Optical non-contacting cylindricity gauge

Details Optical non-contacting cylindricity gauge Optical non-contacting cylindricity gauge

2000-03-21

2002-03-19

Hirshfeld, Andrew H. (Department: 2859)

Geometrical instruments

Gauge

With support for gauged article

C033S293000, C033S543000, C033S555100, C033S016000, C356S601000, C356S241100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06357129

ABSTRACT:

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to fabrication techniques, and in particular to a new and useful method and apparatus for gauging the roundness of a heat exchanger shell or can.
2. Description of the Related Art
When heat exchangers are built, it is extremely important to ensure the roundness of the shell can assemblies to accept their pre-built internals. The first tool design to ensure this roundness or “cylindricity” consisted of a large cylinder turned to the low dimension of the diameter tolerance. This plug gauge was inserted into the upended assembly by means of a crane and measurements taken to locate any distortion in the can. Subsequently the plug would be removed, the assembly laid back down horizontally and the interfering areas of the can would be jacked. The eventual design of the gauge incorporated a series of five disks set 20″ apart on an 8″ pipe. The outer diameter of the disks acted as the gauging surface and with large holes cut in the disks, the fitters could climb into the shell and precisely mark the tight areas. This process still required numerous upendings before a smooth insertion and extraction of the plug was realized. Though very time consuming, the operation guaranteed a can which would accept the tube bundle assembly.
There is no currently available simple and effective mechanism or technique for ensuring roundness or cylindricity of a heat exchanger shell or can.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The goal or object of the invention is to devise a tool and method that would identify the cylindricity in the can while never having to upend the can. The invention uses an optical gauge having a track and trolley designed for carrying lasers. The invention is very adaptable to all sizes of cylinder by simply modifying its mounting arrangement and building a new calibration ring for the new size or shape.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method for measuring cylindricity of a cylinder having an axial end, a circumference and an inside diameter, comprising a track for placement at an axial end of a cylinder to be measured, the track extending around a circumference of the cylinder to be measured, at least one truck mounted to the track for movement around the cylinder circumference, a sighting beam generator such as a laser or other straight beam generating mechanism connected to the truck for aiming a sighting beam axially along the inside diameter of the cylinder to be measured and adjusting means connected between the sighting beam generator and the truck for adjusting a radial position of the sighting beam generator and its beam on the truck.
A further object of the invention is to include a calibration or setting disk with the device which includes a calibration line that can be used to zero the initial position for the sighting beam. Although the preferred form of the sighting beam is a laser beam which generates optical light, other visible beams such as electron beams may be used. Further, non-optical beams such as an infrared laser beam may be used with further instrumentation. However, it is important that the beam be sufficiently narrow and accurate to achieve the tolerance required by the present invention.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3216120 (1965-11-01), Sweigart et al.
patent: 3406292 (1968-10-01), Geier et al.
patent: 4471530 (1984-09-01), Kirven
patent: 4653196 (1987-03-01), Moschner et al.
patent: 5166891 (1992-11-01), Reiter et al.
patent: 6026582 (2000-02-01), Donohue et al.

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