Optical Thread Profiler
AssigneeQuest Metrology, LLC
InventorsPhillip Dewayne Bondurant, David William Rook, David H. Bothell, Christian Robert Lentz, David Jack Savage
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Abstract
An apparatus configured to measure at least one physical characteristic of an threaded surface (e.g., an internally threaded surface) of an object is provided. The apparatus uses optical triangulation to perform non-contact characterization of the threaded surface. The apparatus can be used to characterize various aspects of the threaded surface, including generating the measurements required to produce a longitudinal cross-sectional profile of the threaded surface.
Claims20
An internal thread measurement apparatus for measuring at least one physical characteristic of an internally threaded surface of an object, the apparatus comprising:
- a body including a support member and an external contact,
- wherein the support member comprises a plurality of contact surfaces configured to register to the internally threaded surface of the object, wherein said registration of the contact surfaces defines a registration plane, and wherein the external contact is configured to make physical contact with an external surface of the object;
- and
- at least one motion stage configured to controllably move an optical head along a measurement axis that is substantially parallel to the registration plane,
- wherein the optical head comprises:
- an emission optical element configured to emit a first incident light beam onto the internally threaded surface to generate scattered light off of the internally threaded surface;
- and
- a detector configured to receive at least a portion of the scattered light.
A handheld apparatus for measuring a profile of an internally threaded surface comprising:
- means for positioning the optical head;
- means for moving the optical head on the measurement axis adjacent the internally threaded surface;
- means for irradiating a plurality of measurement points along the internally threaded surface using a first light source;
- means for detecting scatter light generated at the plurality of measurement points by the first light source to provide a plurality of detector signal measurements;
- and
- means for generating the thread profile of the internally threaded surface based on the plurality of detector signal measurements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.