Spring-Loaded Laser Target Carrier for Cylindrical Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for laser tracking of cylindrical objects are slow, tedious, and inaccurate, particularly when using spring-loaded touch probes and feeler gauges, which are difficult to repeat without variances.
Innovation Solution
A laser target assembly with a rectangular member, legs, a shaft, and a retroreflective target, which can be spring-loaded or weight-loaded to maintain constant contact with the object's surface, allowing for precise measurement using a laser tracker, enabling quicker and more accurate data capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional spring-loaded touch probes and feeler gauges are used for laser tracking, then measurement capability is achieved, but measurement speed is slow and productivity is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical touch probes and feeler gauges with a laser target assembly that uses optical measurement. The retroreflective target mounted on the carrier allows the laser tracker to measure multiple points along the cylindrical surface without manual repositioning, substituting mechanical measurement operations with optical detection to achieve faster measurement speed and higher productivity
2Measurement precision
If conventional touch probes are used, then single-point measurement is achieved, but measurement precision and repeatability are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The laser target assembly serves multiple measurement functions simultaneously. The retroreflective target can be measured from multiple angles and positions by the laser tracker, allowing comprehensive measurement of the cylindrical surface. This multi-functional capability improves both measurement precision and repeatability compared to single-point mechanical probes
Solution Approach 2:
The retroreflective target creates an optical copy of the measurement point that can be detected by the laser tracker. This optical copying mechanism allows precise and repeatable measurements without the variability inherent in manual mechanical probe operations, as the optical signal can be consistently detected and measured
3Ease of operation
If manual repositioning of touch probes is performed, then multiple measurements are taken, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the target carrier with the retroreflective target into a single integrated laser target assembly. This merged design eliminates the need for separate probe positioning and target placement operations, reducing operational complexity while maintaining the capability to take multiple measurements along the cylindrical surface
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 enables faster and more accurate multiple measurements along a cylindrical object's surface, maintaining consistent contact and minimizing lateral motion, thus improving the precision and efficiency of laser tracking.
Implementation Method 1
The coil spring circumscribes the shaft so as to exert respective tensile forces against the rectangular member and the retroreflective target
Implementation Method 2
A laser beam is emitted by the laser tracker and impinges upon the SMR, which reflects laser light back to the laser tracker along the original path from the laser tracker
Implementation Method 3
The laser tracker includes an interferometer, which measures the distance from the laser tracker to the SMR based on laser light that re-enters the laser tracker
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary practice of the present invention provides a carriage including a body having a void, a vertical rod passing through the void, four legs arranged rectangularly and projecting obliquely downward and outward from the body, and a vertical coil spring coaxially encompassing a lower portion of the vertical rod. The carriage is coupled with a retroreflective laser target at the bottom of the vertical rod whereby the top of the spring pushes against the bottom of the body and the bottom of the spring pushes against the top of the target. The target continuously adjusts in height so that the bottom of the target remains in constant spring-tension contact with the surface on which the carriage sits or travels, supported by its legs. The carriage is electromechanically propelled, and laser tracking is conducted to direct laser beams at and receive laser retroreflections from the target at various surface locations. According to some inventive embodiments, one or more weights are implemented, in lieu of or in addition to a spring, to exert a downward force upon the target.