Sensor and method for locating a discontinuity

A probe for locating a discontinuity in relation to a coordinate system comprising:

• a handle;
• a shaft attached to the handle;
• an end unit attached to an end of the shaft opposite an end of the shaft that the handle is attached, the end unit configured to sense a surface associated with the discontinuity to allow alignment to an axis associated with the discontinuity;
• and
• at least one position sensor located substantially within the shaft, configured to sense the position of the end unit in relation to the coordinate system,
• wherein the shaft includes a plurality of bores and the sensor is located within at least one of the bores, and the probe further comprising a wire strain assembly attached to the handle opposite the side of the handle the shaft is attached, the wire strain assembly configured have wires running axially through the wire strain assembly.

A probe for locating a feature of a workpiece in relation to a coordinate system comprising:

• a handle;
• a shaft attached to the handle;
• an alignment flange attached to at least one of the shaft and handle and configured to assist in orienting the probe to a coordinate system;
• an end unit attached to an end of the shaft opposite an end of the shaft that the handle is attached, the end unit configured to contact a surface associated with the discontinuity and move in relation to the coordinate system to align the end unit to an axis associated with the discontinuity;
• sensing means located substantially within the shaft for sensing the position of the end unit in relation to the coordinate system;
• and
• a radial orientation apparatus including a slot in the flange configured to orient the probe with a coordinate system.

A probe for locating a feature of a workpiece in relation to a coordinate system comprising:

• a handle;
• a shaft attached to the handle;
• an end unit attached to an end of the shaft opposite an end of the shaft that the handle is attached, the end unit configured to contact a surface associated with the discontinuity and move in relation to the coordinate system to align the end unit to an axis associated with the discontinuity;
• and
• sensing means located substantially within the shaft for sensing the position of the end unit in relation to the coordinate system, the probe further comprising a wire strain assembly attached to the handle opposite the side of the handle the shaft is attached, the wire strain assembly configured have wires running axially through the wire strain assembly.

A method of using a probe to locate a feature in a workpiece comprising:

• orienting the probe with a known coordinate system by using an alignment flange of the probe;
• inserting a conical end unit portion of a probe into the feature;
• permitting the end unit to slide as the end unit is inserted into the feature to cause the end unit portion of the probe to rest against a surface defining at least part of the feature;
• tracking the sliding movement of the end unit with sliding members;
• biasing the end unit to a predetermined position with biasing members;
• sensing the siding movement of the sliding members;
• and
• generating a signal related to an amount of distance the end unit has moved with respect to the coordinate system, and
• wherein orienting the probe with a known coordinate system by using an alignment flange of the probe further includes using a radial orientation apparatus including a slot located in the alignment flange.