Wheel assembly for moving caliper jaw with repeatable force
First Claim
1. A wheel assembly for moving a caliper jaw relative to a caliper spar with improved user feedback regarding applied measuring force in a caliper, the wheel assembly comprising:
- a rotary bearing member coupled to the caliper jaw and configured to engage the caliper spar;
a rotary actuation member configured to be actuated by a user to apply the measuring force; and
a compliant coupling element configured to elastically couple the rotary actuation member to the rotary bearing member;
wherein the wheel assembly is configured such that when the rotary bearing member engages the caliper spar a rotational displacement of the rotary actuation member relative to the rotary bearing member generates a deformation of the compliant coupling element which generates a force which is applied to the rotary bearing member and thereby coupled to generate a force on the caliper jaw along its direction of motion which is related to the rotational displacement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A compliant wheel assembly is provided for moving a caliper jaw relative to a caliper spar. The wheel assembly includes a rotary bearing member, a rotary actuation member and a compliant coupling element. The rotary bearing member is coupled to the caliper jaw and may engage the caliper spar. The rotary actuation member is actuated by a user to apply a measuring force. The compliant coupling element is configured to compliantly couple the rotary actuation member to the rotary bearing member. Using the compliant wheel assembly, a user is able to apply a more consistent amount of measurement force than could typically be achieved with a conventional rigid thumb wheel in caliper. In one implementation, a displacement indicator may also be provided that is responsive to the rotational displacement between the rotary bearing and actuation members for indicating an amount of measurement force that is being applied.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A wheel assembly for moving a caliper jaw relative to a caliper spar with improved user feedback regarding applied measuring force in a caliper, the wheel assembly comprising:
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a rotary bearing member coupled to the caliper jaw and configured to engage the caliper spar; a rotary actuation member configured to be actuated by a user to apply the measuring force; and a compliant coupling element configured to elastically couple the rotary actuation member to the rotary bearing member; wherein the wheel assembly is configured such that when the rotary bearing member engages the caliper spar a rotational displacement of the rotary actuation member relative to the rotary bearing member generates a deformation of the compliant coupling element which generates a force which is applied to the rotary bearing member and thereby coupled to generate a force on the caliper jaw along its direction of motion which is related to the rotational displacement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for applying a measuring force in a caliper, the method comprising:
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moving a caliper jaw along a direction of motion such that reference surfaces of the caliper contact a workpiece to be measured; operating a wheel assembly while the reference surfaces of the caliper contact the workpiece to be measured, the wheel assembly comprising; a rotary bearing member coupled to the caliper jaw and configured to engage a caliper spar, a rotary actuation member configured to be actuated to apply the measuring force, and a compliant coupling element configured to elastically couple the rotary actuation member to the rotary bearing member, wherein the wheel assembly is configured such that when the rotary bearing member engages the caliper spar a rotational displacement of the rotary actuation member relative to the rotary bearing member generates a deformation of the compliant coupling element which generates a force which is applied to the rotary bearing member and thereby coupled to generate a force on the caliper jaw along its direction of motion which is related to the rotational displacement; the operating of the wheel assembly including; operating the wheel assembly such that the rotary bearing member engages the caliper spar; and operating the wheel assembly, while the rotary bearing member engages the caliper spar, to provide a rotational displacement of the rotary actuation member relative to the rotary bearing member in order to generate a force on the caliper jaw along its direction of motion that depends on the rotational displacement of the rotary actuation member relative to the rotary bearing member. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification