# US 2016/0018214 A1 · Inspection System for Threaded Parts > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0018214 A1 - Document ID: US20160018214A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/773,151 - Filed: 2013-10-30 - Published: 2016-01-21 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-07 - Assignees: Mectron Engineering Company, Inc. - Applicants: Mectron Engineering Company, Inc. - Inventors: Ian Kent Penhorwood; Mark Lee Hanna - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160018214A1 ## CPC - G01B 11/2425: {of screw-threads} - G01B 11/2433: {for measuring outlines by shadow casting} - G01B 11/245: using a plurality of fixed, simultaneously operating transducers ({G01B11/2408 - G01B11/2425, } G01B11/255 take precedence) - G01N 21/95: characterised by the material or shape of the object to be examined (G01N21/89 - G01N21/91, G01N21/94 take precedence) - G01N 21/952: Inspecting the exterior surface of cylindrical bodies or wires (G01N21/956 takes precedence) - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract The present invention relates to an inspection device and particularly to a device using an array of light sources and photo-detection devices to evaluate threaded workpieces for conformance to spatial form criteria. The invention provides for improved identification of flaws in threaded components to identify the conformance of parts. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An inspection system for evaluating a workpiece for conformance to configuration criteria, comprising: a track configured to translate the workpiece through a test section, the workpiece defining a longitudinal axis; an inspection plane formed by a mounting plate being configured to align perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the workpiece; a pair of profile detection devices comprising a light source and a detector, the light source being configured to emit a sheet of light along a line defining an axis extending parallel to the inspection plane intersecting the longitudinal axis of the workpiece, and the sheet of light having a width extending outward from the axis being angled about the axis at a beam pitch angle; test section being configured to allow the sheet of light to be received by the detector, wherein each workpiece translating through the test section occludes the sheet of light and the occluded sheet of light is detected by the detector, and the beam pitch angle is provided by the configuration of a housing of the light source or the detector, or a shim for the housing of the light source or the detector, the housing or the shim having a mounting surface for mounting the housing or the shim to the mounting plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The inspection system of claim 1, wherein the beam pitch angle is between 1.5 and 6 degrees. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The inspection system of claim 1, wherein the beam pitch angle is between 3 and 4 degrees. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The inspection system of claim 1, wherein the beam pitch angle significantly aligns the width of the beam with the pitch of a plurality of threads disposed in the workpiece. ### Claim 5 (canceled) ### Claim 6 (canceled) ### Claim 7 (canceled) ### Claim 8 (canceled) ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The inspection system of claim 1, wherein the detectors comprise a photodetector array arranged to align substantially with the sheet of light. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An inspection system for evaluating a workpiece in accordance with claim 1 further comprising: a track configured to translate workpieces through a test section, each workpiece defining a longitudinal axis; the light sources and detectors attached to the mounting plate forming paired profile detection devices evenly spaced about the test section. ### Claim 11 (canceled) ### Claim 12 (canceled) ### Claim 13 (canceled) ### Claim 14 (canceled) ### Claim 15 (canceled) ### Claim 16 (canceled) ### Claim 17 (canceled) ### Claim 18 (canceled) ### Claim 19 (canceled) ### Claim 20 (canceled) ### Claim 21 (canceled) ### Claim 22 An inspection system for evaluating a workpiece for conformance to configuration criteria, comprising: a track configured to translate the workpiece through a test section, the workpiece defining a longitudinal axis; an inspection plane formed by a mounting plate being configured to align perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the workpiece; a pair of profile detection devices comprising a light source and a detector, the light source being configured to emit a sheet of light along a line defining an axis extending parallel to the inspection plane intersecting the longitudinal axis of the workpiece, and the sheet of light having a width extending outward from the axis being angled about the axis at a beam pitch angle; the test section being configured to allow the sheet of light to be received by the detector, wherein each workpiece translating through the test section occludes the sheet of light and the occluded sheet of light is measured by the detector, and the beam pitch angle is provided by the configuration of a housing of the light source or the detector having a mounting surface for mounting the housing to the mounting plate. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The inspection system of claim 22, wherein the beam pitch angle is between 1.5 and 6 degrees. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The inspection system of claim 22, wherein the beam pitch angle is between 3 and 4 degrees. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The inspection system of claim 22, wherein the beam pitch angle significantly aligns the width of the beam with the pitch of a plurality of threads disposed in the workpiece. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The inspection system of claim 22, wherein the detectors comprise photodetector array on arranged to detect the sheet of light. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) An inspection system for evaluating a workpiece in accordance with claim 22 further comprising a track configured to translate the workpiece through a test section, the workpiece defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of the light sources and detectors attached to the mounting plate forming paired profile detection devices evenly spaced about the test section. ### Claim 28 An inspection system for evaluating a workpiece for conformance to configuration criteria, comprising: a track configured to translate the workpiece through a test section, the workpiece defining a longitudinal axis; an inspection plane formed by a mounting plate being configured to align perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the workpiece; a pair of profile detection devices comprising a light source and a detector, the light source being configured to emit a sheet of light along a line defining an axis extending parallel to the inspection plane intersecting the longitudinal axis of the workpiece, and the sheet of light having a width extending outward from the axis being angled about the axis at a beam pitch angle; the test section being configured to allow the sheet of light to be received by the detector, wherein each workpiece translating through the test section occludes the sheet of light and the occluded sheet of light is measured by the detector, and the beam pitch angle is provided by the configuration of a shim for mounting a housing of the light source or the detector to the mounting plate, the shim having a mounting surface for mounting the shim to the mounting plate and the shim having a second surface adapted to support the housing. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The inspection system of claim 28, wherein the beam pitch angle is between 1.5 and 6 degrees. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The inspection system of claim 28, wherein the beam pitch angle is between 3 and 4 degrees. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The inspection system of claim 28, wherein the beam pitch angle significantly aligns the width of the beam with the pitch of a plurality of threads disposed in the workpiece. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The inspection system of claim 28, wherein the detectors comprise photodetector arrays arranged to align with the sheet of light. ### Claim 33 (depends on 28) An inspection system for evaluating a workpiece in accordance with claim 28 further comprising a track configured to translate workpieces through a test section, each workpiece defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of the light sources and detectors attached to the mounting plate forming paired profile detection devices evenly spaced about the test section.