Bidirectional Measuring Head with Balanced Columns

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bidirectional measuring heads for dimensional and geometric checking of mechanical pieces are not symmetrical from an inertial point of view, leading to different dynamic behaviors in measuring directions, which complicates operations and reduces efficiency due to varying mass displacement and inertia, resulting in slower transits and increased downtime.

Innovation Solution

A bidirectional measuring head with a deformable mechanism comprising a parallelepiped casing, a kinematic motion assembly with balanced columns and counterweights, and position sensors, ensuring identical inertial behavior in both measuring directions, allowing for high accelerations and simplified control during both checking and transit phases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the two mechanisms are arranged in series to achieve bidirectional movement, then the measuring head can move along both measuring directions, but the mass displaced along one direction is about twice the mass displaced along the other direction, leading to different dynamic behavior in the two directions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebidirectional movement capabilityVSAvoiddynamic behavior homogeneity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by introducing a counterweight mechanism that specifically compensates for the asymmetric mass distribution. The counterweight is positioned to create a balancing moment that offsets the doubled mass effect in one direction, transforming the asymmetric inertial behavior into symmetric dynamic response. This allows the measuring head to exhibit identical dynamic behavior in both measuring directions despite the series arrangement of mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Adaptability or versatility

If the first mechanism carries the whole second mechanism to enable bidirectional movement, then the inertia of the feeler is high along one measuring direction, but the maximum permissible acceleration along this direction is moderate, resulting in slower transits and increased downtime

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebidirectional measurement capabilityVSAvoidtransit speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent directly applies the counterweight principle by introducing a balancing mass that compensates for the high inertia of the feeler and second mechanism. The counterweight is positioned to create a balancing moment that reduces the effective inertial resistance during acceleration. This enables the measuring head to achieve higher accelerations along the measuring direction with high feeler inertia, thereby increasing transit speed and reducing downtime between measurement operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the measuring head is designed with series arrangement of mechanisms, then it can perform dimensional and geometric checking, but different control of movements is always necessary in the two measuring directions, complicating operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedimensional and geometric checking capabilityVSAvoidmovement control simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by introducing a counterweight mechanism that specifically compensates for the asymmetric mass distribution. The counterweight is positioned to create a balancing moment that offsets the doubled mass effect in one direction, transforming the asymmetric inertial behavior into symmetric dynamic response. This allows the measuring head to exhibit identical dynamic behavior in both measuring directions despite the series arrangement of mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

4Productivity

If high acceleration is applied during transit to reduce downtime, then the transit time decreases, but a too high acceleration could lead to significant inertial displacement of the feeler that would be interpreted as a collision and generate a false collision alarm

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransit efficiencyVSAvoidcollision detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent directly applies the counterweight principle by introducing a balancing mass that compensates for the high inertia of the feeler and second mechanism. The counterweight is positioned to create a balancing moment that reduces the effective inertial resistance during acceleration. This enables the measuring head to achieve higher accelerations along the measuring direction with high feeler inertia, thereby increasing transit speed and reducing downtime between measurement operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides a homogeneous inertial behavior, enabling the measuring head to perform efficiently with the same acceleration in both directions, reducing downtime and enhancing the overall efficiency of the checking process while being easy and cost-effective to manufacture.

Implementation Method 1

allows the linear displacement along a first measuring direction by deforming an elastic element that tends to keep the first mechanism in an intermediate balanced position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

allows the linear displacement along a second measuring direction perpendicular to the first measuring direction by deforming an elastic element which tends to keep the second mechanism in an intermediate balanced position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

The measuring head is balanced in both measuring directions by means of counterweights

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInertial compensation: Inertia

Data Source

PatentUS11105603B2Bidirectional measuring head for dimensional and/or geometric checking of a mechanical piece

Publication Date: 2021.08.31 MARPOSS SPA

AI summary

Bidirectional measuring head (1) comprising: a stationary frame (12), a feeler (2), a kinematic motion assembly (13) which is supported by the stationary frame and carries the feeler to enable the feeler to move along two measuring directions (D1, D2) perpendicular to each other, and at least one position sensor (3a, 3b) that is mounted on the kinematic motion assembly and detects the position of the feeler along at least one measuring direction. The kinematic motion assembly has four columns, each of which runs perpendicular to the two measuring directions: a first column (14) is rigidly linked to the support frame, a second column (15) is adapted to translate along both measuring directions and supports the feeler, a third column (16) and a fourth column (7) each performs a displacement almost exclusively along one of the two measuring directions. The kinematic motion assembly may be a deformable mechanism. The kinematic motion assembly further comprises two balancing elements (60) each of which is hinged to the stationary frame so as to rotate around a rotation axis (33) perpendicular to the measuring directions and comprises one end which is mechanically constrained to the third column or the fourth column.