Non-contact gaging means and machine using same

Claim 2

A non-contact gaging apparatus comprising, a housing adapted to be supported adjacent a workpiece, a support fixed within said housing and having an inside surface, a movable member arranged within said housing and having an outside surface arranged concentrically within said inside surface, fluid bearing means acting between said inside surface of said support and said outside surface of said movable member and providing the sole means supporting said movable member within said housing for substantially frictionless movement toward and away from said workpiece, said fluid bearing means comprising means flowing a bearing fluid transverse the inside surface of said support and in a simultaneous manner substantially normally against said outside surface of said movable member at spaced locations about its periphery, said member having first electrical means thereon, means yieldingly urging said member toward said workpiece, fluid means acting between said member and said workpiece to partially override said urging means and hold said member a precise distance from said workpiece, means for supplying a fluid under pressure to said fluid bearing means and to said fluid means, and second electrical means fixed to said housing and operatively associating with said first electrical means in a non-contacting manner to provide precision electrical gaging signals therefrom based on the relative positions of said electrical means so that upon relatively moving said housing and workpiece said member is held said precise distance from said workpiece by said fluid means acting between said member and workpiece and electrical gaging signals provided by said electrical means during the relative movement represent corresponding dimensions of said workpiece.

Claim 3

An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said fluid bearing means is in the form of air bearing means.

Claim 4

An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said member has a terminal surface and a passage therethrough which is arranged transverse to and exits said terminal surface, a fluid chamber in said housing provided with a fluid at a controlled pressure by said means for supplying a fluid under pressure, and opening means in said member placing said passage in fluid flow communication with said chamber enabling said fluid in said chamber to flow from said passage as a jet which impinges said workpiece to hold said member said precise distance, said chamber and opening means assuring the provision of said jet yet allowing unrestrained movement of said member.

Claim 5

An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which said member comprises an elonGated member which is supported for substantially axial movement, said terminal surface comprises a substantially planar surface, said passage comprises a bore extending from said planar surface inwardly, and said opening means comprises at least one opening extending from the exterior surface of said member inwardly in fluid flow communication with said bore with said opening means remaining in flow communication with said fluid chamber over the full operating range of said elongated member.

Claim 6

An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 and further comprising a restrictor fixed in said passage to control the energy of said jet in a precise manner.

Claim 7

An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which said first electrical means comprises a core of a precision differential electrical transformer fixed on said member and said second electrical means comprises electrical windings of said differential transformer which are fixed on said housing as an annular assembly through which said core moves in a non-contacting manner and provides a different electrical signal for each position thereof relative to said windings.

Claim 8

An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said urging means comprises fluid means urging said member with a precisely controlled force.

Claim 9

An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which said fluid means comprises air under regulated pressure.

Claim 10

An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said member comprises an elongated member supported in said housing for longitudinal movement and having a piston fixed thereon, said piston having a rear surface and a forward face, said housing has a piston chamber for receiving said piston, and said urging means comprises first conduit means supplying fluid at a controlled pressure against said rear surface of said piston to yieldingly urge said member toward said workpiece with a precisely controlled force.

Claim 11

An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 and further comprising second conduit means supplying fluid to said forward face of said piston to provide automatic retraction thereof and of said elongated member.

Claim 12

An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 and further comprising a supply of fluid under regulated pressure, a selector valve having an inlet in fluid flow communication with said supply and having a pair of outlets, one of said outlets communicating with said first conduit means and the other of said outlets communicating with said second conduit means, said selector valve enabling using a common supply of fluid as a part of said urging means and to enable said automatic retraction.

Claim 13

In combination: a measuring machine having a worktable for supporting a workpiece and having support means arranged adjacent said workpiece and a non-contact gaging apparatus, said gaging apparatus comprising, a housing fixed on said support means, an air chamber in said housing provided with air at a controlled pressure, a support fixed within said housing and having an inside surface, an elongated movable member arranged within said housing and having an outside surface arranged concentrically within said inside surface, fluid bearing means acting between said inside surface of said support and said outside surface of said movable member and providing the sole means supporting said movable member within said housing for substantially frictionless axial movement toward and away from said workpiece, said fluid bearing means comprising means flowing a bearing fluid transverse the inside surface of said support and in a simultaneous manner substantially normally against said outside surface of said movable member at spaced locations about its periphery, said member having first electrical means thereon, means yieldingly urging said member toward said workpiece, said member having a planar terminal outside surface and a passage through said member which is arranged perpendicular to and exits said terminal surface, said member having opening means therein placing said passage in fluid flow communication with said air chamber enAbling air to flow from said passage as a jet which impinges said workpiece to partially override said urging means and hold said member a precise distance from said workpiece, means for relatively moving said housing and workpiece, means for supplying a fluid under pressure to said fluid bearing means, and second electrical means fixed to said housing and operatively associating with said first electrical means in a non-contacting manner to provide precision electrical gaging signals therefrom based on the relative positions of said electrical means so that upon relatively moving said housing and workpiece said member is held said precise distance from said workpiece by said air jet acting between said member and workpiece and electrical gaging signals provided by said electrical means during the relative movement represent corresponding dimensions of said workpiece.

Claim 14

In combination: a measuring machine having a worktable for supporting a workpiece and having support means arranged adjacent said workpiece and a non-contact gaging apparatus, said gaging apparatus comprising, a housing fixed on said support means, an air chamber in said housing provided with air at a controlled pressure, a support fixed within said housing and having an inside surface, an elongated movable member arranged within said housing and having an outside surface arranged concentrically within said inside surface, fluid bearing means acting between said inside surface of said support and said outside surface of said movable member and providing the sole means supporting said movable member within said housing for substantially frictionless axial movement toward and away from said workpiece, said fluid bearing means comprising means flowing a bearing fluid transverse the inside surface of said support and in a simultaneous manner substantially normally against said outside surface of said movable member at spaced locations about its periphery, said member having first electrical means thereon, means yieldingly urging said member toward said workpiece, said member having a planar terminal outside surface and a passage through said member which is arranged perpendicular to and exits said terminal surface, said member having opening means therein placing said passage in fluid flow communication with said air chamber enAbling air to flow from said passage as a jet which impinges said workpiece to partially override said urging means and hold said member a precise distance from said workpiece, means for relatively moving said housing and workpiece, means for supplying a fluid under pressure to said fluid bearing means, and second electrical means fixed to said housing and operatively associating with said first electrical means in a non-contacting manner to provide precision electrical gaging signals therefrom based on the relative positions of said electrical means so that upon relatively moving said housing and workpiece said member is held said precise distance from said workpiece by said air jet acting between said member and workpiece and electrical gaging signals provided by said electrical means during the relative movement represent corresponding dimensions of said workpiece.

Claim 15

A combination as set forth in claim 12 in which said fluid bearing means is in the form of air bearing means.

Claim 16

A combination as set forth in claim 12 in which said first electrical means comprises a core of a precision differential electrical transformer fixed on said member and said second electrical means comprises electrical windings of said differential transformer which are fixed on said housing as an annular assembly through which said core moves in a non-contacting manner and provides a different electrical signal for each position thereof relative to said windings.

Claim 17

A combination as set forth in claim 15 in which said urging means comprises air operated means urging said member with a precisely controlled force.

Claim 18

A non-contact electropneumatic gaging device comprising, a housing adapted to be supported adjacent a workpiece, a support fixed within said housing and having an inside surface, a movable member arranged within said housing and having an outside surface arranged concentricaly within said inside surface, fluid bearing means acting between said inside surface of said support and said outside surface of said movable member and providing the sole means supporting said movable member within said housing for substantially frictionless movement toward and away from said workpiece, said fluid bearing means comprising means flowing a bearing fluid transverse the inside surface of said support and in a simultaneous manner substantially normally against said outside surface of said movable member at spaced locations about its periphery, said member having first electrical means thereon, means for yieldingly urging said member toward said workpiece, means enabling air to act between said member and said workpiece to enable partial overriding of said urging means and thereby hold said member a precise distance from said workpiece, means for supplying a fluid under pressure to said fluid bearing means, and second electrical means fixed to said housing and operatively associating with said first electrical means in a non-contacting manner to provide precision electrical gaging signals therefrom based on the relative positions of said electrical means so that upon relatively moving said housing and workpiece said member is held said precise distance from said workpiece by said means enabling air to act between said member and said workpiece and electrical gaging signals provided by said electrical means during the relative movement represent corresponding dimensions of said workpiece.

Claim 19

A non-contact electropneumatic gaging device comprising, a housing adapted to be supported adjacent a workpiece, a support fixed within said housing and having an inside surface, a movable member arranged within said housing and having an outside surface arranged concentricaly within said inside surface, fluid bearing means acting between said inside surface of said support and said outside surface of said movable member and providing the sole means supporting said movable member within said housing for substantially frictionless movement toward and away from said workpiece, said fluid bearing means comprising means flowing a bearing fluid transverse the inside surface of said support and in a simultaneous manner substantially normally against said outside surface of said movable member at spaced locations about its periphery, said member having first electrical means thereon, means for yieldingly urging said member toward said workpiece, means enabling air to act between said member and said workpiece to enable partial overriding of said urging means and thereby hold said member a precise distance from said workpiece, means for supplying a fluid under pressure to said fluid bearing means, and second electrical means fixed to said housing and operatively associating with said first electrical means in a non-contacting manner to provide precision electrical gaging signals therefrom based on the relative positions of said electrical means so that upon relatively moving said housing and workpiece said member is held said precise distance from said workpiece by said means enabling air to act between said member and said workpiece and electrical gaging signals provided by said electrical means during the relative movement represent corresponding dimensions of said workpiece.

Claim 20

A device as set forth in claim 17 in which said movable member comprises an elongated member having a circular cross-sectional outline at any position along the length thereof and said support comprises a sleevelike member having comparatively large diameter flanges defining its opposite ends, said sleeve-like member being made of a porous material and being supported within a bore of said housing having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of said flanges, said bore defining an air bearing pressure chamber, said means for supplying a fluid under pressure comprising means for supplying air undEr pressure to said pressure chamber to cause flow through said porous sleeve-like member and transverse its inside surface and define said fluid bearing means in the form of an air bearing acting between said sleeve-like member and said elongated member to provide said substantially frictionless movement.

Claim 21

A device as set forth in claim 18 in which said means enabling air to act between said member and said workpiece comprises, a planar terminal surface on said member, a passage extending through the forward end portion of said member and exiting said terminal surface, a second chamber in said housing adapted to be provided with air at a controlled pressure, and opening means in said member placing said passage in fluid flow communication with said second chamber enabling air supplied to said second chamber to flow from said passage as a jet which impinges said workpiece to hold said member said precise distance, said second chamber and opening means assuring the provision of said jet yet allowing unobstructed movement of said member.

Claim 22

A device as set forth in claim 17 in which said first electrical means comprises a core of a precision differential electrical transformer fixed on said member, and said second electrical means comprises electrical windings of said differential transformer which are fixed on said housing as an annular assembly through which said core moves in a non-contacting manner and provides a different electrical signal for each position thereof relative to said windings.

Claim 23

An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising an air bearing key assembly operatively connected between said housing and movable member, said key assembly allowing only relative axial movement of said member and housing yet assuring said movement is substantially frictionless.

Claim 24

An apparatus as set forth in claim 21 in which said air bearing key assembly comprises a key fixed to said housing, a keyway provided in said elongated member and being defined by surface means, and means providing an air bearing between said key and said surface means.