Bent tube measurement using a virtual sharp
AssigneeUltra Clean Holdings, Inc.
InventorJeffrey NELSON
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for determining the location of features in a bent element having at least two straight portions and at least one bend between the two straight portions includes a first rail, a second rail, a third rail, a first rotary coupling rotationally coupling the first rail to the second rail and operatively coupling to a first rotary encoder, a second rotary coupling rotationally coupling the second rail to the third rail and operatively coupling to a second rotary encoder, and a linear encoder configured and arranged to determine the location of the second rotary coupling on the second rail.
Claims20
An apparatus for determining the location of features in a bent element having at least two straight portions and at least one bend between the two straight portions, the apparatus comprising:
- a first rail;
- a second rail;
- a third rail;
- a first rotary coupling rotationally coupling the first rail to the second rail and operatively coupling to a first rotary encoder;
- a second rotary coupling rotationally coupling the second rail to the third rail and operatively coupling to a second rotary encoder;
- and
- a linear encoder configured and arranged to determine the location of the second rotary coupling on the second rail.
A method of evaluating dimensions of a rigid bent tube having straight portions and bent portions, comprising;
- providing a first rail having a first surface;
- providing a second rail having a second surface;
- providing a third rail having a third surface;
- providing a first rotary coupling rotationally coupling the first rail to the second rail and operatively coupling to a first rotary encoder.
- providing a second rotary coupling rotationally coupling the second rail to the third rail and operatively coupling to a second rotary encoder;
- providing a linear encoder configured and arranged to determine the location of the second rotary coupling on the second rail;
- positioning a first straight portion of a bent tubing against a first surface of the first rail;
- positioning a second straight portion of a bent tubing against a second surface of the second rail, wherein the first and second straight portions are interconnected at a bend;
- measuring the angle between the first rail and the second rail using the first rotary encoder.
A method of evaluating dimensions of a rigid bent tube, comprising:
- providing a first rail having a first surface;
- providing a second rail having a second surface;
- providing a third rail having a third surface;
- providing a first rotary coupling rotationally coupling the first rail to the second rail and operatively coupling to a first rotary encoder;
- providing a second rotary coupling rotationally coupling the second rail to the third rail and operatively coupling to a second rotary encoder;
- providing a linear encoder configured and arranged to determine the location of the second rotary coupling on the second rail;
- the first straight portion of tubing extends from the bend to a free end;
- and, the method further comprises:
- positioning the free end of the first straight portion in contact with the first surface of the first rail;
- positioning the outer circumferential surface of the first straight portion in contact with the second surface of the second rail.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.