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:
Feb. 18, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 22, 2000
David R. McMurtry, Wotton-under-Edge, GB;
Stephen E. Lummes, Stroud, GB;
Renishaw PLC, Gloucestershire, GB;
Abstract
A probe arm comprises a base member securable to a surface of a machine tool, and a rotatable hub , carrying an arm member with a tool-setting probe ( FIG. ). The hub has a portion with three radial projections ( FIG. ) which rotates within an aperture of the base which also has three inward radial projections . Together these projections form stops at the operative and non-operative positions of the probe. The aperture also has three axial raised areas on an annular ledge which support an annular should on the hub. Thus there are six points of contact between the hub and base member in the operative and non-operative positions. A biasing arrangement comprises a detent plate secured to the aperture and a planar spring secured to the hub by its central region. Ball bearings are loosely retained in two opposite lugs ( FIG. ) on the spring and run around the detent plate between two pairs of detent holes ( FIG. ). In the operative and non-operative positions, the ball bearings rest on radially-extending edges ( A FIG. ) of the detent holes and thus the axial force of the spring also provides a component of force in a tangential direction, thereby causing a rotational force.