number of times by simply erasing the impressions made in the course of its employment as before stated, and when necessary j the cup 14 may be unscrewed from its socket, the old lead removed and a new plate run into the cup to serve again as a marking surface.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a centering device, the combination with a hollow body, and centering members adjustably mounted in axial alinement in said body, of an impression plate attached to one side of the body intermediate of its ends.

2. In a centering device, the combination with a cylindrical casing, and adjustable centers mounted in axial alinement in said casing, of an impression plate removably attached to said casing.

3. I11 a centering device, the combination with a cylindrical casing, of a plurality of centering members mounted in alinement in said casing, means for independently adjusting each of said members longitudinally, and an impression plate removably attached to one side of said casing.

4. In a centering device, the combination with a tubular casing, of a plurality of pointed screws arranged in axial alinement in said casing, means for independently adjusting said screws longitudinally, and an impression plate removably attached to said casing, the said plate being arranged in a plane parallel with the axes of said screws.

5. In a centering device, the combination of a casing, non-rotatable means for adjustably securing the casing between opposing surfaces, and an impression plate attached to one side of the casing, said plate being composed of soft metal.

6. In a centering device, the combination of a cylindrical casing, a lining for the casing composed of material of less density than the casing, a lurality of pointed screws arranged in axial a inement in said casing, means for adjusting said screws longitudinally, means for preventing the rotation of the screws relatively to the casing, and an impression plate removably attached to the casing, said plate being composed of comparatively soft material.

7. In a centering device, the combination of a cylindrical casing, screws arranged in axial alinement in the casing, one of said screws having a double point, means for independently adjusting said screws longitudinally and a soft metal impression plate removably attached to the casing.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LLOYD J. JONES.

Witnesses:

ARCHIE M. VAUGHAN, W. K. VAUGHAN.

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