Continuous air flow probe transducer gage assembly

A continuous air flow probe transducer gage assembly which is configured to permit a continuous selectively controlled flow of air therethrough so as to selectively actuate a spring-biased air piston probe slidably mounted therein from its retracted rest position into its extended soft contact measuring position against a part being measured. The continuous air flow probe transducer assembly is adapted to be a part of a computer controlled system whereby several variable air flow modes are delivered therethrough so that selective rest position air flow modes, high volume air flow calibration modes and operative soft contact air flow measuring modes are used to actuate the probe transducer in its operative use environment.

This invention relates to a probe transducer gage assembly whereby a 
continuous selectively controlled flow of air passes through the probe 
transducer gage assembly so as to selectively actuate the spring-biased 
air piston probe slidably mounted therein from its retracted position into 
its extended floating soft contact measuring position against a part being 
measured. 
Further, this invention relates to a probe transducer gage assembly having 
a rest position continuous low pressure air flow mode whereby low pressure 
air continuously flows through the probe transducer gage assembly so as to 
keep all parts thereof clean. 
Further, this invention relates to a probe transducer gage assembly having 
a calibration mode maximum volume air flow mode whereby a maximum air flow 
selectively passes through the probe transducer gage assembly so as to 
selectively actuate the slidably mounted spring-biased air piston probe 
assembly into its full extended calibration position. 
Further, this invention relates to a probe transducer gage assembly having 
an operative selectively increased intermediately volume air flow mode 
whereby a selectively increased air flow selectively actuates the slidably 
mounted spring-biased air piston probe assembly into its floating soft 
contact measuring position against the part being measured. 
Further, this invention relates to a probe transducer gage assembly 
provided with an air inlet and selectively positioned air outlet valves 
and/or air exit passages so as to permit a continuous flow of air through 
the transducer gage assembly while selectively actuating the slidably 
mounted spring-biased air piston probe assembly into its floating soft 
contact measuring position against the part being measured. 
Further, this invention relates to a probe transducer gage assembly having 
an internal slidably mounted air piston probe assembly which is 
spring-biased in a retracted rest position and selectively extends 
outwardly into its extended soft contact measuring position against a part 
positioned proximate thereto when a selectively increased air flow acts on 
the air piston probe assembly. 
Further, this invention relates to a probe transducer gage assembly whereby 
the slidably mounted air piston probe assembly is spring-biased on a 
bearing shaft and is provided with spring reversibility and ease of 
changeability capabilities. 
Further, this invention relates to a probe transducer gage assembly whereby 
a calibration screw assembly is provided which sets the rearward travel of 
the slidably mounted spring-biased air piston probe assembly on the 
bearing shaft so as to set the exact mechanical stroke of the 
spring-biased air piston probe assembly, thereby making possible the easy 
calibration of the electrical stroke. 
Further, this invention relates to a probe transducer gage assembly whereby 
the transducer housing is provided with a potentiometer assembly 
internally fixedly mounted longitudinally therealong and which is 
operatively engaged by a wiper element extending from the slidably mounted 
spring-biased air piston probe assembly selectively moving in a parallel 
spaced-apart relationship in operative use position over the fixed 
potentiometer assembly. 
Further, this invention relates to a probe transducer gage assembly whereby 
the measuring distance traveled by the air flow actuated spring-biased air 
piston probe assembly is converted into an electrical voltage through the 
potentiometer assembly so as to provide an electrical input into an 
associated computer assembly which has been programmed to generate a volts 
per millimeter scale, thereby producing an accurate measurement against a 
part being measured which is automatically achieved. 
It is thus seen that the use of a selectively variable flow of air through 
this unique transducer gage assembly to selectively actuate a 
spring-biased air piston measuring probe provides a transducer gage 
assembly having many advantages. 
The rest position continuous low pressure air flow selectively passing 
through the transducer gage assembly keeps it cool and clean. Further, the 
transducer gage assembly does not tend to stick because there is no O-ring 
or seal utilized in the structure thereof. 
Another advantage is the use of selectively increased air flow to actuate 
the spring-biased air piston causing the piston probe to "float" up to its 
measuring position, thus avoiding the relatively hard "snap" contact 
inherent in the use of other solenoid or mechanical contact probes. This 
"floating" or "soft contact" capability of this unique air flow actuated 
transducer gage assembly eliminates damage to fragile surfaces of parts 
such as windshields being measured. 
None of the probe transducer devices of the known prior art utilize a probe 
transducer gage assembly such as the instant invention which is provided 
with air inlet means and air outlet leak means so as to permit a 
selectively controlled flow of air through the probe transducer assembly 
so as to selectively actuate a spring-biased air piston probe assembly 
slidably mounted therein into a controlled floating soft contact measuring 
position. 
Further, none of the transducer gage devices of the known prior art probe 
transducer gage devices utilize a probe transducer body structure such as 
the instant invention which is provided with a rest position low volume 
air flow mode whereby a low pressure air flow passes continuously through 
the probe transducer assembly in its rest position so as to maintain 
cleanliness of all parts thereof. 
Further, none of the probe transducer devices of the known prior art 
utilize a probe transducer gage assembly such as the instant invention 
which is provided with a calibration maximum volume air flow mode whereby 
a maximum air flow selectively actuates the slidably mounted spring-biased 
air piston probe assembly into its full extension calibration position 
In addition, none of the probe transducer devices of the known prior art 
utilize a probe transducer body structure such as the instant invention 
which is provided with an operative selectively increased intermediate air 
flow mode therethrough so as to selectively actuate the slidably mounted 
spring-biased air piston probe into a floating soft contact measuring 
position against the part being measured. 
The known prior art transducer gage devices have a measuring probe which 
inherently makes a hard contact snap engagement with the part being 
measured regardless of whether the spring-biased probe is actuated by a 
burst of air pressure, by a solenoid or is otherwise mechanically 
actuated. In contrast, the claimed probe transducer gage assembly of 
applicant is provided with a continuous controlled selectively variable 
air flow therethrough so as to selectively move the slidably mounted 
spring-biased air piston from its rest position into a floating soft 
measuring contact with the part being measured. 
Another advantage of this invention is the provision of computer controlled 
selectively variable air flow modes through the probe transducer gage 
assembly. The unique use of the computer assembly to control the selective 
air flow modes has several advantages. 
Inasmuch as the unique transducer is purposely designed to allow continuous 
free passage of air therethrough, it selectively works in three distinct 
modes under the control of the computer means. 
In the rest air flow mode, the air flow is selectively controlled so as to 
continuously move through the probe transducer assembly, but the air flow 
is selectively limited so that the force exerted on the floating slidably 
mounted probe is not sufficient to displace it from its restricted rest 
position within the probe transducer assembly. 
In the calibration air flow mode, the air flow is selectively increased to 
its maximum flow, whereby the force exerted thereby on the floating probe 
is sufficient to cause the snap extension of the floating probe into its 
maximum extension calibration mode. 
In the operative intermediate measuring air flow mode, the air flow is 
selectively increased to create enough force to floatingly displace the 
transducer probe so that it extends to make a soft contact against the 
part being measured. The transducer probe moves slowly and exerts very low 
contact force so that when it touches a part, it will stop immediately 
without causing damage thereto. 
It is useful to use the computer to regulate these modes for the following 
reasons: 
1) during the calibration procedure (i.e. comparing the 10 mm mechanical 
span to an electrical voltage span) the transducer needs to move from 
fully retracted to its fully extended mode. By using the computer to 
regulate this process, the calibration procedure can be accomplished 
almost instantly, and does not require the movement of probes manually or 
individually. 
Because the probe transducer gage assembly is designed to provide a 
continuous flow of air flow therethrough, the margin of air volume needed 
to work is much larger. Since a relatively larger volume of air is used, 
(as opposed to a sealed cylinder which has no "float" position) the 
relatively simple procedure of controlling only a few air valves still 
allows for very satisfactory system performance under a variety of 
operating conditions. 
The air cylinder controlled probe transducers of the known prior art have 
only two modes of operative action, i.e. either "on" or "off." 
Furthermore, the movement to the "on" position is characterized by a snap 
action which causes the transducer probe to make an uncontrolled "hard" 
(damaging) contact with the surface of the part being measured. 
In contrast, the computer controlled air float mode system of the instant 
invention is characterized by a transducer probe which is controllably 
floated into its measuring position so as to make a soft (non-damaging) 
contact with the surface of the part being measuring. This advantage is 
particularly important when the part being measured is a pane of glass, 
such as a windshield. 
Another advantage of having a computer controlled selectively variable air 
flow mode probe transducer gage assembly is that the operator is able to 
watch a constant readout on the computer screen. This enables the operator 
to manually adjust the placement of the part in the fixture while 
observing real time transducer probe data. This ability to manually adjust 
the part into its final rest position in the fixture results in a larger 
number of "acceptable" parts. 
A need has therefor existed for a probe transducer gage assembly which is 
configured to permit a continuous selectively controlled air flow 
therethrough so as to selectively actuate the spring-biased air piston 
probe mounted therein from its retracted position into its extended 
floating soft contact measuring position against a part being measured 
without damage to the part being measured. 
Other objects and advantages found in the construction of the invention 
will be apparent from a consideration of the specification in connection 
with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION 
As shown schematically in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a probe transducer gage 
assembly 100 is shown whereby a continuous selective controlled flow of 
air passes through channel 101 provided in the probe transducer gage 
assembly 100. The probe transducer gage assembly consists of a housing 
102. An air piston probe support shaft 103 is fixably provided in 
engagement with the rear of the housing 102 so as to longitudinally extend 
forwardly into the internal portion thereof. A hollow air piston probe 104 
is slidably provided on the air piston probe support shaft 103. The air 
piston probe 104 is slidably supported at the rear wall portion 105 
thereof in the bore 106 therethrough which engages the support shaft 103. 
The air piston probe 104 is slidably supported at a forward portion 
thereof as it slidably extends through a bore 107 provided in a forward 
end wall portion 108 provided in the housing 102. 
A biasing spring 109 is provided along the support shaft 103 so as to urge 
the air piston probe 104 toward its normal retracted rest position within 
the probe transducer assembly housing 102. As shown schematically in FIGS. 
1, 2 and 3, the biasing spring 109 is adapted to engage the internal 
surface 105a of the rear wall 105 of the air piston probe 104 and the 
spring engaging annular flange member 110 provided at the forward end of 
the probe support shaft 103, thus acting to retractably urge the air 
piston probe 104 toward its normal retracted rest position. 
The forward end of the air piston probe 104 is provided with a fixedly 
mounted cap portion 111 which extends rearwardly external of the forward 
end of the housing 102. 
The air piston probe 104 is provided with a fixed part contact member 112 
which contacts the part being measured as the air piston probe 103 floats 
outwardly into its floating soft contact measuring position when the air 
piston probe 103 is actuated by an increased air flow moving through the 
probe transducer assembly 100. Although the part contact member 112 
schematically shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 has a pointed configuration, it 
can have a flat button-like or curved configuration depending on the 
surface configuration of the part being measured. 
The transducer housing 102 is hollow and coacts generally with the 
internally mounted slidable air piston probe 104 to define the air flow 
channel 101 therethrough. Air flow inlet means 113 are provided through 
the rear of the transducer housing 102 to permit the introduction of a 
selectively variable air flow through the air flow channel 101 so as to 
selectively permit a continuous flow of air through the entire length of 
the air flow probe transducer assembly 100 and outwardly through the air 
outlet means 114 provided at the front end of the transducer housing 102. 
As also shown schematically in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the slidable air piston 
probe 104 is integrally provided with annular stop means 115 on the 
central portion thereof. The annular stop means 115 provides a side 
surface 116 which is adapted to engage a corresponding inwardly depending 
limit stop means 117 provided in the transducer gage housing 102 so as to 
limit the fully extended travel of the air piston probe 104 when acted 
upon by a selectively supplied maximum calibration air flow through the 
air flow channel 101 of the probe transducer gage assembly 100 as 
schematically shown in FIG. 2. 
Although the operation of the probe transducer gage assembly 100 in its 
operative use setting will be described hereafter in greater detail, the 
description with respect to the schematic drawings of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 
illustrates the basic overall concepts embodied in this embodiment of the 
invention. 
The schematic drawing of FIG. 1 illustrates the air flow transducer gage 
assembly 100 with the air piston probe 104 in its fully retracted rest 
position without any air flow therethrough. When the air flow probe 
transducer gage assembly 100 is engaged in its operative use position as 
hereinafter described, a continuous low volume air flow is passed through 
the transducer gage assembly 100 which keeps the probe transducer gage 
assembly 100 from being contaminated by harmful dust, dirt and other 
contamination which could damage the probe transducer gage assembly. The 
low volume air flow is not of sufficient force to actuate the air piston 
probe 104 from its rest position, but is sufficient to prevent the 
transducer gage assembly 100 from being damaged by airborne contaminants 
in the operative use environment. 
The schematic view of FIG. 2 illustrates the air piston probe 104 in its 
operative use fully extended calibration position as acted upon the 
passage of a selective (selectively supplied) maximum air flow through the 
probe transducer assembly 100. The calibration procedure will be described 
hereafter. 
The schematic view of FIG. 3 illustrates the air piston probe 104 in its 
soft contact measuring position against the part being gaged with the air 
piston probe 104 actuated by the selective (selectively supplied) 
measurement mode continuous air flow passing through the probe transducer 
gage assembly 100. 
As shown in FIG. 4, a computer controlled probe transducer gage assembly is 
provided whereby a plurality of air flow probe transducer assemblies 100 
are mounted on a fixture assembly 118 so as to selectively provide a gage 
measurement of a part 119 positioned in the fixture 118. 
A computer control assembly 120 having a keyboard and interface panel 121 
is provided in operative electrical engagement with each of the individual 
probe transducer gage assemblies 100. 
The computer control assembly also provides electricity through electrical 
lines 127a to electrically operate rest mode air flow control valve 123, 
calibration mode air flow control valve 124, and measuring mode air flow 
control valve 125 so as to produce air flow through individual air flow 
lines 122 connected to each of the air flow transducer gage assemblies 
100. The computer control assembly 120 is further adapted to selectively 
control rest mode, calibration mode and measuring mode air flow control 
valves 123, 124, and 125, respectively, so as to selectively deliver rest 
position air flow mode, calibration position air flow mode, and gage 
measuring position air flow mode continuous air flow to each of the 
individual air flow probe transducer gage assemblies 100, as required. 
While FIG. 4 shows a rest. 
mode air flow control valve 123, a high volume calibration mode air flow 
control valve 124, and a measuring mode air flow control valve 125, it is 
within the scope of the invention to provide a single variable air control 
valve (not shown) to selectively provide the foregoing air flow modes to 
the individual probe transducer gage assemblies 100 as controlled by the 
computer control assembly 120. 
A plant air supply assembly 126 provides a continuous air flow supply to 
the air flow control valves 123, 124, and 125 as required. 
The computer control assembly 120 also provides electricity through 
electrical lines 127 to electrically excite the individual transducer gage 
assemblies 100 as required. 
The computer assembly 120 is powered by electrical supply means (not shown) 
engaged by electrical plug means 128 attached to the computer assembly 
120. 
As shown in the enlarged partial schematic sectional side view of FIG. 4A, 
a fixture 118, such as that shown in FIG. 4, supports a windshield part 
119 being gaged therein. A representative horizontally oriented fixture 
mounted transducer gage assembly 100 is shown in its gage measuring 
position with its contact member 112 against the edge portion of the wind 
shield part 119 which is positioned in the fixture 118. The horizontally 
oriented transducer gage assembly 100 is retained in its horizontal 
operative use position on the fixture 118 by use of a lock set screw 129. 
Thus mounted, the horizontally oriented transducer gage assembly 100 is 
representative of multiple ones of the transducer gages mounted on the 
fixture 118 of FIG. 4. 
The vertical oriented transducer gage 100 is selectively mounted on the 
fixture 118 so as to make measuring gage contact with the bottom surface 
of the windshield 119. The vertically oriented transducer gage 100 is 
retained in its operative use position on the fixture 118 by use of a lock 
set screw 130. This vertical oriented transducer gage 100 is 
representative of other transducers similarly selectively positioned on 
the fixture 118 so as to provide gaging measurement data to the computer 
control assembly 120 so as to measure the size and shape of windshield 119 
positioned in the fixture 118. 
As shown in the external perspective view of FIG. 5, the assembled air flow 
probe transducer gage assembly 100 has a main body housing 102 and a 
selectively extendible air flow actuated air piston probe assembly 134, as 
shown in phantom-line. 
As further shown in the exploded schematic view of FIG. 6, an air piston 
probe support shaft 103 has spring engaging annular rear and forward wall 
portions 103a and 103b, respectively. A fixed potentiometer support member 
131 is provided within the main body housing 102. The potentiometer 
assembly 132 positioned thereon will be described hereinafter. An 
adjustable calibration stop screw 133 is provided through the rear main 
body housing member 102a so as to limit the rearward travel of the 
slidable air piston probe assembly 134. The slidable air piston probe 
assembly 134 carries a downwardly extending wiper member 135 which 
operatively engages the potentiometer assembly 132. A biasing spring 109 
is provided which operatively engages the slidable air piston probe 
assembly 134 as will be hereinafter described. The air piston probe 
assembly 134 is provided with a removable cap 111. A cap retainer screw 
138 is provided for threaded engagement with the air piston probe assembly 
134. Another embodiment of the contact tip member 112 is provided with a 
flat contact surface adapted for parts having a flat edge surface such as 
windshields 119. This is also shown in FIG. 4A. 
A quick disconnect plug assembly 140 is provided for selective electrical 
operative engagement and disconnect from the contact wires of the 
potentiometer assembly 132. 
As shown in the exploded schematic view of FIG. 7, and as previously 
discussed with respect to FIG. 6 the fixed potentiometer support member 
131 is provided within main body housing 102. The potentiometer contact 
surfaces 132a and 132b are provided thereon and are supplied by electrical 
energy through the pin wires 143. 
The wire pin contact members 143 are operatively connected to the wiper 
contact surfaces 132a and 132b of the potentiometer assembly 132. 
Another important feature of the invention is the electrical disconnect 
modular plug assembly 140 which is adapted to make selective engagement 
and disengagement with the potentiometer circuit board pin members 143. 
The disconnect plug assembly 140 is provided with electrical metal tube 
contact members 144 which are adapted to make electrical contact with the 
pin wire members 143 that are selectively received within the tube contact 
members 144. 
As shown in the partial cross-sectional schematic side view of FIG. 8, the 
electrical disconnect modular plug assembly 140 is provided with a 
u-shaped connector element 145 which is adapted to engage the rear main 
body housing member 102a. 
The legs of the u-shaped connector element are provided with screw openings 
147 adapted to receive lock screws 148 therethrough. The electrical 
disconnect modular plug 140 is thus lockably connected to the transducer 
gage assembly 100 as shown in phantom-line in FIG. 7. 
As further shown in FIG. 8, the metal tubes 144 are insulated by a heat 
shrink insulation coating 146. The contact ends of the wire pin contact 
members 143 are spring biased so as to make a positive electrical contact 
with the inner surface of the electrical metal tube contact members 144 
when inserted thereinto. 
The electrical supply wires consisting of a core 149 wrapped by metal foil 
150 and an insulated coating 149a are received into the modular plug 140. 
The metal tubes 144 are crimped around the parts 149 and 150 so as to 
maintain them in electrical contact within the metal tubes 144. 
An air supply tube 141 is adapted for stretch-fit engagement with a 
threaded hollow connector 142, which in turn is adapted to make selective 
threaded engagement with the air flow inlet channel 113 provided in the 
rear main body housing member 102a. A set screw 142a is provided to secure 
the connector 142 at a desired location. 
The rear main body housing member 102a is also provided a threaded opening 
152 so as to receive the outer cover attaching screw 153 when the 
transducer gage 100 is assembled. 
The air inlet passage 113 is provided through the rear main body housing 
member 102a so as to deliver the air flow into the interior of the 
transducer as previously discussed. The support shaft opening 155 is 
adapted to receive the support shaft 103 therethrough. 
As shown in the cross-sectional side schematic view in FIG. 9 of the 
assembled continuous air flow probe transducer gage assembly 100, the air 
piston support shaft 103 is provided with spring engaging rear and forward 
wall portions 103a and 103b, respectively. The air piston main bearing 
support shaft 103 is fixedly attached to the rear main body housing member 
102a by use of set screws 156, 157 and 158, respectively. 
The potentiometer circuit board assembly 132 is fixedly attached within 
housing 102 in a parallel spaced apart operative use position to the air 
piston support shaft 103. Circuit board assembly 132 is held in its 
operative use position by a forward screw 159 and a rear clamp set screw 
160. 
The hollow air piston probe 104 is slidably mounted on support shaft 103. 
An electrical wiper member 135 extends downwardly from the air piston 
probe body into operative engagement with the surface of the potentiometer 
assembly 132. 
A biasing spring 109 is provided in axial alignment with the support shaft 
103. 
The forward end of biasing spring 109 operatively engages the spring 
engaging annular forward wall portion 103b of the support shaft 103. The 
rear end of the biasing spring 109 engages internal rear wall surface 105a 
of the air piston body 104 to urge the air piston probe 104 toward the 
retracted rest position thereof. 
An air flow closure screw 104a is provided so as to be able to selectively 
control the flow of air through the air outlet channel 101, as desired. 
Cap retaining screw 138 is provided with a threaded center bored hole 139 
for receiving various contact tips 112. 
As further shown in FIG. 9, sectional views are taken along lines 9A--9A, 
9B--9B, 10--10, 11--11 and 12--12, respectively, and will be discussed 
hereafter. 
The sectional view of FIG. 9A taken along lines 9A--9A of FIG. 9 shows that 
the rear portion of the air piston probe 104 is slidably supported along 
the support shaft 103. This cross-sectional view also shows the circuit 
board assembly 132 in its fixed position on the internal portion of the 
housing 102. The wire pin contact members 143 are shown passing through. 
The sectional view of FIG. 9B taken along lines 9B--9B of FIG. 9 shows that 
the forward portion of the air piston probe 104 is slidably supported by 
the bearing bore 107 through housing body 102. 
The sectional view of FIG. 10 is a top view taken along lines 10--10 of 
FIG. 9. The calibration adjustment stop screw 133 is shown in its 
operative use position so as to limit the rearward travel of the air 
piston probe 104. The air supply tube 141 is shown in operative engagement 
with the hollow connector 142 which is in threaded engagement with the air 
flow inlet channel 113 provided in the rear main housing member 102a. 
As shown in the cross-sectional schematic view of FIG. 11 as taken on line 
11--11 of FIG. 9, the air piston support shaft 103 is shown in its fixed 
operative use position through the bore 155 provided through the rear main 
body housing member 102a. The air piston support shaft 103 is retained in 
its fixed operative use position by set screw 156. The electrical metal 
tube contact members 144 are shown in their operative use position. The 
calibration stop screw 133 and the calibration lock screw 133a are also 
shown in their operative use position through the rear main body housing 
member 102a. The hollow air tube connector 142 and the air tube connector 
lock screw 142a are also shown in the operative use position through the 
rear main body housing member 102a. 
As shown in the cross-sectional schematic view of FIG. 12 taken on line 
12--12 of FIG. 9 air piston support shaft 103 is retained in its fixed 
operative use possession through the rear main body housing member 102a by 
set screw 158. The rear main body housing member 102a is retained in its 
fixed use position within the body housing 102 by a pair of the screws 
153. The circuit board base 131 is shown held in its fixed operative use 
position within the housing 102 by the rear clamp set screw 160 with the 
electrical contact pin wires 143 passing through the circuit board base 
131. 
FIG. 13 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the potentiometer 
assembly 132 showing one method of connecting the electrical contact pin 
wires 143 to the elongated carbon strip elements 132a and 132b provided on 
the surface of the potentiometer assembly 132. The wiper elements 135 
provided on the slidable air piston probe 104 are adapted to make slidable 
contact with the carbon strip elements 132a and 132b as shown. 
As shown in the cross-sectional schematic view of FIG. 14 taken on line 
14--14 of FIG. 9, the adjusting screws 161 are provided through the body 
portion 102 so as to adjust the fit of the air piston probe 104 passing 
therethrough. 
As shown in the cross-sectional schematic view of FIG. 15, the slidable air 
piston assembly 134 is shown in its fully extended position with the 
spring 109 in its reverse position with the rear end of the spring 109 
bearing against the rear support wall 103a of the support shaft 103 and 
the forward internal wall portion of the air piston assembly 134 and tip 
112 in its fully extended rest position. Thus, this sideable air piston 
assembly 134 and tip 112 thereof move rearwardly when the part being 
measured is moved thereagainst. 
As shown in partial cross-sectional schematic view of FIG. 16, another 
embodiment of the continuous air flow transducer gage assembly is provided 
with a ramp extension member 162 which is mounted on the forward end of 
the slidable air probe assembly 134 so as to extend outwardly therefrom 
and is guided by a ramp support pin 162a. A transverse prove housing 163 
is provided for threadable engagement with the transducer body 102. A 
spring-biased transversely extending probe element 164 is provided in the 
housing 163 so as to extend outwardly transversely through an opening 165 
provided in the housing 163. The base of the probe element 164 is in 
operative sliding engagement with the ramp extension member 162 so that 
when the ramp extension member 162 moves forward, the transverse probe 164 
is caused to make a corresponding transverse gaging contact with a part 
positioned proximate thereto. 
As shown in the cross-sectional schematic top view of FIG. 17, another 
embodiment of the transducer gage assembly showing a cable actuated 
slidable piston probe 104 provided therein. A cable 166 is provided having 
a flexible exterior 166a which is adapted to threadably engage the air 
inlet opening 113. The cable 166 extends through the air inlet opening 113 
so as to make threaded operative use engagement with the rear of the 
slidable air piston probe 104. In the cable actuated transducer gage 
assembly 134, the biasing spring component 109 is eliminated. Further, 
there is no air flow actuation involved in the gaging operation of this 
cable actuated transducer embodiment. The cable 166 actuates the piston 
probe 104 to extended measuring and calibration positions and positively 
retracts the piston probe 104 to a retracted position. The piston probe 
104 of the other described embodiments may easily be modified to operate 
under cable control by fixing a cable thereto. 
As indicated above, there is no air flow actuation of this cable actuated 
transducer embodiment, hence the piston probe 104 need not act as a 
piston, or even be in the shape of a piston. Therefore, as used in this 
application, the term "piston probe" should be interpreted in the case of 
cable actuated transducer probes to mean any type of extensible member, 
and not just those in the shape of a piston. It should be further noted 
that although there is no air flow actuation of this cable actuated 
transducer embodiment, preferably there will be a low flow of air supplied 
to the transducer to prevent dirt and other contaminants in the ambient 
surroundings of the transducer from contaminating the internal surfaces of 
the transducer. 
As shown in the schematic view of FIG. 17A, the cable actuated gage 
assembly is shown in operative engagement with a solenoid 167 which is 
selectively actuated by the computer control assembly 120. 
The modified embodiments of the transducer gage assemblies shown in FIGS. 
18 and 19, and as hereinafter described, pertain to transducers which have 
been modified to coact with fixture engaging means for selective mounting 
of the modified transducers in their operative use positions on a fixture 
118. 
As shown in the partial schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 18, another 
embodiment of the probe transducer gage assembly 100 is shown which is 
adapted for mounting on a fixture 118. A fixture engaging sleeve 173 is 
provided which is adapted for insertion within a bore provided in the 
fixture 118. As shown, an annular lip is provided to engage the fixture 
118 upon insertion into the bore provided in the fixture 118. 
A portion of the interior of the sleeve 173 is correspondingly threaded so 
as to matingly engage a threaded portion of the outer transducer gage 
assembly at 174. An adjustment sleeve 170 is fitted over the transducer 
gage 100 so as to threadably engage a rear lock collar 171 that is also 
fitted over the rear of the transducer gage 100. A transducer engaging 
lock screw 172 is provided to threadably engage a lock screw threaded hole 
provided in the transducer gage. The adjustment sleeve 170 may be rotated 
relative to the locking sleeve 171, thereby acting between the fixture 118 
and the locking sleeve 171 to firmly lock the prove transuducer gage 
assembly 100 with its attached fixture engaging sleeve 173 within the bore 
in the fixture 118. Thus, the transducer gage assembly 100 is securely 
positioned in its operative use gaging position within the fixture 
engaging sleeve 173 which is fixedly mounted on the fixture 118. A spacer 
ring 174a is utilized to properly position the air piston probe cap 
retaining screw 138 in its operative use position. 
As shown in the partial schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 19, another 
embodiment of the probe transducer gage 100 is shown which is adapted for 
selective fixed mounting in its threaded operative use position within a 
fixture 118. This is accomplished by use of a fixture engaging threaded 
collar 175 which is adapted to threadably engage a probe transducer gage 
100 positioned therethrough. A spacer ring 174a is utilized to properly 
position the air piston probe cap retaining screw 138 in its operative use 
position. A spacer sleeve 176 is utilized to engage the transducer gage 
100 and the threaded collar 175 so as to properly position the transducer 
gage 100 in its correct gaging position. A portion of the interior of 
fixture engaging collar 175 is correspondingly threaded so as to engage a 
threaded portion of the outer transducer gage assembly 100 at 174. 
In summary, a continuous air flow probe transducer gage assembly is 
provided which is adapted to selectively make gage measurements with 
respect to a part positioned proximate thereto. The continuous air flow 
probe transducer gage assembly comprises an elongate transducer gage 
housing assembly which has actuating air inlet means provided through the 
rear wall portion thereof and which defines air outlet means at the 
forward portion thereof. The transducer gage housing defines an axially 
aligned piston probe support shaft bore through the rear wall portion 
thereof. The transducer gage housing assembly further defines an axially 
aligned air piston probe receiving bore through the front wall portion 
thereof. An air piston probe support shaft is fixedly provided through the 
support shaft bore in the transducer gage assembly rear wall so as to 
axially extend partially through the gage housing assembly. The air piston 
probe support shaft is provided with at least one bias spring engaging 
means at the forward end thereof. A slidable hollow air piston probe 
assembly is provided which has a piston probe support shaft receiving bore 
provided through the rear wall thereof. The hollow air piston probe is in 
slidable rear support engagement with the air piston support shaft which 
extends through the support shaft bore within said gage housing assembly. 
The hollow air piston probe is provided in slidable forward support 
engagement with the piston probe receiving bore provided through the front 
wall portion of the transducer gage housing. The slidable hollow air 
piston probe assembly is internally provided with bias spring engaging 
wall means at the rear portion thereof. The slidable air piston probe 
assembly and the transducer gage housing assembly coact to define an air 
flow channel continuously extending longitudinally through the transducer 
gage assembly from the air inlet means to the air outlet means so as to 
selectively receive a continuos selective actuating air flow through the 
transducer gage assembly. Electronic sensing means are provided in 
selective operative use engagement with the slidable hollow air piston 
probe assembly and the transducer gage housing assembly so as to convert 
selective linear mechanical movement of the movable air piston probe 
within the transducer gage housing assembly into measurable electrical 
signal changes corresponding to such selective linear mechanical movement 
of the air piston probe within the transducer gage housing assembly. Bias 
spring means are concentrically provided along the air piston probe 
support shaft in operative engagement with the air piston probe assembly 
and the air piston probe assembly support shaft so as to maintain the air 
piston probe in its retracted rest position, said bias spring means 
adapted to controllably permit the air piston probe to extend into a 
slidable soft contact with an adjacent part being measured when a 
selective continuous air flow is introduced through said air flow channel 
so as to actuate the air piston probe assembly into its extended soft 
contact measurement position against a part positioned proximate thereto. 
In another modification of the air flow probe transducer gage assembly, the 
electronic sensing means comprise a linear potentiometer assembly fixedly 
positioned with the transducer gage housing assembly in a parallel spaced 
apart relationship to the slidable hollow air piston probe assembly. The 
air piston probe assembly is provided with a spring-biased electrical 
wiper element in operative contact use engagement with the potentiometer 
so as to convert selective linear mechanical movement of the movable air 
piston probe within the transducer gage assembly into measurable 
electrical signals corresponding to such selective linear mechanical 
operative use contact movement of the air piston probe wiper along the 
potentiometer. 
In another modification of the air flow probe transducer gage assembly, a 
cap member is fixedly attached at the inside base thereof to the front end 
of the slidable air piston probe assembly extending externally of the 
transducer gage housing. The cap is configured to extend rearwardly over 
the forward portion of the transducer gage housing in a spaced apart 
relationship thereto so as to define a continuation exit of the air flow 
channel. 
In another modification of the air flow probe transducer gage assembly, a 
second bias spring engaging wall means is provided on the rear portion of 
the air probe support shaft. The second bias spring engaging wall means is 
adapted for selective operative use engagement with the rear end of the 
bias spring means. 
In another modification of the air flow probe transducer gage assembly, a 
transverse probe housing is provided for threaded fixed engagement with 
the forward end of the transducer gage housing. A ramp extension member is 
fixedly provided on the slidable air piston probe so as to selectively 
extend into the transverse probe housing. The transverse probe housing is 
provided with a spring-biased transverse probe contact element adapted for 
operative use transverse extension through a transverse probe opening 
provided in the wall of the transverse probe housing. The transverse probe 
contact element has a ramp engagement sloped surface portion at the base 
thereof which is adapted for operative use engagement with the 
corresponding ramp extension member. 
Another modification of the invention is a probe transducer assembly which 
has a reversible spring capability which is adapted to selectively make 
gage measurements with respect to a part positioned proximate thereto. 
This embodiment comprises an elongate transducer gage housing which has a 
rear end wall portion and front end wall portion. The transducer gage 
housing defines a piston probe support shaft receiving bore in the rear 
wall portion thereof. The front end wall portion of the transducer gage 
housing defines a piston probe support bearing bore therethrough. A piston 
probe support shaft is selectively fixedly positioned within the probe 
support shaft receiving bore. The probe support shaft extends 
longitudinally partially through the gage housing. The piston probe 
support shaft is provided with bias spring front end engaging means at the 
forward end thereof and is provided with bias spring rear end engaging 
means proximate to the rear portion thereof. A slidable hollow piston 
probe having rear and front end wall portions is slidably mounted on the 
support shaft so as to be selectively slidably extendable longitudinally 
through said gage housing into measuring contact with a part positioned 
proximate thereto. A reversible bias spring means is concentrically 
provided along the piston probe support shat in selective operative 
engagement with the piston probe. The bias spring is adapted the make 
selective operative contact at the front end thereof with the inside 
surface of the front end wall portion of the hollow piston probe. The bias 
spring is adapted to make operative contact at the rear end thereof with 
the bias spring rear end engaging means provided on the piston probe 
support shaft so as to selectively retain the piston probe in its forward 
rest position within the gage housing. 
Another embodiment of the invention consists of computer controlled 
multiple air flow probe transducer gage assemblies which are adapted to 
selectively make gage measurements with respect to a part positioned on a 
fixture proximate thereto. 
In use, the multiple air flow probe transducer gage assemblies are 
selectively mounted on a part fixture. The fixture is adapted to retain a 
part in gage measuring distance proximate to each of the probe transducer 
gage assemblies. Each of the probe transducer gage assemblies is provided 
with a slidable air actuated piston probe as described herein. An air 
supply assembly is provided in operative engagement with each of the air 
flow probe transducer gage assemblies. The air supply assembly is in 
operative use engagement with an air flow control valve assembly which is 
adapted to provide a selectively variable supply of air flow to each of 
the air flow probe transducer gage assemblies so as to selectively actuate 
each of the air actuated piston probes into extended floating soft contact 
measuring position against a part being measured. A computer control 
center in operative engagement with each of the air flow probe gage 
transducers and with the air flow control valve assembly so as to control 
the actuation of each of the air actuated piston probes into soft 
measuring contact against the part being measured. The computer control 
center is adapted to selectively record the gage measurements of each of 
the air flow probe transducers. 
Another modification of the computer controlled multiple air flow probe 
transducer gage assembly includes an air flow control valve assembly which 
is adapted to selectively vary the rate of air flow to each of the probe 
transducer gage assemblies to selectively provide a full high air flow 
actuation calibration mode, an air flow soft contact gage measuring mode 
and a continuos low air flow cleaning rest mode therethrough. 
Another embodiment of the invention comprises a cable actuated transducer 
gage assembly which is adapted to selectively make gage measurements with 
respect to a part positioned proximate thereto. This embodiment includes a 
probe transducer gage assembly which is provided with a selectively 
extendible piston probe slidably mounted therein so as to extend outwardly 
there from into measuring contact with a part positioned proximate 
thereto. As in the other embodiments of the invention, electronic sensing 
means are provided in selective operative engagement with the slidable 
piston probe and the probe transducer gage assembly so as to convert 
selective linear mechanical movement of the piston probe relative to the 
probe transducer gage assembly into measurable electrical signal changes 
corresponding to the selective linear mechanical movement of said piston 
probe. An external actuating cable is provided which extends into the 
probe transducer gage assembly into fixed operative engagement with the 
slidable piston probe. The actuating cable is adapted to selectively move 
the piston probe into measuring contact with a part positioned proximate 
thereto. 
Another embodiment of the invention is a computer controlled cable actuated 
probe transducer gage assembly adapted to selectively make gage 
measurements with respect to a part positioned proximate thereto. The 
probe transducer gage assembly has a selectively extendable piston probe 
slidably mounted therein so as to extend outwardly therefrom into 
measuring contact with a part positioned proximate thereto. Electronic 
sensing means are provided in selective operative engagement with the 
slidable piston probe and the probe transducer gage assembly so as to 
convert selective linear mechanical movement of the piston probe relative 
to the transducer gage assembly into measurable electrical signal changes 
corresponding to such selectively linear mechanical movement of the piston 
probe. A solenoid actuated cable assembly is provided which extends into 
the probe transducer assembly in operative fixed engagement with the 
selectively slidable piston probe. The solenoid actuated cable assembly 
adapted to selectively move the piston probe into measuring contact with a 
part positioned proximate thereto. A computer control center is provided 
in operative engagement with the electronic sensing means and the solenoid 
actuated cable assembly. The computer control center is adapted to 
selectively actuate the solenoid actuated cable assembly so as to 
selectively move the piston probe into soft measuring contact with a part 
proximate thereto. The computer control center is adapted to actuate the 
electronic sensing means so as to simultaneously record the gage 
measurements made by the piston probe. 
Another embodiment of the probe transducer gage assembly is adapted to 
selectively make gage measurements with respect to a part positioned 
proximate thereto. It comprises a probe transducer gage housing which has 
a rear wall with a piston probe support shaft receiving bore therethrough. 
The transducer gage housing also has a front wall with a piston probe 
receiving bore therethrough. A piston probe support shaft is fixedly 
mounted through the piston probe support shaft receiving bore so as to 
partially extend axially into the transducer gage housing. A hollow piston 
probe is provided with a piston probe support shaft receiving bore through 
the rear end wall thereof. The hollow piston probe slidably supported on 
the piston probe shaft extending thereinto through said piston probe 
support shaft receiving bore provided in the piston probe. The hollow 
piston probe is adapted to make selectively extendable slidable support 
engagement through the piston probe receiving bore provided through the 
transducer gage front wall. Thus, the hollow piston probe is supported at 
the rear portion thereof on the piston probe support shaft and at the 
forward portion thereof through the piston probe receiving bore through 
said transducer gage front wall Piston probe actuating means are provided 
through the transducer gage so as to selectively actuate the piston probe 
into its extended soft contact measurement position against a part 
positioned proximate thereto. 
Another embodiment of the invention consists of a continuous air flow probe 
transducer gage assembly which is adapted for vertically oriented 
operative use to selectively make gage measurements with respect to a part 
positioned proximate thereabove. In this embodiment, an elongate 
transducer gage housing assembly is provided which is adapted for a 
vertical oriented operative use position. The transducer gage housing 
assembly is provided actuating air inlet means provided through the rear 
wall portion thereof. The transducer gage housing assembly is provided 
with air outlet means at the forward wall portion thereof. This transducer 
gage housing defines an axially aligned air piston support shaft bore 
through the rear wall portion thereof. The transducer gage housing further 
defines an axially aligned air piston probe receiving bore through the 
front wall portion thereof. An air piston probe support shaft is fixedly 
provided through the support shaft bore provided though the rear wall of 
the transducer gage housing so as to axially extend partially into the 
gage housing assembly. A vertically oriented slidable hollow air piston 
probe assembly is provided which has a piston probe support shaft 
receiving bore provided through the rear wall thereof. The air piston 
probe is positioned in slidable rear support engagement with the air 
piston probe support shaft bore so as to be movably supported on the 
support shaft within the gage housing assembly. The air piston probe 
extends into slidable forward engagement with the piston probe receiving 
bore through the front wall of the transducer gage housing. The slidable 
air piston probe assembly and the transducer gage housing assembly coact 
to define an air flow channel continuously extending longitudinally 
through the transducer gage assembly from the air inlet means to the air 
outlet means so as to selectively receive a continuous selective actuating 
air flow through said air flow channel. The vertically oriented air piston 
probe is adapted to extend vertically into a slidable soft contact with an 
adjacent part being measured thereabove when a selective continuous air 
flow is introduced through the air flow channel so as to vertically 
actuate the air piston probe into its soft contact measurement position. 
The air piston probe is adapted to make a gravity induced retraction to 
its rest position when the flow of actuating air is selectively reduced. 
Electronic sensing means is in selective operative use engagement with the 
slidable hollow air piston probe assembly and the transducer gage housing 
assembly so as to convert selective linear mechanical movement of the 
movable air piston probe within the transducer gage housing assembly into 
measurable electrical signal changes corresponding to such selective 
linear mechanical movement of the air piston probe relative to the 
transducer gage housing assembly. 
Another embodiment of the invention is a probe transducer gage assembly 
which has been modified for use in association with a lockable fixture 
mounting assembly which is adapted for lockably mounting the probe 
transducer gage assembly. The lockable fixture mounting assembly includes 
a lipped sleeve adapted for insertion into a fixture mounted bushing. The 
sleeve is provided with an annular fixture engaging lip portion at one end 
thereof. The sleeve is provided with a selectively located internal probe 
transducer housing engaging threaded portion. A transducer gage assembly 
is provided with an external sleeve engaging threaded portion. The probe 
transducer external threaded portion is adapted to threadably engage the 
sleeve internal threaded portion when the probe transducer is threaded 
into its operative use position within the sleeve. A locking sleeve 
assembly is adapted to matingly engage the external surface of the 
transducer gage assembly extending rearwardly from the fixture upon which 
it is mounted. The locking sleeve assembly is adapted to abuttingly engage 
the fixture and the locking sleeve assembly provided with set screw lock 
means to lockably engage threaded set screw receiving holes provided in 
the transducer gage assembly positioned therethrough in its operative use 
position. 
Another embodiment of the invention is a transducer gage assembly which is 
adapted for selective operative use engagement with a fixture mounted 
transducer gage assembly engaging means. A fixture engaging collar means 
is provided with an external threaded portion adapted for threaded 
engagement with a corresponding threaded bore located in a fixture. The 
collar means has an internal transducer gage engaging threaded portion. A 
transducer gage assembly is provided which has a collar engaging threaded 
portion at a selected forward portion thereof which is adapted to 
threadably engage the internal threaded portion of the fixture mounted 
collar so as to be selectively held in its operative use position 
proximate to a part being measured. 
Another modification of the transducer gage assembly includes a selectively 
adjustable calibration stop screw which is provided through a 
corresponding threaded bore in the rear end of said transducer gage 
housing assembly. The calibration stop screw is adapted to adjustably 
engage the back of the hollow air piston probe assembly so as to 
selectively adjust the rearward travel limit of said hollow air piston 
probe within said transducer gage housing assembly. This feature uniquely 
enables the user to easily provide a bench calibration of the transducer 
so that the mechanical distances traveled by all of the movable air piston 
probes are the same. Thus the need for identical manufacturing tolerances 
in the transducer gage assemblies is eliminated. 
Note that while the term "air" has been used in describing the operation 
and structure of this invention, such as with respect to "air piston 
probe" or "air flow", it will be recognized that many other fluids may be 
suitably used with the invention, including compressed gasses such as 
nitrogen, or liquids such as oil. 
Various other modifications of the invention may be made without departing 
from the principle thereof. Each of the modifications is to be considered 
as included in the hereinafter appended claims, unless these claims, by 
their language, expressly provide otherwise.