Measurement digitizer
First Claim
1. A process for bidirectionally interconverting linear and rotary motions, said process comprising the steps of:
- producing a rack consisting of a cross-sectionally curved tape and thereby having a convex surface, and said rack capable of being bent toward said surface and radially forming a convex bend;
producing circular means for supporting said rack bent convexly thereon, and said circular means forming a diameter;
producing at least one wheel having sprockets, and said at least one wheel forming a diameter, and said sprockets having tangencies forming a diameter, and producing said diameter of said at least one wheel smaller than said diameter formed by said circular means, and producing said diameter formed by said tangencies larger than said diameter formed by said circular means;
producing rotatable axial means and coaxially aligning said circular means and said at least one wheel having sprockets with said axial means;
providing means supporting said axial means;
producing machinery for perforating said rack, and said machinery adjusting said rack whereby each perforation in said rack is made perpendicular to said rack while said rack is bent corresponding to said rack being bent about said circular means;
producing with said machinery at least one row of perforations in said rack, and said perforations being sized smaller than said sprockets, spaced to mate with said sprockets, and disposed along at least one side of said rack;
bending said rack containing said perforations toward said surface, and arranging said bend about said circular means whereby said perforations in said bend project beyond said circular means;
arranging said at least one wheel having sprockets whereby a number of said sprockets partially penetrate said perforations projecting beyond said circular means;
wearing and thereby mating said perforations with said sprockets by alternately retracting opposite ends of said rack, and thereby rotating said sprockets with causing said surface being laterally flattened to contact said circular means, and said at least one wheel having sprockets being mated thereby rotatably adjusting with said at least one row having perforations being mated;
fastening said circular means and said at least one wheel having said mated sprockets to said axial means; and
longitudinally moving said rack, and said rack rotating convexly on said circular means, and said mated perforations at said bend falling upon, mating with, rotating with and rising from said mated sprockets thereby interconverting linear motions of said rack with rotary motions of said mated sprockets.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process is disclosed for a perforated rack that is thin, normally curved in cross section, rigidly straight but coilable, and containing perforations adjacent at least one of its longitudinal sides. A new system for the interconversions of linear and rotary motions is then made possible with the perforated rack and a sprocket wheel coupling, and this new system is used for digitizing linear and also polar measurements. When the rack is radially bent toward its normally convex surface, and rotated upon the sprocket wheel coupling aligned with sprockets, the perforations of the rack fall upon and ring fit the sprockets. The sprocket wheel coupling is connected with a shaft position encoder, whereby, the rack motions and encoder signals are proportional relative to linear measurements made finite over relatively long distances of many feet. The rack is also made rotational about a vertical axis connected with a second shaft position encoder having its signals proportional with rotational motions. The linear and angular (rotational) measurements then producing polar coordinates proportional with the positions of a cursor tip attached at the distal end of the rack. The polar coordinates, also made finite, are possible over large surfaces such as standard drafting or working tables.
20 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A process for bidirectionally interconverting linear and rotary motions, said process comprising the steps of:
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producing a rack consisting of a cross-sectionally curved tape and thereby having a convex surface, and said rack capable of being bent toward said surface and radially forming a convex bend; producing circular means for supporting said rack bent convexly thereon, and said circular means forming a diameter; producing at least one wheel having sprockets, and said at least one wheel forming a diameter, and said sprockets having tangencies forming a diameter, and producing said diameter of said at least one wheel smaller than said diameter formed by said circular means, and producing said diameter formed by said tangencies larger than said diameter formed by said circular means; producing rotatable axial means and coaxially aligning said circular means and said at least one wheel having sprockets with said axial means; providing means supporting said axial means; producing machinery for perforating said rack, and said machinery adjusting said rack whereby each perforation in said rack is made perpendicular to said rack while said rack is bent corresponding to said rack being bent about said circular means; producing with said machinery at least one row of perforations in said rack, and said perforations being sized smaller than said sprockets, spaced to mate with said sprockets, and disposed along at least one side of said rack; bending said rack containing said perforations toward said surface, and arranging said bend about said circular means whereby said perforations in said bend project beyond said circular means; arranging said at least one wheel having sprockets whereby a number of said sprockets partially penetrate said perforations projecting beyond said circular means; wearing and thereby mating said perforations with said sprockets by alternately retracting opposite ends of said rack, and thereby rotating said sprockets with causing said surface being laterally flattened to contact said circular means, and said at least one wheel having sprockets being mated thereby rotatably adjusting with said at least one row having perforations being mated; fastening said circular means and said at least one wheel having said mated sprockets to said axial means; and longitudinally moving said rack, and said rack rotating convexly on said circular means, and said mated perforations at said bend falling upon, mating with, rotating with and rising from said mated sprockets thereby interconverting linear motions of said rack with rotary motions of said mated sprockets.
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2. A product for bidirectionally interconverting linear and rotary motions, said product comprising:
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a rack consisting of a cross-sectionally curved tape and thereby having a convex surface, and said rack having at least one row of perforations longitudinally disposed along at least one of its sides, and said rack being radially bent toward said surface and forming a convex bend; circular means supporting said rack bent convexly thereon, and said perforations in said bend projecting beyond said circular means; rotatable axial means, and including means supporting said axial means; and at least one wheel having sprockets, and said circular means and said at least one wheel being coaxially aligned with and fastened to said axial means, and a number of said sprockets mating with said perforations projecting beyond said circular means whereby longitudinal motions of said rack cause said rack to rotate convexly on said circular means and said perforations at said bend to fall upon, mate with, rotate with and rise from said sprockets and thereby interconvert linear motions of said rack and rotary motions of said sprockets. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A measurement digitizing device comprising:
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a rack consisting of a cross-sectionally curved tape and thereby having a convex surface, and said rack having at least one row of perforations longitudinally disposed along at least one of its sides, and said rack being radially bent toward said surface and forming a convex bend; circular means supporting said rack bent convexly thereon, and said perforations in said bend projecting beyond said circular means; a signal generator having a rotatable shaft, and said signal generator including means for emitting electrical signals in response to rotational movements of said shaft; at least one wheel having sprockets, and said circular means and said at least one wheel being coaxially aligned with and fastened to said shaft; and a housing for supporting said signal generator and rotational movements of said shaft, and a number of said sprockets mating with said perforations projecting beyond said circular means whereby longitudinal movements of said rack cause said rack to rotate convexly on said circular means and said perforations at said bend to fall upon, mate with, rotate with and rise from said sprockets and interconvert linear motions of said rack and rotary motions of said shaft and thereby convert linear movements of said rack into electrical signals generated by said signal generator. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification