Methods of calibrating bore gauges, setting plates for calibrating bore gauges, and kits including a bore gauge and a setting plate

Abstract

A method of calibrating a bore gauge comprises inserting two or more radially extendable elements of a bore gauge into a selected calibrated setting bore or groove in a setting plate comprising a plurality of calibrated setting bores or grooves, each calibrated setting bore or groove of the plurality having a different calibrated nominal diameter. A micrometer of the bore gauge is adjusted so as to cause a measured diameter of the selected calibrated setting bore or groove to match a specified nominal diameter of the selected calibrated setting bore or groove. A setting plate for calibrating a bore gauge includes a plurality of calibrated setting bores or grooves, each calibrated setting bore or groove of the plurality having a different calibrated nominal diameter.

1 . A method of calibrating a bore gauge, comprising:
 inserting two or more radially extendable elements of the bore gauge into a selected calibrated setting bore or groove in a setting plate comprising a plurality of calibrated setting bores or grooves, each calibrated setting bore or groove of the plurality having a different calibrated nominal diameter; and   adjusting a micrometer of the bore gauge so as to cause a measured diameter of the selected calibrated setting bore or groove to match a specified nominal diameter of the selected calibrated setting bore or groove.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 inserting the two or more radially extendable elements of the bore gauge into another selected calibrated setting bore or groove in the setting plate comprising the plurality of calibrated setting bores or grooves; and   adjusting the micrometer of the bore gauge so as to cause a measured diameter of the another selected calibrated setting bore or groove to match a specified nominal diameter of the another selected calibrated setting bore or groove.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of calibrated setting bores or grooves of the setting plate comprises a first calibrated setting bore or groove having a first specified nominal diameter, a second calibrated setting bore or groove having a second specified nominal diameter that is at least five times larger than the first calibrated setting bore or groove, and at least three additional setting bores or grooves each having a different specified nominal diameter between the respective first and second specified nominal diameters of the first and second calibrated setting bores or grooves. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the setting plate comprises a plurality of calibrated setting bores each having a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the bore gauge comprises a main housing and a bore head coupled to the main housing, the bore head including at least three radially extendable elements. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the main housing of the bore gauge comprises a pistol grip comprising a lever, movement of the lever causing the at least three radially extendable elements to move radially outward from the bore head. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the setting plate comprises a plurality of calibrated setting grooves each having a shape elongated in a direction parallel to a plane of the setting plate. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the bore gauge comprises an inside caliper bore gauge, and wherein the two or more radially extendable elements comprise caliper arms extending from a main housing of the inside caliper bore gauge. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising measuring a diameter of an internal bore within a component using the bore gauge after calibrating the bore gauge. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the component comprises an earth-boring tool. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the earth-boring tool comprises an earth-boring rotary drill bit. 
     
     
         12 . A setting plate for calibrating a bore gauge, comprising a plurality of calibrated setting bores or grooves, each calibrated setting bore or groove of the plurality having a different calibrated nominal diameter. 
     
     
         13 . The setting plate of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of calibrated setting bores or grooves of the setting plate comprises a first calibrated setting bore or groove having a first specified nominal diameter, a second calibrated setting bore or groove having a second specified nominal diameter that is at least five times larger than the first calibrated setting bore or groove, and at least three additional setting bores or grooves each having a different specified nominal diameter between the respective first and second specified nominal diameters of the first and second calibrated setting bores or grooves. 
     
     
         14 . The setting plate of  claim 13 , wherein the first specified nominal diameter is 0.5 inches or less, the second specified nominal diameter is 4.0 inches or more, and the at least three additional setting bores or grooves comprise a third calibrated setting bore or groove having a specified nominal diameter of 1.0 inches, a fourth calibrated setting bore or groove having a specified nominal diameter of 2.0 inches, and a fifth calibrated setting bore or groove having a specified nominal diameter of 3.0 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The setting plate of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of calibrated setting bores or grooves of the setting plate comprises at least twenty (20) calibrated setting bores or grooves each having a different specified nominal diameter. 
     
     
         16 . A kit of parts, comprising:
 a bore gauge; and   a setting plate for calibrating the bore gauge, the setting plate having a plurality of calibrated setting bores or grooves, each calibrated setting bore or groove of the plurality having a different calibrated nominal diameter.   
     
     
         17 . The kit of parts of  claim 16 , wherein the bore gauge comprises an inside caliper bore gauge having two radially extendable members. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of parts of  claim 16 , wherein the bore gauge comprises at least one detachable bore head having three or more radially extendable members. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of parts of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one detachable bore head comprises a plurality of different sized bore heads. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of parts of  claims 16 , wherein the plurality of calibrated setting bores or grooves of the setting plate comprises a first calibrated setting bore or groove having a first specified nominal diameter, a second calibrated setting bore or groove having a second specified nominal diameter that is at least five times larger than the first calibrated setting bore or groove, and at least three additional setting bores or grooves each having a different specified nominal diameter between the respective first and second specified nominal diameters of the first and second calibrated setting bores or grooves.