Internal and external measuring device

• US 20080043252A1
• Filed: 06/27/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Noel Parlour
• Original Assignee: Noel Parlour
• Inventors: Parlour, Noel
• Granted Patent: US 7,440,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/625
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/026 by measuring distance between sensor and object G01B11/0608 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/481 Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements

Abstract

A measuring device for measuring internal or external dimensions of a manufactured or machined component is provided with a laser source, a beam redirection member, and a beam receptor. The beam redirection member is adapted to be positioned within an internal bore of a subject component. The laser source directs a beam downwardly to be intercepted by the beam redirection member. The beam exits the beam redirection member at approximately 90° from its original direction to strike a target area along the internal bore of the subject component. The beam is reflected back to the beam redirection member, which directs it at an upward angle to be received by the beam receptor. The beam receptor transmits the data to a control system, which calculates the dimension of the target area. Also provided are methods for optimizing the accuracy of measurements taken by the measuring device.

Claims

1. A measuring device for measuring a work piece, comprising:

an elongated primary guide member;

a drive block engaging the primary guide member for movement along the primary guide member;

a drive system engageable with the drive block for moving the drive block along the primary guide member;

a yoke constrained for movement in a direction parallel to the primary guide member;

a deformable member secured between the drive block and the yoke;

a laser source; and

a beam redirection member in beam receiving relationship to the laser source, wherein at least one of the laser source and the beam redirection member is secured to the yoke.

2. The measuring device of claim 1 wherein the laser source is secured to the yoke.

3. The measuring device of claim 1 wherein the beam redirection member is secured to the yoke.

4. The measuring device of claim 1 wherein the laser source and the beam redirection member are secured to the yoke.

5. The measuring device of claim 1 further comprising at least one yoke guide member parallel to the primary guide member, wherein the yoke engages the yoke guide member for movement along the yoke guide member.

6. The measuring device of claim 1 further comprising a pair of yoke guide members parallel to the primary guide member, wherein the yoke engages the yoke guide members for movement along the yoke guide members.

7. The measuring device of claim 6 wherein the yoke engages at least one of said yoke guide members at two separate locations.

8. The measuring device of claim 1 wherein the yoke comprises a stabilizing beam and the deformable member and at least one of the laser source and the beam receptor is secured to the stabilizing beam of the yoke.

9. The measuring device of claim 8 wherein the deformable member includes a pair of bores, one of the bores receiving a connector to secure the deformable member to the stabilizing beam and the other bore receiving a connector to secure the deformable member to the drive block.

10. The measuring device of claim 1 wherein the laser source is adapted to direct a beam to the beam redirection member and the beam redirection member is adapted to change the direction of the beam from the laser source by approximately 90°

.

11. In a measuring device comprising a laser source, a beam redirection member in beam receiving relationship to the laser source, a beam receptor adapted to receive a return beam from the beam redirection member and convert the return beam into data, and a system controller adapted to receive and process the data from the beam receptor, the improvement comprising method a method of calibrating the measuring device comprising the steps of:

providing a set-up piece having at least one known dimension;

positioning the beam redirection member in beam transmitting relationship to the known dimension of the set-up piece;

transmitting a beam from the laser source to the beam redirection member;

transmitting the beam from the beam redirection member to the set-up piece;

reflecting a return beam from the set-up piece to the beam redirection member;

transmitting the return beam from the beam redirection member to the beam receptor;

converting the return beam into data;

transmitting the data to the system controller;

calculating a measured dimension using the data; and

calculating a compensation factor based on the measured dimension and the known dimension of the set-up piece.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of positioning the beam redirection member includes providing the measuring device with a platform adapted to support the set-up piece and a platform drive system adapted for moving the platform with respect to the beam redirection member, and further includes the steps of:

positioning the set-up piece on the platform; and

actuating the platform drive system to move the platform to a predetermined position with respect to the beam redirection member

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of transmitting a beam from the laser source to the beam redirection member includes transmitting the beam vertically downward, the step of said transmitting the beam from the beam redirection member to the set-up piece includes transmitting the beam in a horizontal direction, and the step of positioning the beam redirection member in beam transmitting relationship to the known dimension of the set-up piece includes moving the beam redirection member downwardly and into beam transmitting relationship to the known dimension of the set-up piece.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the steps of providing a set-up piece, positioning the beam redirection member, transmitting a beam from the laser source to the beam redirection member, transmitting the beam from the beam redirection member to the set-up piece, reflecting a return beam from the set-up piece to the beam redirection member, transmitting the return beam from the beam redirection member to the beam receptor, converting the return beam into data, transmitting the data to the system controller, calculating a measured dimension using the data, and calculating a compensation factor are performed sequentially.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

providing the measuring device with a platform adapted to support the set-up piece and a platform drive system adapted for moving the platform with respect to the beam redirection member and including a motor and an encoder;

determining the location of the center of the platform;

defining a horizontal axis passing through the center of the platform;

actuating the platform drive system to move the platform toward the beam redirection member, thereby positioning the center of the platform directly below the beam redirection member; and

operating the encoder to record the position of the motor, thereby defining a measurement position,

wherein the steps of providing the measuring device with a platform and a platform drive system, determining the location of the center of the platform, defining a horizontal axis passing through the center of the platform, actuating the platform drive system to move the platform toward the beam redirection member, and operating the encoder to record the position of the motor are performed prior to the step of providing a set-up piece.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of calculating a compensation factor includes calculating a compensation factor based on a plurality of measured dimensions and corresponding known dimensions of the set-up piece.

17. In a measuring device comprising a laser head adapted to transmit a beam along a vertical Y-axis and to receive a return beam and convert the return beam into a distance measurement, a beam redirection member in beam receiving relationship to the laser head and adapted to direct the beam along a Z-axis perpendicular to the Y-axis, a system controller adapted to receive and process the distance measurement from the laser head, a primary drive system adapted to move the beam redirection member along the Y-axis, a platform adapted to support a set-up piece, and a platform drive system adapted to move the platform along the Z-axis, the improvement comprising a method of calibrating the measuring device comprising the steps of:

providing a cylindrical set-up piece having a central axis and a known inner radius;

positioning the set-up piece on the platform such that the central axis of the set-up piece is vertical and aligned with the center of the platform;

actuating the platform drive system to position the center of the platform on the Y-axis, thereby substantially aligning the central axis of the set-up piece and the Y-axis;

actuating the primary drive system to move the beam redirection member along the Y-axis and into beam transmitting relationship to the inner radius of the set-up piece;

transmitting a beam from the laser head to the beam redirection member;

transmitting the beam from the beam redirection member to the set-up piece;

reflecting a return beam from the set-up piece to the beam redirection member and from there to the laser head which calculates a measured distance using the return beam;

transmitting the measured distance to the system controller; and

calculating a compensation factor based on the measured distance and the known inner radius of the set-up piece.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the steps of providing a set-up piece, positioning the set-up piece on the platform, actuating the platform drive system, actuating the primary drive system, transmitting a beam from the laser source to the beam redirection member, transmitting the beam from the beam redirection member to the set-up piece, reflecting a return beam from the set-up piece to the beam redirection member, transmitting the measured distance to the system controller, and calculating a compensation factor are performed sequentially.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

providing the platform drive system with a motor and an encoder;

determining the location of the center of the platform;

defining a horizontal X-axis passing through the center of the platform and perpendicular to the Z-axis;

actuating the platform drive system to move the platform along the Z-axis, thereby causing the Y-axis to intersect the horizontal X-axis; and

operating the encoder to record the position of the motor, thereby defining a measurement position,

wherein the steps of providing the platform drive system with a motor and an encoder, determining the location of the center of the platform, defining a horizontal axis passing through the center of the platform, actuating the platform drive system to move the platform along the Z-axis, and operating the encoder to record the position of the motor are performed prior to the step of providing a set-up piece.