Patent ID: 8220174
Filing Date: 2012-07-17
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
1. A method to model the dimension and contour of a segment of piping to be installed between a pair of open ends of a piping circuit having a corresponding pair of connection flanges, the method comprising the steps of: connecting a first backing plate of an adjustable template apparatus over an open face of a first flange of a piping circuit of a pair of flanges configured to connect to a segment of piping to be installed therebetween, to include aligning bolt holes extending through the first backing plate with bolt holes extending through the first flange; connecting a second backing plate of the adjustable template apparatus over an open face of the second flange of the piping circuit, to include aligning bolt holes extending through the second backing plate with bolt holes extending through the second flange; identifying a rotational angular difference between the first backing plate and a first coaxial alignment disk coaxially located with the first backing plate and configured to rotate in relation thereto along a common central axis to thereby define at least a portion of an angular rotation between the pair of flanges of the piping circuit; identifying an angular difference between the common central axis and the main axis of a first hinged yoke connected to the first coaxial alignment disk by a pair of radially spaced apart hinges to define at least a portion of a vertical differential between the first flange of the piping circuit and a second flange of the pair of flanges of the piping circuit; and identifying an angular difference between the main axis of the first hinged yoke and a longitudinal axis of a linkage member of a linkage assembly connected to the first hinged yoke to define at least a portion of a lateral differential between the first flange of the piping circuit and the second flange of the piping circuit.