US5404649A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Touch probe
Assignee: Renishaw PLC
•
Filing: 1994-04-28
•
Granted: 1995-04-11
•
Expires: 2014-04-28
Abstract
Abstract A magazine has a plurality of storage ports 400 each of which retains a stylus module 314 for use in measuring workpiece dimensions on a coordinate measuring machine. Each storage port 400 is configured as a pair of jaws provided by docking inserts 414. A permanent magnet 418 is mounted on each docking insert 414. The lower casing of the stylus module 314 is urged against the inwardly facing edges 416 of the docking inserts 414 by the magnetic attraction force due the magnets 418. The stylus module 314 is engaged with a retaining module (on the quill of the machine) by moving the retaining module in a downward sense to engage the stylus module 314; further downward movement disengages the stylus module 314 from the storage port 400, thus enabling engagement of such a stylus module and removal of the module from the storage port in a single continuous movement.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Hajdukiewicz
- 👤 Graham A. Hellen
- 👤 Peter K. Hellier
- 👤 John C. Dabbs
- 👤 David R. McMurtry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:38
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B5/00; G01B5/004; G01B5/008; G01B5/012; B; B23; B23Q; B23Q5/00; B23Q5/54; B23Q5/58; G01B21/00; G01B21/02; G01B21/04; G01B21/047; G01B7/00; G01B7/004; G01B7/008; G01B7/012; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S33/00; Y10S33/01; Y10S33/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A touch probe for use on a coordinate positioning machine, comprising: a fixed structure by which the probe may be supported on a movable arm of the machine; a retaining member supported on the fixed structure; a module, comprising a supporting structure and a stylus connected to said supporting structure, the stylus having a stem and a sensing tip provided at a free end of the stem; a magnetic bias for exchangeably, releasably biasing said supporting structure into a first rest position on said retaining member, thereby to enable exchange of said module, said magnetic bias enabling tilting displacement of said supporting structure relative to said retaining member out of said first rest position in response to a displacing force, and return of said supporting structure to said first rest position on said retaining member, under the influence of said magnetic bias when said displacing force is removed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
A touch probe for use on a coordinate positioning machine, comprising: a fixed structure by which the probe may be supported on a movable arm of the machine; a retaining member supported on the fixed structure; a module, comprising a supporting structure and a stylus connected to said supporting structure, the stylus having a stem and a sensing tip provided at a free end of the stem; a magnetic bias for exchangeably, releasably biasing said supporting structure into a first rest position on said retaining member, thereby to enable exchange of said module, said magnetic bias enabling tilting displacement of said supporting structure relative to said retaining member out of said first rest position in response to a displacing force, and return of said supporting structure to said first rest position on said retaining member, under the influence of said magnetic bias when said displacing force is removed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A touch probe according to claim 1, wherein said retaining member is supported on the fixed structure in a second rest position, from which said retaining member is displaceable in response to said displacing force, and to which said retaining member may return when said displacing force is removed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A touch probe according to claim 2, wherein said retaining member is supported on said fixed structure on a strain sensitive load cell, for sensing strain in said stylus responsive to contact between said sensing tip and a surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A touch probe according to claim 2, wherein the supporting structure of said module comprises a supporting body to which said stylus is directly connected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A touch probe according to claim 1, further comprising a first magnetic member on said retaining member and a second magnetic member on said supporting structure, said first and second magnetic members providing said magnetic bias.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2697642A
Cited
US3512261A
Cited
US3869799A
Cited
US4153998A
Cited
US4123847A
Cited
US4177568A
Cited
US4449027A
Cited
US4349946A
Cited
US4649623A
Cited
GB2167559A
Cited
GB2163554A
Cited
US4567659A
Cited
US4693110A
Cited
EP0243766A2
Cited
US4813151A
Cited
EP0304881A1
Cited
US4916825A
Cited
US5024003A
Cited
US4938083A
Cited
DE3811851A1
Cited
US5056235A
Cited
US5041806A
Cited
EP0406782A1
Cited
EP0406781A2
Cited
US5028901A
Cited
EP0426492A2
Cited
WO1991013316A1
Cited
DE9010591U1
Cited
EP0501710A1
Cited
US5327657A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-04-10 | 1998-10-10 | 1999-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-04-10 | 2002-10-10 | 2003-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-04-10 | 2006-10-10 | 2007-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |