Length measuring instrument

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9234734-B2
Application number	US-201313778659-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2013
Priority date	Mar 1, 2012
Publication date	Jan 12, 2016
Grant date	Jan 12, 2016

Abstract

A length measuring instrument including a hollow profile section extending in a longitudinal direction and an end piece fixed on the hollow profile section for closure of the hollow profile section on an end of the hollow profile section. A scale is disposed inside the hollow profile section, wherein the scale includes a measurement graduation which can be scanned by a scanning unit that is movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the hollow profile section. The length measuring instrument includes a sealing element on the end piece for sealing off the hollow profile section, wherein the sealing element has a cross-section that is at least extensively equivalent to an inside diameter of the hollow profile section. In addition, the sealing element rests sealingly so that a circumferential surface of the sealing element is on an inner face of the hollow profile section.

First claim

We claim:

1. A length measuring instrument, comprising:
a hollow profile section extending in a longitudinal direction;
an end piece fixed on said hollow profile section for closure of said hollow profile section on an end of said hollow profile section;
a scale disposed inside said hollow profile section, wherein said scale comprises a measurement graduation which for position measurement can be scanned by a scanning unit that is movable in said longitudinal direction relative to said hollow profile section; and
a sealing element on said end piece for sealing off said hollow profile section on said end of said hollow profile section, wherein said sealing element has a cross-section that is at least extensively equivalent to an inside diameter of said hollow profile section and said sealing element rests sealingly so that a circumferential surface of said sealing element is on an inner face of said hollow profile section, wherein said sealing element is attached to said end piece in such a way that said sealing element is displaceable relative to said end piece transversely to said longitudinal direction.

2. The length measuring instrument according to claim 1 , wherein said end piece comprises a first connecting element and said sealing element comprises a second connecting element, wherein said first connecting element and said second connecting element together form a guide to connect said sealing element to said end piece by slipping said sealing element onto said guide in a direction transverse to said longitudinal direction.

3. A length measuring instrument, comprising:
a hollow profile section extending in a longitudinal direction;
an end piece fixed on said hollow profile section for closure of said hollow profile section on an end of said hollow profile section, wherein said end piece comprises a compressed air connection that delivers compressed air into an interior of said hollow profile section;
a scale disposed inside said hollow profile section, wherein said scale comprises a measurement graduation which for position measurement can be scanned by a scanning unit that is movable in said longitudinal direction relative to said hollow profile section; and
a sealing element on said end piece for sealing off said hollow profile section on said end of said hollow profile section, wherein said sealing element has a cross-section that is at least extensively equivalent to an inside diameter of said hollow profile section and said sealing element rests sealingly so that a circumferential surface of said sealing element is on an inner face of said hollow profile section.

4. The length measuring instrument according to claim 3 , wherein said sealing element is disposed and embodied such that said compressed air delivered by said compressed air connection arrives at said sealing element and is deflected, and wherein said sealing element has an outlet opening for said compressed air which points into said interior of said hollow profile section.

5. The length measuring instrument according to claim 4 , wherein said sealing element, between said location where said compressed air arrives from said compressed air connection and said outlet opening, comprises a guide conduit for said compressed air.

6. A length measuring system, comprising:
a scanning unit; and
a length measuring instrument comprising:
a hollow profile section extending in a longitudinal direction;
an end piece fixed on said hollow profile section for closure of said hollow profile section on an end of said hollow profile section;
a scale disposed inside said hollow profile section, wherein said scale comprises a measurement graduation that is scanned by said scanning unit, which is movable in said longitudinal direction relative to said hollow profile section; and
a sealing element on said end piece for sealing off said hollow profile section on said end of said hollow profile section, wherein said sealing element has a cross-section that is at least extensively equivalent to an inside diameter of said hollow profile section and said sealing element rests sealingly so that a circumferential surface of said sealing element is on an inner face of said hollow profile section, wherein said sealing element is attached to said end piece in such a way that said sealing element is displaceable relative to said end piece transversely to said longitudinal direction.

7. The length measuring system according to claim 6 , wherein said end piece comprises a first connecting element and said sealing element comprises a second connecting element, wherein said first connecting element and said second connecting element together form a guide to connect said sealing element to said end piece by slipping said sealing element onto said guide in a direction transverse to said longitudinal direction.

8. A length measuring system, comprising:
a scanning unit; and
a length measuring instrument comprising:
a hollow profile section extending in a longitudinal direction;
an end piece fixed on said hollow profile section for closure of said hollow profile section on an end of said hollow profile section, wherein said end piece comprises a compressed air connection that delivers compressed air into an interior of said hollow profile section;
a scale disposed inside said hollow profile section, wherein said scale comprises a measurement graduation that is scanned by said scanning unit, which is movable in said longitudinal direction relative to said hollow profile section; and
a sealing element on said end piece for sealing off said hollow profile section on said end of said hollow profile section, wherein said sealing element has a cross-section that is at least extensively equivalent to an inside diameter of said hollow profile section and said sealing element rests sealingly so that a circumferential surface of said sealing element is on an inner face of said hollow profile section.

9. The length measuring system according to claim 8 , wherein said sealing element is disposed and embodied such that said compressed air delivered by said compressed air connection arrives at said sealing element and is deflected, and wherein said sealing element has an outlet opening for said compressed air which points into said interior of said hollow profile section.

10. The length measuring system according to claim 9 , wherein said sealing element, between said location where said compressed air arrives from said compressed air connection and said outlet opening, comprises a guide conduit for said compressed air.

Assignees

• Heidenhain Gmbh Dr Johannes
• Johnannes Heidenhain Gmbh Dr

Inventors

• Schmöller Markus
• Steber Michael

Classifications

• G01D5/34769 Primary

  Sealing means · CPC title

• G01D5/347

  using displacement encoding scales · CPC title

• G01D5/34761

  Protection devices, e.g. caps; Blowing devices · CPC title

• G01B11/02

  for measuring length, width or thickness (G01B11/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01B11/14

  for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures (G01B11/26 takes precedence; rangefinders G01C3/00) · CPC title