Self-aligning probe and its use
US6894492B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 7, 2001 |
| Grant date | May 17, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 9, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01B7/003
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A sensor measurement of an article having an article surface shape is performed using a hand-held senor probe having a probe housing, a sensor support rotatably mounted in the probe housing and having an orienting structure defined thereon. The orienting structure is preferably an orienting face with substantially the article surface shape. A sensor, such as a eddy current sensor, is affixed to the sensor support and is operable through the orienting face of the sensor support. The orienting face of the sensor support is pressed against the article surface to orient the sensor support and thence the sensor relative to the article surface, and the sensor measurement is performed. The sensor is preferably a ball having the orienting face thereon, and mounted to the probe housing in a ball-and-socket relationship.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.