WO1995031692A1

WO1995031692A1 - A profile gauge

Info

Publication number: WO1995031692A1
Application number: PCT/GB1995/001130
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gordon James Kingston; Robert William Field
Original assignee: Gordon James Kingston; Robert William Field
Priority date: 1994-05-18
Filing date: 1995-05-18
Publication date: 1995-11-23
Also published as: AU2529795A

Abstract

A profile gauge for reproducing the line along which item(s) may be cut, joined or marked comprising: i) a flexible band (16) which incorporates a plurality of substantially parallel pockets (17) or sleeves across the breadth of the band; ii) a multiplicity of pins (20) each of which, in use, is slidingly held within a respective one of said plurality of pockets (17) or sleeves to allow each pin to slide longitudinally and extend from the respective pocket or sleeve when a force is applied thereto; iii) an adaptor substantially the same length as the flexible band; iv) fastening means adapted to secure the flexible band to the adaptor.

Description

A PROFILE GAUGE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a profile gauge and particularly to a gauge for producing a template line along which items may be cut, joined or marked.

Background to the Invention

In many fields there is a need to mark items to be cut to a specific shape. One such field is in the fabrication of equipment and machinery where there is a need to join pipes or tubes together at predetermined and specific angles relative to their longitudinal axis - such joints are known as saddle joints. In order to join a first pipe end onto the side of a second pipe in this way it is necessary to cut the end of the first pipe so that it matches the exterior shape of the second pipe allowing it to be joined to the second pipe in an end-to- edge abutment. In even the simplest cylindrical case, involving circular- cylindrical pipes, where a first pipe joins a second pipe at a right angle it is a relatively complex operation to determine exactly the shape that the end of the first pipe needs to be cut to in order to fit the second pipe.

The conventional method for reproducing the necessary shape of the end of the first pipe for it to fit to the second pipe involves the use of relatively complex Euclidean geometry calculations to arrive at a curve which can be drawn on a piece of paper. The paper is then wrapped around the pipe and used as a guide-line along which a cut is made. A skilled and experienced technician is generally required to carry out these calculations and the process is a protracted one. There is clearly a need for a simpler method of reproducing the shape to which a first pipe must be cut when joining it in edge-to-edge abutment to a second tube.

Several attempts have been made to devise a simpler method and one such method and associated device is described in PCT/GB91/02094 (Kingston and Field). This specification describes a saddle joint jig made up of two strips of webbing stitched together to form a plurality of parallel pockets across the breadth of the strip. Elongate pins fit into the pockets and are held in a frictional fit in the gaps between the stitching.

The advantages of this saddle joint jig lie in its greater flexibihty in that it can be wrapped around any shape or cross-section of pipe or tube, whatever its size. However, technicians and engineers who would have a need for such a saddle joint jig also frequently have a requirement to cut sheet materials as well as pipes. There is thus a well-defined need for a tool which will enable sheets of material to be marked up to a particular profile i.e a variable template. Ideally they would want to use the same or similar tool for marking out both sheets and pipes. However, the very flexibility which makes the above saddle joint jig so effective on pipe work means that it will not lay flat and in a fixed configuration on a sheet of materiaL

The present invention provides a profile gauge which is adapted for use as both a saddle joint jig and a gauge for marking out sheet materials.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides for a profile gauge for reproducing the line along which item(s) may be cut, joined or marked comprising:

(i) a flexible band which incorporates a plurality of substantially parallel pockets or sleeves across the breadth of the band;

(ii) a multiplicity of pins each of which, in use, is slidingly held within a respective one of said plurality of pockets or sleeves to allow each pin to slide longitudinally and extend from the respective pocket or sleeve when a force is applied thereto;

(iii) an adaptor strip substantially the same length as the flexible band;

(iv) fastening means adapted to secure the flexible band to the adaptor.

Preferably the said fastening means is of a releasable type whereby in use the flexible band and adaptor can be fastened together and released one from another at will.

Preferably the fastening means comprises co-operating strips of hook and loop type fastener or gripping tape (eg. VELCRO TM or the like).

Preferably the flexible band comprises two strips of webbing or the like sewn together so as to form a series of substantially parallel pockets across the breadth of the band.

In a particularly preferred embodiment one of the two strips of webbing in the flexible band comprises one of the co-operating strips of gripping tape making up the fastening means such that one element of the fastening means is incorporated into the flexible band along substantially its entire length.

Preferably the flexible band comprises two co-operating strips of gripping tape (eg. VELCRO TM or the like) sewn or otherwise joined together to form a series of pockets with the co-operating faces of the gripping tape on opposite sides of the band (ie. on the opposing outward faces of the band) such that the flexible band is adapted to wrap around an object and grip onto itself or alternatively will fasten onto an adaptor which itself has a layer of gripping tape on its surface.

The adaptor can consist of a substantially rigid strip or bar or alternatively can comprise one portion of hook and loop fastener with adhesive applied to the non-hook or loop face such that the adaptor will adhere to a sheet surface.

Preferably the rigid strip has a coating or layer of a resilient material eg. rubber on the opposing face to that incorporating the fastening means in order to protect the surface to be marked from SCTatching or other unwanted damage.

In a further embodiment the fastening means or adhesive comprises a low- tack adhesive or the like.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a rigid strip adaptor in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of a flexible band in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective of a flexible band being attached to a rigid bar in preparation for use;

Figure 4 is a representation of a series of pins held in substantially parallel alignment by two webbing strips;

Figure 5 shows a schematic perspective of a flexible band being attached to a T-bar adaptor;

Figure 6 illustrates a profile gauge with bent pins.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, which illustrate a first embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 shows an adaptor 10 for converting a flexible saddle joint jig type tool into a profile gauge suitable for use on sheet materials. The adaptor comprises an adaptor body 11 consisting of a strip of rigid material, preferably metal. The adaptor body can in fact be made of a variety of materials such as metal, wood, plastics or other composite materials and the like. In certain circumstances it may be desirable for the profile gauge to be able to flex in the same way that a plastic rule can flex along its length whilst remaining substantially rigid about its longitudinal axis.

The adaptor body 11 has attached to one face material consisting of one of the two co-operating strips of a hook and loop type fastener or gripping tape 13 of which VELCRO TM is one common example. Any convenient method of attaching this strip 13 to the adaptor body 11 can be used but a powerful adhesive is commonly employed for this purpose. The gripping strip 13 generally does not extend the full length of the adaptor body, stopping short of a handle region 14, located at one end of the adaptor body, and which can be used to manoeuvre the tool and to store it when not in use.

The opposite face of the adaptor body 11 is substantially covered by a thin layer of rubber 12 or other resilient/non-scratch material. The purpose of this layer is to make the tool less inclined to slide over the surface to be marked and to prevent unwanted scratching or damage to that surface. Clearly a wide variety of materials could be used for this purpose, neoprene rubber being one that is readily available.

Figure 2 shows a saddle joint jig 16 which has been adapted for use with adaptor 10. One face 17 of the jig 16 is covered with or comprises the opposite one of the two co-operating strips of hook and loop type fastener or gripping tape. That is to say one part of the fastener is bonded to the adaptor body 10 and the other part is attached to or incorporated into the saddle joint jig 16. As shown in figure 2 this gripping tape extends along the whole length of the saddle joint jig. But this is not essential and the same effect can be achieved by having regions of tape spaced along the length of the saddle joint jig.

In one embodiment the jig tool comprises first and second strips of webbing held together in face-to-face relation by stitching 18 to comprise a band. stitching 18 is machined in a plurality of evenly spaced lengths that run across and through the webbing. This stitching effectively creates a series of parallel pockets through which a multiplicity of pins can be threaded each pin being slidably retained within the pocket but held sufficiently tightly that the pin cannot move unless deliberately urged to do so.

The stitching 18 also secures the gripping tape 19 to the strips of webbing. The co-operating strips of gripping tape effectively act as a fastening means to releasably fasten the saddle joint jig 16 to the adaptor 10 in order to create a rigid tool for use on sheet material.

In a further embodiment one of the strips of webbing can be replaced by gripping tape 19, which itself is stitched to the remaining webbing strip to form pockets for the pins 20.

It has been discovered that it is in fact possible to do away with both strips of webbing and use only gripping tape in their place. That is to say, by placing back to back two strips of gripping tape that would otherwise co-operate to fasten together, and by stitching them as described above, a low-cost and highly flexible saddle joint jig is obtained.

This particular configuration is ideally suited to either wrapping around a pipe and fastening to itself or adhering to an adaptor 10 along its length to form a rigid profile gauge.

here it is desired to use longer pins because, for example, the contours of the object to be measured are particularly large, then two saddle joint jigs and/or adaptors can be used side by side to support the pins. That is to say each pin is threaded through two saddle joint jigs such that the jigs are in parallel, non-coaxial corresponding end alignment. One such arrangement is illustrated in Figure 4.

Whilst the pins themselves will tend to hold two saddle jigs side by side this can also be achieved by means of rigid slide rods 40. These rods pass through the adaptor bars, either through the body of each bar or through mountings attached to the bars. They can be held in place by means of grub screws and thus the jigs fixed in a particular configuration. More elegantly the cross- sectional shape of the rods and the shape of their mountings can, in combination, form a locking mechanism. For example, if instead of a rod with a circular cross-section,, an elliptical or cam-shaped profile is used then rotation of such a rod through 90° in an appropriately-shaped hole will cause the rod to lock in place. In this embodiment a handle can be provided on the end of the rod to facilitate turning it between locked and unlocked positions. In its simplest form the handle can be a 90° turn in the end of the rod (not shown).

Preferably the adaptor is marked or engraved at points along its length to allow it to be re-position accurately on guide points made on the surface to be marked/cut. Self evidently the profile gauge can be used either side up when marking. Normally, the rubber face of the adaptor would be towards the surface to be marked, but if closer contact between the pins and the surface is required then the gauge can simply be inverted.

Gripping tape is just one form of releasable fastening means that can be used in this context. Low-tack adhesive would be another effective method of securing the adaptor to the jig.

In a further embodiment the fastening means can be permanent where a substantially planar profile gauge is required. In its simplest format this type of gauge consists of a strip of rigid material which has attached to it a second strip of material so as to create a series of closely spaced parallel pockets across the breadth of the strip in order to accommodate pins 20.

In a further embodiment of this invention the adaptor incorporates a handle as shown in Figure 5. This illustrates a so-called T-bar 30 which has a raised portion 31 which can be used to grip the adaptor and thus the gauge itself in use. The principle employed here is much the same as that employed in a blackboard ruler where a handle is provided either at one point, preferably in the middle of the ruler, at a plurality of points or along the complete length.

This allows the gauge to be easily manipulated and held firmly in position on any work piece.

It will be appreciated that in this embodiment the jig tool will inevitably be placed directly onto the sheeting surface to be marked. This has the advantage that the pins are as close as possible to the sheet surface and therefore the template marking will be as accurate as possible.

When a conventional bar adaptor is used then it is also possible to bring the pins into direct contact with a sheet surface by using cranked or bent pins as shown in Figure 6. The slight kink in the pins allows for the thickness of the adaptor bar and for the webbing such that the tips of the pins lie directly on and parallel to the sheet surface to be marked.

The pins can have any suitable shape of ends. For example one or both ends of the pins can be pointed, flat or chisel-shaped.

An adaptor with a certain degree of flexibihty has already been described above. It is sometimes desirable to mark the profile of a curved sheet, in which case a different type of adaptor is required. It has been discovered that a self-adhesive strip of hook and loop fastener can be applied to a curved sheet surface and used to hold the jig tool in close contact with the sheet. Once the template has been formed the jig tool is removed and the adaptor peeled off the sheet surface. Heating the tape with a hot air gun can facilitate this removal procedure or, alternatively, low-tack adhesive can be used.

This embodiment greatly increases the utility of this tool, which as a result can be used on practically any size and shape of surface. It also means that even when attached to the adaptor the tool is still flexible.

When working on large sheets of material or with long pins to mark exaggerated profiles the profile gauge can be extremely heavy and difficult for one person to operate. This problem has been addressed in two ways. Firstly, lightweight constructional techniques have been investigated and secondly a handle has been incorporated into the adaptor 10. Two methods have been identified to reduce the weight of these saddle joint jigs. Firstly, improved means of constructing the webbing strap have been developed. Rather than using two strips of webbing superimposed one on another, it has unexpectedly been discovered that a single webbing strip can be used. Preferably this has pockets woven into it, the pockets extending substantially across the breadth of the strip, in much the same fashion as curtain heading tape. In effect this is like a webbing strip of constant thickness with pockets formed intermittently along its length wherein the pockets form an additional thickness. Between the pockets the strip returns to its original dimensions. In the context of this invention the term pocket means any device capable of holding a pin. The pockets can be formed by any method and from any suitable material.

This method of construction brings with it a number of advantages:

(a) The thread or fabric used to construct the pockets can have a degree of elasticity so the pockets can expand to take even the largest pins.

(b) Since the pockets no longer contribute to the inelastic construction of the jig this means that the thickness of material used to create the pockets can be thinner than would otherwise be possible. The thinner the pocket, the closer the pins lies to the pipe in use and the more accurate is the jig tool.

(c) The pockets can be subdivided by stitching along their length and across the breadth of the strip. This means that the number of pins per unit length of strip can be doubled at least. Taking this modification to its logical conclusion it is possible to create a hybrid between the earlier jig described in WO 92/09841 and this current version. That is to say, elongate pockets can be woven into a single strip of material and these pockets subdivided by stitching into a plurality of narrower pockets.

(d) The thickness of the strip need not be uniform across its width. In particular the thickness along one or both lateral edges can exceed that of the main body of the webbing. This is a most important feature, and is one not easily achieved in the known version, because the increased peripheral thickness tends to retain the pin within the pockets and prevent unwanted lateral movement. In effect it exerts a positive gripping action on the pins and acts as a restraining means on the pins as the strip is flexed in use, such flexing tending to open and close the pockets and thus temporarily release the pins and allow them to move in an unwanted fashion.

In a further embodiment the pockets need not extend substantially across the breadth of the strip. Instead the pockets can take the form of a series of substantially parallel sleeves in end-to-end alignment, i.e. an intermittent series of retaining sleeves designed to keep a pin substantially at right angles to the strip. For practical purposes there must be at least two of these short sleeves, one at each lateral edge of the strip. In one example these sleeves could take the form of a strong string or cord or the like threaded through the length of the webbing strip proximate to each edge of the strip, the cord emerging from the body of the webbing in a series of loops adapted to accommodate pins. As in the previous example the cord could possess a degree of elasticity to accommodate different sized pins. It will be appreciated that in this example the pocket or sleeve-forming material extends throughout the length of the webbing strip.

In a further variation the cord could be pulled tight after the pins have been inserted, thus tending to restrain the pins in place. The cord will need to be secured after tightening by some securing means, such as tying it in a knot or clamping it by any suitable means.

It will therefore be appreciated that one definition of sleeve in this context is a narrow pin-retaining means, a series of sleeves performing the same or similar function to that of a pocket. A combination of various types of sleeve can be used across the strip as specified by the designer.

All these variations have one thing in common; they are lighter in weight than a band formed from two webbing strips. In an alternative embodiment the single strip is constructed in such a way that holes can be drilled, punched, or otherwise created through the body of and across the width of the strap to accommodate the pins. If the pins are rigid and pointed, the pins themselves can be used to create these holes.

In a still further embodiment a pocket comprises two holes punched or otherwise formed through the thickness of webbing strip rather than through the body of the strip, the holes being near to the opposing edges of the strip and on a line at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the strip. A pin can then be threaded through the two holes in an under-over-under arrangement such that the pin extends on either side of the strip and yet at the same time the pin may be slid backwards and forwards through the hole.

As well as the stated advantages, all these embodiments share the feature that the single strip can be lighter in weight than the original double strip version.

However, a further major weight saving can be achieved by using hollow rather than solid pins. The pins must be very strong and rigid to prevent bending or flexing in use and this has generally been achieved in the past using high-tensile steel rods. It has now proved possible to use hollow metal rods, such as would be used in the construction of modern arrows for example. But an even greater weight saving can be achieved by turning to composite material eg. a fibre-reinforced plastic or resin. These are not only extremely light in weight but virtually unbreakable. This combination of features is particularly attractive to this sort of application because working conditions on for example an oil rig installation, where these tools find application can be particularly hostile and demanding. Such pins are, by their very nature, electrically non-conductive and tend not to create static discharges.

The physical-chemical properties of this composite are important to the tool's effective operation. Non-fraying fibre filaments set in resin are preferred and such materials are commercially available. The reader is directed to a materials specialist for the most suitable choice of fibres, resin and construction.

The hollow pins can have any suitable diameter and can be tapered at the ends to form a point. Alternatively, the operative ends of the pins can contain a pointed or shaped insert to facilitate in marking the opposing pipe.

One method of securing the saddle joint jig around a pipe is to use hook and loop fastener fixing. The use of this modified strip with pockets that do not necessarily extend across the whole width of the strip provides an opportunity to use different fixings to keep the jig in place around a pipe. It is possible, for example, to use hooks which themselves hook into these pockets, preferably with one hook at each end of the pocket such that the strain is taken symmetrically along the strip. Alternatively a series of hooked claws can be provided which dig into the webbing and effectively engage with the weave of the webbing itself at one or more points.

In either of these embodiments, but particularly with the former, it is advantageous to interpose an elastomeric portion or component between the engagement means and the body of the jig. This is because for any particular pipe the hook means may not coincide exactly with the pockets. The elastomeric portion means that the end of the jig can be stretched to allow engagement with the next or adjacent pocket and thus retain a tight fit around any size of pipe.

The introduction of an elastomeric component at or towards one end of the jig allows practically any form of fixing to be used. Examples are press studs or similar popper fixings, a belt buckle arrangement or even an over-centre action buckle. This gives a degree of design flexibility not seen with any previous type of jig. Any of the above methods of securing the jig tool can equally well be used to secure it to the adaptor 10.

Summary of the Advantages

This invention provides a template marking system offering a simple yet accurate method for marking cut-line templates during both pipe fitting and sheet fabrication. It is highly portable and can be used on or off-site wherever accurate profiling is required. It can be used by an unskilled operator with a precision that will enhance the integrity of the finished product.

The nature of this invention means that the gauge is easy to construct and relatively inexpensive. It has also been tried and tested underwater.

The reader is directed to the disclosure in patent specification PCT/GB91/02094 for any further details he may need to put the invention into practice. For the avoidance of doubt the text of this specification is hereby imported by reference into this disclosure.

Claims

1. A profile gauge for reproducing the line along which item(s) may be cut, joined or marked comprising:

(hi) an adaptor substantially the same length as the flexible band;

(iv) fastening means adapted to secure the flexible band to the adaptor.

2. A profile gauge as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the said fastening means is of a releasable type whereby in use the flexible band and the adaptor can be fastened together and released one from another at will.

3. A profile gauge as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the fastening means comprises co-operating strips of hook and loop type fastener or gripping tape (eg. VELCRO TM or the like).

4. A profile gauge as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the flexible band comprises two strips of webbing or the like sewn together so as to form a series of substantially parallel pockets across the breadth of the band.

5. A profile gauge as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein one of the two strips of webbing in the flexible band comprises one of the co-operating strips of gripping tape making up the fastening means such that one element of the fastening means is incorporated into the flexible band along substantially its entire length.

6. A profile gauge as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the flexible band comprises two co-operating strips of gripping tape (eg. VELCRO TM or the like) sewn or otherwise joined together to form a series of pockets with the co-operating faces of the gripping tape on opposite sides of the band (ie. on the opposing outward faces of the band) such that the flexible band is adapted to wrap round an object and grip onto itself or alternatively will fasten onto an adaptor which itself has a layer of gripping tape on its surface.

7. A profile gauge as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the fastening means is a low-tack adhesive or the like.

8. A profile gauge as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the adaptor comprises a substantially rigid bar.

9. A profile gauge as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8 wherein the adaptor comprises one portion of hook and loop type fastener tape with adhesive applied to the non-hook or loop face such that the adaptor will adhere to a sheet surface.

10. A profile gauge as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 or 7 to 9 wherein the flexible band comprises a single strip of flexible material.

11. A profile gauge as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the pins are curved or bent and thus adapted to contact in use the sheet material being marked, the curved nature of the pins compensating for the thickness of the strip and/or adaptor.

12. A profile gauge substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any combination of the accompanying figures.