Jaw-mounted magnet accessory for calipers

• US 9,310,175 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2014
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
• Inventors: Cook, Ted Staton
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, G. Bradley
• Application Number:
  US14/479,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20160069656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 335/49, 337/83, 337/84, 337/92, 337/94, 33D/IG.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/002 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/205 provided with a counter for digital indication of the measured dimension
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/14 for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures G01B5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0252 PM holding devices H01F7/021, H01F7/0215, H01F7/0226 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/06 Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets electric coils H01F5/00; devices for holding workpieces using electric force B23Q3/15; load-engaging elements for lifting articles electromagnetically B66C1/06; electromagnetic couplings F16D27/00; magnetic brakes F16D63/002; electromagnetically operated valves F16K11/24, F16K31/00; analysing materials by magnetic means G01N27/72, G01N27/80; electromagnets for winding mechanical clocks G04C1/02; electromagnetic relays H01H51/00; windings for salient poles of dynamo-electric machines H02K3/18; electromagnets for telegraphic communication H04L; for arc lamps H05B31/28

Abstract

A jaw-mounted magnet accessory is provided for being coupled to a caliper measuring jaw. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory includes a magnet configuration and a mounting arrangement interface. The magnet configuration includes at least one magnet that produces a magnetic field that extends from an operational face of the magnet configuration. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory is configured to locate the operational face of the magnet configuration proximate to the workpiece engagement surface of the caliper jaw so as to hold a workpiece (e.g., made of ferrous material) against the workpiece engagement surface. Utilization of the magnetic field to hold the workpiece in flush alignment with the workpiece engagement surface makes it more convenient to handle small or thin workpieces and/or may increase the accuracy and repeatability for measurements of some workpieces.

Claims

1. A jaw-mounted magnet accessory for being coupled to a caliper measuring jaw that provides a workpiece engagement surface that is oriented normal to a measuring axis direction in a caliper, the jaw-mounted magnet accessory comprising:

a magnet configuration comprising at least one magnet that produces a magnetic field that extends from an operational face of the magnet configuration; and

a mounting arrangement interface,

wherein;

the jaw-mounted magnet accessory is configured to be coupled to the caliper measuring jaw by a mounting arrangement that uses the mounting arrangement interface, such that the jaw-mounted magnet accessory is carried by the caliper measuring jaw;

the jaw-mounted magnet accessory is configured to locate the operational face of the magnet configuration proximate to the workpiece engagement surface when the jaw-mounted magnet accessory is coupled to the caliper measuring jaw; and

the jaw-mounted magnet accessory is configured to produce the magnetic field proximate to the workpiece engagement surface and hold a workpiece against the workpiece engagement surface when the jaw-mounted magnet accessory is coupled to the caliper measuring jaw.

2. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory of claim 1, wherein the magnet configuration is configured to provide a single magnetic pole proximate to the operational face.

3. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory of claim 1, wherein the magnet configuration is configured to provide at least two magnetic poles proximate to the operational face.

4. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory of claim 3, wherein the at least two magnetic poles proximate to the operational face comprise at least one pair of poles having opposite polarity proximate to the operational face.

5. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory of claim 3, wherein the at least two magnetic poles proximate to the operational face comprise a plurality of pairs of poles having opposite polarity proximate to the operational face.

6. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory of claim 1, wherein the mounting arrangement comprises one or more mounting recesses in the caliper measuring jaw and the mounting arrangement interface comprises outer surfaces of the jaw-mounted magnet accessory that are shaped to at least partially fit within the one or more mounting recesses.

7. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory of claim 6, wherein the one or more mounting recesses include one or more openings in at least one of a top or bottom surface of the caliper measuring jaw that is oriented transverse to the workpiece engagement surface, or at least one of a back or front surface of the caliper measuring jaw that is oriented transverse to the measuring axis direction.

8. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory of claim 6, further comprising an interface module which includes the magnet configuration and the mounting arrangement interface.

9. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory of claim 1, wherein the jaw-mounted magnet accessory comprises a clip that wraps around the caliper measuring jaw when the jaw-mounted magnet accessory is coupled to the caliper measuring jaw, and the mounting arrangement interface comprises one or more surfaces of the clip.

10. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory of claim 9, wherein the clip comprises material that is magnetized to provide the magnet configuration, and that extends to a region proximate to the workpiece engagement surface when the jaw-mounted magnet accessory is coupled to the caliper measuring jaw, in order to locate the operational face of the magnet configuration proximate to the workpiece engagement surface.

11. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory of claim 1, further comprising an interface module which includes the magnet configuration and the mounting arrangement interface.

12. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory of claim 11, wherein the interface module comprises material that is magnetized to provide the magnet configuration.

13. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory of claim 11, wherein the interface module includes a magnetic field actuating portion that is operable by a user to adjust the magnetic field produced proximate to the workpiece engagement surface.

14. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory of claim 13, wherein the magnetic field actuating portion includes at least one of a) an actuator connected to move the operational face of the magnet configuration relative to the workpiece engagement surface, or b) an actuator connected to move at least one of a magnet having a magnetic pole included in the magnet configuration, or a magnetic path material included in the magnet configuration, to adjust the magnetic field produced at the operational face.

15. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory of claim 14, wherein the magnet configuration includes a first plurality of magnets that present first-polarity poles toward the operational face, interleaved with a second plurality of magnets that include second-polarity poles, and the actuator is connected to move at least one of the second plurality of magnets, to alter a physical relationship between the first-polarity poles of the first plurality of magnets and the second-polarity poles of the second plurality of magnets.

16. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory of claim 15, wherein the second plurality of magnets are mounted to rotate about a shaft in the interface module and include both first-polarity and second-polarity poles distributed over respective angular ranges about the shaft, and the actuator is connected to rotate at least one of the second plurality of magnets between a position where a second-polarity pole is presented toward the operational face and a position where a first-polarity pole is presented toward the operational face.

17. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory of claim 13, wherein the at least one magnet of the magnet configuration comprises an electromagnet, and the magnetic field actuating portion comprises a circuit that powers the electromagnet including a switch that turns the electromagnet off and on.

18. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory of claim 1, wherein the jaw-mounted magnet accessory is configured to locate the operational face of the magnet configuration adjacent to an inside surface of a wall of material that forms the workpiece engagement surface or approximately adjacent to at least one of an upper or lower edge of the workpiece engagement surface.

19. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory of claim 1, wherein the jaw-mounted magnet accessory is configured to be coupled to the caliper measuring jaw by a user using only force exerted by the user'"'"'s hands and without the need for a tool separate from the jaw-mounted magnet accessory and without the need for a fastener separate from the jaw-mounted magnet accessory.

20. A method for holding a workpiece against a workpiece engagement surface of a caliper measuring jaw for measuring an outer dimension of the workpiece, the workpiece engagement surface being oriented normal to a measuring axis direction in the caliper measuring jaw, the method comprising:

coupling a jaw-mounted magnet accessory to the caliper measuring jaw, the jaw-mounted magnet accessory comprising;

a magnet configuration comprising at least one magnet that produces a magnetic field that extends from an operational face of the magnet configuration; and

a mounting arrangement interface,

wherein;

the jaw-mounted magnet accessory is configured to be coupled to the caliper measuring jaw by a mounting arrangement that uses the mounting arrangement interface, such that the jaw-mounted magnet accessory is carried by the caliper measuring jaw;

the jaw-mounted magnet accessory is configured to locate the operational face of the magnet configuration proximate to the workpiece engagement surface when the jaw-mounted magnet accessory is coupled to the caliper measuring jaw; and

the jaw-mounted magnet accessory is configured to produce the magnetic field proximate to the workpiece engagement surface and hold the workpiece against the workpiece engagement surface when the jaw-mounted magnet accessory is coupled to the caliper measuring jaw;

placing the workpiece engagement surface against the workpiece for utilizing the magnetic field to hold the workpiece; and

utilizing the caliper measuring jaw to measure an outer dimension of the workpiece while the workpiece is held by the magnetic field against the workpiece engagement surface.