Patent GB-758501-A (GB)
Title: Improved precision gauging apparatus and method
Filed: 1954-10-22
Abstract: 758,501. Testing bearings. SHEFFIELD CORPORATION. Oct. 22, 1954 [Nov. 2, 1953; Nov. 2,1953], No. 30462/54. Class 12 (1). [Also in Group XIX] In the manufacture of a ball-bearing unit the unit is assembled by classifying the inner rings into several dimensional ranges, taking an outer ring at random and gauging it to determine from which range the mating inner ring should be selected, choosing such an inner ring, classifying the ball-bearings into several ranges, gauging the selected inner and random outer rings together to determine from which range the balls should be selected, selecting the balls and assembling them together with the inner and outer rings into the required unit. Alternatively the inner ring may be chosen at random and a selection made from classified outer rings. The gauging apparatus comprises a base 10, Fig. 1, with two end posts 11, 14 carrying the part supports and a central post 12 mounting pivoted arms 15, 16 and an arm-positioning yoke 17. The part supports comprise contacts 21, 22 and 24, 25 mounted on blocks 30, 31 slidable in converging grooves in a plate 26 secured to the post. As shown, the instrument is set with an internal race ring on the left-hand end supported respectively by contacts 21, 22 and 24, 25 and in contact with gauge contacts 18, 20 carried respectively at the ends of arms 15, 16. The arms 15, 16.are carried for increment at two points spaced along a common pivot axis by relatively large ball elements at the front and rear faces of the central post 12, Fig. 4. One such ball 40 contacts two clusters of smaller balls 42, 42 carried in plugs 45, 46, the plug 45 being mounted in the post 12 and the plug 46 in a forward projection of the arm 66. The forward support of the arm 15 is furnished by a plate 47 having an extension into which the ball 40 is fitted. A similar arrangement including a plate 48 is fixed to the rear projection of the arm 16 in which is fitted a second ball providing a rear bearing for the arm 15. The left-hand end of the arm 16 carries a fluid leakage orifice 52, Fig. 1, supplied with air by a passage 54. Intermediate its ends the arm 15 carries an adjustable orifice controlling member 56 cooperating with the orifice 52. Counterweights 55, 58 are provided. The yoke 17 is provided with a handle 67 which when raised brings contacts 65, 66 on the yoke into engagement with adjustable pins 60, 61 on the arms 15, 16 to raise them and the gauge contacts 18, 20 from the work to facilitate replacement of the rings being gauged. A vibrator unit controlled by the yoke 17 ensures that the races are settled on their contacts. The arms 15, 16 are provided with adjustable stops 107, 91 co-operating with flats 108, 90 on posts 11, 14 respectively. These stops serve to limit movements of the arms and also for the insertion of gauge blocks in initially adjusting the apparatus for the required dimensional difference between inner and outer rings. Alternatively either an inner or an outer ring may be placed on the appropriate arm and gauged with reference to a gauge block set up on the other arm.