System and method for gear measurement
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorRichard G. Marsh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method is provided for measuring a physical parameter of a gear. The system and method includes moving a contact probe into a start position on the pitch circle of the gear in a gap between adjacent teeth. The contact probe is moved in a path substantially along the pitch circle of the gear until the contact probe contacts the flank of one of the adjacent gear teeth at a contact point. Spatial coordinates of the contact point are determined. A measurement of a physical parameter of the gear is determined based on the spatial coordinates of the contact point.
Claims20
A method for measuring a physical parameter of a gear, the gear having a pitch circle and a plurality of teeth with adjacent teeth separated by a gap that is defined by a flank of each of the adjacent teeth, the method comprising:
- moving a contact probe into a start position on the pitch circle of the gear in a gap between adjacent teeth;
- moving the contact probe in a path substantially along the pitch circle of the gear until the contact probe contacts the flank of one of the adjacent gear teeth at a contact point;
- determining spatial coordinates of the contact point;
- and
- determining a measurement of a physical parameter of the gear based on the spatial coordinates of the contact point.
A gear measurement system for measuring a physical parameter of a gear, the gear having a pitch circle and a plurality of teeth with adjacent teeth separated by a gap that is defined by a flank of each of the adjacent teeth, the gear measurement system comprising:
- a contact probe configured to produce a signal when the contact probe contacts the flank of a gear tooth;
- a probe positioning system configured to move the contact probe in at least two-dimensional space;
- and
- a controller in communication with the contact probe and the probe positioning system and being configured to direct movement of the contact probe by the probe positioning system, the controller being configured to:
- direct the probe positioning system to move the contact probe to a starting position on the pitch circle in a gap between adjacent teeth;
- move the contact probe in a path substantially along the pitch circle until the contact probe contacts the flank of one of the adjacent gear teeth at a contact point;
- determine spatial coordinates of the contact point;
- and
- determine a measurement of a physical parameter of the gear based on the spatial coordinates of the contact point.
A method for measuring a physical parameter of a gear, the gear having a pitch circle and a plurality of teeth with adjacent teeth separated by a gap that is defined by a flank of each of the adjacent teeth, the method comprising:
- determining an approach vector for moving the contact probe from a current position to a start position on the pitch circle of the gear in a gap between adjacent teeth;
- moving the contact probe to the start position using the approach vector;
- determining a path from the start position along the pitch circle by dividing a segment of the pitch circle into a plurality of circumferentially spaced points and determining vectors that define paths of travel for the contact probe between those points that substantially match the pitch circle
- moving the contact probe along the path until the contact probe contacts the flank of one of the adjacent gear teeth at a contact point;
- determining spatial coordinates of the contact point;
- and
- determining a measurement of a physical parameter of the gear based on the spatial coordinates of the contact point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.