Device and method for measuring mechanical path lengths by means of pneumatic pressure, in particular for sliding carbon contacts
US7010959B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 29, 2004 |
| Grant date | Mar 14, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 29, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01R39/58
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In a device and a method for measuring path lengths, particularly of brushes in sliding contacts, an air stream having a regularly fluctuating pressure is provided by a pump and conducted via an air supply line and a nozzle to an object to be measured. The object is disposed so that its length or position affects the flow resistance of passing air. A consequent pressure drop in the supply line is determined with a pressure sensor, and an evaluation unit computes, in particular from the difference between maximum and minimum air pressure, a length of the object as a function of the pressure difference. In another embodiment of the invention, pressurized air is supplied from a pump to an object to be measured, and a sensor is disposed to detect a pressure change when the object has attained a predetermined length.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.