# US 7,743,526 B2 · Device for checking countersink dimensions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,743,526 B2 - Document ID: US7743526B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/216,173 - Filed: 2008-06-30 - Published: 2009-03-05 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2007-06-29 - Assignees: JOBS S.p.A. - Inventors: Sandro Foletti; Maurizio Ferrari; Roberto Muselli - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743526B2 ## CPC - G01B 3/28: Depth gauges - B23Q 17/20: for indicating or measuring workpiece characteristics, e.g. contour, dimension, hardness - G01B 5/18: for measuring depth - B23Q 2230/002: Using the spindle for performing a non machining or non measuring operation, e.g. cleaning, actuating a mechanism - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT ## Abstract A device for checking countersink dimensions comprises a measuring head (2) associated with a spindle (3) of a multi-axis process machine (4), and a processing unit operatively associated with the spindle (3) to control spindle movements, the measuring head (2) comprising a contact element (5) that can be inserted into a countersink (101) and a comparator element (7) which, by coming into contact with the countersink and withdrawing, detects the stroke of the contact element (5) inside the countersink (101). A floating member (22) automatically corrects any alignment errors between the contact element (5) and the axis of the countersink (101). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for checking countersink dimensions comprising: a measuring head associated with a spindle of a multi-axis process machine; and a processing unit operatively associated with the spindle to control spindle movements; the measuring head comprising a contact element that can be inserted at least partly into a countersink and a comparator element for detecting an extent to which the contact element is inserted into the countersink; wherein the comparator element comprises a first portion slidably connected to the contact element along a sliding direction substantially parallel to an axis of the countersink; the first portion being designed to abut an edge of the countersink and to withdraw during insertion of the contact element; wherein the comparator element comprises a second portion integral with the contact element and having an end that moves into contact with the first portion to detect an extent to which the first portion withdraws; and wherein the first portion of the comparator element comprises a hollow first cylinder constituting a portion of the contact element and a second cylinder that slidingly fits into the hollow first cylinder; the second cylinder comprising three petals protruding from the hollow first cylinder for contacting the edge of the countersink. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, further comprising a floating member operating between the contact element and the spindle to provide a connection between the spindle and the contact element with at least two degrees of freedom. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein the floating member also operates between the comparator element and the spindle to provide a connection between the spindle and the comparator element with at least two degrees of freedom. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein the floating member comprises a first component connected to the contact element along a plane substantially perpendicular to a sliding direction of the comparator element and slidable relative to the spindle in the first plane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device according to claim 4, wherein the floating member comprises a second component connected relative to the contact element rotatably about a first axis substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction of the comparator element and connected to the spindle rotatably about the first axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device according to claim 5, wherein the first axis is contained in the plane and in that the second component is rotatably connected to the first component along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and contained in the plane. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring head comprises a first half part and a second half part slidable relative to the first half part along the sliding direction of the comparator element; and an activator located between the two half parts for activating transmission of the measurement from the comparator element to a remote station, the activator being activated when the two half parts move close together. ### Claim 8 A device for checking countersink dimensions comprising: a measuring head associated with a spindle of a multi-axis process machine; and a processing unit operatively associated with the spindle to control spindle movements; the measuring head comprising a contact element that can be inserted at least partly into a countersink and a comparator element for detecting an extent to which the contact element is inserted into the countersink; wherein the comparator element comprises a first portion slidably connected to the contact element along a sliding direction substantially parallel to an axis of the countersink; the first portion being designed to abut an edge of the countersink and to withdraw during insertion of the contact element; wherein the comparator element comprises a second portion integral with the contact element and having an end that moves into contact with the first portion to detect an extent to which the first portion withdraws; and wherein the first portion of the comparator element comprises a hollow first cylinder constituting a portion of the contact element and a second cylinder that slidingly fits into the hollow first cylinder; the second cylinder comprising a plurality of petals protruding from the hollow first cylinder for contacting the edge of the countersink. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device according to claim 8, further comprising a floating member operating between the contact element and the spindle to provide a connection between the spindle and the contact element with at least two degrees of freedom. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device according to claim 9, wherein the floating member also operates between the comparator element and the spindle to provide a connection between the spindle and the comparator element with at least two degrees of freedom. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device according to claim 10, wherein the floating member comprises a first component connected to the contact element along a plane substantially perpendicular to a sliding direction of the comparator element and slidable relative to the spindle in the first plane. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11, wherein the floating member comprises a second component connected relative to the contact element rotatably about a first axis substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction of the comparator element and connected to the spindle rotatably about the first axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device according to claim 12, wherein the first axis is contained in the plane and in that the second component is rotatably connected to the first component along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and contained in the plane. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The device according to claim 9, wherein the floating member comprises a first component connected to the contact element along a plane substantially perpendicular to a sliding direction of the comparator element and slidable relative to the spindle in the first plane. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, wherein the floating member comprises a second component connected relative to the contact element rotatably about a first axis substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction of the comparator element and connected to the spindle rotatably about the first axis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device according to claim 15, wherein the first axis is contained in the plane and in that the second component is rotatably connected to the first component along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and contained in the plane. ### Claim 17 (depends on 8) The device according to claim 8, wherein the measuring head comprises a first half part and a second half part slidable relative to the first half part along the sliding direction of the comparator element; and an activator located between the two half parts for activating transmission of the measurement from the comparator element to a remote station, the activator being activated when the two half parts move close together.