Abstract:
An adjustable gauge having special attention to measuring the dimensions of a fillet weld. The gauge includes a first plate that is rectangular in shape and terminates in an edge which transverses one corner, and a second plate that is circular in shape. The front face of the first plate has a recess therein sized to accommodate the second plate, wherein the plates are rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation and juxtaposed to one another. The gauge also indicates a linear member slidably mounted along the same axis of rotation as the first and second plates upon the second plate. The linear member is extendible in relation to the second plate so as to measure the dimension of the weld.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an adjustable gauge, and more particularly to an adjustable gauge that has special application in measuring or checking the dimensions of a fillet weld and may also be used for making several other workpiece measurements. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Fillet welds are used when it is desired to join together two metal plates usually located at right angles relative to each other, but of course as one skilled in the art knows, the plates to be joined may be placed at an angle of more or less than 90°. Heretofore, many of the gauges used to determine dimensions of these types of welds have not been accurate, and many separate gauges were required to check various sizes of welds. Some prior art fillet gauges also require that the fillet scale be disengaged from the main body and flipped over in order to measure alternate dimensional scales. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,389,842, presized corner templates are used to gauge fillet welds. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,597,848 a separate steel member must be utilized to read the gauge. Improvements have been made in the area of weld gauges, and gauges now exist that can perform multiple measurements. Examples are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,485,558, and 4,637,142. 
     However, the need continues for a more accurate and easier to use weld gauge. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide for a novel, adjustable gauge for measuring the dimensions of a fillet weld. It is also an object of the invention to provide a weld gauge that has multiple scales and is easy to read. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a fillet weld gauge which may be used to rapidly measure many different sizes of welds without the need for disengaging the fillet scale and flipping said scale over the measure alternate dimensional scales. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide for a fillet weld gauge which is readily adjustable and accurate. 
     Other objects of the invention will become apparent upon the reading of the following description. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The objects of the invention have been accomplished by providing an adjustable gauge having special application to the measuring of the dimensions of fillet weld. The gauge is accurate and easy to use. The gauge includes a first plate and a second plate whereas the plates are rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation and juxtaposed to each other, and a linear member rotatably mounted on the same axis of rotation as the first and second plates juxtaposed to the second plate on a first face opposite the first plate, the linear member further member being slidably mounted in relation to the first and second plates in order to extend so as to measure a dimension of a weld. 
     Another feature of the invention is that the first plate is substantially rectangular in shape and terminates in an edge which traverses one corner thereof. The second plate is substantially circular in shape. The face of the first plate, which is adjacent to the second plate, has a recess thereon sized to accommodate the second plate. 
     Also, a feature of the invention is that the first plate, the second plate, and the linear member are rotatably mounted with a spring loaded mechanism for varying the rotational resistant there between. The second plate has first linear groove in the first face which the linear member slides in to measure the dimensions of a fillet weld. A second linear groove is located in the first face of the second plate set at an angle to the first groove for purposes of alternately sliding the linear member therein and measuring the dimensions of the weld using an alternative scale. 
     An additional feature of the invention is the weld gauge is provide with third a plate rotatably mounted to the first plate and juxtaposed against a back face of the first plate opposite the face to which the second plate is mounted. 
     A further feature of the invention is that the third plate is shaped substantially in the form of a pie section and rotatably mounted to the first plate in an area coinciding with the center of said pie. 
     Lastly it is a feature of the invention that the weld gauge has a detent mechanism for providing a rotational stopping points of the second plate in relation to the first plate. The detent mechanism comprises rounded protrusions on either the first plate or the second plate and mating apertures in the other juxtaposed plate corresponding to the desired rotational stopping points. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the gauge. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the gauge. 
     FIG. 3 is a rear view of the gauge. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line of  4 — 4  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the gauge shown as measuring the throat of fillet weld using the English or inch scale. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the gauge shown measuring the throat of a fillet weld using the theoretical scale. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the gauge shown measuring the throat of a fillet weld using the metric scale. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The gauge  10  shown in FIGS. 1-7 is normally used to measure the dimension of the throat of a fillet weld  12 , which joins two structural members  14 ,  16 , positioned at right angles to one another. As shown in FIGS. 5,  6  and  7 , weld  12  includes two legs  18 ,  20  and a throat  22 . 
     Gauge  10  included a plate shaped body member  24 , a circular plate member  26 , a linear member  28 , and a generally pie shaped plate member  30 , as best shown in FIG.  3 . As seen in FIG. 1, plate shaped body member  24  is partly defined by edges  32 ,  33 ,  66 ,  67 , and  68  and is generally rectangular in shape, but has one corner section severed therefrom in a miter cut fashion by edge  32 . Plate shaped body member  24  has a front face  34  having a generally circular recess  36  formed therein. Also located in body member  24  is axis hole  38  and detent apertures  40 . In the preferred embodiment, recess  36  extends to corner edge  32  and into a longitudinal edge  33  of body number  24  so that edge  33  severs the circular geometry of recess  36  in a cord like fashion, wherein said cord is defined by points  35  and  37  on the circumference of circular recess  36 . 
     Circular plate member  26  has an axial hole  46  centrally located and a first face  42  having two linear grooves  44  and  45  thereon. Linear grooves  44  and  45  are aligned along diameters of circular member  26  and intersect one another in a perpendicular manner thereby forming four radial groove portions  47   a ,  47   b ,  47   c , and  47   d . In the preferred embodiment, three separate scales of measurement are placed along radial groove portions  47   a ,  47   b , and  47   c . Along radial groove portion  47   a  a British or inches scale is marked. Along radial groove portion  47   b  a theoretical scale is provided; the theoretical scale being in inches along one side of groove portion  47   b  and then metric along the other edge of radial portion  47   b . The theoretical scale provides a value of weld throat thickness  22 , which includes an estimated value for weld penetration into structural members  14  and  16 . The penetration increases the effective strength and thickness of weld  12 . The metric scale is laid out along radial groove portion  47   c . In the preferred embodiment no scale is laid out along radial groove portion  47   d , but obviously any desired scale could be used along this radial groove portion. A bulbous protrusion  48  is located on face  49  of circular plate  26  opposite face  42 . 
     Linear member  28  has a flat end  52 , an opposite pointed end  51  and a linear slot  50  there between. The linear slot  50  extends coincident with linear member  28  and extends in close proximity to flat end slot  52 , and is more distal from the opposite pointed end  51 . 
     Pie shaped plate number  30  is defined by sector line  74  and partial sector line  73 , and includes a pointed section  77  jutting beyond partial sector line  73 . An arcuate slot  53  terminates at sector line  74  such that slot  53  defines arcuate portion  75  of plate  30 , which is located between slot  53  and the circumferential edge  76 , such that said portion  75  is uniform in width along the length of slot  53 . A back face  25  of body member  24  has an arcuate scale  31  attached thereto with screws  64  and washers  65 . 
     Having described the major parts of gauge  10 , the assembly and parts for assembly will now be detailed. In the preferred embodiment, circular plate  26  is positioned within recess  36  such that a second face  49  of circular plate  26  is juxtaposed with body member  24 . Linear member  28  is positioned within either linear groove  44  or linear group  45  of circular plate  26  and can slide in and alternate there between. Body member  24 , circular plate  26  and linear member  28  are rotatably held together with a knurled knob  54  having a threaded screw  55  attached thereto wherein said threaded screw extends through linear slot  50  of linear member  28 , axial hole  46  in circular plate  26 , and axial hole  38  in body member  24  and is engagingly threaded into circular nut  56 . A nylon washer  57  is placed between knurled knob  54  and linear plate member  28 . A coiled spring  58  is compressed between an extended head  59  of circular nut  56  and back face  25  of body member  24 . 
     Pie shaped plate  30  is rotatably mounted at  60  and juxtaposed adjacent a rear face  25  of body member  24  such that circular nut  56  is positioned within slot  53  of plate  30  and remains in slot  53  as plate  30  is rotated. Rotational mount  60  is accomplished in the preferred embodiment using a knurled knob  61  having a threaded screw (not shown) attached thereto that extends through an aperture (not shown) in plate  30  at point  60  and an aperture (not shown) in plate  24  at point  60  which is engagingly threaded to a knurled nut  62 . Other suitable rotational mounts such as a rivet may be used to join body member  24  and pie shape  30 . 
     Having described parts and assembly of weld gauge  10 , the operation will now be discussed. For measuring the throat of  22  fillet weld  12 , circular plate  26  and linear member  28  are utilized. Circular plate  26  is rotated within recessed  36  until the desired scale on radial segment  47   a ,  47   b  or  47   c  is aligned perpendicular to severed edge  32 . Circular plate  26  is rotated by pushing the head  59  of circular nut  56  which causes coil spring  58  to become further compressed and thereby raising knob  54  slightly above linear member  28 . This allows circular member  26  to freely rotate within recess  36 . As the desired scale  47   a ,  47   b , or  47   c  is aligned with edge  32 , bulbous protrusion  48  will encounter the appropriate detent aperture  40 . Circular nut  56  is then released and tension from coil spring  58  will firmly hold protrusion  48  within aperture  40  to lock the gauge  10  in the desired position. 
     Linear member  28  is rotated to the proper position within linear groove  44  or  45  by also pressing circular nut  56  against the face  25  of body member  24  compressing spring  58 . As knob  24  is raised linear member  28  is free to rotate. Linear member  28  will be rotated such that point end  51  is aligned within or protruding radially outward from the radial segment  47   a ,  47   b  or  47   c  which is aligned perpendicular to edge  32 . 
     To measure the throat  22  of fillet weld  12 , circular nut  56  is pressed against face  25  of body member  24  and/or knob  54  is turned slightly to loosen threaded screw  55  within circular nut  56  thereby allowing linear member  28  to slide freely within the appropriate linear groove  44  or  45 . Gauge  10  is then placed such that edge  66  of body member  24  firmly contacts structural member  16  and edge  67  of body member  24  is in firm contact with structural number  14  such that edge  32  faces fillet weld  12 . Linear member  28  is then extended toward fillet weld  12  until point  51  touches throat  22  as can be seen in FIGS. 5-7. Once point  51  is contacted with throat  22 , knob  54  is tightened and/or nut  56  is released to prevent further movement of linear member  28 . The dimension of throat  22  is then read from the appropriate scale on radial segment  47   a ,  47   b  or  47   c  as indicated by the position of measuring line  70  on linear member  28 . It should be appreciated that the knurled knob has three separate functions; first it allows the circular plate to be movable within its associated opening  36 , between its detented positions. Secondly, it allows the linear member  28  to be moved or fixed relative to its associated grooves  44 ,  45 ; and finally, it allows the linear member  28  to be linearly slidable towards and away from the edge  32  within the associated grooves  44 ,  45 . 
     Pie shaped plate  30  can be used to measure weld undercut, weld reinforcement, fillet leg length, angle of preparation, and misalignment; however, these uses of plate  30  are known and therefore will not be described in great detail. The basic operation of plate  30  involves rotation at point  60  whereby point  52  comes in contact with the element to be measured. When contact is obtained, the desired dimension can be read by the alignment of line  71  and  72  on plate  30  with the scale  31 . Line  71  aligns with a British or inch scale and line  72  aligns with the metric scale. 
     It should also be appreciated that this invention may be carried out using only one plate member or base portion having at least one groove located in the plate and a linear member for sliding in the groove the measure the throat of a fillet member. For example, the base portion could be shaped substantially in an octagon shape such that two edges of the octagon would be held in firm contact with the structural members joined by the fillet weld and the groove would be located such that it terminates perpendicular to an edge of the octagon between the edges contacting the structural members. The linear member would be mounted in the slidable and/or rotational mount with said base portion as described above or other methods which are well known in the art. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may be readily used as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out several purposes of the present invention. Further, the abstract is neither an attempt to define the invention of the application which is measured by the claims, neither is it intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. 
     The preferred embodiment herein described is not intended to be an exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms enclosed. They are chosen and described to best explain the principals of the invention in its application and practical use to thereby enable other skilled in the art to utilize the invention.