Mitutoyo Corporation

Michael Edward Goldsworthy

Casey Edward Emtman

William Randall Garrity

A compliant thumb wheel assembly coupled to a caliper jaw that moves along a caliper scale member along a measuring axis direction in a caliper comprises a thumb wheel, a compliant element, and a thumb wheel mounting portion rigidly coupled to the caliper jaw. The compliant element is configured to locate the thumb wheel in an operational arrangement for driving the caliper jaw while at the same time transmitting forces between the thumb wheel and the thumb wheel mounting portion by elastic deformation. When a force is applied to the thumb wheel along the measuring axis direction, the compliant element flexes such that the thumb wheel displaces along the measuring axis direction relative to the thumb wheel mounting portion and the caliper jaw, and generates a measuring force that depends on that relative displacement and which is applied to the caliper jaw along the measuring axis direction.

Compliant thumb wheel assembly coupled to a caliper jaw

A compliant wheel assembly is provided for moving a caliper jaw relative to a caliper spar. The wheel assembly includes a rotary bearing member, a rotary actuation member and a compliant coupling element. The rotary bearing member is coupled to the caliper jaw and may engage the caliper spar. The rotary actuation member is actuated by a user to apply a measuring force. The compliant coupling element is configured to compliantly couple the rotary actuation member to the rotary bearing member. Using the compliant wheel assembly, a user is able to apply a more consistent amount of measurement force than could typically be achieved with a conventional rigid thumb wheel in caliper. In one implementation, a displacement indicator may also be provided that is responsive to the rotational displacement between the rotary bearing and actuation members for indicating an amount of measurement force that is being applied.

Wheel assembly for moving caliper jaw with repeatable force

A flexible mount is provided for coupling a force actuator to a caliper jaw. The flexible mount includes a first mounting portion for being coupled to the caliper jaw, a second mounting portion for being coupled to the force actuator, and a flexible element (e.g., a parallel flexure) coupled between the first and second mounting portions. When a force is applied to the force actuator (e.g., by a user pushing on a thumbwheel) along the measuring axis direction, the flexible element flexes to generate a measuring force that is applied to the caliper jaw. The use of the flexible mount results in more control and a better feel for a user when attempting to exert control to provide a desired amount of force during a measuring process. The flexible mount may also utilize a fastening configuration that is compatible with existing mounting features on existing caliper jaws.

Flexible mount for coupling force actuator to caliper jaw

A force indicator arrangement provides tactile or auditory feedback regarding a measuring force applied through a force actuator to a caliper jaw. The force indicator arrangement, coupled between the force actuator and the caliper jaw, includes an incremented member, an engaging member and a compliant element. The incremented member includes increment marker(s), and the engaging member is arranged to engage the increment marker(s) to produce tactile and/or auditory feedback (e.g., clicks) to indicate an amount of measuring force that is being applied arising from deformation of the compliant element. Different increment marker configurations may be provided to indicate different levels of measuring force. A set of interchangeable force indicator arrangements with different force sensitivities may be provided for use in different applications. A retrofitable force indicator arrangement may also utilize a fastening configuration that is compatible with existing mounting features on existing caliper jaws.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Michael Edward Goldsworthy