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On the pictures below is a tool called "bridge cam gauge", mentioned in this answer. I wonder why the words "bridge" and "cam" are used in its name.

I found a definition of "cam" that might be relevant:

A curved wedge, movable about an axis, used for forcing or clamping two pieces together.

As I understand, the 'cam' here is the flat roundish beaky plate that you can rotate about its hinge.

But what about "bridge"? Wiktionary offers a variety of senses, which makes it hard for a non-native speaker of English.

enter image description here

enter image description here

Also asked on ELU SE.

P.S. It is also called "cam type weld gauge"

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See here http://www.newmantools.com/gauge/wghowto.htm#wg4 (gauge type WG-4) for how it is used.

It works the same way as a cam. The rotating part (marked "undercut or reinforcement" in your second picture) has a pointed end (marked with the arrow) that "follows" the profile of the parts to be welded like the follower on a conventional cam, as in the graphic in your Wikipedia link.

I think the "bridge" part just means that the gauge has two "feet" that are in contact with the part being measured, and "bridges the gap" between them. See http://marinenotes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/sketch-and-describe-bridge-gauge-how-is.html for a different type of "bridge gauge", which doesn't have a cam.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thank you for the explanation of "cam" - it's very clear now! Now the name looks logical. $\endgroup$ – CopperKettle Jun 19 '16 at 18:54
  • $\begingroup$ Bridge refers to how the gauge is used in the linked picture labeled 'misalignment.' The gauge bridges two separate parts allowing comparison between them. $\endgroup$ – Ethan48 Jun 20 '16 at 13:36

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