Apparatus and method for the noncontact measurement of drill diameter, runout, and tip position

An apparatus for detecting the presence of an object, comprising:

• transmitting means for providing a source of energy;
• sensor means for receiving energy transmitted from said transmitting means;
• means for shifting said object from a first position clear of said transmitting means and said sensor means, to a second position wherein said object blocks at least a portion of the energy transmitted by said transmitting means from being detected by said sensor means;
• energy measurement means operably coupled to said sensor means for measuring the energy level received by said sensor means from said transmitting means;
• calibration means for setting a baseline energy level when said object is in said first position and means for setting a threshold energy level at a predetermined percentage of said base line energy level, whereby the value of said threshold energy level varies in direct relationship with variations in the base line energy level;
• and
• comparison means for determining when the energy level received by said sensor means is at or below said threshold energy level due to said object being in said second position.

An apparatus for measuring the operating dimensions of a rotating drill bit rotating object comprising:

• means for providing a laser beam;
• sensor means for detecting said beam;
• angular measurement means operably coupled to said rotating object for determining the angular position of said object;
• measurement means for detecting the occlusion of light from said sensor means by said object when said object is brought within said beam;
• correlating means operably coupled to said angular measurement means and said measurement means for correlating said angular position of said object to the occlusion of light from said sensor means by said object.

An apparatus for measuring the operating dimensions of a rotating element defining an operating envelope, comprising:

• angular measurement means for determining the angular orientation of said rotating element;
• transmitting means for providing a source of energy along an energy path of travel;
• sensor means for receiving energy transmitted from said transmitting means;
• means for shifting said element from a position clear of said energy path of travel to a second position along said energy path of travel wherein at least a portion of said transmitted energy is occluded by said element from being received by said sensor means;
• correlating means operably coupled to said angular measurement means and said sensor means for correlating said angular position of said element to the occlusion of energy from said sensor means by said element.