Patent US3948082A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3948082A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and device for contactless measuring of the thickness of layers, particularly of insulating layers on metallic parts
Assignee: Zumbach Electronic Automatic
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Filing: 1974-12-23
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Granted: 1976-04-06
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Expires: 1994-12-23
Abstract
Abstract A method and device for contactless measuring of the thickness of layers, particularly of insulating layers on metallic parts whereby a contactless pneumatic servo-mechanism approaches to and maintains a measuring head at a predetermined distance from the layer and whereby the thickness of the layer is ascertained by a measuring pick-up located in the measuring head.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruno Zumbach
- 👤 Peter Nopper
- 👤 Mathias Brunner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:26
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01B; H01B13/00; H01B13/0036; B; B29; B29C; B29C48/00; B29C48/25; B29C48/92; G; G01; G01B; G01B13/00; G01B13/02; G01B13/06; G01B7/00; G01B7/02; G01B7/06; G01B7/10; G01B7/105; B29C2948/00; B29C2948/92; B29C2948/92009; B29C2948/92114; B29C2948/92152; B29C2948/92323; B29C2948/92438; B29C48/03; B29C48/05; B29C48/06; B29C48/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for measuring the thickness of an insulating layer on a metallic object, wherein a measuring head is approached to a predetermined distance from the layer and the thickness of the layer is measured by a measuring pick-up located in the measuring head and sensitive to the distance between it and said metallic object, the distance between the measuring head and a small area of the object to be measured being determined by directing a jet of air of small cross section from a measuring nozzle of small cross section against the surface of said layer and by mechanically controlling the position of said measuring head by motion transmission from non-pneumatic servo-motor means controlled by the pressure in said measuring nozzle, said distance between the measuring pick-up and said metallic object being measured in the vicinity of said nozzle and small area respectively.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for measuring the thickness of an insulating layer on a metallic object, wherein a measuring head is approached to a predetermined distance from the layer and the thickness of the layer is measured by a measuring pick-up located in the measuring head and sensitive to the distance between it and said metallic object, the distance between the measuring head and a small area of the object to be measured being determined by directing a jet of air of small cross section from a measuring nozzle of small cross section against the surface of said layer and by mechanically controlling the position of said measuring head by motion transmission from non-pneumatic servo-motor means controlled by the pressure in said measuring nozzle, said distance between the measuring pick-up and said metallic object being measured in the vicinity of said nozzle and small area respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the measurement of the thickness of the layer is carried out by means of the measuring pick-up in the range of influence of the jet of air.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein as well said measuring nozzle as said measuring pick-up for measuring the thickness of the layer is approached to the layer perpendicularly to the layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein the measurement is carried out in the immediate vicinity of a point of support of the object to be measured.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 4, for measuring the insulating thickness on electrical cables or the wall thickness of pipes, wherein the measurement is carried out in front of the extruder applying insulating material over the cable or extruding the pipe.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for measuring the thickness of an insulating layer on a metallic object at different places of said layer and object respectively without contact with said layer, comprising approaching a measuring head towards the layer in a first measuring place while directing a jet of air from a measuring nozzle towards the layer and maintaining the measuring head at a predetermined distance from said layer under servo-control by said air jet and measuring nozzle respectively, measuring without contact the distance between said measuring head and said metallic object and indirectly the thickness of the layer by means of a measuring pick-up, repeatedly operating said servo-control for removing said measuring head from said layer and moving it to another measuring place and again operating said servo-control for approaching said measuring head towards said layer and maintaining it at a predetermined distance from said layer in said other measuring place for measuring the distance of the measuring head from said metallic object and thickness of the layer respectively at said other measuring place.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for measuring the thickness of an insulating layer on a metallic object at different places of said layer and object respectively without contact with said layer, comprising approaching a measuring head towards the layer in a first measuring place while directing a jet of air from a measuring nozzle towards the layer and maintaining the measuring head at a predetermined distance from said layer under servo-control by said air jet and measuring nozzle respectively, measuring without contact the distance between said measuring head and said metallic object and indirectly the thickness of the layer by means of a measuring pick-up, repeatedly operating said servo-control for removing said measuring head from said layer and moving it to another measuring place and again operating said servo-control for approaching said measuring head towards said layer and maintaining it at a predetermined distance from said layer in said other measuring place for measuring the distance of the measuring head from said metallic object and thickness of the layer respectively at said other measuring place.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 1, for measurement of the thickness of a curved layer on a metallic object, wherein said measuring head is radially approached towards said layer under control of an auxiliary servo-system including auxiliary measuring means disposed symmetrically with respect to said measuring nozzle.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for measuring the thickness of an insulating layer on a metallic object, wherein a measuring head is approached to a predetermined distance from the layer and the thickness of the layer is measured by a measuring pick-up located in the measuring head and sensitive to the distance between it and said metallic object, the distance between the measuring head and a small area of the object to be measured being determined by directing a jet of air of small cross section from a measuring nozzle of small cross section against the surface of said layer and by controlling the position of said measuring head by motion transmission from servo-mover means controlled by the pressure in said measuring nozzle, said distance between the measuring pick-up and said metallic object being measured in the vicinity of said nozzle and small area respectively.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for measuring the thickness of an insulating layer on a metallic object, wherein a measuring head is approached to a predetermined distance from the layer and the thickness of the layer is measured by a measuring pick-up located in the measuring head and sensitive to the distance between it and said metallic object, the distance between the measuring head and a small area of the object to be measured being determined by directing a jet of air of small cross section from a measuring nozzle of small cross section against the surface of said layer and by controlling the position of said measuring head by motion transmission from servo-mover means controlled by the pressure in said measuring nozzle, said distance between the measuring pick-up and said metallic object being measured in the vicinity of said nozzle and small area respectively.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
106 words
A device for measuring the thickness of an insulating layer on a metallic object having at least one measuring head, servo-motor means including a guide spindle adapted to approach said measuring head towards said layer and to retract it from said layer, a measuring nozzle of small cross section fixed to said measuring head and adapted to blow a jet of air against the surface of said layer, said servo-motor means being controllable by said measuring nozzle, a measuring pick-up located in said measuring head near said nozzle and sensitive to the distance between it and said metallic object for measuring the thickness of the layer.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
106 words
A device for measuring the thickness of an insulating layer on a metallic object having at least one measuring head, servo-motor means including a guide spindle adapted to approach said measuring head towards said layer and to retract it from said layer, a measuring nozzle of small cross section fixed to said measuring head and adapted to blow a jet of air against the surface of said layer, said servo-motor means being controllable by said measuring nozzle, a measuring pick-up located in said measuring head near said nozzle and sensitive to the distance between it and said metallic object for measuring the thickness of the layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 9, wherein the coil for inductively measuring the thickness of the layer is provided, said measuring nozzle being concentrically arranged in said coil.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device according to claim 9, comprising a servo-control system including means for periodically removing the measuring head from the range of influence of the object to be measured.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one measuring head is displaceable into a calibrating position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device according to claim 12, comprising a calibrating object and characterized in that at least one measuring head is swingably mounted for being swung to said calibrating object.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the measuring heads and the calibrating object are arranged on a common rotatable support surrounding a cable to be measured.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to claim 9, wherein said measuring head has an inductive pick-up having an annular core, said core forming an elongated air gap destined to be approached to the object to be measured.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 15, wherein the measuring nozzle is located in the air gap.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 16, wherein an elongated slotted measuring jet is provided.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
193 words
A device according to claim 9 for measuring the thickness of a substantially cylindrical shell of insulating material on a conductor inside said shell, comprising guide means allowing displacement of said measuring head in a direction substantially radial relatively to said cylindrical shell, said servo-motor means adapted for displacing said measuring head along said guide means, said measuring nozzle having elongated slit means forming an exit aperture extending in a direction substantially transversal to the axis of said cylindrical shell, said servo-motor means being controllable by said measuring nozzle, a measuring pick-up on said measuring head including an annular core having an elongated slit forming an air gap, said air gap extending in parallel to said exit aperture of said nozzle, a winding on said core for producing a magnetic field entering into said conductor within reach of said air gap, whereby the distance between said pick-up and said conductor and indirectly the thickness of said shell is measured by the reaction of said conductor onto said winding, measurement by said pick-up being substantially independent of the position of said shell within the length of said elongated air gap and exit aperture respectively.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
97 words
A device according to claim 9, for producing and testing cylindrical objects having an extruded insulating shell and a metallic conductor being provided inside said shell, comprising an extruding nozzle, a testing apparatus, a structure carrying said extruding nozzle and testing apparatus, said apparatus including said measuring head displaceable along guide means in a radial direction relatively to said object emerging from said extruding nozzle, said measuring nozzle blowing an air jet in a radial direction relatively to said object onto the surface of said insulating shell of the object, in immediate vicinity of said extruding nozzle.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
110 words
A device according to claim 9, wherein said measuring nozzle has an axis, auxiliary measuring nozzles being disposed symmetrically with respect to said axis of the measuring nozzle, said auxiliary measuring nozzles being adapted for producing a value significant for their distance from said insulating layer or metallic object respectively, means for measuring a difference between the values produced by said auxiliary measuring nozzles, and means for energizing an auxiliary servo-motor for adjusting said measuring nozzle in a direction perpendicular to its axis upon occurrance of a difference between said values for readjusting said measuring nozzle into a position symmetrical with respect to said insulating layer and metallic object respectively.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
155 words
A device for measuring the thickness of an insulating layer on a metallic object having a first measuring head, servo-motor means including a guide spindle adapted to approach said measuring head towards said layer and to retract it from said layer, a measuring nozzle fixed to said measuring head and adapted to blow a jet of air against the surface of said layer, said servo-motor means being controllable by said measuring nozzle, a measuring pick-up located in said measuring head and sensitive to the distance between it and said metallic object for measuring the thickness of the layer and a second measuring head including at least a measuring nozzle and servo-motor means for control of said second measuring head and a measuring transducer connected to both measuring heads for producing a signal corresponding to their reciprocal distance and consequently a measure for the dimensions of the object to be measured located between the measuring heads.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
155 words
A device for measuring the thickness of an insulating layer on a metallic object having a first measuring head, servo-motor means including a guide spindle adapted to approach said measuring head towards said layer and to retract it from said layer, a measuring nozzle fixed to said measuring head and adapted to blow a jet of air against the surface of said layer, said servo-motor means being controllable by said measuring nozzle, a measuring pick-up located in said measuring head and sensitive to the distance between it and said metallic object for measuring the thickness of the layer and a second measuring head including at least a measuring nozzle and servo-motor means for control of said second measuring head and a measuring transducer connected to both measuring heads for producing a signal corresponding to their reciprocal distance and consequently a measure for the dimensions of the object to be measured located between the measuring heads.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
184 words
A device for measuring the thickness of an insulating layer on a metallic object, comprising at least one measuring head, servo-motor means including guide spindle adapted to approach said measuring head towards said layer and to retract it from said layer, a measuring nozzle fixed to said measuring head and adapted to blow a jet of a pressure medium against the surface of said layer, said measuring nozzle having a sensing aperture inside a circular exit opening for a pressure medium, said sensing aperture communicating with the one inlet of a differential pressure meter of which the other inlet receives a reference pressure, a variable circuit element controllable by said differential pressure meter, said variable circuit element being connected into a measuring circuit for control of said servo-motor means, the servo-motor means being energized whenever a pressure difference is detected by said differential pressure meter, for adjusting the position of said measuring nozzle and measuring head respectively, and a measuring pick-up located in said measuring head and sensitive to the distance between it and said metallic object for measuring the thickness of the layer.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
184 words
A device for measuring the thickness of an insulating layer on a metallic object, comprising at least one measuring head, servo-motor means including guide spindle adapted to approach said measuring head towards said layer and to retract it from said layer, a measuring nozzle fixed to said measuring head and adapted to blow a jet of a pressure medium against the surface of said layer, said measuring nozzle having a sensing aperture inside a circular exit opening for a pressure medium, said sensing aperture communicating with the one inlet of a differential pressure meter of which the other inlet receives a reference pressure, a variable circuit element controllable by said differential pressure meter, said variable circuit element being connected into a measuring circuit for control of said servo-motor means, the servo-motor means being energized whenever a pressure difference is detected by said differential pressure meter, for adjusting the position of said measuring nozzle and measuring head respectively, and a measuring pick-up located in said measuring head and sensitive to the distance between it and said metallic object for measuring the thickness of the layer.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for measuring the thickness of an insulating layer on a metallic object, wherein a measuring head is approached to a predetermined distance from the layer and the thickness of the layer is measured by a measuring pick-up located in the measuring head and sensitive to the distance between it and said metallic object, the distance between the measuring head and the object to be measured being determined by directing a jet of air of small cross section from a measuring nozzle against the surface of said layer and by mechanically controlling the position of said measuring head by motion transmission from nonpneumatic servo-motor means controlled by the difference between the pressure in said measuring nozzle and a reference pressure nozzle.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for measuring the thickness of an insulating layer on a metallic object, wherein a measuring head is approached to a predetermined distance from the layer and the thickness of the layer is measured by a measuring pick-up located in the measuring head and sensitive to the distance between it and said metallic object, the distance between the measuring head and the object to be measured being determined by directing a jet of air of small cross section from a measuring nozzle against the surface of said layer and by mechanically controlling the position of said measuring head by motion transmission from nonpneumatic servo-motor means controlled by the difference between the pressure in said measuring nozzle and a reference pressure nozzle.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
102 words
A device for measuring the thickness of an insulating layer on a metallic object having at least one measuring head, servo-mover means adapted to approach said measuring head towards said layer and to retract it from said layer, a measuring nozzle of small cross section fixed to said measuring head and adapted to blow a jet of air against the surface of said layer, said servo-mover means being controllable by said measuring nozzle, a measuring pick-up located in said measuring head near said nozzle and sensitive to the distance between it and said metallic object for measuring the thickness of the layer.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
102 words
A device for measuring the thickness of an insulating layer on a metallic object having at least one measuring head, servo-mover means adapted to approach said measuring head towards said layer and to retract it from said layer, a measuring nozzle of small cross section fixed to said measuring head and adapted to blow a jet of air against the surface of said layer, said servo-mover means being controllable by said measuring nozzle, a measuring pick-up located in said measuring head near said nozzle and sensitive to the distance between it and said metallic object for measuring the thickness of the layer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-04-06 | 1979-10-06 | 1980-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-04-06 | 1983-10-06 | 1984-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-04-06 | 1987-10-06 | 1988-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |