Multiaxis inspection system

Abstract

Abstract A BEARING ARRANGEMENT FOR THE MOVABLE CARRIAGES OF A MULTIAXIS INSPECTION SYSTEM COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND MUTUALLY ORTHOGONAL SHAFTS, FIRST AND SECOND CARRIAGES, THE SECOND SHAFT BEING SECURED TO THE FIRST CARRIAGE, BEARING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE FIRST AND SECOND CARRIAGES FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE FIRST AND SECOND SHAFTS, RESPECTIVELY, THE BEARING MEANS FOR EACH OF THE CARRIAGES COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND SETS OF RECIRCULATING BALLS WHICH CONTACT THE SHAFTS AT A PLURALITY OF POINTS ALONG TWO LINES ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE CIRCUMFERENCE THEREOF ABOVE THE LONGITUDINAL AXES, AND CONSTRAINT, SLIDE BEARING MEANS SPACED FROM AND BELOW THE SHAFTS FOR PREVENTING ROTATION OF THE FIRST AND SECOND CARRIAGES ABOUT THE LONGITUDINAL AXES OF THE FIRST AND SECOND SHAFTS, RESPECTIVELY. THE SETS OF RECIRCULATING BALLS AND THE CONSTRAINT, SLIDE BEARING MEANS FROM THREE-POINT SUPPORTS FOR THE CARRIAGES. THE SECOND CARRIAGE SUPPORTS A PROBE FOR MOVEMENT ALONG AN AXIS WHICH IS ORTHOGONAL TO THE AXES OF THE FIRST AND SECOND SHAFTS. THE SHAFTS MAY BE ROTATED IN ORDER TO SELECT THE LOCATION OF THE TWO LINES CONTACTED BY THE BALLS, THE CONSTRAINT, SLIDE BEARING MEANS MAY BE ADJUSTED TO INSURE LINEAR MOTION OF THE CARRIAGES, AND THE ANGLES BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND SHAFTS MAY BE ADJUSTED TO INSURE PERPENDICULARITY THEREBETWEEN.

Inventors

• 👤 Clair L Farrand

Bibliographic Details