Method and apparatus for measuring dimensional variables of threaded pipe
AssigneeCriterion Resources, Inc.
InventorErrol A. Demirsu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A non-contact method and apparatus for measuring dimensional variables of a threaded exterior surface of a length of pipe utilizes at least one laser generated parallel scanning light beam transmitter and at least one receiver which is disposed on a frame which moves with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pipe, to measure the amount of the scanning beam width which is blocked by the threaded exterior surface at a plurality of sequential locations along the longitudinal axis of the pipe, and the measured amounts are stored as a function of the sequential locations to produce a profile of the threaded exterior surface and to determine from the profile a desired dimensional variable of the threaded exterior surface.
Claims21
A non-contact method for measuring dimensional variables having strict tolerances of a threaded exterior surface of a length of pipe having a longitudinal axis, comprising the steps of:
- directing at least one laser generated parallel scanning light beam, having a known width, in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the length of pipe to scan at least one portion of the threaded exterior surface;
- providing relative sequential movement between at least one light beam and the threaded exterior surface in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the length of pipe;
- receiving with a photo detector receiver at least one laser generated parallel scanning light beam at a plurality of sequential locations along the longitudinal axis of the length of pipe;
- measuring the amount of the scanning beam width which is blocked by the threaded exterior surface at each sequential location;
- and
- storing the measured amounts as a function of the sequential locations to produce a profile of the threaded exterior surface and determining from the profile the desired dimensional variable of the threaded exterior surface.
An apparatus for measuring dimensional variables having strict tolerances of a threaded exterior surface of a length of pipe having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
- at least one means for directing a laser generated parallel scanning light beam, having a known width, in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the length of pipe to scan at least one portion of the threaded exterior surface;
- means for providing relative sequential movement between the light beam directing means and the threaded exterior surface in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the length of pipe;
- at least one means for receiving the at least one light beam at a plurality of sequential locations along the longitudinal axis of the length of pipe and for measuring the amount of the scanning beam width which is blocked by the threaded exterior surface at each sequential location;
- means for storing the measured amounts as a function of the sequential locations to produce a profile of the threaded exterior surface and means for determining from the profile the desired dimensional variable of the threaded exterior surface;
- and
- means for mounting the at least one light beam directing means and the at least one receiving means in a spaced relationship with each other, with the portion of the threaded exterior surface of the length of pipe being disposed therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.