Abstract A non-contact method is provided for measuring the dimensions and form of an unknown surface by means of a transducer or sensor probe presented to the surface and determining the variations in capacity of electrical flux between said discrete capacitance electrode in the sensor and the adjacent unknown surface. To investigate the variations in the diameter and profile of a bore 33 a probe 30 having at least two angularly spaced capacitance electrodes 31 may be advanced along the axis of the bore and the capacitance values between each electrode and the adjoining surface measured. In another variant a single capacitative transducer probe may be moved over a surface to be measured. The probe may have an air supply duct discharging through one or more orifices adjacent the or each electrode to clean the unknown surface and (in the case of measurement within a bore) to provide a self-centering action.
1 . A non-contact method for measuring the dimensions and/or form of an unknown surface by means of a transducer or sensor probe presented to the surface and determining the variations in capacity or electrical flux between at least one discrete capacitance electrode in the transducer or sensor and the adjacent unknown surface wherein either sensor having one or more capacitance electrodes is scanned in two dimensions over the surface or a sensor having at least two electrodes is moved linearly passed the surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
1 . A non-contact method for measuring the dimensions and/or form of an unknown surface by means of a transducer or sensor probe presented to the surface and determining the variations in capacity or electrical flux between at least one discrete capacitance electrode in the transducer or sensor and the adjacent unknown surface wherein either sensor having one or more capacitance electrodes is scanned in two dimensions over the surface or a sensor having at least two electrodes is moved linearly passed the surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the surface being measured is the interior of a bore and the probe is of cylindrical form and is of slightly.smaller diameter than the bore and has one or more capacitative electrodes in its outer surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 2, which comprises measuring the capacity between the interior of the bore and two or more capacitative electrodes circumferentially spaced at equi-angular intervals in an annulus on said probe or in two or more axially spaced annuli. on said probe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the body of the probe is conducting and has conductive electrodes set into it and insulated from the probe body by regions of insulating material. :
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the surface being measured is the interior of a bore or another surface curved in two or three dimensions and the probe is substantially smaller than the diameter of the bore or the radius of curvature of the surface and is traversed over the surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein one or more sensing electrodes is grouped in a limited sector of the probe, and the probe is rotated as it is scanned so as always to present the same face to the surface being scanned.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the probe is generally cylindrical.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
' A method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the probe is generally spherical.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
27 words
A method according to any of claims 5 to 8, wherein the probe is moved so as to maintain a constant spacing from the surface being scanned.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the probe is in the form of a three dimensional electrode array conforming to the surface being scanned.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein the probe includes electrode needles insulated from one another with their tips ground to the shape of the surface being explored.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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