Patent US1869653A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3596362A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3596362A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Surface measuring apparatus
Assignee: RAND ORGANIZATION Ltd
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Filing: 1968-12-16
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Granted: 1971-08-03
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Expires: 1988-12-16
Abstract
Abstract The profile of a surface is tested automatically by directing a parallel reference beam of light substantially parallel to the surface on to beam displacement means, such as a reflecting prism, carried by a surface-engaging stylus, so that a measuring beam is produced which is displaced relative to the reference beam by an amount proportional to the stylus movement. Detection means, for example a differential photoelectric sensor, are used to indicate change in said displacement and thereby provide an indication of the surface profile.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Edmund Reason
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/30; G01B11/303; G06; G06K; G06K11/00; G06K11/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
Apparatus for indicating the profile of a surface, for example the machined surface of a workpiece, comprising in combination: a source arranged to produce a light beam, means producing a reference beam of substantially constant cross section from said light beam, means directing said reference beam along and spaced apart from said surface, sensor means having a stylus effective to engage said surface, means traversing said stylus over said surface along a line substantially parallel to the path of said reference beam, beam displacement means coupled to said stylus, arranged in said path of said reference beam and effective to displace said reference beam in a predetermined direction as a measuring beam in response to excursions of said stylus in a direction perpendicular to the direction of said reference beam, said beam displacement means maintaining said measuring beam parallel to said predetermined direction irrespective of rotation of said beam displacement means about an axis mutually perpendicular to said beam and the line of excursion of said stylus, detection means effective to indicate any displacement change between said reference beam and said measuring beam and thereby to provide an indication of said surface profile.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
Apparatus for indicating the profile of a surface, for example the machined surface of a workpiece, comprising in combination: a source arranged to produce a light beam, means producing a reference beam of substantially constant cross section from said light beam, means directing said reference beam along and spaced apart from said surface, sensor means having a stylus effective to engage said surface, means traversing said stylus over said surface along a line substantially parallel to the path of said reference beam, beam displacement means coupled to said stylus, arranged in said path of said reference beam and effective to displace said reference beam in a predetermined direction as a measuring beam in response to excursions of said stylus in a direction perpendicular to the direction of said reference beam, said beam displacement means maintaining said measuring beam parallel to said predetermined direction irrespective of rotation of said beam displacement means about an axis mutually perpendicular to said beam and the line of excursion of said stylus, detection means effective to indicate any displacement change between said reference beam and said measuring beam and thereby to provide an indication of said surface profile.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said beam displacement means displaces said measuring beam in predetermined direction which is parallel to but opposite the direction oF said reference beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said beam deflection means deflects said measuring beam in said predetermined direction opposite said direction of said reference beam by an even number of reflections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means directing the reference beam along a path parallel to the surface under test produces zero deflection of the reference beam as a result of movement of the directing means relatively to the workpiece.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said beam displacement means comprise a 90* prism of triangular section lying perpendicular to and intersecting the line of excursion of the stylus and having the corresponding base opposite the right-angled apex normal to the axis of and disposed to receive the incident reference beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the beam displacement means comprise a light-transmitting body having spherical surfaces and an index of refraction selected to receive the incident reference beam and return this beam along a path parallel to itself.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detection means comprise a beam-splitting device arranged to receive the measuring beam and producing from it two beams whose relative flux are dependent upon the displacement of the measuring beam, and thereby of the stylus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detection means comprise an optically opaque reflecting member shaped to receive the beam from the source and reflecting from it a reference beam of the selected shape onto the displacement means, and intercepting the returning measuring beam such that relative displacement of these beams produces further beams emerging past opposite sides of the reflecting member, the relative flux of said further beams depending upon the relative displacement between the reference and the measuring beams and thereby of the displacement of the stylus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 7 including means, such as a Dove prism, arranged to increase the displacement between the beams emergent from the detection means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 7 including photoelectric devices arranged respectively to receive the beams emergent from the detection means and means providing an indication of the displacement between the reference and the measuring beams from the electric outputs of the devices.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein focusing means are arranged to image the beam displacement means onto the sensitive areas of the said photoelectric devices and said photoelectric devices, together with the focusing means, are arranged to move with the sensor so as to stabilize that sensitive area of each device which is activated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein beam inclination adjusting means are arranged in the path of the incident reference beam and are effective to adjust the line of path thereof independently of the line of traverse of the sensor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including a support tube upon which the sensor is mounted, said tube being effective along its length to enclose the beams incident upon and displaced by the displacement means to assist to protect the beams from stray illumination.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sensor is rigidly secured to one end of the support tube, and a hinge mounting is attached to the other end of the support tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sensor has a hinge mounting disposed immediately adjacent an end of the support tube, the other end of the tube being rigidly mounted.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 16 including a guide tube within which the support tube is arranged to slide, the guide tube being effective to form an extended further enclosure for the incident and deflected beams so as to further protect them from stray illumination.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the hinge mounting comprises spaced-apart parallel ligaments effective to produce substantially linear excursion of the stylus normally of the surface under test.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
87 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including an optical deviator effective to compensate for curved movement of the sensor in response to the curved shape of the workpiece surface, the said deviator being coupled to the stylus traverse and responsive to the mean arcuate movement of the sensor, and the deviator being arranged to produce lateral displacement of the reference beam parallel to itself, so that it continuously remains incident upon the displacement means on the sensor and in the correct means spacing from the surface under test.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the deviator comprises a light-transmitting block having parallel opposite faces and arranged for transmission of the beam between said parallel opposite faces and effective when tilted in response to the sensor traverse to produce refractive displacement of the beam.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 19, including a tilting mechanism connected to said block and adjustable to enable the rate of tilting to be varied according to the curvature of the workpiece surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including means effective to maintain a constant effective aperture of the reference beam along its length to compensate for any divergence of the beam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source is an incandescent source.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source is a laser source.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2703456A
Cited
US3328885A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-02 | 1975-02-01 | 1975-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-02 | 1979-02-01 | 1979-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-02 | 1983-02-01 | 1983-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |