US 5,088,207 AGranted

True end-to-end electronic saddle micrometer

OwnerHarry E. Betsill, Bruce E. Bresnickinventors

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Abstract

An electronic saddle micrometer to measure the differential diameter and the profile of cylindrical rolls used in flat rolled product mills, which permits continuous and accurate measurement and recording of profile data over the entire length of the roll without repositioning the measuring arm assembly, by means of a dual set of measuring arm assemblies, one at each end of the saddle.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A true end-to-end electronic saddle micrometer for measuring the diameter of objects, particularly rolls used in flat rolled product mills, comprising:

(a) a saddle with two ends;
(b) wheels supporting the saddle;
(c) two measuring arm assemblies attached to either end of the saddle, each measuring arm assembly having two elongated members projecting on opposite sides diagonally downward and outward from the saddle, said measuring arm assemblies being permitted to rotate independently within a vertical plane perpendicular to the axis of the object to be measured, but not within a horizontal plane;
(d) four probe holders, one attached to each elongated member of the measuring arm assemblies, said probe holders being adjustable and able to be moved to and fixed at various points along the elongated members of the measuring arm assemblies;
(e) two distance transducers, one attached to one of the probe holders affixed to one of the measuring arm assemblies and the other attached to one of the probe holders affixed to the other measuring arm assembly, which produce an analog signal;
(f) two follower/counterweight probes, each affixed to one of the probe holders not holding a distance transducer, such that each follower/counterweight probe opposes one of the distance transducers;
(g) a means for converting the analog signal from the distance transducers to digital output;
(h) an optical shaft encoder with a mechanical drive for measuring distance along the length of the object to be measured, which optical shaft encoder is electronically connected to the microcomputer;
(i) a microcomputer with a data and program memory and a communications interface electronically connected to the means for converting the analog signal from the distance transducer to digital output, and electronically connected to the optical shaft encoder, and capable of storing and then combining data from the first distance transducer to create a single curve reflecting the profile of the object to be measured so that at one end of the object to be measured, the measurement is taken by the first distance transducer, then over the central portion of the object to be measured, measurements are taken at the same points by both distance transducers, the measurement of the first distance transducer being averaged with the measurement of the second distance transducer, then at the other end of the object to be measured, measurement is taken by the second distance transducer;
(j) a power supply.

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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A true end-to-end electronic saddle micrometer for measuring the diameter of objects, particularly rolls used in flat rolled product mills, comprising:

(a) a saddle with two ends;
(b) wheels supporting the saddle;
(c) two measuring arm assemblies attached to either end of the saddle, each measuring arm assembly having two elongated members projecting on opposite sides diagonally downward and outward from the saddle, said measuring arm assemblies being permitted to rotate independently within a vertical plane perpendicular to the axis of the object to be measured, but not within a horizontal plane;
(d) four probe holders, one attached to each elongated member of the measuring arm assemblies, said probe holders being adjustable and able to be moved to and fixed at various points along the elongated members of the measuring arm assemblies;
(e) two distance transducers, one attached to one of the probe holders affixed to one of the measuring arm assemblies and the other attached to one of the probe holders affixed to the other measuring arm assembly, which produce an analog signal;
(f) two follower/counterweight probes, each affixed to one of the probe holders not holding a distance transducer, such that each follower/counterweight probe opposes one of the distance transducers;
(g) a means for converting the analog signal from the distance transducers to digital output;
(h) an optical shaft encoder with a mechanical drive for measuring distance along the length of the object to be measured, which optical shaft encoder is electronically connected to the microcomputer;
(i) a microcomputer with a data and program memory and a communications interface electronically connected to the means for converting the analog signal from the distance transducer to digital output, and electronically connected to the optical shaft encoder, and capable of storing and then combining data from the first distance transducer to create a single curve reflecting the profile of the object to be measured so that at one end of the object to be measured, the measurement is taken by the first distance transducer, then over the central portion of the object to be measured, measurements are taken at the same points by both distance transducers, the measurement of the first distance transducer being averaged with the measurement of the second distance transducer, then at the other end of the object to be measured, measurement is taken by the second distance transducer;
(j) a power supply.

7 more elements