CA1091004A - Height gage with frictionless slider - Google Patents
Height gage with frictionless sliderInfo
- Publication number
- CA1091004A CA1091004A CA306,201A CA306201A CA1091004A CA 1091004 A CA1091004 A CA 1091004A CA 306201 A CA306201 A CA 306201A CA 1091004 A CA1091004 A CA 1091004A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- slide
- column
- probe
- plate
- fluid
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
- G01B5/00—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques
- G01B5/0002—Arrangements for supporting, fixing or guiding the measuring instrument or the object to be measured
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
- G01B5/00—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques
- G01B5/02—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques for measuring length, width or thickness
- G01B5/06—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques for measuring length, width or thickness for measuring thickness
- G01B5/061—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques for measuring length, width or thickness for measuring thickness height gauges
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Length Measuring Devices With Unspecified Measuring Means (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure This invention relates to a height gage of a type to be attached to a digital readout and in which a source of air under pressure is utilized for providing anti-friction means for moving a slide which carries a tool for measuring distance.
Description
~09iO04 This invention relates to a height gage of a type to be attached to a digital readout.
Height gages having generally horizontally arranged base and a -vertical column extending upwardly from the base and which are at-tached to a digital readout have been known, and means carrying a probe have been vertically adjusted on the column by some anti-fric~
tion means such as ball bearings or the like. These are expensive to construct and have difficulties in use.
The present invention provides a height gage which comprises a ~
10 generally horizontally disposed base and a generally vertically dis- -posed column extending upwardly therefrom, said column having a plu- -rallty of vertically disposed surfaces, a slide embracing said column and presenting slide surfaces to the surfaces of said column, said slide being expandible and formed by a plurality of plates, means connecting said plates, said means being of a character to flex and cause expansion of the embracing slide upon the introduction of fluid pressure between the surfaces of said slide and column to form a frlctionless fluid bearing and subsequent contraction in the absence of such fluid pressure to grip the column, said slide surfaces having a plurality of fluid openings, and means to supply fluid to said fluid openings to expand said slide.
This invention thus provides an improved linear motlon of a ~!
probe carrier slide along the vertical length of a stable reference surface provided by the vertical column, the slide being easily positioned, with minimal effort, as it moves on a frictionless fluid bearing In the preferred embodiment, fluid e.g. air bearings are securely anchored into a prismat~c configuration to ensure accuracy of movement of the slide along the vertical effective measuring range of the column, which is suitably formed of granite, and which has means for the inclusion of a loc~ing and fine ad~ustment for accu-rately positioning the slide. A tapered probe means for the measure-ment of holes of different diameters is preferably rigidly attached B
to the fluid bearing slide.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the height gage;
Flg. 2 is a fragmental perspective view of the slide and column;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the column ~ust above the slide with the slide also partly in section and showing the upper end of the slide;
Fig. 4 1s a sectional view through the air conduits of the slide of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the plates of the slide;
Flg. 6 is a fragmental elevation showing the probe and its aligning block;
Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 6 and illustra-ting the curved opposite edges of the probe;
Fig. 8 is a schematic view similar to Fig. 3 showing the sllde gripping the column; and Fig. 9 is a vlew similar to Fig. 8 showing the slide expanded.
The base 10 of the height gage comprises a relatively heavy block of metal with a front 11, back 12 and sides -13. The edges of the base are tapered from the top and bottom to provide a rib 14 extending about the sides of the base. The base i8 also recessed at its front portion as at 15 for movement close to the work to be measured.
A slide 65 has a hollow center receiving the granite column 60 and is of rectangular shape in cross section being formed of four plates such as shown individually in Fig. 5. A top plan view with a broken away section of this slide is shown in Fig. 3 where it will be seen in the broken away or sectioned portion at the upper right-hand corner that there is an opening 66, leading from a recessed portion 67 in the corner of the plate, through which a clamping screw 68 extends having a much smaller diameter than the opening 66. This screw extends lnto a threaded opening in the ad-~acent plate as at 69 sufficiently so as to provide the bearing asEembly clearance 73 between ad~acent plates, and there is a similar connectlon between each of the ad~acent plates at both the top, bottom and intermediate portions of this slide. An ad~usting screw 70 serves to hold the clamp screw 68 in the desired position as it extends through the larger opening 66. Compliance of ad~acent plates to a trapezoidal or out of squareness condition of the column 60 is accommodated by a hinge effect created by the flexing of the clamp screw 68 within the opening 66 allowed by the assembly clearance 73. Operating clearance 75 (Fig. 4) is provided by air pressure from the air outlet openings 78 (Figs. 4 and 5) and this .-clearance may be adjusted at diagonal opposite corners of the slide by the ad~usting screw 70 acting as an abutment against the clamp screw 68 as it extends through the larger opening 66, with the column and slide under air pressure.
Extending laterally through each of the plates of the slide are air condults 71 (Flg. 4) which terminate in each of the plates.
Further there are openings 72 in the inner side face of each of the plates connected to the conduits 71 as can be seen in Fig. 4 so that when the plates are placed in a relation of one edge of a plate against the inside face of an ad~acent plate, the opening 72 will align with the conduit 71 of the ad~acent plate. Thus, in the as-sembly of four plates as shown in Fig. 4, there will be a complete air circuit in a rectilinear path for air under pressure. A clrcuit -~
such as this is provided at both the top and bottom of the slide and externally interconnected ~y conduit 74 extending vertically along the slide 65 w~th air admitted as at 76 (Fig. 2~. A recess is located at the end of each of these air conduits 71 and receives an O-ring 77 to seal the conduits 71 in one plate and the opening 72 which leads to the conduit in the next plate. These O-rings are under compression to provide the seal by means of the clamping screws 68 above described and shown in Fig. 3. From each of the conduits there is provided air outlet openings 78 (Figs. 4 and 5) on the inner surface of each of the plates from which there extends radial chan-nels 79 and 80 in a crossing fashion and leading to a circular chan-nel 81 for the distribution of air inwardly against the granite column 60 under air pressure when admitted as at 76. This pressure of air against the granite column will cause the screws 68 at the diagonal opposite corners to flex slightly an amount equal to clearance 75, (Fig. 4) along the width of the plate, and thus, with this air bearing, the slide may be easily moved along the column without friction. Locking of the slide in position may be had through its fine ad~usting screw by a knob in back of the slide to cause two spring loaded half nuts to close against the adjusting screw. When the air pressure is shut off as at 76, the slide con-tracts on the column 60.
It will be observed, as seen in Fig. 9, that there is a flexing of the screw 68 which has clearance thru the opening 66 thru which it extends. Thus, as the air is inserted in this rectangular slide, the plates expand from clamping the granite column 60 and provide a frlctionless bearing. This expansion occurs by reason of the flexing of the threaded connecting means 68. In Fig. 8 the slide is shown with no air pressure applied, while Fig. 9 indicates the air pressure applied. Connecting screws 68 in Fig. 8 are indicated as in a straight line or having a straight axis, and in this position the slide engages the column and will not move along the column. The spacing of the plates is largely exaggerated for clarity. For ex-ample, when the pressure is applied, the plate 100 will move as shown in Fig. 9 in the direction of arrow 108 to flex the screw 68.
Typically the plate will move as shown at B substantially 0.01778mm with reference to the column as shown in the illustration. Plate 100 will also move as shown by arrow 101. At the same time the pressure will move all of the plates similarly. Thus plate 102 will 10910~4 be moved in the direction of arrow 103 which wlll move the end 104 of the plate 100 also outwardly a distance A or 0.1016mm from plate 102 by a thrust on the screw 68a. Thus, through diagonal corners of the plate, the plate 100 will be moved outwardly for a clearance of the column. This same action or relative movement occurs on the plate 105 which is opposite the plate 100, and likewise the same action will occur on the other opposite plates 106 and 102. Thus, all four plates not only move outwardly away ~rom the column a distance B or .01778mm but also endwise a distance A or .1016mm at the same time that the pressure is applied which causes the flexing of the screws 68 as indicated in Fig. 9.
The slide carries a probe 85 (Fig. 6) on an arm 86 attached to the slide as at 87 and which is on the end of a laterally extending arm 88. This probe designated generally 85 is generally triangular in shape with the pointed end 89 suitable for indicating on the work the position of the gage. Different shape probes may be provided rigidly attached to the slide. The probe 85 is in the form of a sllce of a cone containing its center axis with the upper surface 90 and lower surface 91 of the probe on the arc of the same circle so that when the probe extends into an opening, a single point on the same circle on each surface 90 and 91 will engage the opening to locate the center of a diameter.
Pins 95 extend laterally from the triangular probe and are lo-cated with the lower surface on the center line of the probe. The probe may be set by means of a calibrating block 96 which will rest upon a flat surface 97 and a probe may be level, and then the cali-brating block 96 may be turned around 180 about a vertical axis to see if the pins 95 engage the calibrat~ng block 96, and when this condition of touching with the calibrating block reversed through 180, the probe will be in the proper aligned position.
Height gages having generally horizontally arranged base and a -vertical column extending upwardly from the base and which are at-tached to a digital readout have been known, and means carrying a probe have been vertically adjusted on the column by some anti-fric~
tion means such as ball bearings or the like. These are expensive to construct and have difficulties in use.
The present invention provides a height gage which comprises a ~
10 generally horizontally disposed base and a generally vertically dis- -posed column extending upwardly therefrom, said column having a plu- -rallty of vertically disposed surfaces, a slide embracing said column and presenting slide surfaces to the surfaces of said column, said slide being expandible and formed by a plurality of plates, means connecting said plates, said means being of a character to flex and cause expansion of the embracing slide upon the introduction of fluid pressure between the surfaces of said slide and column to form a frlctionless fluid bearing and subsequent contraction in the absence of such fluid pressure to grip the column, said slide surfaces having a plurality of fluid openings, and means to supply fluid to said fluid openings to expand said slide.
This invention thus provides an improved linear motlon of a ~!
probe carrier slide along the vertical length of a stable reference surface provided by the vertical column, the slide being easily positioned, with minimal effort, as it moves on a frictionless fluid bearing In the preferred embodiment, fluid e.g. air bearings are securely anchored into a prismat~c configuration to ensure accuracy of movement of the slide along the vertical effective measuring range of the column, which is suitably formed of granite, and which has means for the inclusion of a loc~ing and fine ad~ustment for accu-rately positioning the slide. A tapered probe means for the measure-ment of holes of different diameters is preferably rigidly attached B
to the fluid bearing slide.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the height gage;
Flg. 2 is a fragmental perspective view of the slide and column;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the column ~ust above the slide with the slide also partly in section and showing the upper end of the slide;
Fig. 4 1s a sectional view through the air conduits of the slide of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the plates of the slide;
Flg. 6 is a fragmental elevation showing the probe and its aligning block;
Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 6 and illustra-ting the curved opposite edges of the probe;
Fig. 8 is a schematic view similar to Fig. 3 showing the sllde gripping the column; and Fig. 9 is a vlew similar to Fig. 8 showing the slide expanded.
The base 10 of the height gage comprises a relatively heavy block of metal with a front 11, back 12 and sides -13. The edges of the base are tapered from the top and bottom to provide a rib 14 extending about the sides of the base. The base i8 also recessed at its front portion as at 15 for movement close to the work to be measured.
A slide 65 has a hollow center receiving the granite column 60 and is of rectangular shape in cross section being formed of four plates such as shown individually in Fig. 5. A top plan view with a broken away section of this slide is shown in Fig. 3 where it will be seen in the broken away or sectioned portion at the upper right-hand corner that there is an opening 66, leading from a recessed portion 67 in the corner of the plate, through which a clamping screw 68 extends having a much smaller diameter than the opening 66. This screw extends lnto a threaded opening in the ad-~acent plate as at 69 sufficiently so as to provide the bearing asEembly clearance 73 between ad~acent plates, and there is a similar connectlon between each of the ad~acent plates at both the top, bottom and intermediate portions of this slide. An ad~usting screw 70 serves to hold the clamp screw 68 in the desired position as it extends through the larger opening 66. Compliance of ad~acent plates to a trapezoidal or out of squareness condition of the column 60 is accommodated by a hinge effect created by the flexing of the clamp screw 68 within the opening 66 allowed by the assembly clearance 73. Operating clearance 75 (Fig. 4) is provided by air pressure from the air outlet openings 78 (Figs. 4 and 5) and this .-clearance may be adjusted at diagonal opposite corners of the slide by the ad~usting screw 70 acting as an abutment against the clamp screw 68 as it extends through the larger opening 66, with the column and slide under air pressure.
Extending laterally through each of the plates of the slide are air condults 71 (Flg. 4) which terminate in each of the plates.
Further there are openings 72 in the inner side face of each of the plates connected to the conduits 71 as can be seen in Fig. 4 so that when the plates are placed in a relation of one edge of a plate against the inside face of an ad~acent plate, the opening 72 will align with the conduit 71 of the ad~acent plate. Thus, in the as-sembly of four plates as shown in Fig. 4, there will be a complete air circuit in a rectilinear path for air under pressure. A clrcuit -~
such as this is provided at both the top and bottom of the slide and externally interconnected ~y conduit 74 extending vertically along the slide 65 w~th air admitted as at 76 (Fig. 2~. A recess is located at the end of each of these air conduits 71 and receives an O-ring 77 to seal the conduits 71 in one plate and the opening 72 which leads to the conduit in the next plate. These O-rings are under compression to provide the seal by means of the clamping screws 68 above described and shown in Fig. 3. From each of the conduits there is provided air outlet openings 78 (Figs. 4 and 5) on the inner surface of each of the plates from which there extends radial chan-nels 79 and 80 in a crossing fashion and leading to a circular chan-nel 81 for the distribution of air inwardly against the granite column 60 under air pressure when admitted as at 76. This pressure of air against the granite column will cause the screws 68 at the diagonal opposite corners to flex slightly an amount equal to clearance 75, (Fig. 4) along the width of the plate, and thus, with this air bearing, the slide may be easily moved along the column without friction. Locking of the slide in position may be had through its fine ad~usting screw by a knob in back of the slide to cause two spring loaded half nuts to close against the adjusting screw. When the air pressure is shut off as at 76, the slide con-tracts on the column 60.
It will be observed, as seen in Fig. 9, that there is a flexing of the screw 68 which has clearance thru the opening 66 thru which it extends. Thus, as the air is inserted in this rectangular slide, the plates expand from clamping the granite column 60 and provide a frlctionless bearing. This expansion occurs by reason of the flexing of the threaded connecting means 68. In Fig. 8 the slide is shown with no air pressure applied, while Fig. 9 indicates the air pressure applied. Connecting screws 68 in Fig. 8 are indicated as in a straight line or having a straight axis, and in this position the slide engages the column and will not move along the column. The spacing of the plates is largely exaggerated for clarity. For ex-ample, when the pressure is applied, the plate 100 will move as shown in Fig. 9 in the direction of arrow 108 to flex the screw 68.
Typically the plate will move as shown at B substantially 0.01778mm with reference to the column as shown in the illustration. Plate 100 will also move as shown by arrow 101. At the same time the pressure will move all of the plates similarly. Thus plate 102 will 10910~4 be moved in the direction of arrow 103 which wlll move the end 104 of the plate 100 also outwardly a distance A or 0.1016mm from plate 102 by a thrust on the screw 68a. Thus, through diagonal corners of the plate, the plate 100 will be moved outwardly for a clearance of the column. This same action or relative movement occurs on the plate 105 which is opposite the plate 100, and likewise the same action will occur on the other opposite plates 106 and 102. Thus, all four plates not only move outwardly away ~rom the column a distance B or .01778mm but also endwise a distance A or .1016mm at the same time that the pressure is applied which causes the flexing of the screws 68 as indicated in Fig. 9.
The slide carries a probe 85 (Fig. 6) on an arm 86 attached to the slide as at 87 and which is on the end of a laterally extending arm 88. This probe designated generally 85 is generally triangular in shape with the pointed end 89 suitable for indicating on the work the position of the gage. Different shape probes may be provided rigidly attached to the slide. The probe 85 is in the form of a sllce of a cone containing its center axis with the upper surface 90 and lower surface 91 of the probe on the arc of the same circle so that when the probe extends into an opening, a single point on the same circle on each surface 90 and 91 will engage the opening to locate the center of a diameter.
Pins 95 extend laterally from the triangular probe and are lo-cated with the lower surface on the center line of the probe. The probe may be set by means of a calibrating block 96 which will rest upon a flat surface 97 and a probe may be level, and then the cali-brating block 96 may be turned around 180 about a vertical axis to see if the pins 95 engage the calibrat~ng block 96, and when this condition of touching with the calibrating block reversed through 180, the probe will be in the proper aligned position.
Claims (5)
1. In a height gage, a generally horizontally disposed base and a generally vertically disposed column extending upwardly therefrom, said column having a plurality of vertically disposed surfaces, a slide embracing said column and presenting slide surfaces to the surfaces of said column, characterized by said slide being expandible and formed by a plurality of plates, resilient means connecting said plates, said means of a character to flex and cause expansion of the embracing slide upon the existence of fluid pressure between the surfaces of said slide and column to form a frictionless fluid bearing and subsequent contraction in the absence of such fluid pressure to grip the column, said slide surfaces having a plurality of fluid openings and means to supply fluid to said fluid openings to expand said slide.
2. In a height gage as in claim 1 wherein each plate has a fluid conduit therein, said conduit in one plate registering with a conduit in the adjoining plate, sealing means between adjoining plates at the conduit registration held compressed by said resilient means and flexing upon the supply and release of pressure.
3. In a height gage as in claim 1 wherein said resilient means is threaded into one plate and has a clearance through an adjoining plate and an adjusting screw enters said clearance and engages the threaded means.
4. In a height gage as in claim 1 wherein said slide carries a probe rigidly attached on said slide, said probe being pointed away from said column with the sides leading therefrom being arcuate and symmetrical with reference to a horizontal to extend into openings of different diameters and touch at single diametrical opposite points.
5. In a height gage as in claim 1 wherein said slide carries a probe rigidly attached on said slide, said probe being pointed away from said column with the sides leading therefrom being arcuate and symmetrical with reference to a horizontal to extend into openings of different diameters and touch at single diametrical opposite points and the sides of said probe has a pair of laterally extending pins for engaging a calibrating block.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US861,957 | 1977-12-19 | ||
| US05/861,957 US4129949A (en) | 1976-04-05 | 1977-12-19 | Height gage |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1091004A true CA1091004A (en) | 1980-12-09 |
Family
ID=25337211
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA306,201A Expired CA1091004A (en) | 1977-12-19 | 1978-06-26 | Height gage with frictionless slider |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1091004A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2836660C2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0308250A3 (en) * | 1987-09-17 | 1989-07-19 | Deere & Company | Measurement and levelling apparatus |
-
1978
- 1978-06-26 CA CA306,201A patent/CA1091004A/en not_active Expired
- 1978-08-22 DE DE19782836660 patent/DE2836660C2/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE2836660B1 (en) | 1979-04-12 |
| DE2836660C2 (en) | 1980-01-03 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4763420A (en) | Base assembly for coordinate measuring machine | |
| US3826011A (en) | Pre-setting tool gauge for spindle machines | |
| US4305207A (en) | Three-axis inspection machine | |
| US5131161A (en) | Guide post and master cylinder squareness gage | |
| US4326336A (en) | Gauge | |
| US2173519A (en) | Trigonometric angle generator | |
| GB2242747A (en) | Vernier caliper gauge | |
| CA1091004A (en) | Height gage with frictionless slider | |
| US5546668A (en) | Leveling and locking profile transfer device | |
| US4680869A (en) | Cylindrical square | |
| US4129949A (en) | Height gage | |
| US3484944A (en) | Aligning of guide v-rails | |
| KR20000034085A (en) | Device for measuring plane degree of flange surfaces | |
| KR102415051B1 (en) | Edge Distance Measuring Device for Bridge Safety Inspection | |
| JP4154089B2 (en) | Scale unit connection member | |
| US3975100A (en) | Method and apparatus for improving the accuracy of measuring the length of a gaging standard by laser interferometer means | |
| GB1574080A (en) | Height gauge | |
| US3805397A (en) | Geometrical measurement devices | |
| US4233744A (en) | Apparatus for the geometrical checking of workpieces having surfaces of rotation | |
| US2705421A (en) | Test position gyro mount | |
| US3226837A (en) | Master measure system | |
| US4441022A (en) | Coating thickness measuring device | |
| JPS62135711A (en) | Measuring instrument for sphere | |
| CN218002382U (en) | Tool and detection equipment for detecting spherical swash plate | |
| CN216779145U (en) | Portable ball core surface spray coating homogeneity measuring tool |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |