US 11,073,377 B2Granted

Tubing dimensional measurement system

AssigneeCorning Incorporated

InventorsJerry Lee Hepburn, Aniello Mario Palumbo

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Abstract

Provided herein are measurement systems including a micrometer assembly for receiving a length of tubing, the micrometer assembly including a plurality of non-contact optical micrometers disposed around the length of tubing for measuring an outer diameter (OD) at a first plurality of positions along a circumference of the length of tubing. The measurement system may further include a displacement gauge assembly for receiving the length of tubing from the optical micrometer assembly, the displacement gauge assembly including a plurality of non-contact gauges disposed around the length of tubing for measuring a wall thickness at a second plurality of positions along the circumference of the length of tubing. A controller receives the OD measurements and thickness measurements, and determines an inner diameter and a concentricity of the length of glass tubing based on an index of refraction of the length of glass tubing, the OD measurements, and the thickness measurements.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A measurement system, comprising:

a micrometer assembly adapted to receive a length of tubing, the micrometer assembly including a plurality of non-contact optical micrometers disposed around the length of tubing, the plurality of non-contact optical micrometers configured to measure an outer diameter at each of a first plurality of positions along a circumference of the length of tubing;
a displacement gauge assembly adapted to receive the length of tubing from the micrometer assembly, the displacement gauge assembly including a plurality of non-contact gauges disposed around the length of tubing, the plurality of non-contact gauges configured to measure a wall thickness at each of a second plurality of positions along the circumference of the length of tubing;
and at least one controller operable with the micrometer assembly and the displacement gauge assembly, the at least one controller receiving each of:
the measurement of the outer diameter at each of the first plurality of positions along the circumference of the length of tubing, and the measurement of the wall thickness at each of the second plurality of positions along the circumference of the length of tubing;
wherein the plurality of non-contact optical micrometers comprises:
a first non-contact optical micrometer coupled to a first micrometer stage;
and
a second non-contact optical micrometer coupled to a second micrometer stage, wherein the second micrometer stage is oriented at an angle, relative to the first micrometer stage, of approximately 45 degrees.

5 more elements

A tubing dimensional measurement system, comprising:

a micrometer assembly adapted to receive a length of glass tubing, the micrometer assembly including a plurality of non-contact optical micrometers disposed around the length of glass tubing, and the plurality of non-contact optical micrometers configured to measure an outer diameter at each of a first plurality of positions along a circumference of the length of glass tubing;
a displacement gauge assembly adapted to receive, downstream along a tube draw, the length of glass tubing from the micrometer assembly, the displacement gauge assembly including a plurality of non-contact gauges each coupled to an adjustable gauge stage disposed around the length of glass tubing, and the plurality of non-contact gauges configured to measure a wall thickness at each of a second plurality of positions along the circumference of the length of glass tubing;
and
at least one controller operable to:
receive the measurement of the outer diameter at each of the first plurality of positions along the circumference of the length of glass tubing, and receive the measurement of the wall thickness at each of the second plurality of positions along the circumference of the length of glass tubing;
determine an inner diameter and a concentricity of the length of glass tubing from the measurement of the outer diameter at each of the first plurality of positions along the circumference of the length of glass tubing, and from the measurement of the wall thickness at each of the second plurality of positions along the circumference of the length of glass tubing;
and
generate a feedback signal to adjust a processing parameter of a tubing forming device, wherein the feedback signal is generated based on the inner diameter and a concentricity of the length of glass tubing;
wherein the plurality of non-contact optical micrometers comprises:
a first non-contact optical micrometer mounted on a first micrometer stage;
and
a second non-contact optical micrometer mounted on a second micrometer stage, wherein the first non-contact optical micrometer and the second non-contact optical micrometer are positioned directly adjacent one another along the tube draw, and wherein the second micrometer stage is oriented at an angle, relative to the first micrometer stage, of approximately 45 degrees.

9 more elements

A tubing dimensional measurement system, comprising:

a micrometer assembly adapted to receive a length of glass tubing, the micrometer assembly including a plurality of non-contact optical micrometers disposed around the length of glass tubing, and the plurality of non-contact optical micrometers configured to measure an outer diameter at each of a first plurality of positions along a circumference of the length of glass tubing, wherein each of the first plurality of positions along the circumference of the length of tubing are approximately 45 degrees apart from one another, and;
a displacement gauge assembly adapted to receive, downstream along a tube draw, the length of glass tubing from the micrometer assembly, the displacement gauge assembly including a plurality of non-contact gauges each coupled to an adjustable gauge stage disposed around the length of glass tubing, and the plurality of non-contact gauges configured to measure a wall thickness at each of a second plurality of positions along the circumference of the length of glass tubing, wherein each of the second plurality of positions along the circumference of the length of tubing are approximately 45 degrees apart from one another;
and
at least one controller operable to:
receive the measurement of the outer diameter at each of the first plurality of positions along the circumference of the length of glass tubing, and receive the measurement of the wall thickness at each of the second plurality of positions along the circumference of the length of glass tubing;
determine an inner diameter and a concentricity of the length of glass tubing from the measurement of the outer diameter at each of the first plurality of positions along the circumference of the length of glass tubing, and from the measurement of the wall thickness at each of the second plurality of positions along the circumference of the length of glass tubing;
and
generate a feedback signal to adjust a processing parameter of a tubing forming device, wherein the feedback signal is generated based on the inner diameter and a concentricity of the length of glass tubing.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/173,174Filed 29 Oct 2018 · us provisional application
Priority: 30 Nov 2017
Published: US 2019/0162524 A130 May 2019
Granted: 27 Jul 2021
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G01B 11/08
Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques: for measuring diameters
C03B 23/0476
By drawing: onto a forming die, e.g. a mandrel or a wire
C03B 23/08
Re-forming tubes or rods: to exact dimensions, e.g. calibrating
G01B 11/06
For measuring length, width or thickness: for measuring thickness ; e.g. of sheet material