April 5,1949.

L, R CLARK 2,466,380
PRECISION CENTERING DEVICE
File’d Nov. 4', 1944

INVENTOR

ma@
ÄrroR/VEK
 Patented Apr. 5, 1949
2,466,384)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

_ .. Y 2,466,380 y

PRECISION CEN'rERING DEVICE

Leland E., Clark, AE1 Monte, Calif.
Application November 4, 1944, Serial No. 561,886
3 Claims. (C1. 33_172)
1 2
This invention relates to machinists’- tools and ample strength and ruggedness to insure prac
more particularly to precision gauges of the type ticable durability. ` ~
commonly employed in positioning a piece of The invention possesses other objects and valu
work on a machine with relation> to the cutting able features, some of which, With those enumer
tool of that'machine so that subsequent opera ated, will be set forth in the following descrip
tions performed by they tool Will'be located in tion of the preferred embodiment of my invention
exactly the desired portion of the work. illustrated >in the drawing accompanying and
-An objecthof my inventionV is to_ provide` a forming a part of the speciflcation.` It is to be
machinist’sg’auge of thecharacter indicated, the understood that I do not limit myself to the show
function of _which isA to'a'iiord convenience in 10 ing 'made bysaid drawing and description but
locating Work, or “setting up,” as itis called in that I may >'adopt variations of the >preferred
the trade, on machines wherein the cutting tool is form within the 'scope of my invention as deñned
carried by a rotating spindle,_such as a vdrill by the‘claims. _
press or vjig-borer, whereinothestep of ‘,‘setting Referring to the drawings: ‘t '
up” entails arranging the _work-with a certain 15 Figure 1 isa View in side elevation of a center
predeterminedpoint thereon in exact alignment ing gauge embodying _the principles of the pres
with the machine’s spindle. , ‘ , ent invention. t y l
A more detailed object of thewpresent inven Figure 2 vis an enlarged View >in longitudinal
tion is to provide a centering gauge of the char medial section taken- upon the line' 2-.2 of Fig
acter indicated, which is adapted to be ,mounted 20 ure'l, with the direction of view as indicated. In
directly upon the machine’s working spindle, as this View the balance weight for holding the body
by means of the chuck with which such machines of the tool stationary is omitted.
customarily are equipped, thus facilitating align Figure 3 is a longitudinal medial sectional view
ing the gauge with thehspindle’sraxis quickly and taken upon the line 3-3 of Figure 2, with the
with extreme accuracy. „ ' 25 direction of view as indicated, and showing the
>Another object is to provide an assortment of pointer, or “pick up” ñnger arranged within a
work-engaging feelers and means for mounting hole, the axis ‘of which constitutes the significant
any selected one of'them in operating position portion’of the piece of work to be aligned with
upon the gauge whereby the gauge is adapted for the spindle of the machine in which the centering
aligning a predetermined part of a piece of work 30 gauge isfmounte’d'., '
with a machine operating tool, regardless of Figure 4 is a detail View showing a slightly
whether the part of the wor-k so tobe aligned is modiñed form of “pick up” finger or pointer in
in the’form of a center punch mark, crossed tended to be used in conjunction with a center
scribe marks, or a` hole or _a projecting pin'of punch mark or a pair of crossed scribe marks.
circular cross section. V . 35 Figure 5 isa'slightly enlarged view showing a
Yet another object ofY my inventionis to ar still`furthermodiñedform` of “pick up” finger
range the working parts of the gauge in such a intended for use in'conjunction with a projecting
manner that therindicating dial and the imme pin of circular cross section. f
diatelyhassociated portions of the device, while In the modiñcation thereof chosen for illus-
being fully sensitive „to movements of the “pick 40 tration and description herein, the centering
up” iinger, or work-engaging feeler, even though gaugehofmy invention comprises a shaft Il dis
such movements vmay be of nogreater ymagni posed centrally of and extending through a body
tude than the ysmallest fraction of >an inch of I2 which is journalled uponthe shaft II as by
which cognizance is taken in even the most skilled axially aligned bushings I3 and I4. Both the
and precise machine work, are fully protected “ inner and outer ends I 6 and I'I, respectively, of
from damage which otherwise might result from theA shaft II> extend beyond the associated ends
severe shockimparted to the feeler; such as that of the body I2, the former thus presenting a
which >the feeler might experience when the shank adapted to be received within the _chuck
gaugewis dropped or inadvertently struck with of a machine suchas a drill press or jig-borer
another Atool or heavy piece of material. y andthereby mount the entire centering gauge
It is a 4further object of the present invention directly upon and accurately in co-axial align
to provide a centering gauge of the general char ment with the rotating spindle of that machine.
acter described which is extremely sensitive and The extended outer end Il of the shaft Il_has a
precise in its operation, is relatively simple and preferably circular head I8 rigidly secured there
inexpensive in construction, and is possessed of 55 to in any convenient manner, `as by being press
 2,466,380
3 4
ñtted thereon. An annular flange 22 extends An axial bore 66 extends inwards from the out
outwards from the head I8; and an arm or lever er end l1 of the shaft Il far enough to enter the
23 is pivoted within a slot 24 in the outer edge of hollow interior 61 of the body I2 ; and a push rod
the flange 22 as by a pintle pin 26 extending 68 is slidably mounted within the bore 63. The
across the slot 24. The lever 23 extends radially outer end of the push rod 68 abuts against the
inwards from the ñange 22 and supports a mount inner face of the lever 23, and the inner end of
ing head .2l on its inner end substantially in the push rod abuts against a transversally ex
alignment with the axis of the shaft Il. This tending rod 69, the ends of which project through
mounting head conveniently takes the form of a radial slots 'H in the shaft il, and are rigidly
pair of spaced- flanges 28 interconnected» by. a 10 connected to a sleeve 12 which is slidably mount
screw 29 having `a nut 3l threaded thereon so ed upon »the exterior of the shaft H. A coil
that a block 32 disposed between the flanges 28` spring 'I3 is under compression between the inner
may be pivotally mounted upon the screw 29~~ -- end of the sleeve 12 and a washer i4 which en
and may be yieldably retained by friction»in'any,Y ~ »gages-,thef-inner face of a head '16 which closes
selected position of rotary adjustment about the 15 the inner end of the body i2. The head 'l5 is
axis of the screw 29, such frlctional retention». " removablysecured in position upon the body I2
being attained by proper adjustment of. the nut.. . aszbyaplurality of counter-sunk machine screws
In the outer face of the block 32 an interiorly‘" Tl, thus permitting easy access to the interior 61
threaded socket 33 is formed for the reception.: . ofzthe.. body I2 to facilitate assembly of those
of the threaded end 34 of a "pick up” finger or 20 portions of the device which are arranged there
feeler 36; the outer end31 -of whichisadapted to. insi._de.v The coil spring'lS continually urges the
engage the work 38, for the positioning of which sleeve-„.152- to_ itsY outer extreme of. movement as
withfrespect, to the axis of the spindle upon determined by engagement of the transverse rod
which the gauge ismounted, the centering gauge 69.1_With' the distal ends. ofthe slots 1 I.
of my invention is employed. 25 . >An opening 8fl'in the wall. of the body» l2 forms
Since the feeler 35~is releasably secured to the a‘socket forthereceptionof va dial indicator 82;
block 312 by means of the-threaded engagement and whereas` anysuitable type ofV dial indicator
described; ‘various types of feelersmay besup maybe> employed, that which I have found most
plied >with the centering. gauge, and the particu- advantageous for» »usein connection with the cen
lar, one best suited. for any particular typeyof 30 teringgauge of the, present invention is the one
work may be selected; ¿In Figuresl, 2,~.and 3 the whichìcan _be purchased.- onthe open market un
type illustrated is provided with a- ballf39,A on its ,denthe> tra.gie-mark»l “Last VllordffA inasmuch as
outer end, this being the type of feelerintended thedetails of. vconstructiony ofthe dial indicator
for use when setting; up a piece of workßßin. such 82> form no portion of; the. present invention, it
amanner‘that the axis’of a hole or socket dglfof Will= jsuñiçe. for the .purpose ofl the. present dis
circular cross section is to be.` aligned withthe closure `to explain thatit comprises a substan
axis of rotation of the machine’s spindle. tially cylindrical body 83A having4 an enlarged
.Figure 5 illustrates amodiñed form of> “pick head¿_84.at one end to accommodate a dial 86
up”1f1nger or feeler` adaptedy tobe used-in con andçan-indexßl.movable withy respect thereto
junction witha projecting pinor other projection Aii) in K-response'to movementof a pivotally mounted
of circular cross section; the axis of which is’to finger 88 at the opposite end; of the body 83 to
be brought accurately into alignment wih the which the index_81 is connectedby suitable actu
axis' ofthe machine’s spindle. This “pickup” atingî mechanism .(not shown). The actuating
ñnger 4.2 comprises a short .rod preferably more finger` Sil-ofI the dialfindicator 82engages the out
or less» aduncate in formr so that its outer-end » er end of the sleeve 12, against which itìis pressed
43¢is deflected inwardsy to facilitate'engagement by »a spring >(not shown). which is included in
of the end ofthe linger 42 ,with the circular sur theldialÍindicator 8:2, Inasmuchasthe push rod
face of the projection 44; Theoppositeend of $8;` isn not positivelyconnected tot the lever 23
the finger 4_2 is'provi'ded with a'threaded. male orto >the transverse rods!! butl merely abuts
element 46 releasably engageable within the thercagainst, it can cause movement of the sleeve
threadedfsockct 33 of the block 32 so as to mount 12 only-.tothe left as viewed upon Figure 2, and
the “pick up?y fingerj42 in operativevpositionlupon the, spring 1.3 is the only. element which can cause
the lever 23. . movement .of the sleeve ’l2 in that direction
`Il_’igure‘l` shows astill further modified form of wherein. it moves the finger 88 of the dial indi
“pickup” fingers-or. feeler 51I~comprising a small ~: cator 82. This is an important featureof my
cylindrical housing». 52 having-a threaded male invention inasmuch Ias it prevents damaging of
element 53 Yatone end for. ‘mounting` the. pointer the.diallindicator„82 eventhough some violent
5l upon the block 32_.~ Within» the hollow interior shock may be imparted-¿tothe pushfrod 88 as by
of the housing .52 a plunger 54~is `reciprocably dropping- the entire instrument. or by .striking
mounted» with the outer end 5Fl-ofthe plunger54 the -‘€pick. up” feeler'orthe lever-23 with another
projecting> beyond the outer endof the=housing toolon with a relatively heavy piece of material.
52.»and provided with arelatively sharp point 5.1 .Adjacent its inner. endì the body I2 is provid
adapted to seat. within a center punch mark 58 ed with preferablya. pair. of interiorly threaded
in a piece of work»59._ Retention of the point 51 sockets- SLWithin either. ofv which a tubular plug
within the center punch mark 58 is facilitatedby 65 92.v isremovably receivable. „Ahrod 93. extends
means of a coil .spring 6| ~under compression through. the-plug .92, being retained therein by a
withinthe housing 52 and continuallyurging the ball. 94 on the inner- end of the rod 93. VA weight
plunger 54 outwards, i, e.,.to.the right. as viewed ‘ 96.» (see Figurerl) _is adjustably mounted upon the
.upon Figure 4. I have found in actual> .practice 4outer endof therod 93. Thefunction ofthe plug
that by using a spring-urged plunger 54 as yde.. 70 92, rod 93v and `weight A96.15 to retain the body
scribedand one whosepointäl is relatively sharp, i2 from rotating by providing an unbalanced
a .veryshallow centerpunch mark 58 oreven as mass onits lower side when the.v centering gauge
slight a depression as thatwhich .iseformed by is'..mounted in axial alignment with a horizontally
apair ofintersecting scribev niark'sis sufficient to disposed. spindle and thereby retain thedial in
lretainthepoint of the ‘.‘pick.up’,’. arm 5I.. .75 dicator 82:` substantially motionless even though
 ‘2,466,380
, 5 6
the shaft I | upon which the body- l2 `is supported ment'of the “pick- up”'feeler 36 likewise l-willïloe
is rotating with respect thereto. ' ’ " ' ' > accompanied by motion of the push 'rod 68." 'That
. Y Operation is tosay, when»the"‘pick up” feeler 36 moves
downward as viewed'upon Figure 3, the lever 23
As hereinabove explained, it is intended-that 5 will becaused to move inwards, i; e., to the left,
the centering gauge of ‘the present invention'be pressing the push rod-68 inwards and carrying
mounted upon a machine suchas a drill-press with it the sleeve 12. This will-permit the finger
or jig-borer with the shaft || accurately in axial 88 >of the dial indicator 82 to- move to the- left
alignment with the working spindle of that ma as viewed upon Figure 2 in response to the action
chine. The function of 'the centering gauge is 10 of ` its> own motivating spring (not ' shown).
to indicate whether or not a certain predeter When the “pick up” ñnger moves upward as
mined point on a piece of work 38 is accurately viewe'd- upon Figure 3, the lever 23 will swing
in alignment with the axis of the machine’s outward, i. e., to the right, permitting the spring
spindle so as to enable the machinist operating 13 to move the sleeve 12 and the push rod 68
the machine so to adjust the work uponthe bed 15 outward, i. e., to the right, carrying with it the
ofthe machine as to bring that pointjon the outer end of the finger 88 of the dial indicator.
work accurately into alignment with the" spindle, Thus it may be seen that any lateral movement
thus setting up the work 38 fori-the purpose _of of the “pick up” finger 36 willfcause correspond
enabling the machine to perform a certain pre ing movement of the finger 88 of the dial indi
determined cutting or forming operation upon 20 cator, which of course will produce correspond
the work exactly in the desired location thereon. ing movement of the index 81 over the face of
In accordance with the hereinabove description, the dial 86. Since the extent of such movement
if the point on the Work 38 to be brought into of the index 81 constitutes a measure of the dis
alignment with the spindle’s axis is indicated tance which the axis of the hole 4| is offset from
by a center punch mark, the “pick up” feeler 5| 25 the axis of rotation of the machine’s spindle, the
illustrated in Figure 4 should be selected and machinist is enabled to adjust the work 3s upon
mounted upon the block 32 in the manner de the bed of the machine until the oscillation of y
scribed. However, if the axis of a projecting pin the index 81 is reduced to zero at which time he
or other projection of circular cross section con will know that the axis of the hole 4| has been
stitutes the significant point on the work 38, 30 brought with extreme accuracy into alignment
then the “pick up” feeler »42 illustrated in Figure with the axis of rotation of the shaft || and the
5 should be employed, and when the axis of a spindle of the machine upon which the center
cylindrical hole such as that indicated at 4| in ing gauge is mounted.
Figure 3 is to be brought into alignment with I claim:
the machine’s spindle, then the “pick up” feeler 1. A centering device of the character described
38 having a ball 39 at its outer end should be comprising a shaft, a body journalled on said
employed. As already explained hereinabove, the shaft, means associated with said shaft and ex
nut 3| should be tightened upon its screw 29 tending beyond said body for mounting said cen
sufficiently to press the flanges 21 fairly tightly tering device, means for restraining said body
against the block 32 and thereby yieldably re 40 from rotating while said shaft rotates with re
tain the block 32 and the “pick up” feeler 36 spect thereto, a feeler pivotally mounted on said
carried thereby in selected position with respect shaft for movement about an axis lying in a
to the lever 23. As a consequence of this ar plane to which the axis of said shaft is perpen
rangement, any lateral movement of the “pick dicular whereby lateral movement of said pointer
up” feeler 36 will be accompanied by rotary mo 45 with respect to said shaft results from rotation
tion of the lever 23 about the axis of its pintle of said shaft while said feeler engages work at
pin 26 until, of course, the lever 23 reaches the a point offset from the axis of said shaft, said
limit of its movement after which continued feeler comprising a housing having a bore, a
movement of the “pick up” feeler 3B in the same plunger reciprocally mounted therein with an
direction will be about the axis of its pivotal l50 end of said plunger projecting therefrom, and a
connection to the lever 23. spring under compression between said housing
Assuming that the work being set up requires and plunger and urging said plunger outwards,
alignment of the axis of a hole such as that in and indicating means operably connected to said
dicated at 4| with the axis of the machine’s feeler and actuated by said lateral movement
spindle, the work 38 should be placed tentatively 55 thereof.
in position upon the bed of the machine with 2. A centering device of the character described
the hole 4| as nearly axially aligned with the comprising a shaft, a body journalled `on said
machine’s spindle as conveniently can be accom shaft, means associated with said shaft and ex
plished by eye and the bed then adjusted to move tending beyond said body for mounting said
the work 38 toward the centering gauge until 60 centering device, said body having a pair of
the ball 39 at the end `of the “pick up” feeler 36 sockets on opposite sides thereof, means for re
enters the hole 4|. The spindle of the machine straining said body from rotating while said
then. should be started in rotation with the outer shaft rotates with respectthereto comprising a
end of the “pick up” finger slidably engaging rod, means engageable optionally in either of said
the interior surface of the hole. Any deviation 65 sockets for securing said rod to said body, and
of alignment of the hole 4| with respect to the a weight carried by said rod, a feeler mounted
axis of the machine’s spindle will cause the feeler on said shaft for pivotal and axial motion with
35 to move back and forth, i. e., to move laterally respect thereto, and indicating means carried by
with respect to the axis of the shaft ||. How said body and operably connected to said feeler
ever, since the rotary motion of the lever which to be actuated by axial motion of said feeler and
accompanies lateral movement of the feeler 36 including a dial facing outwards with respect
is about an axis which is oii‘set laterally from to said body in a direction substantially per
the axis of the rotation of the shaft II and pendicular to a diameter of said body passing
which lies in a plane to which the axis of the through both of said sockets.
shaft I I is perpendicular, any such lateral move 3. A centering device of the character described
 11.1.1691 the» path@ 0f; moyhlhèht Q_f . Said Siem/.e when
said indicator body‘isiseatedwithin. saidîfsocket,
exwhdihgl-hçyandîsaidï bpdyfffor». mauniingf Said and an index carried by saidíndicator body and
operably conneetedtosaid'actuating ñnger to be
centering. device;- af-Áfeeler; niyßtallymhuhtfed 01.1
moved :invv responsei to». movement. thereof, and re
«laterally from@ the axis r'Orf Said; Shaft: and; lying ‘learsablefmeans' fore-locking said indicator` body
11.1: a. piane:V @Q_whinhfsaidïshaftîs axis is. perpen ~withinäsaid~--sockeh ~: » \ > M '

dicular whegcebyylaterai movementhof‘. said feel’er ; ~. . . LELAND R. CLARK.

about; said axis _fof-¿lits fp_ivotal ,mounting is; accom
panied by axial.' movement» Uhereof,` a. push rod The following
ì REFERÈNCES
'refe?en'ces arev
CITED I'
slidably minimisedl within anv f axial» shore . in.î said of record in the
4shan;` and-operablyfconneoted'tojsaid feeler to be file oflthisvpatent: =
reciprocated'in‘ response. t9 axialmotîon thereof,
‘ai Sleeve; difëposedvwithíh 'Said hollow- hQdy, and ` " V'UNITEVD‘STATES PATENTS
mounted for, reciprocate@ motion y on said- shaft, 15 Nnmber- ' ` 'Name' Date
means connecting esaid; sleeve iso-said push rod VA‘122645910 " Elsasser _________ __;May 7, 1918
w hemovediherewith, lSaid .body having. asoßket 13373.319v 1 `Ferrand - ________ __ Mar. ¿29, 1921
therein; an indicatorgcomprising. af body receiv '1,424,310 v Krebsl- ________ _-'____ AugifI, 1922
able Withinzsaidfsocket, an actuating» finger` pivotf '15123,529 Y Schweiterman ___‘__f_ Aug'. 6, 1929
ally «mounted Vcm*- »saidï'bodyfinf position:y to extend