Temperature compensation system for a coordinate measuring machine
First Claim
1. A machine comprising:
- a movable machine component;
a rail along which said machine component is permitted to move in a first generally linear direction and on which said machine component rests;
a support for supporting said rail;
a first coupling between said rail and said support; and
a second coupling between said rail and said support, said second coupling being flexible in a direction generally parallel to said first direction to permit movement of said rail with respect to said support in said first direction but being generally rigid in directions generally perpendicular to said first direction to minimize movement of said rail in said directions generally perpendicular to said first direction with respect to said support and to maintain said rail in a generally fixed relationship with respect to said support in said directions generally perpendicular to said first direction.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A machine, such as a coordinate measuring machine, having a component or element movable with respect to a support structure along rails or guideways, wherein the rails have a coefficient of thermal expansion that is different from that of the support structure to which they are attached. Differential thermal expansion and contraction of the rails with respect to the support structure may be accommodated without binding or distortion of the rails by coupling each guideway to the support structure at two different points. Typically, the coupling at the first point is rigid and prevents any movement of the rail with respect to the support structure. The second coupling includes a flexible component that permits movement of the rail with respect to the support structure in a direction of movement of the element or component. This flexible component may be a leaf spring. In another embodiment, the first coupling may also be flexible. A method is also disclosed for accommodating differential thermal expansion and contraction of the rail with respect to the support structure by providing first and second couplings between the rail and support structure wherein at least the second coupling includes a flexible component that permits movement of the rail with respect to the support structure in a direction generally parallel to the direction of movement of the machine element.
105 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A machine comprising:
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a movable machine component; a rail along which said machine component is permitted to move in a first generally linear direction and on which said machine component rests; a support for supporting said rail; a first coupling between said rail and said support; and a second coupling between said rail and said support, said second coupling being flexible in a direction generally parallel to said first direction to permit movement of said rail with respect to said support in said first direction but being generally rigid in directions generally perpendicular to said first direction to minimize movement of said rail in said directions generally perpendicular to said first direction with respect to said support and to maintain said rail in a generally fixed relationship with respect to said support in said directions generally perpendicular to said first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of accommodating differential thermal expansion and contraction between a rail and upon which a machine component rides and a support for supporting the rail, wherein the rail extends in a first generally linear direction to allow movement of the machine component in the first direction, the method comprising:
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attaching the rail to the support at one location using a first coupling; and attaching the rail to the support at a second location spaced from the first location using a second coupling that is flexible in a direction generally parallel to the first direction, the second coupling being generally rigid in directions generally perpendicular to the first direction to maintain a substantially fixed relationship between the rail and the support in the directions generally perpendicular to the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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Specification