The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 09, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 19, 1997
Kam C Lau, Gaithersburg, MD (US);
Other;
Abstract
A measurement probe has a plurality of movement directions, and is constructed with one or more pneumatically actuated locking mechanisms, each of which can be selectively actuated to prevent movement along one of the movement directions. The pneumatic actuator has a flexible diaphragm which is expanded by application of air pressure to move a spring member, thus engaging a locking element connected to the spring member with a receiving element to prevent movement of the probe in the direction associated with that locking mechanism. A pneumatic control system is provided to control the locking mechanism(s) in accordance with operator desires, a predetermined program, or operating requirements of an electronically controlled machine associated with the probe.