Probe head mount for a deflectable probe or the like
First Claim
1. A mount for a displaceable probe part in a coordinate-measuring instrument, and wherein the mount comprises a fixed component and movably mounted component, one of which components having substantially the shape of a truncated pyramid having a central longitudinal axis, the movably mounted component being force-displaceable into a seated zero position with respect to the fixed component;
- and said seated position being determined by at least six locations which are spaced axially and radially from each other with respect to the longitudinal axis of the truncated pyramid (5,7;
55,57;
65,67).
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Accused Products
Abstract
Truncated pyramid mounting configurations and relationships are disclosed as inherently and reproducibly determining an accurate zero-position as between a probe head and a probe pin that is deflectably carried by the probe head. And the same principle of accurately determining zero position is also described in application to the automated releasable chucking of interchangeable probe pins and/or of an auxiliary probe head, as to the installed probe head of a coordinate-measuring machine.
In one described case of truncated triangular pyramid mountings, the zero position is determined by concurrent engagement of six seating points which are distributed radially and axially with respect to the common central longitudinal axis of the involved geometric pyramids.
The mounting configurations have high torsional rigidity and a relatively large region within which self-centering to the zero position is achieved.
Furthermore, thise mounting configurations are characterized by an azimuth-angle distribution of relatively uniform force in opposition to a probe-pin or the like deflection, and associated lift-off, from the fully seated zero position.
22 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A mount for a displaceable probe part in a coordinate-measuring instrument, and wherein the mount comprises a fixed component and movably mounted component, one of which components having substantially the shape of a truncated pyramid having a central longitudinal axis, the movably mounted component being force-displaceable into a seated zero position with respect to the fixed component;
- and said seated position being determined by at least six locations which are spaced axially and radially from each other with respect to the longitudinal axis of the truncated pyramid (5,7;
55,57;
65,67). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- and said seated position being determined by at least six locations which are spaced axially and radially from each other with respect to the longitudinal axis of the truncated pyramid (5,7;
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19. Probe means for a coordinate-measuring machine, said probe means comprising a mounting shaft having a central longitudinal axis, a first set of three balls each of which is connected by a first-radius rod to said shaft at a first axial location, said first-radius rod connections being oriented to fixedly locate the three balls of said first set at equal angular spacing and at identical first radii with respect to said axis;
- a second set of three balls each of which is connected by a second-radius rod to said shaft at a second axial location, said second-radius rod connections being oriented to fixedly locate the three balls of said second set at equal angular spacing and at identical second radii with respect to said axis;
the three balls of said first set being at angular offset with respect to the three balls of said second set.
- a second set of three balls each of which is connected by a second-radius rod to said shaft at a second axial location, said second-radius rod connections being oriented to fixedly locate the three balls of said second set at equal angular spacing and at identical second radii with respect to said axis;
- 20. Probe means for a coordinate-measuring machine, said probe means comprising a mounting body have a tri-angular-pyramidal base with three sides inclined to and angularly spaced about a central longitudinal axis of said body base, and at least six seat-engageable balls fixedly and collectively carried by the sides of said body base at locations which are axially and radially spaced from each other with respect to said central longitudinal axis.
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23. Probe means for a coordinate-measuring machine, said probe means comprising a mounting body having a tri-angular-pyramidal base with three sides inclined to and angularly spaced about a central longitudinal axis of said body base, and at least three seat-engageable cylindrical rods fixedly and collectively carried by the sides of said base at locations which are axially and radially spaced from each other with respect to the central longitudinal axis, there being at least one rod associated with each of said sides, and each rod being inclined to and traversing the centerline of the side surface to which it is fixed.
Specification