Digital feeler gauge and method of using same

US8919004B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Juntao Wu · Niskayuna, US
• Robert William Tait · Plano, US
• Cheryl Zhan · Niskayuna, US
• John Brandon Laflen · Niskayuna, US
• Steven William Wik · Niskayuna, US
• John William Herbold · Fountain Inn, US
• S. M. Nayeem Hasan · Niskayuna, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 31, 2012
• Grant date: Dec 30, 2014
• Expiry date: Jul 21, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01B2210/58
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The present application provides for feeler gauges. The feeler gauges include a plurality of elongate measuring leaves rotatably coupled on a common axis of rotation with an elongate housing. The leaves may be manually, selectively rotatable between a “home” position wherein the leaves are substantially aligned with the housing and an “extended” position wherein the leaves are spaced from the housing. The leaves may be relatively flexible and substantially flat such that they define a substantially constant thickness. One or more extended leaves may be used to measure the thickness of a clearance or gap. The gauges may be configured to detect, determine or measure the thickness of the leaves that are in the “home” position and/or the “extended” position, and thereby determine the total thickness of a clearance or gap measured by the extended leaves.