Probe head for a coordinate-measuring instrument
First Claim
1. A probe head for coordinate-measuring instruments having a probe-suspension system which defines a three-dimensional coordinate system and is adapted to carry a probe (14) which can be deflected in all three coordinate directions in space, characterized by the fact that, for each of the three coordinate directions (6, 15, 16), a separate taring device including an adjustable spring system is provided with means for automatically setting the zero position of the spring system, whereby the probe head is automatically adjusted for tare, whatever the spatial orientation of the probe head.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A probe head for coordinate-measuring instruments has a torsionally rigid, play-free and friction-free probe-suspension system which defines a three-dimensional coordinate system, wherein a probe pin is deflectable in all three directions in space. In order to be able to use the probe pin completely independent of its orientation, a separate taring device provides taring adjustment for each of the three coordinate axes in space. The taring device automatically sets the zero position of the suspension system in any orientation of the probe head, and for any change in orientation. In this connection, it is particularly advantageous to develop each taring device from two springs which are preloaded to act in opposition upon an element which is gravitationally deflected upon any change in probe-head orientation; to reach the zero position detected by an indicator, i.e., to effect the taring adjustment, provision is made for adjustment of the preload force of at least one of these springs.
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Citations
13 Claims
- 1. A probe head for coordinate-measuring instruments having a probe-suspension system which defines a three-dimensional coordinate system and is adapted to carry a probe (14) which can be deflected in all three coordinate directions in space, characterized by the fact that, for each of the three coordinate directions (6, 15, 16), a separate taring device including an adjustable spring system is provided with means for automatically setting the zero position of the spring system, whereby the probe head is automatically adjusted for tare, whatever the spatial orientation of the probe head.
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9. In a probe head having a base for mounting to a multiple-coordinate measuring instrument, wherein the probe head mounts a probe-suspension system that is adapted to carry a deflectable probe, said system comprising three orthogonally related deflection systems each of which is independently deflectable in a different one of three coordinate directions, the improvement wherein, for each deflection system, a separate taring device including an adjustable spring system is provided with means for automatically setting the zero position of the involved deflection system, whereby the probe head is automatically adjusted for tare in each of the three coordinate directions, whatever the spatial orientation of the probe head.
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10. A probe head having a base for mounting to a multiple-coordinate measuring instrument, a probe-suspension system adapted to carry a deflectable probe, said system comprising a four-bar linkage of parallelogram configuration wherein one of the links is fixedly related to said base so as to define a first of three probe-deflectable components, said system further comprising a Hooke'"'"'s joint having two crossed-spring joints which respectively define second and third suspensions which independently deflect about mutually perpendicular pivot axes which are orthogonal to the direction of parallelogram deflectability, first taring means including a first adjustable spring system dedicated to taring for gravitational deflection of the parallelogram linkage, second taring means comprising a first linkage bar dedicated to tracking and controlling gravitationally derived Hooke'"'"'s-joint rotation about one of its pivot axes, third taring means comprising a second linkage bar dedicated to tracking means and controlling gravitationally-derived Hooke'"'"'s-joint rotation about the other of said pivot axes, said second taring means including a second adjustable spring system operative on said first linkage bar, and said third taring means including a third adjustable spring system operative on said second linkage bar.
- 11. In a probe head having a base for mounting to a multiple-coordinate measuring instrument, a first coordinate suspension system comprising a four-bar linkage of parallelogram configuration wherein one of the linked bars is fixedly related to said base, whereby the bar opposite said one bar is deflectable in a first coordinate direction with respect to said base, and a Hooke'"'"'s joint comprising first and second bar members hingedly connected for pivotal deflection action about a first single axis, said first bar member being so mounted to said opposite bar of said linkage that said first single axis is orthogonal to said first coordinate direction, said joint comprising third and fourth bar members hingedly connected for pivotal deflection action about a second single axis, said third bar member being so fixedly related to said second bar member that said second single axis is orthogonal to said first single axis and to said first coordinate direction, and probe-mounting means on said fourth bar member, whereby pivotal action about said first single axis and about said second single axis respectively respond to mounted-probe deflection in second and third coordinate directions, first taring means including a first adjustable spring system dedicated to taring for gravitational deflection of the parallelogram linkage, second taring means including a second adjustable spring system dedicated to taring for gravitationally derived Hooke'"'"'s-joint pivotal deflection about said first single axis, and third taring means including a third adjustable spring system dedicated to taring for gravitationally derived Hooke'"'"'s-joint pivotal deflection about said second single axis.
Specification