Abrasive element dimension sensing mechanism

Claim 2

A mechanism for sensing the dimension of a rotating abrasive element movable linearly toward and from a workpiece comprising a sensing member in contact with the abrasive element, the sensing member forming a part of a transducer device initially set to a zero reference point, the sensing member being moved radially of the abrasive element upon any change in the radial dimension thereof, said movement causing a deviation from the zero reference point in the transducer device, circuit means responsive to the transducer device deviations to move the abrasive element linearly relative to the workpiece to compensate for the change in radial dimensions.

Claim 3

A sensing mechanism as defined in claim 1 including means to set the transducer device to a new zero reference point when wear occurs on the sensing member.

Claim 4

A sensing mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said transducer device produces a linear output signal.

Claim 5

A sensing mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said transducer device is mounted on a slide movable radially of the abrasive element for initial positioning of the sensing member relative to the abrasive element.

Claim 6

A sensing mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said transducer device is mounted on a slide movable transversely relative to the abrasive element for sensing changes in the radial dimension thereof at selected points thereacross.

Claim 7

In a mechanism for sensing the precise position of a rotating abrasive element having an operating surface, the abrasive element being movable linearly towards or away from a workpiece, the improvement comprising a hardened sensing pad adapted to continually contact the operating surface of the abrasive element, the sensing pad forming an extremity of a transducer device set to a zero reference point and being movable along a radius of the abrasive element to maintain contact therewith upon any change in its radial dimEnsions, the movement of the sensing pad causing a corresponding deviation from the zero reference point in the transducer device, and circuit means responsive to such transducer deviations to move the abrasive element linearly towards or away from the workpiece to compensate for the change in radial dimensions, said transducer device being mounted on slide means movable transversely with respect to the abrasive element operating surface to permit changes in the radial dimensions thereof to be sensed at any desired point thereacross.

Claim 8

In a mechanism for sensing the precise position of a rotating abrasive element having an operating surface, the abrasive element being movable linearly towards or away from a workpiece, the improvement comprising a hardened sensing pad adapted to continually contact the operating surface of the abrasive element, the sensing pad forming an extremity of a transducer device set to a zero reference point and being movable along a radius of the abrasive element to maintain contact therewith upon any change in its radial dimEnsions, the movement of the sensing pad causing a corresponding deviation from the zero reference point in the transducer device, and circuit means responsive to such transducer deviations to move the abrasive element linearly towards or away from the workpiece to compensate for the change in radial dimensions, said transducer device being mounted on slide means movable transversely with respect to the abrasive element operating surface to permit changes in the radial dimensions thereof to be sensed at any desired point thereacross.

Claim 9

A sensing mechanism as defined in claim 5 together with means cooperable with the sensing pad for setting the transducer device to a new zero reference point when the pad becomes worn.

Claim 10

A sensing mechanism as defined in claim 5 wherein said transducer device produces a linear output signal.

Claim 11

In a mechanism for sensing the precise position of a rotating abrasive element having an operating surface, the abrasive element being movable linearly towards or away from a workpiece, the improvement comprising a hardened sensing pad adapted to continually contact the operating surface of the abrasive element, the sensing pad forming an extremity of a transducer device set to a zero reference point and being movable along a radius of the abrasive element to maintain contact therewith upon any change in its radial dimensions, the movement of the sensing pad causing a corresponding deviation from the zero reference point in the transducer device, circuit means responsive to such transducer deviations to move the abrasive element linearly towards or away from the workpiece to compensate for the change in radial dimensions, means to move the transducer device radially of the abrasive element to withdraw the sensing pad from contact with element operating surface, and normally retracted means movable into the radial path and engageable by the pad, said normally retracted means providing a fixed reference point for enabling sensing pad wear to be detected whereby the transducer device can be set to a new zero reference point to compensate for the pad wear.

Claim 12

In a mechanism for sensing the precise position of a rotating abrasive element having an operating surface, the abrasive element being movable linearly towards or away from a workpiece, the improvement comprising a hardened sensing pad adapted to continually contact the operating surface of the abrasive element, the sensing pad forming an extremity of a transducer device set to a zero reference point and being movable along a radius of the abrasive element to maintain contact therewith upon any change in its radial dimensions, the movement of the sensing pad causing a corresponding deviation from the zero reference point in the transducer device, circuit means responsive to such transducer deviations to move the abrasive element linearly towards or away from the workpiece to compensate for the change in radial dimensions, means to move the transducer device radially of the abrasive element to withdraw the sensing pad from contact with element operating surface, and normally retracted means movable into the radial path and engageable by the pad, said normally retracted means providing a fixed reference point for enabling sensing pad wear to be detected whereby the transducer device can be set to a new zero reference point to compensate for the pad wear.

Claim 13

A sensing mechanism as defined in claim 8 wherein said transducer device produces a linear output signal.

Claim 14

A sensing mechanism as defined in claim 8 wherein said transducer device and its radial movement means are mounted on a slide movable transversely to the abrasive element operating surface for sensing changes in the radial dimension thereof at selected points thereacross.