GB2221755A

GB2221755A - Slip-gauge-testing apparatus and method

Info

Publication number: GB2221755A
Application number: GB8915779A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerhard Reimann; Karsten Schinkel
Original assignee: SUHL FEINMESSZEUGFAB VEB
Current assignee: SUHL FEINMESSZEUGFAB VEB
Priority date: 1988-07-18
Filing date: 1989-07-10
Publication date: 1990-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 2009-07-10
Also published as: DD274086A1; GB8915779D0; DE3919032A1; CH678974A5; GB2221755B

Description

n (1,1 e) 1 F 7

-1DESCRIPTION METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE POSITIONING OF PARALLEL SLIP GAUGES ON A SLIP-GAUGE-TESTING APPARATUS.

The invention is concerned with a method and apparatus for the positioning of parallel slip gauges on a slip-gauge-testing apparatus.

The method of the invention can be used in particular with slip-gaugetesting apparatuses which have the slip gauges disposed on a plane table and which move the gauges into the required position by way of a manipulator.

Various slip-gauge-testing apparatuses are known in which the slip gauges are placed on a table and moved into the required positions (EP-PS 0115 243, DD-PS 248 715). These known devices have the disadvantage that the slip gauge surfaces can be scratched during movement. This disadvantage can be avoided by placing the slip gauges on a base, movement of which achieves the movements of the slip gauges to the predescribed positions. Basically, two fixed tables are sufficient if only one gauge point is to be probed (DE-OS 2628 124). In FR-PS 2544 554, the solution is the use of a circular indexing table in which measured-value instruments are also moveable.

The apparatus of CH-PS 628 136 offers a solution whereby an intermediate plate in the form of an x-y table is utilised for the slip gauge movement.

In DD-PD 244 808, the slip gauges are again placed on an intermediate plate whereby they are moveable in the manner of a lemniscate. High demands on the guide precision of the base must be seen as a disadvantage of the last mentioned solutions.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for the damage-free positioning of slip gauges and an apparatus for achieving same which can be interchanged with a conventional manipulator in a simple manner.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for positioning parallel slip-gauges in a slip-gaugetesting machine, comprising a slip-gauge clamping device, a plane table. a slip-gauge manipulator which is horizontally movable within a predetermined range above the plane table, and two axially displaceable test probes which are aligned in a stand, wherein the slip-gaugeclamping device is disposed on the manipulator and can hold slip-gauges located on the table, and wherein the slip-gauge-clamping device can be lifted in a direction perpendicular to the axis of manipulator movement, the manipulator being lockable in all required positions and being attached to a control lever.

Preferably, the slip-gauge-clamping device comprises a jaw-shaped member having two leg ends which are connected by way of a threaded rod, an operating element being linearly guided in the bar and two pressure members being linearly guided in the jaw-shaped member.

Preferably, the jaw-shaped member is-exchangeably connected with the rod, the two pressure members having a friction value higher than that of steel at their pressure surfaces, and said jaw-shaped member being a pressure member which is connected with the threaded rod, which jaw- shaped member being of a resilient medium.

Advantageously, there is also provided a method which affords parallelsided slip gauges to be precisely positioned in a slip-gauge-testing apparatus having a plane table, on which the slip gauges are movable, and whereby no high demands are made on the manipulator.

Advantageously, a clamping device disposed on the manipulator is capable of clamping the slip gauges disposed on the table and lifting them before the manipulator can be moved.

Advantageously, after each manipulator movement the manipulator is locked, and the slip gauges are positioned on the table.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for the positioning of two parallel slip-gauges on a slipgauge-testing apparatus, said apparatus comprising a slip-gaugeclamping device, a plane table, a manipulator which is horizontally movable within a predetermined range above the plane table, and two probes which are aligned in a stand and which can be lifted in relation to slip gauges to be tested, the method comprising a repeatable sequence of events commencing with the unlocking and release of the manipulator, said release involving lifting off the probes, clamping of the two slip gauges and lifting of the slip gauge clamping device; the manipulator now released is linearly shifted to position a slip-gauge; the previous sequence of events is performed in reverse order to achieve locking of the manipulator, wherein the slip-gauge-clamping device is lowered, the slip-gauge clamp is released, the probes lowered and the gauge value transferred to a computer, when the slip gauge under test is within a prescribed gauge length.

Preferably, the method is initiated by way of a control lever, and the working procedure of the device is controlled by a computer.

1 The invention is described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig.1 is a longitudinal section of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention, having slip gauges placed on its table; Fig.2 is a sectional view of the apparatus, with the slip gauges being transported; and Fig.3 is a plan view of the apparatus.

The slip-gauge-testing apparatus uses a plane table 1, a gauging area being defined by precision pins 2 (Fig.3).

During gauging, performed by two probes 3, the slip gauges rest on the pins 2. The probes 3 and the plane table 1 are built into a gauge stand 3.

A horizontally moveable manipulator (6, 8 and 13) is disposed above the plane table 1. As is shown in Fig.3, the manipulator is guided linearly in the axial direction of pins 2. Three stopping points are fixed in a straight guide 16. The manipulator can be swivelled around the second and third stopping point. The first stopping point for the manipulator serves for the positioning of a standard slip gauge 4' within the gauge length. The stopping points are preferred to be electro-magnetically operated ball stops.

At the second stopping point, the manipulator can be swung around in an arc which runs through the first two corner points of the slip gauge 4'' to be measured, and at the third stopping point in an arc which runs through the other two corner points of the slip gauge 4'' to be measured. The swivel movements of the manipulator are limited by stops.. The latter operating method of the manipulator is known from DD-PS 248 715.

Instead of the conventional cages for the slip gauges 4, the manipulator has a slip-gauge-clamping device 6. This consists of a jaw-shaped member 7 which embraces the two slip gauges 4. At the side facing the swivel mount 8, the jaw-shaped member 7 is joined with a bar 9 which houses a threaded rod 10 with a pressure member 11. A second pressure member 12 is disposed between the two slip gauges. The threaded rod 10 continues in a straight line to a lever 13. The slip gauges 4 can be clamped by rotating the lever 13 around its longitudinal axis. In order to maintain a constant angle of rotation at the lever 13 for the clamping of both slip gauge sizes, the pressure members 11,- 12 are exchangeable with the jaw- shaped member 7. When the jaw-shaped member 7 is to be used for slip gauges 4 with larger ground surfaces, the pressure members 11,12 are -7linearly guided with pressure surfaces of a higher friction value than steel so that even large slip gauges can be lifted safely.

Furthermore, safe lifting of large slip gauges is achieved by use of an increased clamping force, applied at the pressure member 11 by way of a resilient medium.

The swivel mount 8 can be lifted by means of a lifting system 14. To enable the use of an electromagnetically operated lifting system 14, in particular for measuring of large slip gauges 4, the electromagnetic section of the lifting system 14 is accommodated alongside the gauge stand so as to exclude heat effects from the electromagnetic section on the plane table. The transfer of the lifting movement from the electromagnetic section to the swivel mount 8 is preferably effected by way of a straight wedge system. The swivel movements of the 0 manipulator can be locked together with the lifting system 14. This locking of the manipulator is preferably achieved by electro-magnetically operated Stops.

The slip-gauge-clamping device 6 and the lifting system 14 are necessary for execution of the method according to the invention. For the realisation of the method, the following combination of individual functions of the elements of the device is used.

The method is initiated by way of a control lever. This can be a foot switch or it can be integrated with the lever 13. From the control lever, a pulse is sent to a control computer of the slip-gauge-testing apparatus and to the gauge-pinlifting device. The control-lever pulse initiates a control program in the computer, and the-gauge rods 15 of the probes 3 are lifted off the gauge surfaces.

When the two gauge rods 15 have been lifted, this is indicated by the computer. The slip-gauge-clamping device 6 can now be operated, either directly by the operator turning lever 13 or automatically by a control pulse from the computer to an electro-magnetic or piezo-electric operating device of the slip-gaugeclamping device 6.

When the slip gauges 4 are clamped, the lifting system 14 for the swivel mounts 8 can be activated (Fig.2).

This is done, for example, by way of an electrical contact which is activated at the end of the rotational movement of lever 13 and which sets the electro-magnetic lifting system into motion.

The manipulator lock is opened by lifting the swivel mount 8, and the manipulator can be moved. for example. in a straight line until the centre of the -9standard slip gauge 4' is within the gauge length (ng. 1).

The control lever is again operated whereby the above described stages of the method are run in reverse order.

Firstly, the manipulator is locked during the lowering of the swivel mount 8, and the.slip-gaugeclamping device 6 can then be opened. The slip gauges 4 will then stand free on the pins 2 of the plane table 1 and are probed by lowering the gauge bolts 15 of the probe 3. The method can be repeated as described above when the gauge values have been transferred into the computer. The method according to the invention is realised in a simple way by mechanical combination of the structural members described.

The use of an electrical combination of individual functions is preferred whereby electro-magnetic or piezo-electric structural elements are used for the operating devices.

Sliding and swivel movements can be realised by way of small motors. For this reason, the swivel mount 8 and the linear guide 16 by which the slipgauge-clamping device 6 is moveable are constructed in the form of roller bearings. The slip-gauge-clamping device 6, the swivel mount 8 and i -10the lever 13 form the manipulator. A special short slide-roller guide is used for the linear guide 16. This consists of two prismatic work guides 17 positioned opposite each other which are mounted parallel to each other in front of the plane table 1 in the stand 5. Inserted between the two guides 17 is a slide 18 with two prisms in which the swivel mount 8 for the lifting movement is guided. Between slide 18 and the guides 17 are two perforated rails 19 which are connected to each other, serving as a cage.

The rails are linearly guided by surfaces disposed alongside the prisms on the guides 17 and on the slide 18, the distance between guides 17 and slide 18 being selected according to the strength of the perforated rail. The perforated rails 19 include balls 20 which roll within the prisms positioned opposite each other on the guides 17 and the slide 18. The perforated rails 19 always hold all balls 20 in the prisms of guides 17.

The running of the method is in all forms of construction controlled by a computer control program.

In the most advantageous type of construction, the automatic running of the complete measuring of a slip gauge is computer controllable. In this case, the operator's only task is to exchange the slip gauges 4.

1 Advantages of the invention lie in the interchangeability with a conventional manipulator, with the exclusion of damage to the slip gauges. No high demands are made on the guide precision of the manipulator.

.....................................................

1

Claims

-12CLAIMS

1. Apparatus for positioning parallel slip-gauges in a slip-gauge-testing machine comprising a slipgauge clamping device, a plane table, a slipgauge manipulator which is horizontally movable within a predetermined range above the plane table, and two axially displaceable test probes which are aligned in a stand, wherein the slip-gauge-clamping device is disposed on the manipulator and can hold slip-gauges located on the table, and wherein the slip-gaugeclamping device can be lifted in a direction perpendicular to the axis of manipulator movement, the manipulator being lockable in all required positions and being attached to a control lever.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slip-gauge-clamping device comprises a jaw-shaped member having two leg ends which are connected by way of a threaded rod. an operating element being linearly guided in the bar and two pressure members being linearly guided in the jaw-shaped member.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the jaw-shaped member is exchangeably connected with the rod, the two pressure members having a friction value higher than that of steel at their pressure surfaces, and said jaw-shaped member being a pressure member which is connected with the threaded rod, which jaw-shaped member being of a resilient medium.

h

4. A method for the positioning of two parallel slip-gauges on a slipgauge-testing apparatus, said apparatus comprising a slip-gauge-clamping device, a plane table, a manipulator which is horizontally movable within a predetermined range above the plane table, and two probes which are aligned in a stand and which can be lifted in relation to slip gauges to be tested, the method comprising a repeatable sequence of events commencing with the unlocking and release of the manipulator, said release involving lifting off the probes, clamping of the two slip gauges and lifting of the slip gauge clamping device; the manipulator now released is linearly shifted to position a slip-gauge; the previous sequence of events is performed in reverse order to achieve locking of the manipulator, wherein the slip-gauge-clamping device is lowered, the slip-gauge clamp is released, the probes lowered and the gauge value transferred to a computer, when the slip gauge under test is within a prescribed gauge length.

5. A method for the positioning of two parallel slip-gauges on a slipgauge-testing apparatus having a slip-gauge clamping device, a plane table, a manipulator which is horizontally moveable within a predetermined range above the plane table, and two probes which are aligned in a stand and which can be 1 -14lifted off, the method comprising releasing the manipulator, lifting the probes, clamping the two slip-gauges, lifting the slip-gauge-clamping device, releasing the manipulator-lock, displacing the manipulator, reversing the release of the manipulator, locking the manipulator, lowering the slip-gaugeclamping device, releasing the slip-gauge clamp, lowering the probes, and transferring the gauge value to a computer when the slip gauge under test is within a prescribed gauge length.

6. Apparatus for the positioning of two parallel slip-gauges on a slipgauge-testing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described. with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A method for the positioning of two parallel slip-gauges on a slipgauge-testing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

. Published 1990 atThe Patent Office.State House. 6671 High Holborn. London WC1R4TP.Further copiesmaybe obtainedfrom The Patent Office. Sales Branch. St Mary Cray. Orpingtor. Wei.t BR5 3FX- Pr,r-ted by Lfulliplex techniques Itc. St Mary Cray. Kent, Con. P87