Rolling element and arrangement thereof
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023814404
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-11-28
- Filing Date
- 2023-11-28
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-08
AI Technical Summary
Existing measuring devices for distance on a workpiece face challenges in maintaining constant contact and precision due to skidding or skipping issues, particularly when using rolling components, and often require large setups where the workpiece is moved relative to the tool.
A device with an elongated cylindrical rolling element connected via spring action to a frame, allowing the rolling element to adjust to the workpiece's surface shape, ensuring constant contact through compression or tension forces, and incorporating sensing means to translate rotational movement into linear distance measurement.
The solution enables precise distance measurement by maintaining consistent contact with the workpiece surface, preventing skidding and allowing for accurate translation of rotational movement into linear distance, thereby improving measurement accuracy and adaptability to varying workpiece shapes.
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] ROLLING ELEMENT AND ARRANGEMENT THEREOF
[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Generally the present invention relates to measuring equipment. In particular, however not exclusively the present invention pertains to devices for measuring of distance on a workpiece.
[0004] BACKGROUND
[0005] Rolling components for measuring equipment have been discussed in prior art. For example, European patent publication EP3264025 Bl discloses a measuring device having a ring type body with teeth along the surface of the body. Similar solutions are also known having wheel type constructions. Also, cylindrical bodies that can be used as rollers are known from the context of conveyors, which are however not used for precision distance measurement. Further, typically such solutions are large and instead of being moved in relation to the measured workpiece, the workpiece is moved in relation to the measuring tool. In such cases, a rotary encoder is often used to convert rotary movement to distance.
[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The objective is to at least alleviate the problems described hereinabove not satisfactorily solved by the known arrangements.
[0008] The main advantage of the rolling element in accordance with the present disclosure is that it is able to adjust to the surface shape of the workpiece it is measuring. The disclosure utilizes spring action to keep the rolling element in constant contact with the measured workpiece to keep the rolling element from skidding or skipping when rolling on a surface.
[0009] Accordingly, in one aspect of the present invention a device for measuring of distance on a surface of a workpiece, the device comprising:
[0010] -a rolling element having an elongated cylindrical body, -said rolling element being at least functionally connected to a frame via spring action, wherein the frame may be positioned in relation to a workpiece,
[0011] -characterized in that the spring action is arranged to move the rolling element in relation to the frame and in relation to a surface of the workpiece so that by movement of the frame the rolling element is moved by rotation on a surface of the workpiece and the spring action presses the rolling element against the surface of the workpiece.
[0012] Accordingly, in one other aspect of the present invention an arrangement for a measuring tool comprising,
[0013] -device for measuring of distance on a surface of a workpiece, the device comprising:
[0014] -a rolling element having an elongated cylindrical body,
[0015] -said rolling element being at least functionally connected to a frame via spring action, wherein the frame may be positioned in relation to a workpiece,
[0016] -characterized in that the spring action is arranged to move the rolling element in relation to the frame and in relation to a surface of the workpiece so that by movement of the frame the rolling element is moved by rotation on a surface of the workpiece and the spring action presses the rolling element against the surface of the workpiece,
[0017] -the arrangement further comprising sensing means coupled to the rolling element to measure the rolling of the rolling element and means to translate said measured rotation into distance travelled along an outer surface of the rolling element.
[0018] In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, the spring action comprises one or more coil springs. In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, the spring action comprises at least one spring providing force to the rolling element by compression of the spring.
[0019] In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, the spring action comprises at least one spring providing force to the rolling element by tension of the spring.
[0020] The expression “a number of’ refers herein to any positive integer starting from one (1), e.g. to one, two, or three.
[0021] The expression “a plurality of’ refers herein to any positive integer starting from two (2), e.g. to two, three, or four.
[0022] Different embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.
[0023] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED DRAWINGS
[0024] Next the invention is described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings in which
[0025] Fig. 1 illustrates a cutaway view of an embodiment of a device for measuring distance and a frame in accordance with the present disclosure,
[0026] Fig. 2 illustrates a cutaway view from the side of an embodiment of a device for measuring distance and a frame in accordance with the present disclosure,
[0027] Fig. 3 illustrates a cutaway view from another side of an embodiment of a device for measuring distance and a frame in accordance with the present disclosure, and Fig. 4 illustrates an isometric view of an embodiment of a device for measuring distance and a frame in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0028] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0029] Figs. 1-4 illustrate different views of an arrangement for a measuring tool comprising a device (100) and a frame (110) the device (100) is attached to. In Fig. 1 the frame (110) can be seen attached to a workpiece (120) and attached to the frame (110) is the device (100). The device (100) is used to measure distance from the workpiece (120) by revolution of the rolling element (102) on a surface of the workpiece (120). The device (100) further comprises spring action, such as springs (104), which springs (104) provide force to the rolling element (102) so that the rolling element (102) is pressed against the workpiece (120). As the frame (110) to which the device (100) is attached to moves, the springs (104) help the rolling element (102) to press against the surface of the workpiece (120) and move in relation to the frame (110) which is placed in relation to the workpiece (120). The spring action comprises at least one spring (104) providing force to the rolling element (102) by compression and / or tension of the spring (104) or springs (104). The rolling movement of the rolling element (102) can be any sort of circular, rotational, or continuous movement that can be calculated into linear measurement, and therefore distance measurement.
[0030] The frame (110) may comprise positioning means (112) to enable positioning of the frame (110) to the workpiece (120) at the sides of the workpiece (120). By positioning of the frame (110) to the workpiece (120) the device (100) is further positioned in relation to the workpiece (120) and may be moved in relation to the workpiece (120) by movement of the frame (110) along the workpiece (120), i.e. the positioning means (112) movably fixing the frame in relation to the workpiece (120). However, the frame may be different from what is illustrated and / or described and the frame may be, for example, a simple rigid body or the like in relation to which the spring is arranged. The positioning means (112) may comprise for example rolls that may allow both positioning against and movement along the sides of the workpiece (120). To elaborate, the positioning means (112) may be used to fix and position the frame (110) and the device (100) to the workpiece (120) such as that the frame (110) and the device (100) may be moved in a first direction in relation to the workpiece (120) but preferably also such that the frame (110) and the device (100) are hindered from freely moving in a second direction, i.e. in a transverse direction in relation to the workpiece (120). The movement in the first direction may be facilitated by using rolls as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4. These rolls allow the frame (110) and the device (100) to be moved along the workpiece (120) while simultaneously hindering the frame (110) from moving in the transverse direction. The positioning means (112) may be controlled by a lead- screw, or the like, which allows the positioning means (112) to move in a transverse direction in relation to the frame (110) to move towards or outwards in respect to the sides of a workpiece (120). The positioning means (112) may be controlled by a turning knob or the like at one end of the screw of the positioning means (112). The frame (110) may be motor powered or may be manually movable by a user.
[0031] In an embodiment, the device (100) for measuring distance on a workpiece (120) uses the springs (104) of the device (100) to press the rolling element (102) against the workpiece (120). As the frame (110) to which the device (100) is attached to moves along the workpiece (120) the springs (104) of the device (100) actuate in relation to the surface shape of the workpiece (120). This keeps the rolling element (102) of the device (100) in contact with the workpiece (120). As the frame (110) to which the device (100) is attached to moves and the rolling element (102) of the device (100) is in contact with the workpiece (120), the movement of the frame (110) and the direct contact with the workpiece (120) creates movement for the rolling element (102) which is then translated to measured distance by a sensor.
[0032] The movement of a rolling element (102) of a device (100) is translated to a measured distance by at least one or more sensors of a measuring tool arrangement that comprises the device (100) and the frame (110). The sensor can be arranged at or coupled with the device (100) or the frame (110). Feasible sensors that measure rotation or change of angle or position thereof are widely known to a person skilled in the art.
[0033] In an embodiment, the device (100) has one or more springs (104) that are used to keep the device (100) and the rolling element (102) in relation to the frame (110) and pressed against the measured workpiece (120) by spring action. The springs (104) actuate the rolling element (102) in relation to the surface shape of the workpiece (120) by compression, elongation and / or tension or any other application of a spring that generates force. The spring (104) or springs (104) used in the device (100) can be, for example, a coil spring, a gas spring, a flat spring, or a material that is elastic and able to provide compression, elongation and / or tension that results in a change in force. The aforementioned are just examples and as such, a person skilled in the art will understand other different possible implementations.
[0034] In one embodiment, the rolling element (102) of the device (100) is shaped like an elongated cylindrical body allowing it to stay in constant contact with a workpiece (120) by spring action when rotating the cylindrical body against a surface of the workpiece (120). Alternative examples of shapes include a disk, a wheel, a reel, and a combination of disks that roll along a surface. The springs (104) of the device (100) compress and elongate in accordance with the surface shape of the workpiece (120).
[0035] The rolling element (102) may comprise cold-work tool steel. The rolling element (102) may be further hardening processed.
[0036] Consequently, a skilled person may on the basis of this disclosure and general knowledge apply the provided teachings in order to implement the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims in each particular use case with necessary modifications, deletions, and additions.
Claims
Claims1. A device (100) for measuring of distance on a surface of a workpiece (120), the device (100) comprising:-a rolling element (102) having an elongated cylindrical body,-said rolling element (102) being at least functionally connected to a frame (110) via spring action, wherein the frame (110) may be positioned in relation to a workpiece (120),-characterized in that the spring action is arranged to move the rolling element (102) in relation to the frame (110) and in relation to a surface of the workpiece (120) so that by movement of the frame (110) the rolling element (102) is moved by rotation on a surface of the workpiece (120) and the spring action presses the rolling element (102) against the surface of the workpiece (120).
2. The device (100) of claim 1, wherein the spring action comprises one or more coil springs (104).
3. The rolling element (102) of claim 1, wherein the spring action comprises at least one spring (104) providing force to the rolling element (102) by compression of the spring (104).
4. The rolling element (102) of claim 1, wherein the spring action comprises at least one spring (104) providing force to the rolling element (102) by tension of the spring (104).
5. An arrangement for a measuring tool comprising,-device (100) for measuring of distance on a surface of a workpiece (120), the device (100) comprising:-a rolling element (102) having an elongated cylindrical body,-said rolling element (102) being at least functionally connected to a frame (110) via spring action, wherein the frame (110) may be positioned in relation to a workpiece (120), -characterized in that the spring action is arranged to move the rolling element (102) in relation to the frame (110) and in relation to a surface of the workpiece (120) so that by movement of the frame (110) the rolling element (102) is moved by rotation on a surface of the workpiece (120) and the spring action presses the rolling element (102) against the surface of the workpiece (120),-the arrangement further comprising sensing means coupled to the rolling element (102) to measure the rolling of the rolling element (102) and means to translate said measured rotation into distance travelled along an outer surface of the rolling element (102).