(0)G01B:0/4:

IPC6

SECTION G - PHYSICS

MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS, OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS;...

G01B

1/5

G01B001/00 - G01B005/00

SECTION G — PHYSICS

Notes

(1)	In this section, the following term is used with the meaning indicated:

"variable" (as a noun) means a feature or property (e.g., a dimension, a physical condition such as temperature, a quality such as density or colour) which, in respect of a particular entity (e.g., an object, a quantity of a substance, a beam of light) and at a particular instant, is capable of being measured; the variable may change, so that its numerical expression may assume different values at different times, in different conditions or in individual cases, but may be constant in respect of a particular entity in certain conditions or for practical purposes (e.g., the length of a bar may be regarded as constant for many purposes).

(2)	Attention is drawn to the definitions of terms or expressions used, appearing in the notes of several of the classes in this section, in particular those of "measuring" in class G 01 and "control" and "regulation" in class G 05.

(3)

Classification in this section may present more difficulty than in other sections, because the distinction between different fields of use rests to a considerable extent on differences in the intention of the user rather than on any constructional differences or differences in the manner of use, and because the subjects dealt with are often in effect systems or combinations, which have features or parts in common, rather than "things", which are readily distinguishable as a whole. For example, information (e.g., a set of figures) may be displayed for the purpose of education or advertising ( G 09), for enabling the result of a measurement to be known (G 01), for signalling the information to a distant point or for giving information which has been signalled from a distant point (G 08). The words used to describe the purpose depend on features that may be irrelevant to the form of the apparatus concerned, for example, such features as the desired effect on the person who sees the display, or whether the display is controlled from a remote point. Again, a device which responds to some change in a condition, e.g., in the pressure of a fluid, may be used, without modification of the device itself, to give information about the pressure (G 01 L) or about some other condition linked to the pressure (another subclass of class G 01, e.g., G 01 K for temperature), to make a record of the pressure or of its occurrence (G 07 C), to give an alarm (G 08 B), or to control another apparatus (G 05).

The classification scheme is intended to enable things of a similar nature (as indicated above) to be classified together. It is therefore particularly necessary for the real nature of any technical subject to be decided before it can be properly classified.

INSTRUMENTS

G 01

MEASURING (counting G 06 M); TESTING

Notes

(1)

This class covers, in addition to "true" measuring instruments, other indicating or recording devices of analogous construction, and also signalling or control devices insofar as they are concerned with measurement (as defined in Note 2 below) and are not specially adapted to the particular purpose of signalling or control.

(2)	In this class, the following term is used with the meaning indicated:

"measuring" is used to cover considerably more than its primary or basic meaning. In this primary sense, it means finding a numerical expression of the value of a variable in relation to a unit or datum or to another variable of the same nature, e.g. expressing a length in terms of another length as in measuring a length with a scale; the value may be obtained directly (as just suggested) or by measuring some other variable of which the value can be related to the value of the required variable, as in measuring a change in temperature by measuring a resultant change in the length of a column of mercury. However, since the same device or instrument may, instead of giving an immediate indication, be used to produce a record or to initiate a signal to produce an indication or control effect, or may be used in combination with other devices or instruments to give a conjoint result from measurement of two or more variables of the same or different kinds, it is necessary to interpret "measuring" as including also any operation that would make it possible to obtain such a numerical expression by the additional use of some way of converting a value into figures. Thus the expression in figures may be actually made by a digital presentation or by reading a scale, or an indication of it may be given without the use of figures, e.g. by some perceptible feature (variable) of the entity (e.g. object, substance, beam of light) of which the variable being measured is a property or condition or by an analogue of such a feature (e.g. the corresponding position of a member without any scale, a corresponding voltage generated in some way). In many cases there is no such value indication but only an indication of difference or equality in relation to a standard or datum (of which the value may or may not be known in figures); the standard or datum may be the value of another variable of the same nature but of a different entity (e.g. a standard measure) or of the same entity at a different time.

In its simplest form, measurement may give merely an indication of presence or absence of a certain condition or quality, e.g. movement (in any direction or in a particular direction), or whether a variable exceeds a predetermined value.

(3)	Attention is drawn to the Notes following the title of section G, especially as regards the definition of the term "variable".

(4)

In many measuring arrangements, a first variable to be measured is transformed into a second, or further, variables. The second, or further, variables may be (a) a condition related to the first variable and produced in a member, or (b) a displacement of a member. Further transformation may be needed. [6]

When classifying such an arrangement, (i) the transformation step, or each transformation step, that is of interest is classified, or (ii) if interest lies only in the system as a whole, the first variable is classified in the appropriate place. [6]

This is particularly important where two or more conversions take place, for instance where a first variable, for example pressure, is transformed into a second variable, for example an optical property of a sensing body, and that second variable is expressed by means of a third variable, for example an electric effect. In such a case, the following classification places should be considered: the place for the transformation of the first variable, that for sensing the condition caused by that variable, subclass G 01 D for expression of the measurement, and finally the place for the overall system, if any. [6]

(5)	The measurement of change in the value of a physical property is classified in the same subclass as the measurement of that physical property, e.g. measurement of expansion of length is classified in subclass G 01 B.

G 01 B

MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS, OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS (measuring human body, see the relevant places, where such exist, e.g. A 41 H 1/00, A 43 D 1/02, A 61 B 5/103; measuring appliances combined with walking-sticks A 45 B 3/08; sorting according to dimensions B 07; methods or devices for measuring, specially adapted for metal-rolling mills B 21 B 38/00; tool-setting or drawing instruments not specially modified for measuring B 23 B 49/00, B 23 Q 15/00 to B 23 Q 17/00, B 43 L; measuring or gauging equipment specially adapted for grinding or polishing operations B 24 B 49/00; combinations of measuring devices with writing-implements B 43 K 29/08; geodetical, nautical or aeronautical measuring, surveying, rangefinding G 01 C; photogrammetry G 01 C 11/00; measuring force or stress, in general G 01 L 1/00; investigating or analysing particle size, investigating or analysing surface area of porous material G 01 N; radio direction-finding, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G 01 S; geophysical measuring G 01 V; measuring length or roll diameter of film in cameras or projectors G 03 B 1/60; combinations of measuring devices with means for controlling or regulating G 05; methods or arrangements for converting the position of a manually-operated writing or tracing member into an electrical signal G 06 K 11/00; measuring elapsed travel of recording medium in recording or playback equipment, sensing diameter of record in autochange gramophones G 11 B; means structurally associated with electric rotary current collectors for indicating brush wear H 01 R 39/58; indicating consumption of electrodes in arc lamps H 05 B 31/34)

Notes

(1)	This subclass covers measuring of position or displacement in terms of linear or angular dimensions. [4]

(2)	In this subclass, the groups are distinguished by the means of measurement which is of major importance. Thus the mere application of other means for giving a final indication does not affect the classification.

(3)	Attention is drawn to the Notes following the title of class G 01.

(4)	Machines operated on similar principles to the hand-held devices specified in this subclass are classified with these devices.

Measuring instruments characterised by the selection of material therefor

Instruments as specified in the subgroups and characterised by the use of mechanical measuring means (arrangements for measuring particular parameters G 01 B 5/00; devices of general interest specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material B 65 H 75/34) [2]

•

Rulers or tapes with scales or marks for direct reading

Chains for measuring length

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Measuring wheels

•

Templates for checking contours

•

Compasses, i.e. with a pair of pivoted arms

Feeler-pin gauges, e.g. dial gauges (for measuring contours or curvatures G 01 B 5/20)

•

with open yoke, i.e. calipers

Bars, blocks, or strips in which the distance between a pair of faces is fixed, although it may be preadjustable, e.g. end measure, feeler strip

•

Holders therefor

•

Ring or other apertured gauges, e.g. "go/no-go" gauge

•

for external screw threads

•

Gauges with an open yoke and opposed faces, i.e. calipers, in which the internal distance between the faces is fixed, although it may be preadjustable

•

for external screw threads

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of limit-gauge type, i.e. "go/no-go" (G 01 B 3/40 takes precedence)

•

preadjustable for wear or tolerance

•

Plug gauges for internal dimensions with engaging surfaces which are at a fixed distance, although they may be preadjustable

•

for internal screw threads

•

of limit-gauge type, i.e. "go/no-go" (G 01 B 3/48 takes precedence)

•

preadjustable for wear or tolerance

•

Gauges for measuring angles or tapers, e.g. conical calipers

Note

In groups G 01 B 5/00 to G 01 B 21/00, it is desirable to add the indexing codes of groups G 01 B 101:00 to G 01 B 121:00. The indexing codes should be unlinked. [6]