Apparatus and method for measuring a contoured surface
AssigneeABB Automation Inc.
InventorsRobert J. Rucha, Daniel W. McGillis, Peter J. Deir
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A contact gauge for measuring a contoured surface on work piece is presented having a matching contoured profile and multiple sensors inserted in a gauge body. The gauge body uses bores filled with spherical balls. At least one ball from each bore contacts the contoured surface, which causes displacement of the ball. The displacement is transferred to and recorded by the sensor. The layout of the gauge permits multiple sensors to be mounted in a compact gauge housing and the gauge housing, in turn, may connected to a robotic arm for rapid and repeated use as an automated measurement apparatus for a component assembly line.
Claims22
An apparatus for measuring a contoured surface of a work piece comprising:
- a housing comprising at least one bore;
- said bore being adapted to slideably receive at least one ball;
- and wherein said bore further comprises a proximal port and a distal port;
- said at least one ball extends outwardly from said bore at the distal port;
- retaining means arranged to prevent escapement of said ball from said bore;
- said housing further including at least one sensing element, said sensing element residing in said bore and said sensing element comprising a sensing end portion and an oppositely spaced data-transmitting end portion;
- and
- biasing means mounted in said bore and being in mechanical contact with said sensing element and said ball.
A contoured contact gauge for determining a reference feature for a contoured surface, said gauge comprising:
- a housing comprising a plurality of bores extending from a probe end to an oppositely positioned gauge tip;
- each of said plurality of bores being adapted to receive a sensor and biasing means;
- a plurality of balls slideably received in each of said plurality of bores and wherein at least one ball is in mechanical contact with the biasing means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.