Encased position measuring instrument
First Claim
1. An improved encased measuring device for measuring the relative position of two objects movable relatively to one another, the measuring device of the type comprising a housing attached to one of the two objects;
- a measuring scale mounted to the housing;
a scanning unit operative to scan the measuring scale to produce at least one measuring signal;
a connecting element adapted to connect the scanning unit to the other of the two objects and passing through an opening in the housing, the connecting element such that relative movement of the two objects produces relative movement between the scanning unit and the measuring scale, the movement of the connecting element defining a measuring direction, the improvement comprising;
means for sealing the opening between the connecting element and the housing; and
means for positioning the means for sealing with respect to the housing such that the means for sealing is substantially rigid with respect to the housing in the direction of movement of the connecting rod and substantially movable in directions nonparallel to the direction of movement of the connecting element.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An encased position measuring instrument for measuring the relative position of two objects comprises a housing, a measuring scale and a scanning unit. The measuring scale is scanned by the scanning unit which is connected to a fastening member by means of a connecting rod. The connecting rod moves through a frontal opening in the housing which is hermetically sealed by a sealing unit. To avoid undesirable constraining forces exerted on the connecting rod when the housing changes position, the sealing unit is fastened to the housing by means of rods or wires. These rods run parallel to the connecting rod and are rigid in the measuring direction but allow movement of the sealing unit at right angles to the measuring direction.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An improved encased measuring device for measuring the relative position of two objects movable relatively to one another, the measuring device of the type comprising a housing attached to one of the two objects;
- a measuring scale mounted to the housing;
a scanning unit operative to scan the measuring scale to produce at least one measuring signal;
a connecting element adapted to connect the scanning unit to the other of the two objects and passing through an opening in the housing, the connecting element such that relative movement of the two objects produces relative movement between the scanning unit and the measuring scale, the movement of the connecting element defining a measuring direction, the improvement comprising;means for sealing the opening between the connecting element and the housing; and means for positioning the means for sealing with respect to the housing such that the means for sealing is substantially rigid with respect to the housing in the direction of movement of the connecting rod and substantially movable in directions nonparallel to the direction of movement of the connecting element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
- a measuring scale mounted to the housing;
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4. An improved encased position measuring device for measuring the relative position of two objects movable relatively to one another, the measuring device of the type comprising a housing attached to one of the two objects;
- a measuring scale mounted to the housing;
a scanning unit operative to scan the measuring scale to produce at least one measuring signal;
a connecting element passing through an opening in the housing and adapted to connect the scanning unit to the other of the two objects, the connecting element such that relative movement of the two objects produces relative movement between the scanning unit and the measuring scale, the relative movement defining a measuring direction, the improvement comprising;a sealing unit to seal the opening between the housing and the connecting element; an elongated element defining a longitudinal axis and oriented such that the longitudinal axis extends in the direction of movement of the connecting element, the elongated element rigidly connecting the sealing unit to the housing in the measuring direction while allowing the sealing unit to move in directions other than in the measuring direction. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- a measuring scale mounted to the housing;
Specification