Coordinate positioning machine
AssigneeRenishaw PLC
InventorsDavid R. McMurtry, Nicholas A. James
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A coordinate positioning machine comprises a fixed structure including a table and a supporting frame (314), rigidly connected together. A moveable arm (310) is suspended from the frame by means of three powered telescopic struts (316), each of which is universally pivotally connected to both the arm and the frame. As a consequence the moveable arm is able to move with three rotational degrees of freedom. Movement of the arm with each of these degrees of freedom is constrained by a passive device (340), connected to the arm and the fixed structure, and which eliminates all rotational movement of the arm, while simultaneously permitting translation thereof.
Claims18
A coordinate positioning machine having:
- a fixed structure;
- a moveable structure which is movable relative to the fixed structure, and upon which an operating module may be mounted;
- and
- an anti-rotation device which eliminates at least two degrees of rotational freedom of the moveable structure relative to the fixed structure, the anti-rotation device including at least one mechanical linkage connected at one end to the fixed structure and at another end to the moveable structure;
- translational movement of the moveable structure being actuated by three and only three powered extensible and retractable struts, each of the struts having a length defined by a distance between a pair of universal pivotal mounts which connect the strut to the moveable structure and the fixed structure, wherein the translational movement is actuated by a change in the length of at least one of the struts.
A coordinate positioning machine having:
- a fixed structure;
- a moveable structure which is movable relative to the fixed structure, and upon which an operating module may be mounted;
- and
- means for eliminating at least two degrees of rotational freedom of the moveable structure;
- translational movement of the moveable structure being actuated by three and only three powered extensible and retractable struts, each of the struts having a length defined by a distance between a pair of universal pivotal mounts which connect the strut to the moveable structure and the fixed structure, wherein the translational movement is actuated by a change in the length of at least one of the struts.
A coordinate positioning machine having:
- a fixed structure;
- a moveable structure which is movable relative to the fixed structure with three linear degrees of freedom of the moveable structure;
- constraining means for eliminating at least two rotational degrees of freedom of the moveable structure;
- and
- three powered extensible and retractable elongate struts, each being extensible and retractable to increase or decrease a length of the corresponding strut extending between the moveable structure and the fixed structure, each of the struts being universally pivotally connected to the moveable structure and the fixed structure, whereby a change in the strut length between the moveable structure and the fixed structure of at least one of the struts causes translation of the moveable structure relative to the fixed structure.
A coordinate positioning machine having:
- a fixed structure;
- a moveable structure which is movable relative to the fixed structure with three linear degrees of freedom;
- a passive anti-rotation device for eliminating at least two rotational degrees of freedom of the moveable structure;
- and
- three powered extensible and retractable elongate struts, each being extensible and retractable to increase or decrease a length of the corresponding strut extending between the moveable structure and the fixed structure, each of the struts being universally pivotally connected to the moveable structure and the fixed structure, whereby a change in strut length between the moveable structure and the fixed structure of at least one of the struts causes translation of the moveable structure relative to the fixed structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.