Caliper gauge for the measurement of sheet members over a wide range of thicknesses
AssigneeMeasurex Corporation
InventorTor G. Larsen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an apparatus for the measurement of the thickness of a sheet through the use of air bearings, the apparatus has a stationary housing, a member in the housing capable of being extended in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet, and a fluid ring bearing capable of directing fluid to impinge the member in a substantially omnidirection which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the member.
Claims6
An apparatus for measurement of the thickness of a sheet having a portion of said apparatus to one side of said sheet and another portion of said apparatus to the other side of said sheet comprising:
- a housing;
- a member coupled to said housing capable of being extended in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet, said member including:
- (i) a hollow shaft positioned to extend in the direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet;
- (ii) a cup, connected to one end of said shaft which is closer to the sheet, and with the concavity of the cup facing the sheet;
- (iii) said cup having a hole in line with the hollow portion of the shaft;
- (iv) a body comprising a dome and a flat cover with the flat cover covering the opening of the dome, said body having an opening in said dome near the apex, a plurality of outlets in said dome and a plurality of orifices in the flat cover;
- (v) means for pivotally attaching said body to said cup such that the dome of said body is inside the cup;
- and
- fluid means capable of directing fluid through said member.
A method of operating an air bearing caliper gauge for measurement of the thickness of a sheet wherein said gauge has a member adjustable to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet, a body near one end of said member which is closer to the sheet, said body capable of pivoting about a point, and means for introducing air through said body to impinge said sheet, said method comprising:
- extending said member in the direction of said sheet;
- introducing air through said body to impinge said sheet to lift said body from said sheet;
- and
- lifting said body from said sheet until the distance between the body and the sheet is such that the point of pivot is substantially at a surface of said sheet, which is closer to said body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.