FLEXIBLE MOUNT FOR COUPLING FORCE ACTUATOR TO CALIPER JAW

摘要

A flexible mount is provided for coupling a force actuator to a caliper jaw. The flexible mount includes a first mounting portion for being coupled to the caliper jaw, a second mounting portion for being coupled to the force actuator, and a flexible element (e.g., a parallel flexure) coupled between the first and second mounting portions. When a force is applied to the force actuator (e.g., by a user pushing on a thumbwheel) along the measuring axis direction, the flexible element flexes to generate a measuring force that is applied to the caliper jaw. The use of the flexible mount results in more control and a better feel for a user when attempting to exert control to provide a desired amount of force during a measuring process. The flexible mount may also utilize a fastening configuration that is compatible with existing mounting features on existing caliper jaws.

主权项

1. A flexible mount for coupling a force actuator to a caliper jaw that moves along a caliper scale member along a measuring axis direction in a caliper, the flexible mount comprising:
a first mounting portion for being coupled to the caliper jaw; a second mounting portion for being coupled to the force actuator; and a flexible element coupled between the first and second mounting portions, wherein the flexible mount is configured such that when it is coupled to the caliper jaw and the force actuator:
the force actuator is suspended to move with the caliper jaw along the caliper scale member and is restrained from displacement relative to the caliper jaw along directions transverse to the measuring axis direction; andwhen a force is applied to the force actuator along the measuring axis direction, the flexible element flexes such that the force actuator displaces along the measuring axis direction relative to the caliper jaw, and generates a measuring force that depends on that relative displacement and is applied to the caliper jaw along the measuring axis direction.