# US 9,261,345 B2 · Probe > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,261,345 B2 - Document ID: US9261345B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/972,740 - Filed: 2013-08-21 - Published: 2014-02-27 - Granted: 2016-02-16 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-21 - Assignees: Elcometer Limited - Applicants: Elcometer Limited - Inventors: Colin John Morley; John Michael Whitaker; Michael Carrington Sellars - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9261345B2 ## CPC - G01B 5/20: for measuring contours or curvatures - G01B 5/28: for measuring roughness or irregularity of surfaces - G01B 7/34: for measuring roughness or irregularity of surfaces - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS ## Abstract A surface profile measurement probe comprising two spaced apart points 20 for contacting a convex surface to be measured and a straight edge or surface 22 moveable relative to the two points to enable the straight edge to be brought into contact with a convex surface contacted by the two points. A tip 10 protrudes from and is moveably mounted relative to the straight edge or surface for measuring the profile of a surface contacted by the straight edge. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surface roughness measurement probe comprising two spaced apart points for contacting a convex surface to be measured, at least a straight edge moveable relative to the two points to enable the straight edge to be brought into contact with a convex surface contacted by the two points and a tip protruding from and moveably mounted relative to the straight edge for measuring the surface roughness of a surface contacted by the straight edge. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A probe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the straight edge is comprised in a substantially flat surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A probe as claimed in claim 2 wherein the substantially flat surface is substantially annular in shape and the tip protrudes from substantially the centre of the annulus. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A probe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the straight edge lies in a plane which is substantially parallel to a straight line extending through the two points. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A probe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the straight edge extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to a straight line extending through the two points. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A probe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the straight edge is moveable relative to the two points in a direction substantially at right angles to a straight line extending through the two points. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A probe as claimed in claim 6 wherein the straight edge is constrained to move in that direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A probe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the straight edge is movable from a position so that it is displaced from a straight line extending through the two points to, at least, a position where it contacts that line. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A probe as claimed in claim 8 wherein the straight edge is resiliently biased to the displaced position relative to the points. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A probe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the points are formed by feet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A probe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the two points are formed by ball bearings. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A probe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the straight edge is formed on a probe body, and the points are provided on a structure at opposite sides respectively of the body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A probe as claimed in claim 12 wherein the structure on which the points are disposed is a collar surrounding the probe body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A probe as claimed in claim 1 comprising a sensor arranged to measure displacement between the tip and the straight edge, when the straight edge and the tip are in contact with the surface to be measured. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tip is sharp. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A probe as claimed in claim 15, wherein the tip has a point with an included angle of substantially 60 degrees. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A probe as claimed in claim 15, wherein the tip has a point with an included angle of substantially 30 degrees. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A method of measuring the surface roughness of a convex surface comprising the steps of providing a probe as claimed in claim 1, placing the points of the probe into contact with the surface to be measured, bringing the straight edge and the tip into contact with the surface to be measured and measuring the displacement between the straight edge and the tip while the straight edge and the tip are in contact with the surface to be measured. ### Claim 19 A surface profile measurement probe comprising two spaced apart points for contacting a convex surface to be measured, at least a straight edge moveable relative to the two points to enable the straight edge to be brought into contact with a convex surface contacted by the two points and a tip protruding from and moveably mounted relative to the straight edge for measuring the profile of a surface contacted by the straight edge, wherein the straight edge is formed on a probe body, and the points are provided on a structure at opposite sides respectively of the body, and wherein the structure on which the points are disposed is a collar surrounding the probe body.