Floating optical sensor mount

摘要

A piston-cylinder actuator includes a unique mount for an absolute-position sensor. The mount is made from a bearing material provides a flexible connection between the sensor mount and the cylinder housing. This flexible connection allows the piston rod to deflect naturally, under its own weight or under other laterally-directed forces, while maintaining the distance and perpendicularity between the sensor and the rod surface, within acceptable limits. The sensor mount is made from a bearing material that will allow it to float directly on the rod surface without scuffing or otherwise damaging the rod surface, particularly the markings or other indicia on that surface. Due to the flexible connection between the sensor mount and the cylinder housing, the proper distance between the sensor and the rod surface can be maintained at all times.

主权项

1. A piston-cylinder actuator, comprising:
a cylinder assembly including a cylinder housing, the cylinder housing having a longitudinal axis; a piston assembly generally movable relative to the cylinder assembly along the longitudinal axis, the piston assembly including a piston rod having indicia extending longitudinally on the rod; a sensor capable of reading the indicia on the piston rod; and a mount for supporting the sensor relative to the piston rod; where the sensor mount is flexibly connected to the cylinder housing to allow the sensor mount to move relative to the cylinder housing to allow the sensor mount to remain in registration with the rod, while maintaining the sensor at a substantially constant position along the longitudinal axis relative to the cylinder housing; where the cylinder assembly includes a seal gland mounted in the cylinder housing, the seal gland having a central aperture for receipt of the piston rod; where the sensor mount is connected to the cylinder housing with a retaining wire that forms a wire lock.