Bridge type coordinate measuring machine

Claim 2

A bridge type coordinate measuring machine of the type having a base (10) having an upper surface (11) for supporting a work piece to be measured, a bridge (20) having two uprights (21, 22) and a first member (23) connecting the uprights (21, 22) together above the upper surface (11) of said base (10), means (12, 13, 41) for moveably mounting the bridge (20) to the base (10), a probe (30), and means (50, 31) for mounting said probe (30) to the first member (23) of said bridge (20) for movement relative to said bridge and to said base (10), characterized in that: the bridge (20) has a closed loop configuration that encircles the upper surface (11) of said base (10) said closed loop configuration formed by a second member (24) connecting together the uprights (21, 22) of the bridge (20) below the upper surface (11) of said base (10) and below the means (12, 13) for moveably mounting the bridge (20) to the base (10).

Claim 3

A bridge type coordinate measuring machine of the type having a base (10) having an upper surface (11) for supporting a work piece to be measured, a bridge (20) having two uprights (21, 22) and a first member (23) connecting the uprights (21, 22) together above the upper surface (11) of said base (10), means (12, 13, 41) for moveably mounting the bridge (20) to the base (10), a probe (30), and means (50, 31) for mounting said probe (30) to the first member (23) of said bridge (20) for movement relative to said bridge and to said base (10), characterized in that: the bridge (20) has a closed loop configuration that encircles the upper surface (11) of said base (10) said closed loop configuration formed by a second member (24) connecting together the uprights (21, 22) of the bridge (20) below the upper surface (11) of said base (10); and by the means for moveably mounting the bridge (20) to the base (10) includes a pair of guideways (12, 13), one of said guideways (12) located on one side of said base (10) and the other of said guideways (13) located on the opposite side of said base (10), said guideways (12, 13) coacting with bearings (41) in a respective channel (25) in each of said uprights (21, 22) of said bridge (20) to facilitate movement of said bridge (20) on said base, said second member (24) connecting the uprights (21, 22) of the bridge (20) together located below said guideways (12, 13).

Claim 4

A bridge type coordinate measuring machine of the type having a base (10) having an upper surface (11) for supporting a work piece to be measured, a bridge (20) having two uprights (21, 22) and a first member (23) connecting the uprights (21, 22) together above the upper surface (11) of said base (10), means (12, 13, 41) for moveably mounting the bridge (20) to the base (10), a probe (30), and means (50, 31) for mounting said probe (30) to the first member (23) of said bridge (20) for movement relative to said bridge and to said base (10), characterized in that: the bridge (20) has a closed loop configuration that encircles the upper surface (11) of said base (10) said closed loop configuration formed by a second member (24) connecting together the uprights (21, 22) of the bridge (20) below the upper surface (11) of said base (10); and by the means for moveably mounting the bridge (20) to the base (10) includes a pair of guideways (12, 13), one of said guideways (12) located on one side of said base (10) and the other of said guideways (13) located on the opposite side of said base (10), said guideways (12, 13) coacting with bearings (41) in a respective channel (25) in each of said uprights (21, 22) of said bridge (20) to facilitate movement of said bridge (20) on said base, said second member (24) connecting the uprights (21, 22) of the bridge (20) together located below said guideways (12, 13).

Claim 5

A bridge type coordinate measuring machine of the type having a base (10) having an upper surface (11) for supporting a work piece to be measured, a bridge (20) having two uprights (21, 22) and a first member (23) connecting the uprights (21, 22) together above the upper surface (11) of said base (10), means (12, 13, 41) for moveably mounting the bridge (20) to the base (10), a probe (30), and means (50, 31) for mounting said probe (30) to the first member (23) of said bridge (20) for movement relative to said bridge and to said base (10), characterized in that: the bridge (20) has a closed loop configuration that encircles the upper surface (11) of said base (10) said closed loop configuration formed by a second member (24) connecting together the uprights (21, 22) of the bridge (20) below the upper surface (11) of said base (10); and by guideways (12, 13) along which said bridge (20) is moveable and a third member (29) connecting the uprights (21, 22) of the bridge (20) together below the surface (11) of said base (10) and above said guideways (12, 13), said second member (24) connecting together the uprights (21, 22) of the bridge (20) located below said guideways (12, 13).

Claim 6

A bridge type coordinate measuring machine of the type having a base (10) having an upper surface (11) for supporting a work piece to be measured, a bridge (20) having two uprights (21, 22) and a first member (23) connecting the uprights (21, 22) together above the upper surface (11) of said base (10), means (12, 13, 41) for moveably mounting the bridge (20) to the base (10), a probe (30), and means (50, 31) for mounting said probe (30) to the first member (23) of said bridge (20) for movement relative to said bridge and to said base (10), characterized in that: the bridge (20) has a closed loop configuration that encircles the upper surface (11) of said base (10) said closed loop configuration formed by a second member (24) connecting together the uprights (21, 22) of the bridge (20) below the upper surface (11) of said base (10); and by guideways (12, 13) along which said bridge (20) is moveable and a third member (29) connecting the uprights (21, 22) of the bridge (20) together below the surface (11) of said base (10) and above said guideways (12, 13), said second member (24) connecting together the uprights (21, 22) of the bridge (20) located below said guideways (12, 13).

Claim 7

A bridge type coordinate measuring machine as described in claim 3 wherein the height of each of the two uprights (21, 22) is greater than one meter.

Claim 8

A bridge type coordinate measuring machine of the type having a base (10) having an upper surface (11) for supporting a work piece to be measured, a bridge (20) having a closed loop configuration that encircles the upper surface (11) of said base (10) said closed loop configuration formed by two uprights (21, 22), a first member (23) connecting the uprights (21, 22) together above the upper surface (11) of said base (10), and a second member (24) connecting together the uprights (21, 22) of the bridge (20) below the upper surface (11) of said base (10), means (12, 13, 41) for moveably mounting the bridge (20) to the base (10), a probe (30), and means (50, 31) for mounting said probe (30) to the first member (23) of said bridge (20) for movement relative to said bridge and to said base (10), the means for moveably mounting the bridge (20) to the base (10) characterized by: a pair of guideways (12, 13), located below the upper surface (11) of the base (10), one of said guideways (12) located on one side of said base (10) and the other of said guideways (13) located on the opposite side of said base (10), each of said guideways (12, 13) coacting with respective bearings (41) located in a respective channel (25) formed between said second member (24), and an inwardly extending portion of each of said uprights (21, 22).

Claim 9

A bridge type coordinate measuring machine of the type having a base (10) having an upper surface (11) for supporting a work piece to be measured, a bridge (20) having a closed loop configuration that encircles the upper surface (11) of said base (10) said closed loop configuration formed by two uprights (21, 22), a first member (23) connecting the uprights (21, 22) together above the upper surface (11) of said base (10), and a second member (24) connecting together the uprights (21, 22) of the bridge (20) below the upper surface (11) of said base (10), means (12, 13, 41) for moveably mounting the bridge (20) to the base (10), a probe (30), and means (50, 31) for mounting said probe (30) to the first member (23) of said bridge (20) for movement relative to said bridge and to said base (10), the means for moveably mounting the bridge (20) to the base (10) characterized by: a pair of guideways (12, 13), located below the upper surface (11) of the base (10), one of said guideways (12) located on one side of said base (10) and the other of said guideways (13) located on the opposite side of said base (10), each of said guideways (12, 13) coacting with respective bearings (41) located in a respective channel (25) formed between said second member (24), and an inwardly extending portion of each of said uprights (21, 22).

Claim 10

A coordinate measuring machine as described in claim 5 wherein said bearings (41) include bearings that coact against upwardly and downwardly facing surfaces of a respective guideway (12, 13).

Claim 11

A coordinate measuring machine as described in claim 6 wherein said bearings (41) include bearings that coact against a side of each of the guideways (12, 13).

Claim 12

A coordinate measuring machine as described in claim 6 including a third member (29) connecting the uprights (21, 22) of the bridge (20) together below the surface (11) of said base (10) and above said guideways (12, 13).

Claim 13

A bridge type coordinate measuring machine as described in claim 5, wherein the bearings (41) are located between the vertical axes of the uprights (21, 22).

Claim 14

A bridge type coordinate measuring machine as described in claim 6 wherein the bearings (41) are located between the vertical axes of the uprights (21, 22).

Claim 15

A bridge type coordinate measuring machine as described in claim 7 wherein the bearings (41) are located between the vertical axes of the uprights (21, 22).

Claim 16

A bridge type coordinate measuring machine as described in claim 6 wherein the bearings (41) coacting upwardly and downwardly are located beneath the upper surface (11) of the base (10).

Claim 17

A bridge type coordinate measuring machine as described in claim 7 wherein the bearings (41) coacting upwardly and downwardly are located beneath the upper surface (11) of the base (10).

Claim 18

A bridge type coordinate measuring machine as described in claim 8 wherein the bearings (41) coacting upwardly and downwardly are located beneath the upper surface (11) of the base (10).

Claim 19

A bridge type coordinate measuring machine as described in claim 10 wherein the bearings (41) coacting upwardly and downwardly are located beneath the upper surface (11) of the base (10).

Claim 20

A bridge type coordinate measuring machine as described in claim 11 wherein the bearings (41) coacting upwardly and downwardly are located beneath the upper surface (11) of the base (10).

Claim 21

A bridge type coordinate measuring machine as described in claim 5 wherein the second member (24) is located below the bearings.

Claim 22

A bridge type coordinate measuring machine as described in claim 17 including a third member (29) connecting the uprights (21, 22) of the bridge together below the surface (11) of the base (10) and above the guideways (12, 13).

Claim 23

A bridge type coordinate measuring machine of the type having a base (10) having an upper surface (11) for supporting a work piece to be measured, a bridge (20) having a closed loop configuration that encircles the upper surface (11) of said base (10) said closed loop configuration formed by two uprights (21, 22), a first member (23) connecting the uprights (21, 22) together above the upper surface (11) of said base (10), and a second member (24) connecting together the uprights (21, 22) of the bridge (20) below the upper surface (11) of said base (10), means (12, 13, 41) for moveably mounting the bridge (20) to the base (10), a probe (30), and means (50, 31) for mounting said probe (30) to the first member (23) of said bridge (20) for movement relative to said bridge and to said base (10), the means for moveably mounting the bridge (20) to the base (10) characterized by: a pair of guideways (12, 13), each of said guideways (12, 13) coacting with a respective plurality of bearings (41), said guideways and bearings located directly below the upper surface (11) of the base (10), one of said guideways (12) and its respective bearings (41) located at one side of said base (10) and the other of said guideways (13) and its respective bearings (41) located at the opposite side of said base (10).

Claim 24

A bridge type coordinate measuring machine of the type having a base (10) having an upper surface (11) for supporting a work piece to be measured, a bridge (20) having a closed loop configuration that encircles the upper surface (11) of said base (10) said closed loop configuration formed by two uprights (21, 22), a first member (23) connecting the uprights (21, 22) together above the upper surface (11) of said base (10), and a second member (24) connecting together the uprights (21, 22) of the bridge (20) below the upper surface (11) of said base (10), means (12, 13, 41) for moveably mounting the bridge (20) to the base (10), a probe (30), and means (50, 31) for mounting said probe (30) to the first member (23) of said bridge (20) for movement relative to said bridge and to said base (10), the means for moveably mounting the bridge (20) to the base (10) characterized by: a pair of guideways (12, 13), each of said guideways (12, 13) coacting with a respective plurality of bearings (41), said guideways and bearings located directly below the upper surface (11) of the base (10), one of said guideways (12) and its respective bearings (41) located at one side of said base (10) and the other of said guideways (13) and its respective bearings (41) located at the opposite side of said base (10).

Claim 25

A coordinate measuring machine as described in claim 19 wherein said bearings (41) coact against upwardly and downwardly facing surfaces of a respective guideway (12, 13).

Claim 26

A coordinate measuring machine as described in claim 20 wherein said bearings (41) also coact against a side of each of the guideways (12, 13).

Claim 27

A coordinate measuring machine as described in claim 19 wherein said bearings (41) are located between the vertical axes of the uprights (21, 22).