US3741659A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bias corrected measuring instrument
Assignee: MARINE MIDLAND BUSINESS LOANS Inc PO BOX 1130 ONE VAN DE GRAAF DRIVE LANDMARK ONE THIRD FLOOR BURLINGTON MA 01803 A DE CORP
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Filing: 1970-06-19
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Granted: 1973-06-26
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Expires: 1990-06-19
Abstract
Abstract A multiple coordinate measuring system of the type wherein a probe explores some feature of a part being measured and acts through a transducer or similar device to record a measurement on a chart or other record. Both the part and probe are moved along coordinated and predetermined paths so that the probe remains a fixed distance from the surface of the part being measured when the theoretical dimension corresponds to the actual dimension of the part. Detected deviations of the probe from the fixed distance represent deviations of the actual dimension from the theoretical dimension and are recorded on charts or other records. In one embodiment of the invention of this application, the actual positions of both the part being measured and the probe during measurement are continuously detected and deviations of the part and measuring instrument from their theoretical positions are detected and employed to correct the detected signals from the probe indicating the deviation of the probe from the fixed distance.
Inventors
- 👤 J Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:00
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B7/00; G01B7/004; G01B7/008; G01M; G01M13/00; G01M13/02; G01M13/021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
In an apparatus for measuring at least one dimension of an object and comparing it to a theoretical dimension having probe means for sensing its separation from a surface of the object, means for causing said object and probe to move relative to each other so that said probe remains a predetermined distance from said surface when the actual dimension is equal to said theoretical dimension and so that deviations of said probe from said predetermined distance are a function of the deviation of said actual dimension from said theoretical dimension and means for producing a signal having a characteristic which is a function of the separation, the improvement including: means for continuously detecting the actual positions of said object and probe relative to each other and for producing a signal indicating said actual positions, and means responsive to said signal indicating said actual positions for correcting said signal having a characteristic which is a function of said separation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
In an apparatus for measuring at least one dimension of an object and comparing it to a theoretical dimension having probe means for sensing its separation from a surface of the object, means for causing said object and probe to move relative to each other so that said probe remains a predetermined distance from said surface when the actual dimension is equal to said theoretical dimension and so that deviations of said probe from said predetermined distance are a function of the deviation of said actual dimension from said theoretical dimension and means for producing a signal having a characteristic which is a function of the separation, the improvement including: means for continuously detecting the actual positions of said object and probe relative to each other and for producing a signal indicating said actual positions, and means responsive to said signal indicating said actual positions for correcting said signal having a characteristic which is a function of said separation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
92 words
In an apparatus as In claim 1 wherein said causing means includes means for rotating said object about its axis, means for moving said probe along a path roughly parallel to said axis and means for coordinating the object rotation and probe movement so that said probe remains said predetermined distance from said surface when said actual dimension is equal to said theoretical dimension, the further improvement wherein said detecting means includes means for detecting the angular position of said rotating means and means for detecting the position of said moving means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
In an apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said probe remains in contact with said surface when said actual dimension is equal to said theoretical dimension.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
In an apparatus as in claim 2 the further improvement wherein said means for detecting the position of said moving means is a laser interferometer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
110 words
In an apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said causing means further includes second means for moving said probe along a path roughly perpendicular to said axis the further improvement wherein said laser interferomenter further includes a mirror mounted on said second means for movement only along said path perpendicular to said axis and a prism mounted on said means for moving said probe along a path roughly parallel to said axis for movement along both said path perpendicular to said axis and said path parallel to said axis so that said interferomenter detects motion along either said path perpendicular to said axis or said path parallel to said axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
In an apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said apparatus has means for recording the corrected signal, the further improvement wherein said correcting means and said coordinating means includes a computer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
In an apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said causing means further includes means for moving said probe along a path perpendicular to said axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
In an apparatus as in claim 6 wherein both said moving means include an electrical motor and a slide member.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of measuring at least one dimension of an object and comparing it to a theoretical dimension comprising the steps of: causing a probe which detects its separation from an adjacent surface to move relative to said object so that said probe remains a predetermined distance from said surface when the actual dimension is equal to said theoretical dimension and so that the deviations of said probe from said predetermined distance are a function of the deviation of said actual dimension from said theoretical dimension, producing a first signal having a characteristic which is a function of said separation, continuously detecting the actual positions of said object and probe relative to each other, producing a second signal having a characteristic which is a function of said actual positions, and using said first and second signals to produce a third signal having a characteristic which is a function of said deviation of said actual dimension from said theoretical dimension.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of measuring at least one dimension of an object and comparing it to a theoretical dimension comprising the steps of: causing a probe which detects its separation from an adjacent surface to move relative to said object so that said probe remains a predetermined distance from said surface when the actual dimension is equal to said theoretical dimension and so that the deviations of said probe from said predetermined distance are a function of the deviation of said actual dimension from said theoretical dimension, producing a first signal having a characteristic which is a function of said separation, continuously detecting the actual positions of said object and probe relative to each other, producing a second signal having a characteristic which is a function of said actual positions, and using said first and second signals to produce a third signal having a characteristic which is a function of said deviation of said actual dimension from said theoretical dimension.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 9 wherein said step of causing includes the steps of causing said part to rotate about its axis and causing said probe to move along a path roughly parallel to said axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
191 words
In an apparatus for measuring at least one dimension of an object and comparing it to a theoretical dimension having probe mounting means, probe means for sensing the probe mounting means separation from a surface of the object, means for causing said object and said probe mounting means to move relative to each other so that said probe mounting means remains a predetermined distance from said surface when the actual dimension is equal to said theoretical dimension and so that the deviations of said probe mounting means from said predetermined distance are a function of deviations of said actual distance from said theoretical dimension, and means for producing a signal having a characteristic which is a function of the separation, the improvement including: means for continuously detecting tHe actual position of said object and said probe mounting means relative to each other, means for continuously comparing this actual position to the theoretical position, means for producing a signal indicating the difference between the actual and the theoretical positions and means responsive to said signal indicating said difference for correcting said signal having a characteristic which is a function of said separation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
191 words
In an apparatus for measuring at least one dimension of an object and comparing it to a theoretical dimension having probe mounting means, probe means for sensing the probe mounting means separation from a surface of the object, means for causing said object and said probe mounting means to move relative to each other so that said probe mounting means remains a predetermined distance from said surface when the actual dimension is equal to said theoretical dimension and so that the deviations of said probe mounting means from said predetermined distance are a function of deviations of said actual distance from said theoretical dimension, and means for producing a signal having a characteristic which is a function of the separation, the improvement including: means for continuously detecting tHe actual position of said object and said probe mounting means relative to each other, means for continuously comparing this actual position to the theoretical position, means for producing a signal indicating the difference between the actual and the theoretical positions and means responsive to said signal indicating said difference for correcting said signal having a characteristic which is a function of said separation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-12-25 | 1977-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-25 | 1980-12-25 | 1981-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-25 | 1984-12-25 | 1985-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |