Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US4843727?dq=645576
Timestamp: 2016-07-29 21:52:55
Document Index: 225170812

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 105', 'art 105', 'art 105', 'art 105', 'art 105', 'art 105', 'art 105', 'art 105', 'art 105', 'art 105']

Patent US4843727 - Contour and outline transducer gage assembly - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsA contour and outline transducer gage assembly for selectively making outline (gap) and contour checks of parts positioned proximate thereto is provided with a slidably movable carrier arm within the gage housing in selective spring biased operative engagement with a linear potentiometer fixedly provided...http://www.google.com/patents/US4843727?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US4843727 - Contour and outline transducer gage assemblyAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS4843727 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 07/171,697Publication dateJul 4, 1989Filing dateMar 21, 1988Priority dateOct 15, 1986Fee statusPaidPublication number07171697, 171697, US 4843727 A, US 4843727A, US-A-4843727, US4843727 A, US4843727AInventorsJames E. StrubleOriginal AssigneeStruble James EExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (8), Referenced by (1), Classifications (10), Legal Events (6) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetContour and outline transducer gage assembly
US 4843727 AAbstract
1. In an alignment spring means assembly for selectively mounting a housing in repetitively aligned clamped snap engagement to a mounting device comprising:a housing, said housing provided with a mounting device-engaging locator peg extending outwardly therefrom; and a clamping alignment spring means provided on said housing so as to extend outwardly therefrom in parallel spaced-apart biased relationship to said locator peg so as to coact with said locator peg to make repetitively aligned clamped snap locking engagement with a mounting device. 2. In the alignment spring means assembly of claim 1 wherein the clamping alignment spring means comprises a rigid backing plate provided on said housing so as to extend outwardly therefrom in parallel spaced-apart relationship to said locator peg;a mounting device-engaging alignment spring element provided on said housing so as to extend outwardly therefrom in spaced-apart coacting register with said backing plate, said alignment spring element co-acting with said locator peg to make repetitively aligned clamped snap engagement with a mounting device so as to maintain said housing on repetitively aligned clamped snap engagement on the mounting device. 3. In the alignment spring means assembly of claim 2 wherein said rigid backing plate is provided with two horizontally-oriented parallel spaced-apart spring element alignment adjustment set screws threadably positioned therethrough, said adjustment set screws adapted to selectively act against the alignment spring element so as to alignably bias said spring element toward said locator peg.
4. In the alignment spring means assembly of claim 2 wherein said rigid backing plate is provided with two horizontally-oriented parallel spaced-apart spring element limit adjustment set screws threadably positioned therethrough, said adjustment set screws adapted to be selectively adjusted proximate to said alignment spring element so as limit the angular deflection of said spring to avoid inadvertent twisting of said housing on the mounting device.
5. In the alignment spring means assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting device comprises a fixture rail mount block having a locator peg-receiving hole, an alignment clamping side and upper beveled portions provided along the upper longitudinal edges thereof.
This is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 919,135, filed on Oct. 15, 1986.
This invention a continuation-in-part application of the parent application Ser. No. 919,135 filed on Oct. 15, 1986 and which will issue as U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,935 on Mar. 22, 1988, relates to a contour and outline transducer gage assembly for selectively taking a contour (flush) or an outline (gap) measurement reading from a single bushing location.
Still further, this invention relates to a contour and outline transducer gage assembly which is provided with edge finder pins which are adapted to engage a fixture rail and a retractable spring biased outline finger for selectively measuring gaps and contour outlines.
This invention also relates to a modified contour and outline transducer gage assembly which includes various types of surface mount bushing systems selectively provided on a fixture rail for selectively making gap and outline measurements.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a contour and outline transducer gage assembly for selectively taking a contour or an outline measurement reading from a bushing location on a fixture rail.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a modified probe transducer gage for selectively measuring depth of holes and surfaces underneath a bushing mounted on a fixture rail.
FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view taken on line 12--12 of FIG. 11 showing the contour pin mounting assembly.
FIG. 16 is a side elevation view of a transducer provided with a dial indicator showing the assembly positioned for making a contour check.
FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken on line 18--18 of FIG. 13 showing the bushing shaft and the front and rear bushings.
FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken on line 19--19 of FIG. 13 showing the linear potentiometer assembly in its operative use position within the transducer gage.
FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken on line 20--20 of FIG. 13 showing the carrier arm assembly.
FIG. 25 is a bottom perspective view of the transducer showing an alternate rearward positioning of the square locator peg mounting system on the transducer gage.
FIG. 31 is a sectional view taken on line 31--31 of FIG. 29.
FIG. 42 is a sectional view taken on line 42--42 of FIG. 40 showing the adjustable contour pin support assembly.
FIG. 43 is a sectional view taken on line 43--43 of FIG. 42.
FIG. 60 is a perspective view of the transducer of FIG. 57 provided with a square locator peg mounting system.
FIG. 78 is a partial sectional view taken on line 78--78 of FIG. 76.
FIG. 79 is a partial sectional view taken on line 79--79 of FIG. 77.
FIG. 80 is a perspective view of a contour and outline transducer gage which has been modified to utilize the alignment spring means assembly as shown in FIGS. 83 and 84.
FIG. 81 is a front view thereof
FIG. 82 is a side view thereof showing the side opposite to that shown in FIG. 80.
FIG. 83 is a schematic front view of the alignment spring assembly in its operative use position on a housing.
FIG. 84 is a schematic front view of the alignment spring assembly in its operative in situ use position in repetitively aligned clamped snap engagement to a mounting device.
As shown in the schematic drawing of FIG. 1, an embodiment of the contour and outline transducer gage 100 is shown mounted on the locator bushing 101 provided on the fixture rail 102. The contour locator shaft 103 makes snap engagement with the locator bushing 101 so as to maintain the transducer gage 100 in its operative use position. The spring biased contour check pin 104 is retracted so as to contact the part 105. The contour check pin 104 is operatively connected to the spring biased carrier arm 106 which retracts in accordance with the movement of the check pin 104. The carrier arm 106 is slidably mounted on the ball slide assembly 107. An actuator arm 108 extends from the carrier to operatively engage the spring biased potentiometer contact pin 109. The relative movement of the potentiometer contact pin 109 within the potentiometer 110 provides the electronic readout representing the relative positioning of the contour check pin 104 against the part 105. As will be hereinafter discussed, the electronic impulses are transmitted to data collector readout unit through the connector wires 111. Thus, a contour check or gap check is easily made with repetitive accuracy due to the proper positioning of the transducer 100 on the fixture rail 102.
In contrast, the contour and outline transducer gage assembly 100 of the instant invention is fixedly and accurately positioned on an adjcent fixture rail 102 with its spring-biased contour check pin 104 bearing against the part 105 in its ready reading-taking position. The operator merely presses a remote button to selectively take the reading without touching or otherwise handling the gage 100 itself during the reading taking interval. Thus, an operator-independent reading is taken which is accurate and which checks the positioning as well as the shape of the part being gaged.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the contour and outline transducer gage 100 is positioned so as to make an outlet (gap) check of a part 105. In making the outline (gap) check, the spring biased outline (gap) check finger 115 of the gage 100 is manually retracted while the outline locator shaft 116 makes positive snap-engagement with the locator bushing 101 fixedly mounted on the fixture rail 102. A flexible plastic biasing outline locking clamp 117 is provided on the gage 100. The outline locking clamp 117 is provided with a transverse steel pin 118 which bears against the side of the locator bushing 101 so as to positively retain the outlet locator shaft 116 within the locator bushing 101.
As shown in FIGS. 83 and 84, a housing 287 is provided with an outwardly extending locator peg 288 and an outwardly extending alignment spring clamp means assembly 289 parallel to and space-apart from the locator peg 288. The locator peg 288 and alignment spring means assembly 289 are adapted to co-act so as to clampably engage a mounting device 295. This structure provides the selective engagement or locating of a housing 287 upon a mounting device 295 with repetitive positional accuracy and also provides for positive snap retentive engagement with the mounting device 295 without the need for ancillary locking means while retaining a quick connect/disconnect capability. The biased clamp interaction between the alignment spring means 289 and the locator peg 288 compensates for manufacturing tolerance differences between locator peg receiving hole 295a provided in the mounting device 295 and the locator peg diameter. In addition, alignment spring clamp assembly 289 compensates for variations in the location of the locator peg receiving hole 295a relative to the alignment side 295d of the mounting device 295.
While the use of this alignment spring means clamping system 289 is shown in connection with a contour and outline transducer gage in FIGS. 80-82, it is also within the scope of this invention to utilize this unique locating clamping system in connection with housings for laser measurement systems, optical measurement system, ultra-sonic measurement, digital instrument systems and the like. Further, the alignment spring means clamping system can be utilized to locate and couple parts of a structure relative to each other.
As further shown in FIGS. 83 and 84, the alignment spring means assembly 289 comprises a rigid backing plate 290 which is fixedly attached to a housing 287 and extends outwardly therefrom in a substantially parallel and spaced-apart relationship to a mounting fixture engaging locator peg 288 which also is fixedly attached to and extends outwardly from the housing 287. An alignment spring element 291 is provided on the housing and extends outwardly therefrom in proximate parallel spaced-apart relationship to the rigid backing plate 290 and in an intermediate position between the backing plate 290 and the locator peg 288. A pair of centrally positioned spring alignment adjustment set screws 292 are threadably provided through the backing plate 290 to selectively act against the alignment spring element 291 so as to alignably bias it toward the locator peg 288. Thus biased, the alignment spring 291 engages and clampably bears against the alignment side 295d of the mounting device 295 when the locator peg 288 is selectively inserted into a locator peg receiving-hole 295a provided in the mounting device. The use of the adjustable alignment set screws allows for selective adjustment of the clamping force applied by the alignment spring means 291 against the mounting device 295. Thus positioned, the locator peg 288 and the alignment spring means 289 coact to make repetitively aligned clamped engagement with the mounting device 295 with repetitive aligned accuracy and with quick connect and disconnect capability as previously described.
The free end of the alignment spring 291 is provided with an inwardly facing raising portion 293 having a beveled surface 294 which is adapted to selectively slidably engage a corresponding beveled surface 295b or 295c provided on the mounting device 295 so as to facilitate engagement of the alignment spring 291 with the side 295d of the mounting device 295. Two adjustable limiting set screws 297 are threadably provided in the free end of the rigid backing plate 290 which selectively limit the angular spring deflection of the alignment spring 291 to prevent twisting of the housing 287 relative to the mounting device 295 while the housing 287 is being installed upon the mounting device 295 and after the housing 287 is fully installed in its final operative use position on the mounting device 295.
it is to be understood that the mounting device 295 can be the fixture rail mount block 246 shown in FIG. 67 or the fixture rail mount block 266 shown in FIG. 75, but is not specifically limited thereto.
As shown in FIGS. 80-82, that two alignment spring means assembly 289 can be utilized on a contour and outline transducer gage so as to coact with the contour locator shaft (peg) 288a and the outline locator shaft (peg) 288b respectively.
As shown in FIG. 2B, the contour and outline transducer gage 100 is positioned so as to make a contour (flush) check of the part 105. In making the contour (flush) check, the spring biased contour check pin 119 is pushed inwardly into the gage 100 while the contour locator shaft 120 is inserted into locator bushing 101. The contour locator shaft 120 is held in its use position within the locator bushing 101 by the flexible plastic contour locking clamp 121 which is also provided with a steel contact pin 122 which bears against the side of the locator bushing 101.
The front view of the transducer gage 100 shown in FIG. 2C more clearly indicates the spaced-apart opposed biasing position of the downwardly extending outline (gap) flexible plastic locking clamp 117 in relation to the outline locator shaft 116. It is this biasing interrelationship which permits a positive fixed interlock positioning of the transducer gage 100 on the locator bushing 101 so as to achieve an accurate operator-independent gage reading as described herein. The same fixed clamping capability exists between the contour locator shaft 120 and the flexible plastic contour locking clamp 121 apart therefrom.
The bottom view of the contour and outline transducer gage 100 as shown in FIG. 2E shows the relative positioning of the carrier retractor handle 123, the outlinet check pin 115 and the contour check pin 119.
The sectional view taken on line 2F--2F of FIG. 2D as shown in FIG. 2F shows the top of the carrier arm 106 and the carrier retractor handle 123 attached thereto. In addition, the contour locator shaft 120 is shown in its spaced-apart position from the contour flexible plastic locking clamp 121.
The sectional view taken on line 2G--2G of FIG. 2D as shown in FIG. 2G shows the outline (gap) check pin 115, the outline locator peg 116 and the flexible outline clamp 117 spaced-apart therefrom and the bolts 124 which hold the casing together.
The sectional view taken on line 2H--2H of FIG. 2D as shown in FIG. 2H shows the carrier arm 106 and the linear potentiometer 110.
The sectional view taken on line 2J--2J of FIG. 2C as shown in FIG. 2J clearly shows the coating relationship of the carrier 106, the linear potentiometer contact pin 109, the outline (gap) check pin 115 and the contour check pin 119 when the contour and outline transducer gage 100 is in its operative use assembled position.
The spring biased linear potentiometer contact pin 109 is positioned so as to operatively engage the vertical actuator arm portion 108 of the carrier 106. The contour check pin 119 is adapted for fixed engagement with the vertical actuator arm 108 of the carrier 106 so as to extend outwardly therefrom to the exterior of the assembled transducer gage 100 into its operative use contour check position as shown generally in the drawings.
The outline (gap) check finger 115 is adapted to fixedly engage and extend downwardly from the carrier 106 into its operative use gap check position externally of the assembled transducer gage 100. The ball slide assembly 107 is positioned for slidable engagement with the carrier 106 o as to facilitate its operative use movement in response to selective movement respectively of the contour check pin 119 or of the outline (gap) check finger 115 as herein described.
As shown in FIG. 4, another embodiment of the contour and outline gage 128 is utilized in association with the interface control unit 112 and a data collector unit 113. As will be hereinafter explained, the contour and outline transducer gage assembly provide a computer data readout of the contour or gap check measurement selectively being taken by the contour and outline transducer gage 128.
As shown in FIG. 4A, the contour and outline transducer gage 128 is positioned so as to make an outline (gap) check of a part 105. In making the outline (gap) check, the spring biased outline (gap) check pin or finger 115 of the gage 128 is manually retracted while the outline locator shaft 116 makes positive snap-engagement with the locator bushing 101 fixedly mounted on the fixture rail 102. A flexible plastic biasing outline locking clamp 117 provided on the gage 128 has a transverse steel pin 118 which bears against the side of the locator bushing 101 so as to positively retain the outline locator shaft 116 within the locator bushing 101.
The spring biased outline (gap) check finger 115 is then allowed to extend against the part 105 being checked for proper location. The outline (gap) check reading is then taken by depressing the actuator button 114 located on the interface control unit 112. After the outline (gap) reading has been taken, the contour and outline transducer gage 128 is easily snap-removed from the locator bushing 101.
As shown in FIG. 4C, the front view of the transducer gage 128 also shows the spaced-apart opposed biasing position of the downwardly extending flexible locking clamp 117 in relation to the outline locator shaft 116. This same biasing locking relation exists between the locking clamp 121 and the contour locator shaft 120.
As shown in FIG. 14, the transducer gage 128 of FIG. 11 is selectively positioned on the modified locator bushing assembly 135 for making a contour (flush) check. The square contour locator shaft 133 is shown in mating engagement with the locator bushing assembly 135.
Thus, as the contour check pin 119 contacts the part 105 to be measured as shown in FIGS. 4B, 14 and 16, the carrier arm 144 correspondingly moves in response to the movment of the pin 119. This causes the carrier extension arm 148 to correspondingly move the spring biased linear potentiometer contact pin 151 within the linear potentiometer 150 which, in turn, sends an electronic signal through the electrical connector 149 through the interface control unit 112 to the data collector 113 thereby recording the contour check measurement of the part location.
As shown in the sectional view of FIG. 20 taken on line 20--20 of FIG. 13, the movable cover plate 129 is fixedly attached to the carrier arm 144 and is movable therewith externally of the gage 128. The left lash adjusting shaft 152 is shown in adjusting contact with the left lash adjusting screw 154 positioned on the carrier arm 144. The linear potentiometer 150 is shown in its operating use position within the gage 128 with the spring biased contact pin 151 extending longitudinally therefrom. The bushing shaft 142 is shown positioned through the carrier arm 144. The carrier arm 144 is shown positioned on the adjusting outline check block holder 146. The square outline locator shaft 132 is shown extending downwardly from the outline locator shaft holder 132A provided on the bottom surface of the gage 128.
As shown in the partial sectional view of FIG. 21 taken on line 21--21 of FIG. 13, the right lash adjusting shaft 153 is shown in adjusting contact with the right lash adjusting screw 155 positioned on the carrier arm 144.
Another embodiment of this invention is the hand held probe transducer 163 in its operative use position in FIG. 32 in association with an interface control unit 112 and a data collector 113.
Other modified forms of the probe barrel 165 are shown in FIGS. 36 through 39A. As shown in FIG. 36, a longitudinally oriented transverse slot 170 is provided through the round probe barrel 165 so as to create a spring biased bulge portion 171 therealong. This is clearly shown in the sectional view of FIG. 37 taken on line 37--37 of FIG. 36. As shown in FIG. 37A, the probe barrel 165 is securely maintained in its operative use position within the bushing by reason of the bulge portion 171.
As shown in FIGS. 47 and 48, a unique gage support system is provided for use in association with a fixture rail 190 which has a sloped upper surface. When it is desired to make an outline gap check as shown in FIG. 47, a vertically adjustable cap screw 191 is provided on the fixture rail 190 for selectively supporting engagement with the bottom edge of handle plate 192 so as to maintain the gage 173 in the horizontal operative use position necessary for making an outline gap. As shown in FIG. 48, the desired contour check can be easily made by disengaging the gage 173 from the cap screw 191 and resting the gage 173 directly on the fixture rail 190.
As shown in FIGS. 51 and 52, another type of transducer gage-fixture rail mounting assembly is provided having a mounting plate 203 which is adapted for selective fixed engagement with the upper surface of a fixture rail 204. The mounting plate 203 delineates three locator peg positioning holes consisting of a rear locator peg positioning hole 205 and a pair of forward locator peg positioning holes 206 which have been drilled into the fixture rail 204. The modified transducer gage 207 is provided with three downwardly extending locator pegs consisting of a rear locator peg 208 and a pair of spring biased forward locator pegs 209. The rear locator peg 208 is adapted to matingly engage the corresponding rear locator peg positioning hole 205. As shown in FIG. 52, the forward spring biased locator pegs 209 are biased so as to make snap lockable engagement with the corresponding forward locator peg positioning holes 206 so as to maintain the transducer gage 207 in a fixed mating engagement with the fixture rail 204 while a gap check is being made. It is within the scope of the invention to utilize a similar front and rear in-line two locator peg system to accomplish a similar snap engagement with the fixture rail. The cross-sectional view of FIG. 52 would also be applicable for showing the two peg system.
Similarly, a four locator peg system could be utilized which comprised two forward spring biased locator pegs and two rear locator pegs in-line therewith. In either system, the forward or the rear locator pegs could be biased to achieve a stable locking engagement which had a quick and easy snap engagement and disengagement capability.
It is also within the scope of this spring peg locator mounting system invention that a transversely oriented two locator peg system be utilized as shown in phantom line in FIG. 51. As shown in the phantom line in FIG. 51, the two locator peg system consists of a relatively larger locator peg 210 and an offset opposed spring locator peg 211 which are adapted to make spring biased snap engagement with corresponding locator positioning holes 212 and 213, respectively, in the mounting plate 203 and fixture rail 204. The relative position orientation and size of the locator pegs on the transducer gages as discussed above and as shown in FIGS. 51 and 52 is not critical. However, the use of a fixed relatively non-flexible locator peg or shaft such as 208 and 210 in combination with one or more opposed spaced-apart spring biased pegs, such as 209 or 211, respectively, which coact to make snap locking engagement with the corresponding positioning holes located on the fixture rail 204 is believed to be inventive and patentable over the prior known art. Nowhere in the prior known art has there been shown a contour and outline transducer gage which is thus easily and quickly selectively installed into its operative use position in snap locking engagement with a fixture rail.
The embodiment of the transducer gage 207 shown in FIGS. 51 through 55 is provided with rough textured finger contact panels 217 on the sides thereof so as to facilitate positive hand gripping of the transducer gage 207 while it is being used.
Another embodiment of the hand held transducer gage 207 is shown in FIGS. 55 and 56 which can be used in connection with the fixture rail 204 without the need for gage locator peg bushings or holes provided on the fixture rail 204 itself. In this embodiment, the transducer gage 207 is provided with a pair of fixed spaced-apart downwardly extending fixture rail engaging fingers 223 and 224 which extend outwardly from the front face of the gage 204 so as to bracket the movable spring biased gap check finger 216 therebetween as shown in FIG. 56. As shown in the side elevation view of FIG. 55, the hand held transducer gage 207 can be selectively held in its operative use position on a fixture rail 204 with the downwardly extending fixture rail engaging fingers 223 and 224 in engagement with the front surface of the fixture rail 204 and with the movable biased gap check finger 216 in selective gap check reading contact with the part 105.
As shown in FIG. 58, the transducer gage 225 is mounted on an adjustable fixture rail bushing assembly 233 provided on the fixture rail 234 so as to make an outline (gap) check with respect to the part 105. Thus mounted, the round outline locator shaft 231 is lockably inserted into the fixture rail bushing assembly 233.
Another modififed transducer gage 235 is shown in FIG. 60 which is provided with square contour locator shaft 236 and a square outline locator shaft 237. In all other respects, the transducer gage 235 is similarly used to make an outline (gap) and contour checks as shown in FIGS. 61 and 62, respectively.
A unique fixture rail mount block system is shown in FIGS. 66 through 73 which is adapted to be universally adjustable upon a fixture rail 245. As shown in the bottom view of FIG. 66, a plurality of spaced-apart fixture rail contact extensions 247 and front and rear jack post bolt receiving holes 248a and 249a, respectively, are provided on the bottom surface of the rail mount block 246.
The rail mount block 246 is selectively roll adjustable about its longitudinal axis by use of roll adjusting set screws 253 and 254 acting through corresponding spaced-apart threaded holes 255 and 256, respectively, provided vertically through the rail mount block 246 as shown in FIGS. 67 and the sectional view of FIG. 71 taken on line 71--71 of FIG. 69.
The rail mount block 246 also has a left-right yaw adjustment capability about its central vertical axis by virtue of the fact that the cap screw receiving holes 257 and 258 and the jack post receiving holes 248a and 249a provided therethrough are of a larger diameter than the corresponding cap screws 250 and 251 and jack post bolts 248 and 249 positioned therethrough as shown in FIG. 70.
The ball gage assembly 252 is provided with a simulated trans-ducer gage locator shaft 259 which engages the locator shaft receiving hole 260 provided in the rail mount block 246 so as to verify the proper adjustment of the rail mount block 246 into the desired final operative use position on the fixture rail 245.
As shown in the exploded schematic perspective view of FIG. 75, the various components of the modified rail block mount assembly are shown in their aligned positions prior to assembly. The cap screw receiving holes 269 and 270 are counterbored at 278 and 279, respectively, so as to engage the heads 271a and 272a of the cap screws 271 and 272 as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 78.
As further shown in FIGS. 75 and 78, cap screw engaging holes 280 and 281 are threadably provided in the fixture rail 245 so as to selectively engage the ends of the cap screws 271 and 272 that are freely passed through the cap screw receiving holes 269 and 270 respectively.
In adjustably mounting the rail mount block 266 in its operative use position on the fixture rail 245, the rail mount block 266 is placed in direct engagement on the fixture rail 245 and the cap screws 271 and 272 are inserted through the cap screw receiving holes 269 and 270 and partially threaded into the threaded cap screw engaging holes 280 and 281 provided in the fixture rail 245. Due to the fact that the cap screw receiving holes 269 and 270 are larger in diameter than the diameter of the caps screws 271 and 272 which freely pass therethrough, the rail mount block can be selectively adjusted into its desired position on the fixture rail within the parameters of the differences between the relative diameters of the cap screw receiving holes 269 and 270 and the cap screws 271 and 272 passing therethrough.
After the modified rail mount block 266 has been slidably adjusted into its desired position across the surface of the fixture rail 245 as previously described and shown in FIGS. 72 and 73 and as limited by the already partially installed cap screws, the cap screws 271 and 272 are tightened down as shown in FIG. 78 so as to firmly secure the rail mount block 266 to the fixture rail 245 in its finally adjusted operational use position thereon.
A drill is then passed through the dowel pin holes 273 and 274 so as to drill corresponding dowel pin receiving holes 283 and 284 into the fixture rail 245. For purposes of illustration, the dowel pin receiving holes 283 and 284 that are to be drilled are shown in phantom-line in FIG. 75. After the dowel pin receiving holes 283 and 284 have been drilled into the fixture rail 245, the dowel pins 275 and 276 are then press-fitted partially through the corresponding dowel pin holes 273 and 274 provided through the rail mount block 266 and into the dowel pin receiving holes 283 and 284 in the fixture rail 245 so as to firmly anchor the rail mount block 266 into its final adjusted position on the fixture rail 245. This anchored position and final adjusted position is shown in FIGS. 76-79.
A transducer gage housing is provided with fixture rail-engaging means extending outwardly therefrom. A linear potentiometer is fixedly positioned within the housing. The linear potentiometer has a spring biased linear potentiometer contact pin extending outwardly therefrom. A slidably movable carrier arm is positioned within the housing in selective biased operative engagement with the linear potentiometer spring biased contact pin so as to cause a gaging electrical signal generating movement of the contact pin within the linear potentiometer in response to corresponding movement of the carrier arm.
Means are provided in association with the linear potentiometer so as to transmit the gaging electrical signal generated by movement of the linear potentiometer contact pin within the linear potentiometer to an associated data collector.
In another embodiment of the contur and outline transducer gage assembly, the movable retractor handle member consists of an external retractor cover plate fixedly attached to the carrier arm.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS3382582 *Nov 21, 1966May 14, 1968Robert J. MatsonMagnetic indicating squareUS3670421 *Jan 4, 1971Jun 20, 1972Inspection Eng And Equipment IGaging deviceUS3979835 *Aug 15, 1975Sep 14, 1976International Telephone And Telegraph CorporationMethod and apparatus for measuring carcassesUS3990153 *Feb 5, 1975Nov 9, 1976Michel CalameAutomatic measurement of workpiecesUS4110611 *Dec 17, 1975Aug 29, 1978Candid Logic, Inc.Optical position transducerUS4289382 *Dec 28, 1979Sep 15, 1981Federal Products CorporationMeasurement system for machine partsUS4640014 *Jan 14, 1986Feb 3, 1987Ford Motor CompanyDimensional checking toolUS4658510 *Aug 1, 1985Apr 21, 1987Tesa S.A.Sensor for devices for measuring comparative linear magnitudes* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS5970807 *Aug 26, 1996Oct 26, 1999Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Tweezer position checker* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification33/613, 33/561, 33/644, 33/655International ClassificationG01B5/20, G01B7/28Cooperative ClassificationG01B5/20, G01B7/28European ClassificationG01B7/28, G01B5/20Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionDec 28, 1992FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Jan 2, 1997FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Jan 3, 1997ASAssignmentOwner name: JS ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING, MICHIGANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:STRUBLE, JAMES E.;REEL/FRAME:008251/0433Effective date: 19940602Jan 16, 2001SULPSurcharge for late paymentYear of fee payment: 11Jan 16, 2001FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 12Jan 23, 2001REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedRotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services