Abstract:
The coordinate measuring system has an automatic failsafe protection system(200) which includes a pair of members (230,240) mounted adjacent to & on opposite sides of a probe shaft(42) and urged toward engagement with the probe shaft by a spring(250). Air under pressure from an air cylinder(210) also acts on the members(230,240) to bias the members away from the shaft when safe operating conditions exist. An unsafe operating condition causes a decrease in air pressure from the cylinder(210). This allows the spring(250) to bias the members (230,240) to engage the shaft(42) to brake its descent.
Abstract:
The coordinate measuring machine has a vertically mounted probe (42) whose weight is counter balanced by a system which uses a source of air under pressure acting upon a piston(127). This is connected by a tape(141), pulleys(132,131)and by a tape(151) to the vertically mounted probe(42). The pulleys & tapes from a torque converter(130) which allows the piston(127) to have a shorter traval than the allowable vertical travel of the probe(42). Pref. the piston head has a rear surface exposed to atmospheric pressure.