Abstract:
A method and device are provided for disposing a part of a generally cylindrical work piece in a path of a laser beam such that a first portion of the beam passes by one side of the work piece, positioning a laser beam receiving processor in a manner to receive the first portion of the laser beam in order to enable a determination a size of the part, disposing another part of the generally cylindrical work piece in a generally V-shaped seat such that the work piece contacts two sides of the V-shaped seat, and applying sufficient force on the second part in a manner to cause slidable rotation of the work piece in the V-shaped seat while maintaining contact with the two sides.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to measuring devices, particularly, micrometers. Specifically, the micrometer of the present invention includes a novel fixture as well as method and processor for determining the maximum diameter of a work piece along the length of the work piece. 
     2. Related Art 
     There exists numerous micrometers, gauges and instruments and methods for measuring parts. The ability gain an accurate measurement of the part is a function of the limitations of the method and device as well as the particular characteristics of the part to be measured. For example, parts can be hard, soft, radioactive, delicate, sterile, brittle, etc. In the case of parts which cannot be handled in the area of measurement in order to obtain accuracy, non-contact gauging methods and devices have been employed. 
     One technique which has been employed to obtain accurate measurements in non-contact environments is to employ a laser transmitter, receiver, and processor. The laser transmitter passes beam of light wider than the object to be measured and a receiver detects the portion of the beam which passes about the object. The portion of the beam which does not pass to the receiver generally represents the size of the object. The received beam is manipulated by the processor to provide a readout of the size of the object. 
     While this type of measuring device and method has proved to be very useful, there remains a need to improve the technology. For example, the existing techniques do not provide for accurate measurement where high degree of tolerances are required. The object&#39;s circumference often varies in size and depending on its position in which it is placed in the path of the beam, e.g., a cylindrical piece will vary in its circumference as it is rotated. 
     Thus, there is a need to provide a quick and reliable method and device for accurately ascertaining the size of objects. The present invention provides such a device and method. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object to improve measuring techniques. 
     It is a further object to improve upon the devices for measuring. 
     It is another object to improve upon laser micrometer devices and measuring techniques using the same. 
     Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method of measuring a part, such as tubing, pipe, hose, cable, for example. The method includes the steps of 
     (a) disposing a first part of a generally cylindrical work piece in a path of a laser beam such that a first portion of the beam passes by one side of the work piece; 
     (b) positioning a laser beam receiving processor in a manner to receive the first portion of the laser beam in order to enable a determination a size of the first part; 
     (c) disposing a second part of the generally cylindrical work piece in a generally V-shaped seat such that the work piece contacts two sides of the V-shaped seat; and 
     (d) applying sufficient force on the second part in a manner to cause slidable rotation of the work piece in the V-shaped seat while maintaining contact with the two sides. The method further characterizes the step of (a) as disposing the first part in the laser beam such that a second portion of the laser beam passes by another side of the work piece. 
     The method further characterizes the step (b) to position the laser beam receiving processor in a manner to receive the second portion of the laser beam in order to enable a determination a size of the first part, wherein the size is determined as a function of distance between first portion and the second portion of laser beam. The method may also be characterized as having a known laser beam scan width and performing a plurality of size determinations as the work piece is rotated to determine the maximum and minimum size of the first part. The method further includes disposing the work piece perpendicular to a path of the laser beam. The method may also include passing the laser beam axially across the work piece. 
     In another embodiment, the invention is directed to a fixture for use with a laser micrometer. The fixture includes a V-shaped seat having a first side surface and a second side surface, wherein the surfaces form a seat to receive a generally cylindrical work piece, and apparatus for rotating the work piece in a manner to cause slidable rotation of the work piece in the V-shaped seat while maintaining contact with the two sides. 
     Still another embodiment includes a laser micrometer for generating a laser beam path such that a first portion of the beam passes by one side of a work piece, and a laser beam receiving processor in a manner to receive the first portion of the laser beam in order to enable a determination a size of the first part. The laser micrometer includes the V-shaped fixture operably connected thereto. 
     Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon viewing the drawings and reading the detailed description hereafter. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 a  a is a perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1 b  is another perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side front view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 a  is another side front view of a part of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a left side view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 a  is another side view of a fixture of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the fixture of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 a  is a perspective view of a V-block assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 b  is an exploded perspective view of the V-block assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 c  is a perspective view of a drive assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 d  is an exploded perspective view of the drive assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of the fixture of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 depicts a measuring technique employed with the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 depicts another measuring technique employed with the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 depicts yet another measuring technique employed with the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 depicts still another measuring technique employed with the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 depicts a schematic of a laser beam emitting device of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, the device of present invention is generally denoted by the numeral  10 . The device  10  includes a laser micrometer  100  having a housing  102  including an emitting portion  102   a  and receiving portion  102   b  connected via a base portion  102   c  all of which is disposed on a support plate  101 . A fixture  200  is operably connected to the base portion  102   c  between the portions  102   a  and  102   b  and support plate  101 . 
     The emitting portion  102   a  includes an open surface  104   a  on a side  106   a , as seen in FIG. 1 a , through which a laser beam may pass. The emitting portion  102   a  includes a laser beam emitting device  300  operably disposed therein in a manner to emit a laser beam through the open surface  104   a  toward an open surface  104   b  of a side  106   b  of the receiving portion  102   b  which is received by a receiving device  350  as seen in FIG. 1 b.    
     As represented in FIG. 11, the laser beam device  300  includes a powerable rotatable scanner  302 , edge sensing optics  304 , collimator lens  306  and  308  through which a laser beam scan  309  passes prior to exiting through the open surface  104   a . Also, included is powerable laser  310  which is preferably a low power HeNe Laser (other recognized lasers in the art may also be employed to carry out the invention), beam shaping optics  312 , and fold mirrors  314  and  316 . A processor  320  is also provided for controlling the operation of the laser beam device  310  and scanner  302  to produce the laser beam scan  309 . The particular orientation of these components as shown are for purposes of illustration and not intended to be limiting in the invention. The laser beam scan  309  is formed by energizing the laser  310  to cause a laser beam  311  to be passed through the beam shaping optics  312 , fold mirrors  314 ,  316 , a peripheral edge of the lens  308 ,  306  and optics  304  to the scanner  302  whereat the beam  311  is transformed into laser beam scan  309 . 
     A laser beam receiving device  350  is operably disposed within the portion  102   b  in a manner to receive the laser beam scan  309 . The laser beam receiving device  350  includes a collector lens  352  for initially receiving the laser beam scan  309  as it enters through the open surface  104   b . Photodiode and edge sensing preamplifier electronics  354  are operably disposed to receive the collected laser beam scan  309 . The photodiode and edge sensing preamplifier electronics  354  are operably connected to the processor  320  to supply a signal feedback which when an object is disposed in the path of the scan  309  can be indicative of size of the object. 
     The processor  320  is operably associated with resident software code for performing various measuring functions such as measuring: bow and straightness-slope as represented in FIG. 7; effective cutting tool diameter as represented in FIG. 8; flute—flute variation as represented in FIG. 9; or effective taper as represented in FIG.  10 . These representations are not intended to be limiting of the invention, but are exemplary in the potential functions of the invention. For FIG. 8, d, represents the distance from a top of a reference edge  277  to a top of a tool T and d 2  represents the distance from a top edge of the reference edge  277  to a bottom of the tool T. As the tool T is rotated, as will be apparent from the description herein, the resident software continues to recalculate d 1  and d 2  until a maximum d 1  and minimum d 2  are determined. Then the resident software calculates the difference between d 1  and d 2 . 
     Similarly, FIG. 9 depicts the distance d from the top of a reference edge  277  to a bottom of the tool T which reflects the flute—flute variation in a drill bit. The resident software recalculates d as the tool T is rotated and a maximum d and minimum d determined. The resident software calculates the difference between these values as the flute—flute variation. 
     FIG. 10 depicts how effective taper is calculated. Here, the resident software calculates the effective cutting tool diameter at two different axial positions p 0  and p 1  to produce the effective cutting tool diameters d 0  and d 1 . The taper or slope can also be calculated by the resident software using the following formula: taper=y/x=0.5(d 1 −d 0 )/(p 1 −p 0 ); and the taper angle α=tan −1 (y/x). 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a further capability of the present invention by measuring bow and straightness. Here the effective cutting diameter is measured in three positions p 0 , p 1 , and p 2  along the tool T to produce measurements d 0 , d 1 , and d 2 . The angle α between the cutting surfaces is obtained by the software as follows: y 0 /x 0 =0.5(d 1 −d 0 )/(p 1 −p 0 ); y 1 /x 1 =0.5(d 2 −d 1 )/(p 2 −p 1 ); and the angle between the effective cutting surfaces α=tan −1 (y 1 /x 1 )−tan −1 (y 0 /x 0 ). 
     The present invention enables accurate measurements such as these to be taken which were not heretofore readily obtainable. The present inventions capability to obtain such measurements is highly useful in that they provide critical information about the work piece, here described as the tool T. 
     Returning now to the description of the other components as seen the remaining drawings, a display screen  108  is operably disposed in the housing portion  102  to permit the user to visually read the measurements made by the device  10 . The display screen  108  is preferably a touch sensitive display as is available in the art and is operably connected to the processor  320  to control the measurement operation of the device  10 . 
     The processor  320  is preferably integrally disposed within the housing  100 , but may be external of the housing  100  or associated with another processor to perform any of the functions described herein. The processor  320  includes an operating system, operably associated memory and the above described programmable software resident thereon for operating the device  10 . Particularly, the processor  320  controls the device  10  in a manner to enable measurement of an object, such as the tool T, when disposed on the fixture  200  such that the object, tool T, is in the path of the laser scan  309  as seen in FIG.  11 . 
     Turning to FIGS. 5,  5   a - 5   d , the fixture  200  is shown in an exploded form with the support plate  101 . The fixture  200  includes a base plate which is removably connected to the base portion  102   c  (shown in FIG. 2, e.g.). The base plate includes two pieces  202   a  and  202   b  removably connectable via screws  105  being threaded through bored surfaces  207  to threaded open surfaces (not shown) in the piece  202   b . It is contemplated that the base plate can be a single one piece unit. 
     A rear portion of the base plate piece  202   a  connects to a support  109  which in turn fixably connects to the support plate  101 . The base plate piece  202   a  includes threaded surfaces  209  and support  109  includes bored surfaces  111 . Screws  113  connect through bored surfaces  111  to threaded surfaces  209  to secure the piece  202   a  to the support  109 . The support  109  also includes screws  115  which threadably connect through bored surfaces (not shown) in the support  109  to threaded surfaces (not shown) in support plate  101 . 
     A linear slide rail  204  is removably connected to the base plate piece  202   a  via screws  211  extending through bored surfaces (not shown) in the slide rail  204  and which threadably connect to threaded surfaces  117  in the piece  202   a . The linear slide rail  204  has a drive screw  203  which is threadably connected to a threaded nut (not shown) which is located within the square plate  204   a  shown attached in the center of the slide  204 . 
     Operably connected to the drive screw  203  of the linear slide  204  is a linear motor  250  which is operably connected to processor  320 . A housing  252  houses the linear motor  250  and connects to a rear of the linear slide  204 . The linear motor  250  controls rotation of the drive screw  203  and the horizontal movement of a chassis  205  which is interconnected to the square plate  204   a  via a slide connection plate  213 . 
     The slide support chassis  205  has an upper support plate  206  and a lower angle support plate  208  which are interconnected via the chassis  205 . The chassis  205  further includes sub-parts  205   a ,  205   b ,  205   c ,  205   d ,  205   e  and  205   f    205   a  is a main vertical support and holds a vertical slide  205   d  in position. Gussets  205   b  supportively connect the upper plate  206  and lower plate  208  to minimize deflection. Cross plate  205   c  holds a nut  205   g  for the vertical lead screw  600 . Vertical slide  205   d  enables the v-block assembly  210  to adjust up and down. An adjustment bracket  205   e  is enables connection of a magnetic end stop  260  and connects to a cross roller slide  205   f  which connect to slide plate  213 . 
     The vertically movably connected lead screw  600  extends through an open surface  603  in the chassis piece  205   c  and open surface  602  of the upper support plate  206 . The lead screw  600  has an end  601  which is connected to a gear box assembly  700 . A bearing  605  is seated within a plate  607 , wherein the bearing  605  connects to the lead screw  600 . 
     The gear box assembly  700  includes a shaft connection plate  702 , a subhousing  704  which operably retains the shaft connection plate  702 , a gear shaft  706  operably connected to the subhousing  704  and shaft connection plate  702 , a gear box  708  with gears (not shown) therein operably connected to gear shaft  706 . Housing  710  is disposed about the recited parts and a knob  712  operably connects through the housing  710  to the gear box  708 . The lead screw  600  connects to the gear shaft  706 . The knob  712  operates the gear box  708  and in turn raising and lowering the lower angle support plate  208 . 
     Mounted to the lower support plate  208  is a removable V-block assembly  210 . FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  best show the V-block assembly which includes a retaining plate  212  having a recessed surface  214  with bored surfaces  216  (four shown), and bored surfaces  218  (two shown) extending through the retaining plate  212 . A V-shaped seat  220  is made up of two portions  220   a  and  220   b  having respective facing slanting side surfaces  222   a  and  222   b , respectively, having their lower edges  224   a  and  224   b , respectively meeting as seen in FIG. 5 a  with the portions  220   a  and  220   b  seated in the retaining plate  212 . Within each surface  222   a  and  222   b  is a recessed surface  226   a  and  226   b , respectively, to receive V-shaped bearings  228 . The bearings  228  have an exposed arcuate surface when seated in the recessed surfaces  226   a  and  226   b . The V-shaped bearings  228  are preferably made of a carbide material and are bonded into the recessed surfaces  226   a  and  226   b . The V-shaped bearings  228  serve as the seat for the work object, e.g., tool T. 
     Screws  230  extend through the bored surfaces  216  and thread to threaded surfaces (not shown) in bottom surfaces (not shown) of portions  220   a  and  220   b . The retaining plate  212  is secured to threaded bored surfaces (not shown) in the lower support plate  208  via screws  232 . 
     The optional end stop  260  is connectable adjacent the V-block assembly  210 . The end stop  260  can be magnetic to aid in holding metal work objects in the seat of the V-shaped bearings  228 . Unnumbered parts in FIG. 5 are connector pieces which connect the parts described herein. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5 c  and  5   d , a removable drive assembly  400  is depicted. A support mount plate  402  is shown with bored surfaces  404  (four) and  406  (two). Screws  408  enable mounting of the mount plate  402  to threaded bored surfaces  410  and  412  of side pieces  414  and  416 , respectively. The removable drive assembly  400  is removably connected to the intermediate support plate  207  via screws  409  passed through bored surfaces  406  and are threaded to threaded bored surfaces  449 . Bored bearing surfaces  418  (three) and  420  (three) in side pieces  414  and  416 , respectively, receive ends of axles  422 . The axles  422  include wheels  424  connected thereon. One axle  422   a  includes an additional centrally connected drive wheel  426 . 
     Flexible belts  428  are operatively disposed about the wheels  424 . Additionally, there are provided roller tension bars  430  which seat in bored bearing surfaces  432  and  434  of the side pieces  414  and  416 , respectively. Additional roller bars  431  which seat in bored bearing surfaces  433  and  435  of the side pieces  414  and  416 , respectively, serve to provide a nip there between against which a cylindrical object, tool T, can be rotated by frictional moving engagement of the belts  428 . 
     As seen in FIG. 5, the upper support plate  206  includes four guide open bushing surfaces  436  which slidably receive guide pins  438  therethrough which extend toward and are fixed to an intermediate support plate  207  in bored surfaces  440 . The guide pins  438  have one end fixed to intermediate support plate  207  and another end which extends through open bushing surface  436  and connect to screw-on heads  441  which prevent the guide pins  438  from sliding out of the bushing surfaces  436 . Springs  443  are disposed about each of the guide pins  438  and bias against the upper support plate  206  and the intermediate support plate  207 . 
     A vertical positioning screw  550  is operably movably disposed through an open surface  552  in the upper support plate  206  and fixably connects to the intermediate support plate  207  in a manner to enable vertical positioning of parts connected thereto. There is a lead screw nut (not shown) that is secured into the knob  556  and by turning the knob  556  the  550  lead screw is drawn up through the  206  plate. The  550  lead screw is attached to a bracket  506  which is attached to the intermediate support plate  207 . Turning of the knob  556  enables the shaft  550  to move draw the intermediate support plate  207  to a vertical desired position. 
     A housing  445  removably slidably connects about pins  447  in the intermediate support plate  207  to cover the upper support plate  206 , guide pins  438 , springs  443 , vertical positioning screw  550  and intermediate support plate  207 . Another housing portion  554  removably connects to the upper support plate  206  to cover the heads  441 , guide pins  438  and shaft  550 . The housing  554  includes an open surface  555  through which a knob  556  extends and connects to the shaft  550 . 
     The intermediate support plate  207  includes a slotted surface  451 . A rotatable drive motor  500  is operably connected to an upper surface of the intermediate support plate  207  and includes a drive shaft  502  and operably connected drive wheel  503  which extends over the slotted surface  451 . The central drive wheel  426  is disposed beneath the slotted surface  451 . A drive belt  505  is operably disposed about the drive wheel  503  and drive wheel  426 . The motor  500  is operably connected to the computer based processor  320  and a power source (not shown). Also, operably connected to the drive wheel  503  is a bearing  507  and shaft drive belt with roller  509 . 
     A reference edge assembly  270  is threadably connected to the lower angle support plate  208  via screws  272  through bored surfaces  274  of an assembly mounting plate  275  to threaded surfaces  276  of the lower angle support plate  208 . A reference edge bar  277  is threadably connected to the assembly mounting plate  275  via screws  278  through bored surfaces  279  thereof to threaded surfaces (not shown) of the assembly mounting plate  275 . 
     When assembled, the fixture  200  enables the tool T to be held between the drive assembly  400  and V block assembly  210  in a slidably rotatable manner. As the drive belts  428  movingly contact the cylindrical tool T, the tool T naturally tends to creep out of its seat. However, the design of the V-shaped seat  428  in conjunction with the nip formed by the roller bars  431  maintain the tool T in its seat during turning of the tool T in order to obtain the measurements as described above. Additionally, the vertical adjustments aid in optimizing the rotatability as well slidability of the tool T. 
     The above described embodiment is set forth by way of example and is not for the purpose of limiting the present invention. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that obvious modifications, derivations and variations can be made to the embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the claims appended hereto should be read in their full scope including any such modifications, derivations and variations.