Touch sensor

Claim 1

A touch sensor comprising: (a) a casing including a shank adapted to be mounted on a machine tool or the like; (b) a generally linear measuring element having a contact which is adapted to abut against an object to be measured at one end, a flange at the opposite end, and a ball bearing formed about an intermediate portion thereof, the flange and the ball bearing being disposed inside said casing and the contact protruding from said casing; (c) a base plate mounted in said casing at least generally perpendicularly to the at rest position of said generally linear measuring element, said measuring element extending through said base plate such that the flange of said measuring element is on one side of said base plate and the contact of said measuring element is on the other side of said base plate; (d) supporting means comprising at least three symmetrically positioned projections provided on said base plate to support the flange of said measuring element when said measuring element is in its at rest position; (e) at least one elastic means for biasing the flange of said measuring element towards contact with said at least three symmetrically positioned projections; (f) a cylindrical bearing disposed in said casing in position to journal the ball bearing formed on said measuring element for both linear and pivotal movement, said cylindrical bearing and the ball bearing on said measuring element having dimensions which initially provide clearance therebetween; and (g) at least three symmetrically positioned adjusting screws threadedly mounted in said casing and bearing against the external surface of said cylindrical bearing, whereby said at least three symmetrically positioned adjusting screws can be used to deform said cylindrical bearing into contact with the ball bearing on said measuring element.