Coordinate measuring machine having an air counterbalance system
US4207680A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 8, 1978 |
| Grant date | Jun 17, 1980 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 8, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S33/02
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A coordinate measuring machine (10) having a vertically mounted probe (32), the weight of which is offset by an air counterbalance system (100). The air counterbalance system is adapted to use a source of air under pressure acting upon a piston (127) coupled to the vertically mounted probe (42). A torque converter (130) is mounted between the probe (42) and the piston (127) allowing the piston (127) to have a shorter travel than the allowable vertical travel of the probe (42). The air counterbalance system (100) preferably has components selected and arranged to minimize friction and weight to avoid distorting the precision of measurements on the coordinate measurement machine.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.