Patent GB-1097302-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for investigating surface texture
Inventor: TAYLOR FRANK NEWLAND
IPC: G01B7/34
Filed: 1963-06-25
Abstract: 1,097,302. Investigating surface texture electrically. RANK PRECISION INDUSTRIES Ltd. June 19, 1964 [June 25, 1963; June 26, 1963; June 11, 1964], Nos.25224/63, 25407/63 and 24269/64. Heading G1N. To determine the number of high spots and valleys in a bearing surface and thus provide a measure of bearing area both at the time of the test and which will exist at different levels after grinding or future wear, the surface texture of the bearing is investigated by means of a stylus, in an electromagnetic head, which generates an electrical signal, representative of the profile of the surface as the head is moved across it. The signal is amplified and used to trigger a modified Schmitt trigger circuit. The instantaneous potential of the profile signal together with the adjustable grid bias potential of the first valve of the trigger circuit determines when the trigger circuit will produce an output pulse. The bias potential is therefore selectively set so that a pulse will be produced only when the profile signal potential rises above a selected level coincident with the tracing of a high spot, (or a hollow) above (or below) a datum, by the stylus. The number of pulses in one traverse indicates the number of heights or alternatively hollows and may be counted by a known pulse counter. Furthermore the pulse widths are summed in an integrating circuit which indicates the surface bearing area at any selected level. The apparatus also includes a pulse width discriminator whereby only those signal values above a certain level which persist for more than a predetermined duration, produce output pulses from the trigger circuit Fig. 8 (not shown). Also the trigger circuit has means to adjust its backlash potential Figs. 6a-c (not shown), that is the difference between the triggering "on" and triggering "off' potentials of the circuit, whereby the minimum change in amplitude of the selected amplified signal giving rise to output pulses can be pre-chosen, and minute surface irregularities superimposed on the major peaks or troughs can be excluded from the measurement. Operation Figs. 1, 3 The stylus transducer C<SP>6</SP>, C<SP>8</SP> (Fig. 1) is moved a first time across the surface D<SP>1</SP> and the signal generated is fed through a carrier amplifier and demodulator E<SP>1</SP> (Fig. 3), and via a filter and phased invertor F<SP>3</SP>, which eliminates D. C. and A. C. of lower order frequencies, through a signal amplifier F<SP>2</SP>, having a feedback impedance F<SP>4</SP>, through switches G<SP>2</SP>, G<SP>3</SP> to an integrating meter F<SP>1</SP> the proportion of full scale deflection of which is observed. The deflection provides a measure of an average or mean surface level and is also a measure of a centre line average of the surface profile (i.e. an average line lying between the peak apices and the mean level line, see Fig. 4 where a-a is the mean level and b-b, c-c, are centre line average levels above and below the mean level). The stylus is returned to its starting point and is then moved a second time over the same path. This time the gain of amplifier is determined by a variable feedback impedance F<SP>5</SP> instead of F<SP>4</SP>, the impedance F<SP>5</SP> being set, by a control F<SP>6</SP> (Fig. 1) calibrated in terms of the f. s. d. of the meter F<SP>1</SP>, to a value which would produce f. s. d. on the meter if the output of amplifier F<SP>2</SP> were fed to it. However on the second traverse the switch G<SP>2</SP> connects the amplifier F<SP>2</SP> output V 1  to a trigger circuit F<SP>7</SP> comprising valves H, H<SP>1</SP> (Fig. 5), a potentiometer J<SP>4</SP> being adjusted to set the bias potential of the first valve H as described earlier and having a scale calibrated in terms of centre line average above and below the mean amplified profile signal value. Adjustment of resistors H<SP>8</SP>, H<SP>9</SP> sets the backlash potential. The output pulses of square waveform from the trigger circuit are fed to a pulse counter F<SP>3</SP> (Fig. 3). Bearing Area Measurement The output pulses of the trigger circuit are also fed to a transistor switching device F<SP>9</SP>, (detailed in Fig. 7 not shown) operated in sympathy with the output pulses to open and close a point in a circuit leading from a constant current source F<SP>10</SP> (Fig. 7) to the integrating meter F<SP>1</SP> (to which the amplified profile signals are fed during the first traverse). The current from F<SP>10</SP> is pre-adjusted so that if the switching device F<SP>9</SP> was closed throughout the second traverse full scale deflection would be obtained at the end of the traverse i.e. a bearing area of 100%. The integrated constant current pulses, corresponding to the trigger circuit output, will give an indication of less than 100% depending on the level relative to the mean surface level at which the level determining potentiometer J<SP>4</SP> (Fig. 5) is set. Typical Profile Measurements. (Figs. 4a, b, c) Fig. 4a shows a profile of a typical test surface (e. g. a bearing) the level a-a being the mean surface level as determined by the first traverse. It is usually desirable to determine the high spots and bearing area at various levels (e. g. levels b-b, c-c, which are the centre line average levels above and below the mean level a-a) in order to determine what they will be when the bearing is further machined or subjected to wear. Fig. 4b shows the bearing area and high spot count at level b-b, the bearing area being the proportion of the total surface lying above b-b i. e. the sum of the lengths b<SP>1</SP>, b<SP>2</SP> b<SP>3</SP> to b<SP>11</SP> divided by the length of traverse. The high spot count is determined by the number of times the profile rises above b-b and is seen to be eleven in Fig. 4a. Fig. 4c relates similarly to the level c-c. An arrangement for the automatic adjustment of the gain of the amplifier F<SP>2</SP> is described Figs. 14, 15 (not shown) and a pulse width discriminator is described with reference to Figs. 8, 9, 12 (not shown).