# US 9,823,062 B2 · Inspection system for threaded parts > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,823,062 B2 - Document ID: US9823062B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/773,151 - Filed: 2013-10-30 - Published: 2016-01-21 - Granted: 2017-11-21 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-07 - Assignees: Mectron Engineering Company, Inc. - Applicants: Mectron Engineering Company - Inventors: Ian Kent Penhorwood; Mark Lee Hanna - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9823062B2 ## CPC - G01B 11/2425: {of screw-threads} - G01B 11/2433: {for measuring outlines by shadow casting} - G01B 11/245: using a plurality of fixed, simultaneously operating transducers ({G01B11/2408 - G01B11/2425, } G01B11/255 take precedence) - G01N 21/95: characterised by the material or shape of the object to be examined (G01N21/89 - G01N21/91, G01N21/94 take precedence) - G01N 21/952: Inspecting the exterior surface of cylindrical bodies or wires (G01N21/956 takes precedence) - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract The present invention relates to an inspection device and particularly to a device using an array of light sources and photo-detection devices to evaluate threaded workpieces for conformance to spatial form criteria. The invention provides for improved identification of flaws in threaded components to identify the conformance of parts. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An inspection system for evaluating a workpiece for conformance to configuration criteria, comprising: a track configured to translate the workpiece through a test section, the workpiece defining a longitudinal axis; an inspection plane formed by a mounting plate being configured to align perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the workpiece; at least two pairs of profile detection devices, each of the at least two pairs comprising a light source as a first profile detection device and a detector as a second profile detection device, the light source being configured to emit a sheet of light along a line defining a beam axis extending parallel to the inspection plane intersecting the longitudinal axis of the workpiece, and the sheet of light having a width extending outward from the beam axis being angled about the beam axis at a beam pitch angle; a test section configured to allow the sheet of light emitted by the light source of each pair to be received by the detector paired with the light source, wherein each workpiece translating through the test section occludes the sheet of light and the occluded sheet of light is detected by the detector, and wherein the beam pitch angle is provided for each pair individually by a configuration of a housing of the light source or by a configuration of a housing of the detector, the housing providing the beam pitch angle having a mounting surface for mounting the housing to the mounting plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The inspection system of claim 1, wherein the beam pitch angle is between 1.5 and 6 degrees. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The inspection system of claim 1, wherein the beam pitch angle is between 3 and 4 degrees. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The inspection system of claim 1, wherein the beam pitch angle is dimensioned to align the width of the beam with a pitch of a thread disposed in the workpiece. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The inspection system of claim 1, wherein each of the detectors of the at least two pairs comprises a photodetector array arranged to align substantially with the sheet of light. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The inspection system of claim 1, wherein the profile detection devices of the at least two pairs attached to the mounting plate are evenly spaced about the test section. ### Claim 7 An inspection system for evaluating a threaded workpiece with a threaded shaft and an enlarged head for conformance to configuration criteria, comprising: a track configured to translate the workpiece through a test section, the workpiece defining a longitudinal axis; an inspection plane formed by a mounting plate being configured to align perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the workpiece; at least two pairs of profile detection devices, each of the at least two pairs comprising a light source and a detector, the light source being configured to emit a sheet of light along a line defining a beam axis extending parallel to the inspection plane intersecting the longitudinal axis of the workpiece, and the sheet of light having a width extending outward from the axis being angled about the axis at a beam pitch angle; a test section configured to allow the sheet of light emitted by the light source of each pair to be received by the detector paired with the light source, wherein each workpiece translating through the test section occludes the sheet of light and the occluded sheet of light is measured by the detector, and wherein the beam pitch angle is provided for each pair individually by a shim for mounting a housing of the light source or of the detector to the mounting plate, the shim having a mounting surface for mounting the shim to the mounting plate and the shim having a second surface adapted to support the housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The inspection system of claim 7, wherein the beam pitch angle is between 1.5 and 6 degrees. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The inspection system of claim 7, wherein the beam pitch angle is between 3 and 4 degrees. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The inspection system of claim 7, wherein the beam pitch angle is dimensioned to align the width of the beam with a pitch of a thread disposed in the workpiece. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The inspection system of claim 7, wherein each of the detectors of the at least two pairs comprises a photodetector array arranged to align with the sheet of light. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) An inspection system for evaluating a workpiece in accordance with claim 7, wherein the profile detection devices of the at least two pairs attached to the mounting plate are evenly spaced about the test section.