Device for measuring length
AssigneeDr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
InventorsClaudia Wahl, Andrea Golowin, Rosemarie Bauer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A linear measuring device having a tape-shaped measuring body that is arranged in a closed conduit, which is opened on at least one front face and a sensor, which is moved along the measuring body and the sensor picks up information stored on the measuring body. An evaluation unit, which evaluates the information obtained from the sensor and processes the information further and a fixation structure provided inside the conduit, which releasably fixes the measuring body in place inside the conduit in such a way that, when needed, the measuring body is replaced by being removed from a front face of the conduit.
Claims32
A linear measuring device (10), having
- a tape-shaped measuring body (12),
- a sensor/sensors (14), which is/are moved along the measuring body (12) and in the process picks/pick up the information stored on the measuring body (12),
- an evaluation unit (16), which evaluates the information obtained from the sensor/sensors (14) and processes it further, characterized by the following features:
- the measuring body (12) is arranged in a closed conduit (42), which is only open or can be opened on at least one front face, and
- fixation means (38, 40.1, 40.2, 50, 60) are provided inside the conduit (42), which releasably fix the measuring body (12) in place inside the conduit (42) in such a way that, when needed, the measuring body (12) can be replaced by being pulled out, or inserted, from the front face of the conduit (42).
The linear measuring device in accordance with one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixation means (38, 40.1, 40.2, 50, 60) are embodied as a closed tape body, or as a tape body with an elastic hollow profiled cross section, wherein the cross sectional dimensions of the tape body can be changed by changing the volume within the tape body, or of the profiled cross section, by the supply or removal of a liquid or gaseous medium.
The linear measuring device in accordance with one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixation means (40.1, 40.2) are embodied as elastic tape bodies, whose cross-sectional dimensions can be changed by changing a tensile force acting on the elastic tape body.
The linear measuring device in accordance with one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closed conduit (42) is provided by a groove (32) existing in a component, and a cover tape (30) covering the groove (30).
The linear measuring device in accordance with claim 1, 8 or 10, characterized by the following features:
- the wall of the conduit (42) assigned to the working area, i.e. the sensor/sensors (14), is embodied as an elastic wall, concavely arched inward into the conduit and, in the state where it is inserted into the conduit, the measuring body (12) pushes the convex wall area outward and is clampingly held thereby.
The linear measuring device in accordance with one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measuring body (12) is embodied as a flexible measuring body tape.
The linear measuring device in accordance with one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in that the linear measuring device is designed as a magnetic measuring device, i.e. the sensor/sensors (14) picks up/pick up the different magnetic field strengths existing on the tape-shaped measuring body (12), and emits/emit its/their signals to the evaluation unit (16).
The linear measuring device in accordance with one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closed conduit (42) with the measuring body (12), the sensor/sensors (14), and fixation means (38, 40.1, 40.2) are arranged on/in a guide profile (22), or arranged on/in a machine bed, or on/in other components particularly made for the measuring body.
The linear measuring device in accordance with one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in that the linear measuring device is embodied as an inductive measuring device, i.e. the sensor/sensors (14) picks up/pick up the varying permeability values existing on the tape-shaped measuring body (12), and emits/emit its/their signals to the evaluation unit (16).
The linear measuring device in accordance with one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixation means have a valve unit (36).
The linear measuring device in accordance with one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in that several guide profiles (22.1, 22.2, 22.3), arranged one behind the other, are provided, wherein a continuous measuring body (12), or one measuring body (12.1, 12.2, 12.3) per guide profile (22.1, 22.2, 22.3) is provided.
The linear measuring device in accordance with one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sliding means is provided inside the conduit or the groove.
The linear measuring device in accordance with one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in that additional fixation means (80) are provided, which fix the measuring body (12) positively or non-positively in the conduit (42), or the groove (32).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.