Geometrical instruments – Gauge – Coordinate movable probe or machine
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-21
2001-08-14
Fulton, Christopher W. (Department: 2859)
Geometrical instruments
Gauge
Coordinate movable probe or machine
C033S710000, C033S0010MP
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272760
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a damping device and more particularly to a damping device for damping vibrations of components of a coordinate measuring equipment. Such damping devices are already well known in the state of the art.
2. Discussion of Relevant Art
For example, German Patent DD 140 079, representative of a whole series of further documents, shows a damping device for the traveling mechanism of the sensing head of a coordinate measuring equipment. A mass body, vibration-damped and resiliently mounted, is arranged at a suitable place in the concerned mechanism, as a damping device in order thereby to damp the vibrations which result from the movement of the concerned mechanism.
In such damping devices, it was assumed that whole groups of components, such as for example the mechanism, vibrate as a whole, and that by the use of corresponding damping devices at suitable places, the vibrations of the whole mechanism could be damped.
It has however been found that in specific constructions of the coordinate measuring equipment, vibrations can also be excited in individual components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention therefore has as its object to propose a damping device of the kind stated initially, with which individual components of a coordinate measuring equipment can also be selectively damped.
The object is attained by a damping device for vibration damping of components to be damped of a coordinate measuring equipment, comprising at least one damping component that is frictionally connected to a component to be damped and which has a characteristic frequency different from the characteristic frequency of the component to be damped.
The particular basic concept of our invention is that at least one additional damping component is provided whose characteristic frequency deviates from the characteristic frequency of the component to be damped, the two components being frictionally joined together.
Very different components of a coordinate measuring equipment can be concerned here. For example, the component to be damped could be part of the traveling mechanism of a coordinate measuring equipment. In a coordinate measuring equipment of the portal type, such components could be the column or the crosspiece of the portal mechanism. In a coordinate measuring equipment of the column type of construction, corresponding components could be the mechanism of the vertically-aligned column, or the measuring arm which projects horizontally from the column, on which it is movably guided. In the case of a coordinate measuring equipment of bridge construction, a possible component could be the bridge which spans the measuring table.
Although the damping device is preferably used for components in the traveling mechanism of the coordinate measuring equipment, it is of course not limited only to such components. For example, components on which the measuring table is mounted could be damped by a corresponding damping device.
For the production of the frictional connection, the two components are advantageously fastened against each other, so that the frictional connection is accomplished by the mutual abutment of the two components.
The frictional coefficient of the frictional connection between the component to be damped and the damping component can be varied by arranging a layer of material, which alters the coefficients of friction between the components, at least partially between the component to be damped and the damping component. The layer of material which varies the coefficients of friction could be a lacquer, for example. However, an adhesive tape can be particularly easily used, having its non-adhesive surface coated with a corresponding material. The adhesive tape is simply adhered either to the component to be damped or to the damping component, so that the non-adhesive side of the adhesive tape, on bracing the components, abuts on the respective other component, and thus varies the coefficient of friction between the components.
Numerous different variations are also conceivable for the embodiment of the form of the component to be damped and of the damping component. For example, the component to be damped could be a profile bar with a rectangular or other profile shape, and the damping component could be two hemicylindrical tube halves, with the one tube half abutting two side edges of the said rectangular profile and the other tube half abutting the other side edges of the profile. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, however, the component to be damped is formed as a tube. In this case, the damping component is likewise made in two parts, each of the two parts being embodied as an elongate angle profile, with its longitudinal edges respectively abutting on the tube.
The materials of which the component to be damped and the damping component are made can also be completely different. For example, the component to be damped can be of carbon fiber reinforce plastic and the damping component can be of aluminum. The components can of course also be made of other materials. For example, the component to be damped could be made of steel or aluminum. The damping component could be made of steel, for example.
A series of different means are also conceivable in order to fasten the component to be damped and at least one damping component against each other. For example, the component to be damped and the damping component could be fastened together by means of cable binders, tubular bands, wires, tubular shells, or with screws. In a particular simple embodiment, the component to be damped and the damping component are simply adhered together along the whole length by means of an adhesive tape.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5909938 (1999-06-01), Brenner et al.
Aubele Eugen
Wiedmann Wolfgang
Würfel Carsten
Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung (trading as Carl Zeiss)
De Jesus Lydia M.
Fulton Christopher W.
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