WO2004048882A1

WO2004048882A1 - A slide calliper and a method for measuring the distance between two bends on a plate

Info

Publication number: WO2004048882A1
Application number: PCT/DK2003/000817
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ann-Mette Have Filander
Original assignee: Ann-Mette Have Filander
Priority date: 2002-11-28
Filing date: 2003-11-28
Publication date: 2004-06-10
Also published as: AU2003283210A1

Abstract

A slide calliper (1;23) serves for measuring the distance (x) between bends (17,18;34,35;37,38) on a plate (19;;36;39). The calliper comprises a measuring bar (2), which is formed with an abutting face (14) extending along the bar (2); two jaws (4,5) protruding from the bar (2) at the side of the abutting face (14); opposite abutting faces (12,13) formed on the jaws (4,5) intersecting each the abutting face (14) of the bar (2) along an intersection line (15,16); at least one slider (3) encasing the bar (2) for longitudinal displacement; a mount on the slider (3) for mounting one of the two jaws (4,5); at least one pivot (6) for pivotal mounting the other jaw (4,5) and a meter for measuring the actual distance (x) between the two intersection lines (15,16). The slide calliper (1;23) according to the invention has a simple and cheap construction by means of which the distance (x) between the bends (17,18;34,35;37,38) on the plate (19;;36;39) can be measured in an easy, quick and accurate operation.

Description

A slide calliper

The invention relates to a slide calliper for measuring the distance between bends on a plate, and also a method for measuring said distance by using the slide calliper.

Die formed or brake bent plates are to a great extent employed for numerous domestic and industrial products. For very many of these applications it is important that the plate is bent with a close accuracy. The distances between the bends of the product therefore need to be kept within close tolerances.

The surface of each bend is, however, approximately forming a circle, seen in section, while the bend lines which are defining the distances between the bends, are the intersection lines between two planes flushing with the surfaces of two adjoining plate sections, which are merging into each other in a bend.

These bend lines are therefore located outside the surface of the plate and are not physically present and therefore not visible.

Some operators are in practise locating such a not visible bend line by placing e.g. straight bars with their lower side on the surface between two adjoining plate sectors merging in a bend. In this way the bend lines can be identified as the intersection lines between the lower sides of the two bars .

The distance between two neighbour bends is then measured by using three bars, whereby the bend lines of the two bends are identified and the distance between them are measured by means of a separate measuring instrument, par example a conventional slide calliper. However, controlling in this way the required tolerances of the distances between the bends of a plate is a complicated, difficult and time-consuming work and can furthermore cause a costly reduction of the production capacity.

Some other operators therefore are instead using a normal slide calliper with fix jaws for measuring the distance between two bends on a plate by thereby estimating the locating of their bend lines. In this way it is possible to measure said distance relatively quick, but in return without any accuracy because the bend lines does in the reality not physically exist, as explained above.

Callipers with pivotal jaws are in some cases used for measuring different objects. From US patent No 2,874,475 is known such a calliper, which in this case is adapted for controlling the relative dimensions of internal or external pipe joints. The angle positions of the jaws and the mutual distance between them are calibrated by fitting the calliper to a selected joint part and fixing the jaws in the calibrated position. The calliper, so calibrated, thereafter are used as a fix calliper for controlling the dimension of other similar joint parts.

The above named problems with measuring the distance between bends on a plate in an easy and accurate way differ from the problem in the prior art disclosed in the US patent No 2,874,475, which furthermore does not indicate any hints at solving said problems .

A first object of the invention is to provide a slide calliper of the kind named in the introductory paragraph, which has a simple and cheap construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a slide calliper of the kind named in the introductory paragraph adapted for more easy, quickly and accurate than hitherto to measure the distance between two bends on a plate.

A third object of the invention is to provide a method for more easy, quickly and accurate than hitherto measuring the distance between two bends on a plate.

These objects are according to the invention obtained by a slide calliper having a measuring bar, which is formed with an abutting face extending along the bar, two jaws protruding from the bar at the side of the abutting face, opposite abutting faces formed on the jaws intersecting each the abutting face of the bar along an intersection line, at least one slider encasing the bar for longitudinal displacement, a mount on the slider for mounting one of the two jaws, at least one pivot for pivotal mounting the other jaw, and a meter for measuring the actual distance between the two intersection lines .

The above named three bars and separate measuring instrument for accurately measuring the distance between two bends on a plate have by means of this simple and cheap construction advantageously been combined in one single slide calliper adapted for easy, quickly and accurately carrying out said measurement .

In service the slide calliper according to the invention is placed in a measuring position on the plate with its three abutting faces resting on each their section of the plate. The distance between the two bents is then read on the calliper as the distance between the two intersection lines.

Said reading can be performed in different ways, e.g. by in the measuring position to read the indications of the positions of the intersection lines on a scale provided on the measuring bar. By means of another method is the slider displaced from its measuring position to a reading position, where the two intersection lines are merging into each other. The distance between the two bends then is the distance, which the slider has travelled during its displacement.

This distance can, in the same manner as mentioned above, also be read on a scale provided on the measuring bar, but more easily and accurately by using a digital meter mounted on the slider. In this case is the digital meter reset in the measuring position of the calliper and read in the reading position. The distance between the two bends is then found as the numeral read on the display of the digital meter in the reading position of the calliper.

In one mode the reading position can be found by visually recording that the intersection lines are merging.

In a more safe and accurate other mode the reading position can be found as the position, where the two abutting faces of the jaws are touching each other.

The jaws need in this case to be arranged in such a way on the bar that the slider and the jaw on the slider only are able to touch the other jaw in the intersection lines and e.g. not in the area of the mountings of the jaws.

In one embodiment for the slide calliper according to the invention is the pivot mounted on the bar for pivotal mounting one of the jaws, while the mount on the slider is fixing the other jaw in a position perpendicular to the abutting face of the bar. By means of this calliper is it possible to measure distances to a bend on a plate from a 90° bend or an lateral edge on the plate. In another embodiment for the slide calliper according to the invention is the pivot mounting one of the jaws, while the mount on the slider pivotal is mounting the other jaw, whereby the calliper is adapted to measure distances between two bends on a plate without any of the two bends need to be a 90° bend.

The jaw on the slider can in the last-mentioned case be pivotal connected to the slider by means of two connection parts separated by a slot, which has a bottom face forming an acute angle with the abutting face of the jaw, and which are furthermore pivotal connected to the slider by means of a circular formed key and slot connection having the centre in the intersection line between the abutting face and the bottom face, thereby securing that the intersection line between the bottom face in the slot and the abutting face of the jaw always is the same as the intersection line between the abutting face of the measuring bar and the abutting face of the ja .

In this way can the reading position of the calliper easily be found as the position where the apex of the angle between the abutting face of said jaw and the bottom face in the slot is touching the abutting face of the other jaw.

Said other jaw can then advantageously be mounted at an end of the bar in such a way that it from a position perpendicular to the bar can pivot to any other angle position, thereby allowing measuring distances to bends forming an angle up to

180°

The invention will be explained in greater details below where further advantageous properties and only exemplary embodiments are described with reference to the drawing, in which

Fig. 1 is a elevated view of a first embodiment for the slide calliper according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows the same, partly in section, but angularly turned 90°,

Fig. 3 shows the slide calliper shown in fig. 1 and 2 in a first measuring phase of measuring the distance between a right angle bend and an obtuse angle bend on a plate,

Fig. 4 shows the same in a second measuring phase,

Fig. 5 shows the same in a third measuring phase,

Fig. 6 is a elevated view of second embodiment for the slide calliper according to the invention,

Fig. 7 shows the same, partly in section, but angularly turned 90°,

Fig. 8 shows the slide calliper shown in fig. 6 and 7 in a first phase of measuring the distance between two obtuse angle bends on a plate,

Fig. 9 shows the same in a second measuring phase,

Fig. 10 shows the same in a third measuring phase,

Fig. 11 shows the slide calliper shown in fig. 6 and 7 in a first phase of measuring the distance between an acute angle bend and an obtuse angle bend on a plate.

Fig. 12 shows the same in a second measuring phase, and

Fig. 13 shows the same in a third measuring phase,

Fig 1 and 2 show a first embodiment for a slide calliper 1 according to the invention comprising a measuring bar 2, a slider 3, a first protruding jaw 4 mounted on the slider in a position perpendicular to the bar and a second protruding jaw 5 pivotal mounted on a pivot 6 on the bar.

The second jaw 5 is formed with a slot 7 for accommodating the bar 2. The slot has a bottom face 8 positioned in a distance from the pivot axis 9 sufficiently large to allow the jaw to take up any angle position in relation to the bar.

The slider 3 is encasing the bar for longitudinal displacement along this. The size of any displacement can in this case be read on a display 10 of a digital meter (not shown) , which is integrated in the slider. A key 11 is adapted for resetting the digital meter.

The first jaw 4 is formed with a first abutting face 12, the second jaw 5 with a second abutting face 13 and the bar 2 with a third abutting face 14. The last-mentioned abutting face is positioned on the longitudinal side from which the jaws are protruding.

The first - and second abutting faces 12 and 13 are facing each other while the third abutting face is intersecting the two other abutting faces along a first - and second intersection line 15 and 16, respectively.

The slide calliper is used as explained below with reference to fig. 3, 4 and 5.

In fig 3 the calliper is arranged in a measuring position for measuring the distance between a first bend 17 and a second bend 18 on a plate 19. The first bend 18 has been bent in an angle of 90° and the second bend 19 has been bent in an obtuse angle. The first abutting face 12 is resting on the surface of a first plate section 20, the second abutting face 13 is resting on the surface of a second plate section 21 and the third abutting face 14 is resting on the surface of a third plate section 22 extending between the two bends 17 and 18.

The distance between the bends 17 and 18 is now the distance x between the first - and second intersection lines 15 and 16.

The calliper is readily adapted to the shape of the plate and can therefore easily and quickly be brought into the measuring position shown in fig. 3 for thereafter being removed from the plate to the free position shown in fig. 4.

The digital meter is reset by a light pressure on the reset key 11 in either the measuring position shown in fig. 3 or the free position shown in fig. 4. Now the display 10 will depicts the numeral 0,00 when the digital meter has been correctly reset .

The slider 3 is then displaced in the direction of the second jaw 5 until the first - and second abutting faces 12 and 13 on the first - and second jaws 4 and 5, respectively, are touching each other.

The first - and second intersection line 15 and 16 has thereby been merged into each other, whereby the distance, which the slider has travelled during the displacement, is exactly the same as the distance x between the two bends 17 and 18.

The result can be read on the display 10 and is in this case 43,93 e.g. millimetre when the digital meter is calibrated for measuring in millimetre.

The plate 19 has in this case two bends 17 and 18. Above is explained and in the drawings 3 , 4 and 5 shown how the mutual distance between these two bends is measured by means of the slide calliper according to the invention.

The slide calliper can, however, just as well also be used for measuring the distance from a lateral edge on a plate to a bend on the plate.

By means of the slide calliper according to the invention it is now possible to measure and control the dimensions of a bent plate with very close accuracy and in an easily and quickly performed operation.

Fig. 6 and 7 show another embodiment for a slide calliper 23 according to the invention. This embodiment corresponds in the main to the first embodiment shown in fig. 1 and 2. For identical parts are therefore used same reference numerals.

The difference is that the first jaw 24 now is pivotal mounted on the slider 25 about the first intersection line 15.

For bringing the first jaw in order to perform this pivotal movement the jaw 24 is connected with the slider 25 by means of a circular formed key and slot connection 26 having the centre in the first intersection line 15.

This key and slot connection is mounted on a mount 27 on the slider and on two connection parts 28 on the jaw, respectively. The connection parts 28 are furthermore separated by a slot 29 for accommodating the measuring bar 2.

The slot 29 has a bottom face 30 forming an acute angle with the first abutting face 12 on the first jaw 24. The apex of this angle is the same as the first intersection line 15.

Each connection parts 28 of the first jaw 25 is formed with an incision 31 while the second jaw 5 is semicircular in the area around the pivot 6, thereby enabling the two jaws 5 and 24 to approach each other so close that their abutting faces 12 and 13 safely are touching each other in the intersection lines 15 and 16.

As seen in fig. 6 the first jaw 24 is provided with a first scale 32 for indicating the angle position of said jaw while the second jaw 5 is provided with a second scale 33 for indicating the angle position of this jaw. The slide calliper is by means of these scales not only able to measure and control the distance between two bends on a plate but also to measure and control their bend angles .

Fig. 8 - 10 show how the second embodiment for the calliper 23 is used for measuring the distance between a first bend 34 and a second bend 35 on a plate 36. Both bends are in this case forming an obtuse angle .

The slide calliper has in fig. 8 first been brought into the measuring position on the plate and thereafter been removed to the free position shown in fig. 9 while the digital meter has been reset.

In fig. 10 the slider 25 has been displaced until the first - and second abutting faces 12 and 13 on the first - and second jaws 24 and 5, respectively, are touching each other, thereby bringing the first - and second intersection line 15 and 16 to merge into each other .

The distance, which the slider has travelled during this displacement, is the same as the distance x between the two bends 34 and 35.

The result can be read on the display 10 and is in this case 47,92 mm. Fig. 11 - 12 shows how the second embodiment for the calliper 23 is used for measuring the distance between a first bend 37 and a second bend 38 on a plate 39. The first bend 37 is in this case forming an acute angle while the second bend 38 is forming an obtuse angle.

The slide calliper has in fig. 11 been brought into the measuring position on the plate and thereafter been removed to the free position shown in fig. 12 while the digital meter has been reset.

The slider 25 has in fig. 13 been displaced until the first - and second abutting faces 12 and 13 on the first - and second jaws 24 and 5, respectively, are touching each other, thereby bringing the first - and second intersection line 15 and 16 to merge into each other.

The distance, which the slider has travelled during this displacement, is the same as the distance x between the two bends 37 and 38.

The result can be read on the display 10 and is in this case 38,77 mm.

The slide calliper in the second embodiment can advanteougsly be used for measuring on plates, which has been bent in more complicated configurations.

The calliper can, however, also be used in exactly the same manner as the slide calliper of the first embodiment by locking the pivotal first jaw to the slider in a position perpendicular to the bar by means of a locking device (not shown) .

Claims

1. A slide calliper (1;23) for measuring the distance (x) between two bends (17 , 18 ; 34 , 35 ; 37 , 38) on a plate (19; ; 36; 39) , comprising a measuring bar (2), which is formed with an abutting face (14) extending along the bar (2), two jaws (4,5) protruding from the bar (2) at the side of the abutting face (14) , - opposite abutting faces (12,13) formed on the jaws (4,5) intersecting each the abutting face (14) of the bar (2) along an intersection line (15,16), at least one slider (3) encasing the bar (2) for longitudinal displacement, - a mount on the slider (3) for mounting one of the two jaws (4,5) , at least one pivot (6) for pivotal mounting the other jaw

(4,5) , and - a meter for measuring the actual distance (x) between the two intersection lines (15,16).

2. The slide calliper (1;23) according to claim 1, characterized in that the two jaws (4,5) are arranged in such a way on the bar (2) that the abutting faces (12,13) of the jaws (4,5) are able to touch each other along the intersection lines (15,16) in all mutual angle positions of the abutting faces (12,13) of the jaws (4,5) larger than zero.

3. The slide calliper (1;23) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the meter is mounted on the slider (3) .

4. The slide calliper (1;23) according to claim 1, 2 or 3 , characterized in that the mount on the slider (3) is fixing one of the two jaws (4) in a position perpendicular to the abutting face (14) of the bar (2), while the pivot (6) is mounted on the bar (2) for pivotal mounting the other jaw (5) .

5. The slide calliper (1;23) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the mount on the slider (3) is pivotal mounting one (4) of the two jaws while the pivot

(6) is mounted on the bar (2) for pivotal mounting the other one (5) of the two jaws.

6. The slide calliper (1;23) according to claim 5, characterized in that the jaw (4) on the slider (3) comprises - two connection parts (28) for pivotal connecting the slider (3 ) , a slot (29) between the two connection parts (28) for accommodating the bar (2), and a bottom face in the slot (29) forming an acute angle with the abutting face (12) .

7. The slide calliper (1;23) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the two connection parts (28) are pivotal connected to the slider (3) by means of a circular formed key and slot connection having the centre in the intersection line (15) between the abutting face (12) and the bottom face.

8. The slide calliper (1;23) according to claim 1 - 7, characterized in characterised in, that the jaw (5) mounted on the pivot (6) is positioned at an end of the bar (2), that the jaw (5) is formed with a slot (7) for accommodating the bar (2), and - that the slot (7) has a bottom face (8) in a distance from the pivot axis sufficiently large to allow the bottom face (8) to pass the end face of the bar (2) when pivoting from a position perpendicular to the bar (2).

9. A method for measuring the distance (x) between two bends (17,18;34,35;37,38) on a plate (19;; 36; 39), which has been bent, by using the slide calliper (1;23) according to the claims 1 - 8, comprising that the slide calliper (1;23) is arranged in a measuring position upon the plate (19 ; ; 36 ; 39) with the abutting face (14) of the bar (2) resting on the plate section

(22) between the two bends and the abutting faces (12,13) of the two jaws (4,5) resting on each their adjoining plate sections (20,21), that the calliper (1;23) is removed from the plate (19; ;36;39) while keeping the calliper (1;23) in the measuring position, that the slider (3) is displaced to an reading position where the intersection lines (15,16) are merging into each other, and - that the size of the displacement is read.

10. The method according to claim 9 using a digital meter, characterised in that the meter is reset in the measuring position and read in the reading position.