Portable Metrology Stand Adjustable Hard Stops
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional portable metrology stands lack stability and versatility, as they tend to relax and shift due to wear and tear, limiting their ability to maintain dimensional accuracy and adapt to various measurement positions, especially when used with sensitive instruments like laser trackers.
Innovation Solution
The design features a portable metrology stand with adjustable hard stops and a tensioning mechanism that allows for rigid compression of legs, enabling stable configuration at multiple heights and footprints, even when worn, through the use of a snap-ring groove system and partially-threaded center column, along with optional telescoping legs and swivel joints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional tripods are tensioned to remove slack in joints and bushings, then stability and dimensional accuracy are improved, but the tripod is constrained to one opening angle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adjustable tensioning struts that can be repositioned along the leg tubes at multiple locations. This allows the tripod to be tensioned at different opening angles, transforming the static tensioning system into a dynamic one that adapts to various measurement configurations while maintaining dimensional accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg tubes are divided into multiple segments with marked tensioning locations, allowing the tensioning struts to be positioned at different heights. This segmentation enables the same tensioning mechanism to accommodate various opening angles by selecting appropriate tensioning points on the segmented leg structure.
2Force
If tensioning struts use hard stops, then maximum tensioning force is achieved, but the struts can run out of travel causing loss of tensioning capability
Solution Approach 1:
The tensioning struts are designed with adjustable travel limits through multiple hard stop positions along the leg tubes. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain optimal tensioning force while preventing the struts from running out of travel, ensuring reliable tensioning capability across different opening angles and over time.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple hard stop positions are pre-established at different locations on the leg tubes. Before tensioning, the appropriate hard stop position can be selected based on the desired opening angle, ensuring that the tensioning strut has sufficient travel range to achieve maximum tensioning force without risking exhaustion of its travel capability.
3Weight of moving object
If conventional tripods are made with aluminum and carbon fiber materials, then portability is improved, but wear at joints causes relaxation and movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs wear compensating mechanisms that allow for adjustment of the tensioning strut positions as the tripod ages. This parameter adjustment compensates for wear at the joints and bushings, maintaining joint stability and dimensional accuracy even after extensive use of the lightweight aluminum and carbon fiber construction.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable metrology stand is disclosed that has three primary legs, which are rigidly, rotatably attached to a base support, which prevents the leg tubes from rotating outwardly beyond a defined angle by adjustable hard stops associated with the base support. The base support is itself supported by a center column disposed between the three legs. The legs are rigidly displaced from the center column by struts. A tensioning nut is threaded onto a bottom end of a clamping collar which is pulled up against an adjustable snap-ring in a snap-ring groove in the center column. Tightening the tensioning nut onto the clamping collar draws the clamping collar down into the tensioning nut thereby forcing outwardly the struts and forcing the legs against the adjustable hard stops.