GAUGE

Abstract

A gauge comprising an elongate rod and a head. The rod has an elongate axis. The head has a transverse dimension perpendicular to the elongate axis of the rod. The gauge has an insertion configuration and an inspection configuration, wherein the transverse dimension of the head is greater in the inspection configuration than in the insertion configuration. The head comprises two head portions each with a longitudinally-extending outer surface and a longitudinally-extending inner surface and, in the insertion configuration, the inner surfaces of the head portions are at least partly in abutment with each other. The gauge can be used in a method of measuring an internal dimension of a bore within a component.

Claims

1. A gauge comprising an elongate rod and a head; the rod has an elongate axis; the head has a transverse dimension perpendicular to the elongate axis of the rod; the gauge has an insertion configuration and an inspection configuration, wherein the transverse dimension of the head is greater in the inspection configuration than in the insertion configuration; and the head comprises two head portions each with a longitudinally-extending outer surface and a longitudinally-extending inner surface and, in the insertion configuration, the inner surfaces of the head portions are at least partly in abutment with each other.

2. The gauge of claim 1, wherein in the inspection configuration, the inner surfaces of the head portions are spaced from each other in a transverse direction.

3. The gauge of claim 1, wherein a transverse dimension of the rod is greater in the inspection configuration than in the insertion configuration.

4. The gauge of claim 3, wherein the rod comprises two rod portions each with a longitudinally-extending outer surface and longitudinally-extending inner surface and wherein, in the insertion configuration, the inner surfaces of the rod portions are at least partly in abutment with each other.

5. The gauge of claim 4 wherein, in the inspection configuration, the inner surfaces of the rod portions are spaced from each other in a transverse dimension.

6. The gauge of claim 4, wherein each head portion is integrally formed with one of the rod portions.

7. The gauge of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of each head/rod portion comprises an elongate channel.

8. The gauge of claim 4, further comprising an insert for spacing the inner surfaces of the head/rod portions in the inspection configuration.

9. The gauge of claim 8, wherein the insert comprises opposing longitudinally-extending transverse surfaces which, in the inspection configuration abut the inner surfaces of the head/rod portions.

10. The gauge of claim 9, wherein each transverse surface comprises an elongate ridge.

11. A method of measuring an internal dimension of a bore within a component, the method comprising the steps of: providing a gauge according to claim 1 in the insertion configuration of the gauge; inserting the gauge into the bore until the head is positioned at the position to be inspected; converting the gauge to its inspection configuration; and determining if the position of the bore to be measured has a greater dimension than the transverse dimension of the head.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein converting the gauge to its inspection configuration comprises moving the inner surfaces of the head portions from abutment with each other such that they are spaced from each other in a transverse dimension.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing an insert and converting the gauge to its inspection configuration by spacing the inner surfaces of the head portions with the insert.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising providing the inner surface of each head portion with an elongate channel and providing the insert with opposing longitudinally-extending transverse surfaces each having an elongate ridge and wherein converting the gauge to its inspection configuration comprises seating the opposing ridges in the channels on the inner surfaces of the head portions.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the component is a gas turbine engine component.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the gas turbine engine component is a nozzle guide vane vent and scavenge oil pipe.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] Aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures. Further aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0042] FIGS. 1 and 2 show perspective views of a gauge 1 in the inspection configuration.

[0043] The gauge comprises an elongate rod 2 and a head 3 having a transverse dimension perpendicular to the elongate axis of the rod 2. The head 3 has a larger transverse dimension than the rod 2.

[0044] The gauge 1 has an inspection configuration (shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 & 5) wherein the transverse dimension (and the perimeter) of the head 3 is greater than in an insertion configuration shown in FIG. 4.

[0045] This allows insertion of the gauge 1 into a bore 4 of a gas turbine component 5 (e.g. a low pressure nozzle guide vane vent and oil scavenge pipe) in its reduced size insertion configuration (as shown in FIG. 4) so that the head 3 can pass any restriction 15 within the bore 4. Once the restriction has been passed, the gauge 1 can be converted to its inspection configuration (as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) to ensure that the bore 4 (at the position to be measured) meets the minimum dimension requirements matching the (larger) transverse dimension of the head 3 in the inspection configuration.

[0046] The head 3 comprises two symmetrical head portions 3a, 3b each with a longitudinally-extending outer surface 6a, 6b and longitudinally-extending inner surface 7a, 7b.

[0047] The outer surfaces 6a, 6b have curved end portions and substantially planar front/rear portions such that the head 3 has an obround end face.

[0048] Each inner surface 7a, 7b comprises an elongate v-shaped channel 8a, 8b that is centrally disposed i.e. equally spaced from the front/rear portions of the respective outer surfaces 6a, 6b.

[0049] In the insertion configuration (FIG. 4), the inner surfaces 7a, 7b of the head portions 3a, 3b are partly in abutment with each other with the elongate channels 8a, 8b aligned such that a central bore 9 (having a square transverse profile) is provided within the gauge 1.

[0050] The rod 2 also comprises two symmetrical rod portions 2a, 2b each with a longitudinally-extending outer surface 10a, 10b and longitudinally-extending inner surface with a centrally disposed v-shaped channel (not shown) that is continuous with the elongate channels 8a, 8b of the head portions 3a, 3b.

[0051] Accordingly, the central bore 9 extends through both the head 3 and rod 2.

[0052] In the inspection configuration, the inner surfaces 7a, 7b of the head portions 3a, 3b and the inner surfaces of the rod portions 2a, 3b are spaced from each other in a transverse dimension by an elongate insert 11.

[0053] The insert 11 has opposing longitudinally-extending transverse surfaces 12a, 12b which, in the inspection configuration abut the inner surfaces 7a, 7b of the head portions 3a, 3b and rod portions 2a, 2b.

[0054] The insert also comprises outer front/rear surfaces 13a, 13b which are flush with the outer surfaces 6a, 6b of the head portions 3a, 3b and the rod portions 2a, 2b in the inspection configuration. The outer front/rear surfaces 13a, 13b of the insert and the outer surfaces 6a, 6b of the head portions 3a, 3b are chamfered towards the end face of the head 3 and also towards the rod 2.

[0055] Each transverse surface 12a, 12b of the insert 11 (abutting the inner surfaces 7a, 7b of the head portions 3a, 3b in the inspection configuration) has a centrally disposed elongate v-shaped ridge 14a, 14b which is equidistant from each of the outer front/rear surfaces 13a, 13b of the insert 11.

[0056] To convert the gauge 1 from the insertion configuration (FIG. 4) to the inspection configuration (FIG. 3) within the bore, the insert 11 is inserted into the central bore 9 such that the ridges 14a, 14b are received in the channels 8a, 8b on the inner surfaces 7a, 7b of the head portions 3a, 3b and rod portions 2a, 2b. The v-shaped profiles ensure the correct alignment of the insert 11 within the central bore 9 so that the outer (front/rear) surfaces 13a, 13b are flush with the outer surfaces 6a, 6b of the head portions 2a, 2b.

[0057] The outer (front/rear) surfaces 13a, 13b of the insert 11 extend the transverse dimension and the perimeter of the head 3 in the inspection configuration to the minimum dimension required for the bore of the component to pass the inspection criteria.

[0058] It will be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the embodiments above-described and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concepts described herein. Except where mutually exclusive, any of the features may be employed separately or in combination with any other features and the disclosure extends to and includes all combinations and sub-combinations of one or more features described herein.