US3746972A — Billet scanning mechanism using a probe carrying …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 159 words

A test assembly for scanning a workpiece, comprising a drum within which a workpiece may be positioned, a frame assembly which mounts the drum for rotation therein, means for rotating the drum about the workpiece, one or more probe mechanisms carried by the drum and adapted to bear against the workpiece so as to scan the workpiece as the drum is rotated, means for moving the probe mechanisms between workpiece contacting and noncontacting positions, said moving means comprising a roller, a linkage coupling together the roller and a corresponding probe mechanism to cause movement of the corresponding probe mechanism between said workpiece contacting and non-contacting positions upon movement of the roller between first and second positions, and a ring attached to the frame assembly and bearing against the roller and mounted for movement to move the roller between said first and second positions and cause corresponding movement of the corresponding probe mechanism between said workpiece contacting and non-contacting positions.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 159 words

A test assembly for scanning a workpiece, comprising a drum within which a workpiece may be positioned, a frame assembly which mounts the drum for rotation therein, means for rotating the drum about the workpiece, one or more probe mechanisms carried by the drum and adapted to bear against the workpiece so as to scan the workpiece as the drum is rotated, means for moving the probe mechanisms between workpiece contacting and noncontacting positions, said moving means comprising a roller, a linkage coupling together the roller and a corresponding probe mechanism to cause movement of the corresponding probe mechanism between said workpiece contacting and non-contacting positions upon movement of the roller between first and second positions, and a ring attached to the frame assembly and bearing against the roller and mounted for movement to move the roller between said first and second positions and cause corresponding movement of the corresponding probe mechanism between said workpiece contacting and non-contacting positions.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 127 words

A test assembly for scanning a workpiece, comprising a drum carrying one or more probes for completing a test and within which a workpiece may be positioned, means for rotating the drum about the workpiece comprising a frame assembly which mounts the drum for rotation therein, the frame assembly being pivotally mounted about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum to enable the drum to be selectively positioned with respect to the workpiece under test, said frame assembly including a part thereof on the side of said axis opposite from said drum and counterbalancing the weight of said drum to balance the frame assembly about said axis enabling the frame assembly to remain in any one of a plurality of angular positions.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 127 words

A test assembly for scanning a workpiece, comprising a drum carrying one or more probes for completing a test and within which a workpiece may be positioned, means for rotating the drum about the workpiece comprising a frame assembly which mounts the drum for rotation therein, the frame assembly being pivotally mounted about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum to enable the drum to be selectively positioned with respect to the workpiece under test, said frame assembly including a part thereof on the side of said axis opposite from said drum and counterbalancing the weight of said drum to balance the frame assembly about said axis enabling the frame assembly to remain in any one of a plurality of angular positions.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

pivotally moving the drum about a pivot axis so that the axis of rotation of the drum bears a predetermined relation to the workpiece passing through the drum; and

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

pivotally moving the drum about a pivot axis so that the axis of rotation of the drum bears a predetermined relation to the workpiece passing through the drum; and

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 50 words

sensing the position of the forward end of the workpiece within a second zone and in response thereto: a. moving the probe mechanisms into a testing position, and b. rotating the drum and hence the probe mechanisms so as to scan the workpiece as the workpiece moves through the drum;

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 50 words

sensing the position of the forward end of the workpiece within a second zone and in response thereto: a. moving the probe mechanisms into a testing position, and b. rotating the drum and hence the probe mechanisms so as to scan the workpiece as the workpiece moves through the drum;

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 56 words

sensing the passage of the trailing end of the workpiece through the first zone and in response thereto: a. ceasing rotation of the drum; b. moving the probe mechanisms to a non-testing position; and c. removing the yieldable biasing of the frame assembly and causing the frame assembly to remain substantially in its last position; and

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 56 words

sensing the passage of the trailing end of the workpiece through the first zone and in response thereto: a. ceasing rotation of the drum; b. moving the probe mechanisms to a non-testing position; and c. removing the yieldable biasing of the frame assembly and causing the frame assembly to remain substantially in its last position; and

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 22 words

moving the drum as the workpiece moves therethrough in a direction substantially transverse to said pivot axis to maintain said predetermined relation.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 22 words

moving the drum as the workpiece moves therethrough in a direction substantially transverse to said pivot axis to maintain said predetermined relation.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 35 words

Apparatus according to claim 2, including one or more guide rollers mounted to the frame assembly to bear against the workpiece for positioning the frame assembly and hence the drum with respect to the workpiece.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus according to claim 3, including biasing means for yieldably biasing the frame assembly in position with the guide rollers against the workpiece.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 26 words

sensing the passage of the trailing end of the workpiece through the second zone and in response thereto pivoting the frame assembly to a non-operating position.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 26 words

sensing the passage of the trailing end of the workpiece through the second zone and in response thereto pivoting the frame assembly to a non-operating position.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 55 words

Apparatus according to claim 4, in which the workpiece is moved through the drum, and including sensing means responsive to the passage of the workpiece through a predetermined zone for removing the biasing of the frame assembly to permit said frame assembly to be balanced and remain in its position prior to removal of biasing.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 134 words

A test assembly for scanning a workpiece, comprising a drum within which a workpiece may be positioned, means for rotating the drum about the workpiece comprising a frame assembly which mounts the drum for rotation therein, the frame assembly being pivotally mounted about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum so that the drum may be selectively positioned with respect to the workpiece under test, the frame assembly being mounted upon a first carriage unit, a track upon which the first carriage unit moves to render the frame assembly movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to said axes, a second carriage unit movable upon the track, the second carriage unit limiting the movement of the first carriage unit, and means yieldably coupling the first and second carriage units together.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 134 words

A test assembly for scanning a workpiece, comprising a drum within which a workpiece may be positioned, means for rotating the drum about the workpiece comprising a frame assembly which mounts the drum for rotation therein, the frame assembly being pivotally mounted about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum so that the drum may be selectively positioned with respect to the workpiece under test, the frame assembly being mounted upon a first carriage unit, a track upon which the first carriage unit moves to render the frame assembly movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to said axes, a second carriage unit movable upon the track, the second carriage unit limiting the movement of the first carriage unit, and means yieldably coupling the first and second carriage units together.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 171 words

A test assembly for scanning a workpiece, comprising a drum within which a workpiece may be positioned, means for rotating the drum about the workpiece comprising a frame assembly which mounts the drum for rotation therein, the frame assembly being pivotally mounted about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum so that the drum may be selectively positioned with respect to the workpiece under test, the frame assembly being mounted upon a first carriage unit, a track upon which the first carriage unit moves to render the frame assembly movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to said axes, a second carriage unit movable upon the track, the second carriage unit comprising first and second end pieces spaced apart from each other along the track and between which is positioned the first carriage unit to limit the movement of the first carriage unit, and pneumatic bags coupling the end pieces to the first carriage unit so as to yieldably couple the first and second carriage units together.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 171 words

A test assembly for scanning a workpiece, comprising a drum within which a workpiece may be positioned, means for rotating the drum about the workpiece comprising a frame assembly which mounts the drum for rotation therein, the frame assembly being pivotally mounted about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum so that the drum may be selectively positioned with respect to the workpiece under test, the frame assembly being mounted upon a first carriage unit, a track upon which the first carriage unit moves to render the frame assembly movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to said axes, a second carriage unit movable upon the track, the second carriage unit comprising first and second end pieces spaced apart from each other along the track and between which is positioned the first carriage unit to limit the movement of the first carriage unit, and pneumatic bags coupling the end pieces to the first carriage unit so as to yieldably couple the first and second carriage units together.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus according to claim 7, including means responsive to the position of the frame assembly within a predetermined zone for removing pneumatic pressure from within the bags.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus according to claim 7, including means responsive to the position of the frame assembly outside a predetermined zone for supplying pneumatic pressure to the bags.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 95 words

A method of scanning a moving workpiece such as a billet by a test mechanism that includes a rotatable drum through which the workpiece passes, the drum carrying one or more probe mechanisms that are adapted to scan the workpiece as the drum is rotated, a frame assembly which mounts the drum, the frame assembly itself being pivotally mounted and including one or more guide rollers mounted thereto which may bear against the workpiece for positioning the frame assembly and hence the drum and probe mechanism with respect to the workpiece, comprising the steps of:

Claim 25

Independent Claim 95 words

A method of scanning a moving workpiece such as a billet by a test mechanism that includes a rotatable drum through which the workpiece passes, the drum carrying one or more probe mechanisms that are adapted to scan the workpiece as the drum is rotated, a frame assembly which mounts the drum, the frame assembly itself being pivotally mounted and including one or more guide rollers mounted thereto which may bear against the workpiece for positioning the frame assembly and hence the drum and probe mechanism with respect to the workpiece, comprising the steps of:

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 45 words

A method according to claim 10, including providing for movement of the frame assembly in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of movement of the workpiece through the drum so as to permit the frame assembly and hence the drum to track the workpiece.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 45 words

A method of scanning a moving workpiece by a test mechanism that includes a rotatable drum through which the workpiece passes, the drum carrying one or more probe mechanisms that are adapted to scan the workpiece as the drum is rotated, comprising the steps of:

Claim 28

Independent Claim 45 words

A method of scanning a moving workpiece by a test mechanism that includes a rotatable drum through which the workpiece passes, the drum carrying one or more probe mechanisms that are adapted to scan the workpiece as the drum is rotated, comprising the steps of:

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-07-16	1977-01-15	1977-07-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-07-16	1981-01-15	1981-07-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-07-16	1985-01-15	1985-07-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Billet scanning mechanism using a probe carrying drum rotatable about the billet and pivotably mounted relative thereto

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag