Antares Engineering, Inc.

James Brooks

Charles G Gerlach

Louis J Perry

A multimode testing device is disclosed for automatic testing of a threaded feature on a workpiece, comprised of a housing mounting a forward extending probe tip having an outlet supplied with air pressure via internal passages in the housing. In the first test mode, an obstruction test is made to detect the absence of the threaded feature or the presence of a broken tool, the obstruction test made by advance of the probe tip into the threaded feature. A contact of the probe tip with an obstruction causes blockage of an internal passage and an increase in back pressure therein which is detected by a pressure sensor. If no obstruction is detected, a second test mode is initiated by tilting the probe tip by an air cylinder operated actuator rod formed with cam surfaces interfit with complementary surfaces on a thrust rod mounted to push the probe tip sideways. A proximity detector senses if overtravel of the thrust rod occurs, as caused by any of various abnormal conditions, such as if either the workpiece or probe tip are absent, or due to an improper sizing of the threaded feature. In the final test mode, the tilting of the probe tip causes positioning of a side directed air outlet against the bore wall, and in the absence of threads an increased back pressure is detected by the pressure sensor.

Growing community of inventors

Roseville, MI, United States of America

James Brooks