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:
Jan. 11, 2000
Filed:
May. 03, 1999
David R McMurtry, Wotton-under-Edge, GB;
Graham A Hellen, Bristol, GB;
Jonathan S Sullivan, Farnborough, GB;
Renishaw PLC, Gloucestershire, GB;
Abstract
A coordinate measuring machine carries a modular touch trigger probe 100, via an adaptor 200, on its movable arm 10. The probe 100 consists of a retaining module 102 which is mounted to the adaptor 200, and a stylus module 104 which is magnetically connected to the retaining module 102 in a manner which enables the exchange of one stylus module 104 for another. The adaptor consists of a pair of coupling members 202,204 which are urged into mutual engagement by magnets 212. Automatic exchange of stylus modules occurs by using movement of the arm 10 to disengage a stylus module 104 from the retaining module 102. Similarly, the exchange of one probe for another is carried out by using movement of the arm 10 to disengage the lower coupling member 204 from the upper coupling member 202. Because magnetic attraction between the coupling members 202,204 is necessarily greater than the attraction between retaining and stylus modules 102,104, lower coupling member 204 has three levers 222, operable by downward relative movement of a release ring 220, which occurs during uncoupling. The levers 222 provide the mechanical advantage necessary to enable movement of the arm 10 to overcome the relatively large magnetic attraction force between coupling members 202,204.