Arrangement for wireless signal transmission from a rotating body to a stationary receiving station

• US 4,761,101 A
• Filed: 12/31/1986
• Issued: 08/02/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Otto Zettl
• Original Assignee: Otto Zettl
• Inventors: Zettl, Otto
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US06/948,321
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 408/16, 408/9, 408/6, 408/11, 340/679, 340/680, 340/683, 73/104, 73/660, 409/134, 409/187, 409/194, 364/508
• US Class Current: 408/6
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 31/1253 Jaws movement actuated by an axially movable member
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/0009 Energy-transferring means or control lines for movable machine parts; Control panels or boxes; Control parts control handles for driving or feeding mechanisms B23Q5/54
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/0045 Control panels or boxes
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/14 Responsive to condition of Tool or tool-drive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/172 Responsive to Tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/21 with signal, indicator, illuminator or optical means

Abstract

A rotating body, for example a chuck (10) comprises a sensor (56), a signal processing unit with amplifier and a plurality of transmitting diodes (14) and receiving diodes (16) peripherally spaced in a radial plane, in which also a stationary transceiving station (18) is arranged. The sensor (56) detects special working conditions of a tool clamped in the chuck (10). Signals of sensor (56) are fed to the signal processing unit. Sense commands transmitted from the transceiving station (18) via receiving diodes (16) are processed in the processing unit during rotation of the chuck (10) and corresponding working condition signals are transmitted from the transmitting diodes (14) back to the transceiving station (18).

Claims

1. An arrangement for wireless signal transmission from a rotating body to a stationary receiving station comprising a current supply unit at least partly incorporated within the rotating body, the rotating body further comprising a receiving unit for receiving signals from a stationary transmitting station, a signal processing unit, a high precision sensor unit for detecting infinitesimal changes of working conditions of an item carried by said rotating body, and a transmitting unit for transmitting signals to the receiving station, the signal processing unit being operatively connected to the sensor unit and the receiving and transmitting units respectively, for causing the issuance of the output signal of the transmitting unit as a result of the input signal of the receiving unit.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least an amplifier of the signal processing unit is activated upon a signal receiption of the receiving unit.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit comprises a plurality of transmitting elements arranged with peripheral interspaces in a common radial plane at right angles to the rotating axis of the rotating body and wherein the receiving unit comprises at least one receiving element also arranged in said common plane.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit comprises a plurality of infrared light emitting diodes and the receiving unit comprises a plurality of infrared photo-sensitive cells.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotating body is a chuck for items comprising tools and work pieces, the chuck comprising a housing, composed of a plurality of housing parts connected by screw joints, further comprising an axially displaceable non-rotable member for moving a plurality of jaws, a rotatable member being in screw engagement with the displaceable member, the rotatable member provided with an annular flange at the outer periphery thereof, an annular shoulder formed inside of the housing, a ball bearing ring, a solid supporting ring and an annular body mounted in series between the annular flange and the annular shoulder and contacting one another respectively, said sensor unit comprising a plurality of pressure sensitive elements arranged in said annular body with peripheral interspaces, said pressure sensitive elements axially pre-loaded by the axial reaction component of the clamping force by which said item is clamped between the jaws of the chuck.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein a plurality of radial bores are provided at peripheral interspaces within at least one radial plane, said bores extending completely through the peripheral wall of the housing and opening with their inner ends into a cylindrical chamber within the housing and wherein a plurality of optoelectronic elements comprising light emitting diodes and photo-sensitive cells are provided within said cylindrical chamber adjacent to the inside periphery of the peripheral wall of the housing, each one of the optoelectronic elements arranged with its axis radially aligned with the axis of one of said bores, and wherein said plurality of bores are closed at least at their outside ends by a translucent material.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the housing of the chuck is provided with an outside annular flange, in which an annular groove is formed, and wherein said plurality of radial bores with their outside ends opening at the base of said groove.

8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the signal processing unit comprises a plurality of parallel spaced plates, electric and electronic components fastened on said plates, said plates encapsulated in a circular cylindrical block consisting of synthetic material, said block having a smaller diameter than the annular body and connected therewith thus forming together an axially insertable inserting unit, which is non-rotatably mounted within said housing.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein said transmitting units and said receiving units are mounted within said block at the outside periphery thereof.

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein said plurality of parallel spaced plates are arranged in radial planes.

11. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein said plurality of parallel spaced plates are arranged in planes parallel with the axis of the rotating body.

12. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotating body is fastened at a shaft of any one of an article of a group comprising machines, engines, pumps, turbines and rotors.