Traversing mechanisms

Claim 2

A traversing mechanism for lead screw means constituted by a lead screw of a first larger diameter, or constituted by a lead screw of a second smaller diameter, contained in a tubular shell with which the second lead screw is constrained to rotate, the second lead screw and shell thus providing a cartridge that is exchangeable with the first lead screw, the traversing mechanism comprising: a casing; first traverse means in said casing for substantially essentially linearly traversing a lead screw means; second traverse means in said casing for substantially essentially angularly rotating the lead screw means; a nut, threadable on the lead screw means, said nut being connected with said first traverse means for rotation; means linearly restraining said nut, so that the lead screw means, rather than the nut, will move axially when the nut is rotated while threaded on the lead screw means; further in combination with the said second lead screw and shell.

Claim 3

A traversing mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the nut on the leadscrew is linearly restrained by a bolt which is loosely screwed into the mounting and which is constrained to rotate with the leadscrew, the pitch of the thread on the bolt being the same as that of the thread on the leadscrew, but of opposite hand.

Claim 4

A traversing mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein the transitional element is a flange which has on one face, adjacent to the periphery, tongues which fit slots in the nut of the linear traverse means, and which is splined to the nut on the leadscrew.

Claim 5

A traversing mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein the leadscrew is connected by a sheathed cable to a remotely situated probe, the probe being housed at least partly within a casing securable to a structure, the sheath being secured at one end to the mounting of the mechanism and at the other end to the casing.

Claim 6

A traversing mechanism as claimed in claim 4 wherein the probe movement is biased in one direction by pneumatic pressure acting on a piston secured to the probe and slidable within the casing.

Claim 7

A traversing mechanism as claimed in claim 1 further including a spring which acts between the linearly restrained nut and a structure of the rotational means for preventing linear backlash of the lead screw.

Claim 8

A traversing mechanism as claimed in claim 6 wherein the nut on the leadscrew is linearly restrained by a bolt which is loosely screwed into the mounting and which is constrained to rotate with the leadscrew, the pitch of the thread on the bolt being the same as that of the thread on the leadscrew, but of opposite hand.

Claim 9

A traversing mechanism as claimed in claim 7 wherein the transitional element is a flange which has on one face, adjacent to the periphery, tongues which fit slots in the nut of the linear traverse means, and which is splined to the nut on the leadscrew.

Claim 10

A traversing mechanism as claimed in claim 7 wherein the leadscrew is connected by a sheathed cable to a remotely situated probe, the probe being housed at least partly within a casing securable to a structure, the sheath being secured at one end to the mounting of the mechanism and at the other end to the casing.

Claim 11

A traversing mechanism as claimed in claim 9 wherein the probe movement is biased in one direction by pneumatic pressure acting as a piston secured to the probe and slidable within the casing.

Claim 12

A traversing mechanism for lead screw means constituted by a lead screw of a first larger diameter, or constituted by a lead screw of a second smaller diameter, contained in a tubular shell with which the second lead screw is constrained to rotate, the second lead screw and shell thus providing a cartridge that is exchangeable with the first lead screw, the traversing mechanism comprising: a casing; first traverse means in said casing for substantially essentially linearly traversing a lead screw means; second traverse means in said casing for substantially essentially angularly rotating the lead screw means; a nut, threadable on the lead screw means, said nut being connected with first traverse means for rotation; means linearly restraining said nut, so that the lead screw means, rather than the nut, will move axially when the nut is rotated while threaded on the lead screw means; a said first lead screw; the linearly restrained nut being linearly restrained by a bolt which is loosely screwed into the mounting and which is constrained to rotate with the leadscrew, the pitch of the thread on the bolt being the same as that of the thread on the leadscrew, but of opposite hand.

Claim 13

A traversing mechanism for lead screw means constituted by a lead screw of a first larger diameter, or constituted by a lead screw of a second smaller diameter, contained in a tubular shell with which the second lead screw is constrained to rotate, the second lead screw and shell thus providing a cartridge that is exchangeable with the first lead screw, the traversing mechanism comprising: a casing; first traverse means in said casing for substantially essentially linearly traversing a lead screw means; second traverse means in said casing for substantially essentially angularly rotating the lead screw means; a nut, threadable on the lead screw means, said nut being connected with first traverse means for rotation; means linearly restraining said nut, so that the lead screw means, rather than the nut, will move axially when the nut is rotated while threaded on the lead screw means; a said first lead screw; the linearly restrained nut being linearly restrained by a bolt which is loosely screwed into the mounting and which is constrained to rotate with the leadscrew, the pitch of the thread on the bolt being the same as that of the thread on the leadscrew, but of opposite hand.

Claim 14

A traversing mechanism as claimed in claim 11 wherein the leadscrew is connected by a sheathed cable to a remotely situated probe, the probe being housed at least partly within a casing securable to a structure, the sheath being secured at one end to the mounting of the mechanism and at the other end to the casing.

Claim 15

A traversing mechanism as claimed in claim 12 wherein the probe movement is biased in one direction by pneumatic pressure acting on a piston secured to the probe and slidable within the casing.

Claim 16

A traversing mechanism for lead screw means constituted by a lead screw of a first larger diameter, or constituted by a lead screw of a second smaller diameter, contained in a tubular shell with which the second lead screw is constrained to rotate, the second lead screw and shell thus providing a cartridge that is exchangeable with the first lead screw, the traversing mechanism comprising: a casing; first traverse means in said casing for substantially essentially linearly traversing a lead screw means; second traverse means in said casing for substantially essentially angularly rotating the lead screw means; a nut, threadable on the lead screw means, said nut being connected with said first traverse means for rotation; means linearly restraining said nut, so that the lead screw means, rather than the nut, will move axially when the nut is rotated while threaded on the lead screw means; a said first lead screw; a spring acting between the linearly restrained nut and a structure of the rotational means for preventing linear back-lash of the lead screw; the linearly restrained nut being linearly restrained by a bolt which is loosely screwed into the mounting and which is constrained to rotate with the leadscrew, the pitch of the thread on the bolt being the same as that of the thread on the leadscrew, but of opposite hand.

Claim 17

A traversing mechanism for lead screw means constituted by a lead screw of a first larger diameter, or constituted by a lead screw of a second smaller diameter, contained in a tubular shell with which the second lead screw is constrained to rotate, the second lead screw and shell thus providing a cartridge that is exchangeable with the first lead screw, the traversing mechanism comprising: a casing; first traverse means in said casing for substantially essentially linearly traversing a lead screw means; second traverse means in said casing for substantially essentially angularly rotating the lead screw means; a nut, threadable on the lead screw means, said nut being connected with said first traverse means for rotation; means linearly restraining said nut, so that the lead screw means, rather than the nut, will move axially when the nut is rotated while threaded on the lead screw means; a said first lead screw; a spring acting between the linearly restrained nut and a structure of the rotational means for preventing linear back-lash of the lead screw; the linearly restrained nut being linearly restrained by a bolt which is loosely screwed into the mounting and which is constrained to rotate with the leadscrew, the pitch of the thread on the bolt being the same as that of the thread on the leadscrew, but of opposite hand.

Claim 18

A traversing mechanism as claimed in claim 14 wherein the leadscrew is connected by a sheathed cable to a remotely situated probe, the probe being housed at least partly within a casing securable to a structure, the sheath being secured at one end to the mounting of the mechanism and at the other end to the casing.

Claim 19

A traversing mechanism as claimed in claim 15 wherein the probe movement is biased in one direction by pneumatic pressure acting on a piston secured to the probe and slidable within the casing.

Claim 20

A traversing mechanism for longitudinally extending, retracting and reversably angularly rotating an elongated, helically threaded and longitudinally keyed element such as a probe support, said traversing mechanism including: a casing; first generally tubular shell means for surrounding the element throughout a portion of the length of the element; bearing means journalling the first shell means in the casing for rotation of the first shell means about the longitudinal axis thereof; first, leading, and second, trailing helically threaded nut means threadably engageable with the heLical threading of the element; first driving means on said casing for reversably rotating said first shell means about the longitudinal axis thereof; longitudinal key and keyway means interconnecting said first shell means and said first and second helically threaded nut means, so that the threaded nut means must rotate when said first shell means rotates; so that when said first and second helically threaded nut means are threadably engaged with the element and said first driving means is operated to rotate the first shell means about the longitudinal axis thereof, longitudinal axial movement of the element relative to the casing results; second generally tubular shell means for surrounding the element throughout a portion of the length of the element; bearing means journalling the second shell means in the casing for rotation of the second shell means about the longitudinal axis thereof; second driving means on said casing for reversably rotating said second shell means about the longitudinal axis thereof; longitudinal key and keyway means for longitudinally keying the second shell with respect to the element so that the element may move longitudinally with respect to the shell, but must rotate therewith; cylindrical collar means for encircling the element throughout a portion of the length of the element; longitudinal key and keyway means on the cylindrical collar means for longitudinally keying the cylindrical collar means with respect to the element so that the cylindrical collar means may move longitudinally along the element, but must rotate with the element; angled key means between said cylindrical collar means and said second shell means for providing a ramp-like approach to positive stoppage of rotation between the cylindrical collar means and the second shell means; a compression coil spring bearing coaxially between the second, trailing helically threaded nut means and the cylindrical collar means for tending to force these two members in axially opposite directions relative to the longitudinal axis of the element, and to, as one effect, tending to force the angled key means toward the recited condition of positive stoppage of rotation between the cylindrical collar means and the second shell means; an annular end piece for said casing; radially facing circumferential bearing surface means on said casing and on said end piece for journalling the end piece with respect to the housing, said bearing surface means being structured to permit longitudinal and angular relative movement between the end piece and the casing; an annular bolt; internal longitudinal key and keyway means on said annular bolt for longitudinally keying the annular bolt with respect to the element so that the annular bolt may move longitudinally along the element but must rotate with the element; annular thrust bearing means axially backing said annular bolt; complementary helical threading between the annular end piece and the annular bolt, said threading on said bolt being external, of opposite hand and like pitch as the helical threading of said element.

Claim 21

A traversing mechanism for longitudinally extending, retracting and reversably angularly rotating an elongated, helically threaded and longitudinally keyed element such as a probe support, said traversing mechanism including: a casing; first generally tubular shell means for surrounding the element throughout a portion of the length of the element; bearing means journalling the first shell means in the casing for rotation of the first shell means about the longitudinal axis thereof; first, leading, and second, trailing helically threaded nut means threadably engageable with the heLical threading of the element; first driving means on said casing for reversably rotating said first shell means about the longitudinal axis thereof; longitudinal key and keyway means interconnecting said first shell means and said first and second helically threaded nut means, so that the threaded nut means must rotate when said first shell means rotates; so that when said first and second helically threaded nut means are threadably engaged with the element and said first driving means is operated to rotate the first shell means about the longitudinal axis thereof, longitudinal axial movement of the element relative to the casing results; second generally tubular shell means for surrounding the element throughout a portion of the length of the element; bearing means journalling the second shell means in the casing for rotation of the second shell means about the longitudinal axis thereof; second driving means on said casing for reversably rotating said second shell means about the longitudinal axis thereof; longitudinal key and keyway means for longitudinally keying the second shell with respect to the element so that the element may move longitudinally with respect to the shell, but must rotate therewith; cylindrical collar means for encircling the element throughout a portion of the length of the element; longitudinal key and keyway means on the cylindrical collar means for longitudinally keying the cylindrical collar means with respect to the element so that the cylindrical collar means may move longitudinally along the element, but must rotate with the element; angled key means between said cylindrical collar means and said second shell means for providing a ramp-like approach to positive stoppage of rotation between the cylindrical collar means and the second shell means; a compression coil spring bearing coaxially between the second, trailing helically threaded nut means and the cylindrical collar means for tending to force these two members in axially opposite directions relative to the longitudinal axis of the element, and to, as one effect, tending to force the angled key means toward the recited condition of positive stoppage of rotation between the cylindrical collar means and the second shell means; an annular end piece for said casing; radially facing circumferential bearing surface means on said casing and on said end piece for journalling the end piece with respect to the housing, said bearing surface means being structured to permit longitudinal and angular relative movement between the end piece and the casing; an annular bolt; internal longitudinal key and keyway means on said annular bolt for longitudinally keying the annular bolt with respect to the element so that the annular bolt may move longitudinally along the element but must rotate with the element; annular thrust bearing means axially backing said annular bolt; complementary helical threading between the annular end piece and the annular bolt, said threading on said bolt being external, of opposite hand and like pitch as the helical threading of said element.

Claim 22

The traversing mechanism of claim 17 further including said element, wherein said element is constituted by a lead screw extending out of said casing.

Claim 23

The traversing mechanism of claim 18 further including a condition sensing probe, said condition sensing probe being mounted on said lead screw exteriorly of said casing.

Claim 24

The traversing mechanism of claim 17 further including said element, wherein said element is constituted by a cartridge, said cartridge comprising: an externally longitudinally keyed tubular shell having means defining an internal longitudinal keyway; a helically threaded lead screw received in said tubular shell; longitudinal key and keyway means provided on said lead screw interconnecting the lead screw and the tubular shell, so that the lead screw may move longitudinally with respect to said tubular shell, but must rotate therewith; an axially compression coil spring means received in the tubular shell and bearing coaxially between the lead screw and the tubular shell in a sense urging extension of the lead screw with respect to the tubular shell; surface means on said tubular shell engaging surface means on said second shell means in a sense to prevent relative axial movement between the tubular shell of said cartridge and said second shell means.

Claim 25

A traversing mechanism cartridge comprising: a tubular shell; longitudinal key and keyway means on the shell for preventing relative rotation between the shell and a portion of said traversing mechanism when said cartridge is mounted therein and the longitudinal key and keyway means is engaged with said portion; a lead screw coaxially received in the shell and protruding out one end of the shell; longitudinal key and keyway means between the lead screw and the shell constraining the lead screw to rotate with the shell, but permitting relative axial movement therebetween; resilient means acting axially between the lead screw and the shell, tending to urge the lead screw outwardly of said one end of the shell; and axial movement restraining nut means threadably received on the lead screw, said nut means being configured for being so restrained by said traversing mechanism, when said cartridge is mounted therein.

Claim 26

A traversing mechanism cartridge comprising: a tubular shell; longitudinal key and keyway means on the shell for preventing relative rotation between the shell and a portion of said traversing mechanism when said cartridge is mounted therein and the longitudinal key and keyway means is engaged with said portion; a lead screw coaxially received in the shell and protruding out one end of the shell; longitudinal key and keyway means between the lead screw and the shell constraining the lead screw to rotate with the shell, but permitting relative axial movement therebetween; resilient means acting axially between the lead screw and the shell, tending to urge the lead screw outwardly of said one end of the shell; and axial movement restraining nut means threadably received on the lead screw, said nut means being configured for being so restrained by said traversing mechanism, when said cartridge is mounted therein.

Claim 27

Two traversing mechanisms for lead screw means each constituted by a lead screw of a first larger diameter, or constituted by a lead screw of a second smaller diameter, contained in a tubular shell with which the second lead screw is constrained to rotate, the second lead screw and shell thus providing a cartridge that is exchangeable with the first lead screw, the traversing mechanisms each comprising: a casing; first traverse means in said casing for substantially essentially linearly traversing a lead screw means; second traverse means in said casing for substantially essentially angularly rotating the lead screw means; a nut, threadable on the lead screw means, said nut being connected with said first traverse means for rotation; means linearly restraining said nut, so that the lead screw means, rather than the nut, will move axially when the nut is rotated while threaded on the lead screw means; means for fixing the disposition of the lead screw means of one of said traversing mechanisms; said fixing means carrying a mounting plate and the other of said traversing mechanisms being mounted on said mounting plate.

Claim 28

Two traversing mechanisms for lead screw means each constituted by a lead screw of a first larger diameter, or constituted by a lead screw of a second smaller diameter, contained in a tubular shell with which the second lead screw is constrained to rotate, the second lead screw and shell thus providing a cartridge that is exchangeable with the first lead screw, the traversing mechanisms each comprising: a casing; first traverse means in said casing for substantially essentially linearly traversing a lead screw means; second traverse means in said casing for substantially essentially angularly rotating the lead screw means; a nut, threadable on the lead screw means, said nut being connected with said first traverse means for rotation; means linearly restraining said nut, so that the lead screw means, rather than the nut, will move axially when the nut is rotated while threaded on the lead screw means; means for fixing the disposition of the lead screw means of one of said traversing mechanisms; said fixing means carrying a mounting plate and the other of said traversing mechanisms being mounted on said mounting plate.