Precision electric transducer for position measuring on machine tools

Claim 2

In a precision electric transducer for position measuring on machine tools having a pair of parts relatively slidable with respect to each other along a rectilinear path, a pair of members, each one of said members being secured to a respective one of said parts, a pair of facing planes, each one of said planes being on a respectively one of said members, a pair of windings, each one of said windings being disposed on a respective one of said planes and said windings being so separated from each other by an airgap of predetermined magnitude as to achieve an inductive coupling when at least one of said windings is supplied with an electric signal, the improvement comprising at least a pair of spaced opposed recesses on one of said members, a grooved guide carried by the other of said members and interposed between said opposed recesses, at least a pair of grooves in said guide, one of said grooves facing each of said recesses, a plurality of calibrated generally cylindrical sliding blocks inserted between said grooves and said recesses in such a manner as to insure that the magnitude of said airgap remains constant during the relative movement of said pair of parts.

Claim 3

A precision electric transducer according to claim 1, comprising at least a plurality of plates closing the ends of said recesses, and a pair of pins fixed in each of the recesses, each plate and pin holding the corresponding sliding block in position longitudinally.

Claim 4

A precision electric transducer according to claim 1, comprising at least one seat in each of said recesses, and a spring inserted in each and change said seat to force sliding blocks against said guide.

Claim 5

In a precision electric transducer for precision measuring on machine tools having a pair of parts relatively movable in a predetermined direction, a pair of members each one secured to one of said parts, a pair of facing planes on said members, a pair of windings disposed on said planes and separated by a predetermined air gap for achieving an inductive coupling therebetween when at least one of said windings is supplied with an electric signal, a first guide carried by one of said parts, and a second guide carried by the other of said parts, the improvement comprising a plurality of elements located between said first guide and said second guide and movable with one of said members in said predetermiend direction, said guides being so shaped as to cause said windings to be separated by said predetermined airgap, and yieldable means urging said intermediate elements in another direction to cause said element to constantly contact one of said guides, whereby said airgap is maintained constant.

Claim 6

In a precision electric transducer for precision measuring on machine tools having a pair of parts relatively movable in a predetermined direction, a pair of members each one secured to one of said parts, a pair of facing planes on said members, a pair of windings disposed on said planes and separated by a predetermined air gap for achieving an inductive coupling therebetween when at least one of said windings is supplied with an electric signal, a first guide carried by one of said parts, and a second guide carried by the other of said parts, the improvement comprising a plurality of elements located between said first guide and said second guide and movable with one of said members in said predetermiend direction, said guides being so shaped as to cause said windings to be separated by said predetermined airgap, and yieldable means urging said intermediate elements in another direction to cause said element to constantly contact one of said guides, whereby said airgap is maintained constant.

Claim 7

In a precision electric transducer for position measuring on machine tools having a pair of parts concentrically rotatable with respect to each other, a pair of discs, each one of said discs being carried by a respective one of said parts, a pair of facing planes, each one of said planes being on a respective one of said discs, a pair of windings, each of said windings being disposed on a respective one of said planes and said windings being separated by an airgap of predetermined magnitude so as to achieve an inductive coupling when at least one of said windings is supplied with an electric signal, the improvement comprising a plurality of calibrated balls interposed circumferentially between said pair of discs, and wherein one of said discs is coupled to its respective one of said parts by means of a third disc interposed between said one disc and said respective part, said third disc being flexible so as to compensate for axial movement between said pair of parts, and means exerting an axial thrust on said third disc to hold said pair of discs in contact with said balls so that said air gap remains constant during relative rotation of said pair of discs independently of the relative axial movement of said parts.

Claim 8

In a precision electric transducer for position measuring on machine tools having a pair of parts concentrically rotatable with respect to each other, a pair of discs, each one of said discs being carried by a respective one of said parts, a pair of facing planes, each one of said planes being on a respective one of said discs, a pair of windings, each of said windings being disposed on a respective one of said planes and said windings being separated by an airgap of predetermined magnitude so as to achieve an inductive coupling when at least one of said windings is supplied with an electric signal, the improvement comprising a plurality of calibrated balls interposed circumferentially between said pair of discs, and wherein one of said discs is coupled to its respective one of said parts by means of a third disc interposed between said one disc and said respective part, said third disc being flexible so as to compensate for axial movement between said pair of parts, and means exerting an axial thrust on said third disc to hold said pair of discs in contact with said balls so that said air gap remains constant during relative rotation of said pair of discs independently of the relative axial movement of said parts.