Probe for use in measuring apparatus

Claim 1

A device for mounting a stylus in position-determining apparatus wherein said device and an object are movable relative to each other for engaging the stylus with the object and by such engagement sense the position thereof, said device comprising: a fixed member having an axis, a movable member to which a stylus is connectable, first surface means provided on said fixed member and arranged around said axis in a plane transverse thereto, second surface means provided on said movable member and confronting said first surface means, bias means for urging said movable member into engagement with said fixed member at said first and second surface means thereby to locate said movable member on said fixed member in an axial rest position thereon, a centering member connected between said fixed and said movable member, said centering member being at least one structure extending into two dimensions transversely to said axis when said movable member is at said rest position, said structure comprising three limbs extending between said fixed member and said movable member, two of the limbs being secured to the fixed member at spaced apart positions thereon and extending convergently in said two dimensions toward the movable member, said structure being rigid against deformation in said two dimensions but being otherwise flexible and said centering member thereby cooperating to prevent displacement of said stylus relative to said fixed member rotationally about said axis and translationally in any direction transverse to said axis when said movable member is at said rest position but to permit displacement of said movable member from said rest position translationally in the direction of said axis and angularly in any plane through said axis when a force is applied to said movable member, and said bias means cooperating to return said movable member to said rest position when said force ceases.

Claim 2

A device for mounting a stylus in position-determining apparatus wherein said device and an object are movable relative to each other for engaging the stylus with the object and by such engagement sense the position thereof, said device comprising: a fixed member having an axis, a movable member to which a stylus is connectable, first surface means provided on said fixed member and arranged around said axis in a plane transverse thereto, second surface means provided on said movable member and confronting said first surface means, bias means for urging said movable member into engagement with said fixed member at said first and second surface means thereby to locate said movable member on said fixed member in an axial rest position thereon, a centering member connected between said fixed and said movable member, said centering member being at least one structure extending into two dimensions transversely to said axis when said movable member is at said rest position, said structure comprising three limbs extending between said fixed member and said movable member, two of the limbs being secured to the fixed member at spaced apart positions thereon and extending convergently in said two dimensions toward the movable member, said structure being rigid against deformation in said two dimensions but being otherwise flexible and said centering member thereby cooperating to prevent displacement of said stylus relative to said fixed member rotationally about said axis and translationally in any direction transverse to said axis when said movable member is at said rest position but to permit displacement of said movable member from said rest position translationally in the direction of said axis and angularly in any plane through said axis when a force is applied to said movable member, and said bias means cooperating to return said movable member to said rest position when said force ceases.

Claim 3

A device for mounting a stylus in position-determining apparatus wherein said device and an object are movable relative to each other for engaging the stylus with the object and by such engagement sense the position thereof, said device comprising: a fixed member having an axis, a movable member to which a stylus is connectable, first surface means provided on said fixed member and arranged around said axis in a plane transverse thereto, second surface means provided on said movable member and confronting said first surface means, bias means for urging said movable member into engagement with said fixed member at said first and second surface means thereby to locate said movable member on said fixed member in an axial rest position thereon, said bias means comprises spring means connected between the fixed member and the movable member, the movable member being urged into contact with the fixed member substantially only by said spring means, a centering member connected between said fixed and said movable member, said centering member being at least one structure extending in two dimensions transversely to said axis when said movable member is at said rest position, said structure being rigid against deformation in said two dimensions but being otherwise flexible and said centering member thereby cooperating to prevent displacement of said stylus relative to said fixed member rotationally about said axis and translationally in any direction transverse to said axis when said movable member is at said rest position but to permit displacement of said movable member from said rest position translationally in the direction of said axis and angularly in any plane through said axis when a force is applied to said movable member, and said bias means cooperating to return said movable member to said rest position when said force ceases.

Claim 4

A device for mounting a stylus in position-determining apparatus wherein said device and an object are movable relative to each other for engaging the stylus with the object and by such engagement sense the position thereof, said device comprising: a fixed member having an axis, a movable member to which a stylus is connectable, first surface means provided on said fixed member and arranged around said axis in a plane transverse thereto, second surface means provided on said movable member and confronting said first surface means, bias means for urging said movable member into engagement with said fixed member at said first and second surface means thereby to locate said movable member on said fixed member in an axial rest position thereon, said bias means comprises spring means connected between the fixed member and the movable member, the movable member being urged into contact with the fixed member substantially only by said spring means, a centering member connected between said fixed and said movable member, said centering member being at least one structure extending in two dimensions transversely to said axis when said movable member is at said rest position, said structure being rigid against deformation in said two dimensions but being otherwise flexible and said centering member thereby cooperating to prevent displacement of said stylus relative to said fixed member rotationally about said axis and translationally in any direction transverse to said axis when said movable member is at said rest position but to permit displacement of said movable member from said rest position translationally in the direction of said axis and angularly in any plane through said axis when a force is applied to said movable member, and said bias means cooperating to return said movable member to said rest position when said force ceases.

Claim 5

A device for mounting a stylus in position-determining apparatus wherein said device and an object are movable relative to each other for engaging the stylus with the object and by such engagement sense the position thereof, said device comprising: a fixed member having an axis, a movable member to which a stylus is connectable, first surface means provided on said fixed member and arranged around said axis in a plane transverse thereto, second surface means provided on said movable member and confronting said first surface means, bias means for urging said movable member into engagement with said fixed member at said first and second surface means thereby to locate said movable member on said fixed member in an axial rest position thereon, a centering member connected between said fixed and said movable member, said centering member being at least one structure extending in two dimensions transversely to said axis when said movable member is at said rest position, said structure further comprising a plurality of limbs extending substantially radially in spaced apart relation around said axis between said fixed member and a portion of said movable member, said structure being rigid against deformation in said two dimensions but being otherwise flexible and said centering member thereby cooperating to prevent displacement of said stylus relative to said fixed member rotationally about said axis and translationally in any direction transverse to said axis when said movable member is at said rest position but to permit displacement of said movable member from said rest position translationally in the direction of said axis and angularly in any plane through said axis when a force is applied to said movable member, and said bias means cooperating to return said movable member to said rest position when said force ceases.

Claim 6

A device for mounting a stylus in position-determining apparatus wherein said device and an object are movable relative to each other for engaging the stylus with the object and by such engagement sense the position thereof, said device comprising: a fixed member having an axis, a movable member to which a stylus is connectable, first surface means provided on said fixed member and arranged around said axis in a plane transverse thereto, second surface means provided on said movable member and confronting said first surface means, bias means for urging said movable member into engagement with said fixed member at said first and second surface means thereby to locate said movable member on said fixed member in an axial rest position thereon, a centering member connected between said fixed and said movable member, said centering member being at least one structure extending in two dimensions transversely to said axis when said movable member is at said rest position, said structure further comprising a plurality of limbs extending substantially radially in spaced apart relation around said axis between said fixed member and a portion of said movable member, said structure being rigid against deformation in said two dimensions but being otherwise flexible and said centering member thereby cooperating to prevent displacement of said stylus relative to said fixed member rotationally about said axis and translationally in any direction transverse to said axis when said movable member is at said rest position but to permit displacement of said movable member from said rest position translationally in the direction of said axis and angularly in any plane through said axis when a force is applied to said movable member, and said bias means cooperating to return said movable member to said rest position when said force ceases.