Claims
- 1. An instrument station for obtaining information about a workpiece comprising:
a) an instrument including a fluid dispersing orifice; b) a rotational member connected to the instrument for rotating the instrument about a rotational axis; c) a source for providing a fluid capable of being dispersed by the instrument, wherein the source is in fluid communication with the instrument; and d) a fluid monitoring apparatus.
- 2. The instrument station of claim 1, further comprising a compressible fluid.
- 3. The instrument station of claim 1, further comprising an incompressible fluid.
- 4. The instrument station of claim 1, wherein the orifice comprises a plurality of orifices.
- 5. The instrument station of claim 1, wherein the instrument is configured such that only a single orifice can disperse fluid in use.
- 6. The instrument station of claim 1, wherein the instrument further comprises a body having an enlarged portion, wherein the orifice is adapted to be located adjacent to the enlarged portion.
- 7. The instrument station of claim 1, wherein the instrument further comprises a body having a reduced portion, wherein the orifice is adapted to be located adjacent to the reduced portion.
- 8. The instrument station of claim 1, wherein the instrument comprises a body and an extension member adapted to be adjusted relative to the body, and wherein the orifice is adapted to be adjusted with the extension member.
- 9. The instrument station of claim 8, wherein the body includes an enlarged portion and wherein the extension member is adapted to be adjusted relative to the enlarged portion.
- 10. The instrument station of claim 8, wherein the extension member is adapted to be adjustably received in the body.
- 11. The instrument station of claim 10, wherein the extension member is adapted to be slidably received in the body.
- 12. The instrument station of claim 11, wherein the extension member has a shape for non-rotatable slidable insertion in the body.
- 13. The instrument station of claim 10, wherein the extension member is threadably received in the body.
- 14. The instrument station of claim 1, wherein the orifice is oriented to disperse fluid in an outward direction from the body.
- 15. The instrument station of claim 14, wherein the instrument includes a longitudinal axis and wherein the outward direction extends along the longitudinal axis of the instrument.
- 16. The instrument station of claim 14, wherein the instrument includes a longitudinal axis and wherein the outward direction is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the instrument.
- 17. The instrument station of claim 14, wherein the instrument includes a longitudinal axis and wherein the outward direction extends at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the instrument.
- 18. The instrument station of claim 17, wherein the angle between the outward direction and longitudinal axis is approximately 90°.
- 19. The instrument station of claim 1, wherein the orifice comprises a pair of orifices.
- 20. The instrument station of claim 19, wherein the instrument includes a longitudinal axis and the pair of orifices comprises a first orifice and a second orifice that are symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis.
- 21. The instrument station of claim 20, wherein the longitudinal axis and the first and second orifices are disposed adjacent a single imaginary plane.
- 22. The instrument station of claim 1, wherein the instrument comprises a first end and a second end, wherein said instrument is attached to the rotational member adjacent said first end.
- 23. The instrument station of claim 22, wherein the instrument defines a passage for allowing fluid to pass from adjacent the first end towards the second end.
- 24. The instrument station of claim 23, wherein the rotational member provides fluid communication between the passage and the fluid source.
- 25. The instrument station of claim 1, further comprising a holding device, wherein the instrument is attached to the rotational member with the holding device.
- 26. The instrument station of claim 25, wherein the holding device comprises a holding element.
- 27. The instrument station of claim 26, wherein the holding device further comprises an adapter.
- 28. The instrument station of claim 25, wherein the holding device comprises an adapter.
- 29. The instrument station of claim 28, wherein the adapter permits the instrument element to be radially adjusted relative to the rotational axis.
- 30. The instrument station of claim 28, wherein the adapter comprises a dove-tail element.
- 31. The instrument station of claim 1, wherein the fluid monitoring apparatus is adapted to monitor back pressure of the fluid.
- 32. The instrument station of claim 1, wherein the fluid monitoring apparatus is adapted to monitor resistance of fluid flow.
- 33. The instrument station of claim 1, wherein the fluid monitoring apparatus is adapted to monitor fluid flow.
- 34. The instrument station of claim 1, further comprising a fluid servo control apparatus.
- 35. An apparatus for obtaining information about a workpiece comprising:
a) an instrument including a fluid dispersing orifice adapted to disperse incompressible fluid; b) a source for providing a fluid capable of being dispersed by the instrument, wherein the source is in fluid communication with the instrument; and c) a fluid monitoring apparatus.
- 36. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising a fluid servo control apparatus.
- 37. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising a holding device adapted to selectively attach the instrument to a rotational member for rotational operation.
- 38. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising a substantially incompressible fluid capable of being dispersed by the instrument.
- 39. An instrument adapted to be attached to a rotational member of an instrument station for obtaining information about a workpiece, the instrument comprising:
a) a fluid dispersing orifice adapted to be placed in selective fluid communication with a source of fluid; and b) a body including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is adapted for removable connection to a rotational member of an instrument station.
- 40. The instrument of claim 39, further comprising an extension member adapted to be adjusted relative to the body, and wherein the orifice is adapted to be adjusted with the extension member.
- 41. The instrument of claim 39, wherein the instrument defines a passage for allowing fluid to pass from adjacent to the first end towards the second end.
- 42. A method of obtaining information about a workpiece comprising the steps of:
a) providing a workpiece including a surface; b) providing an instrument station including: a rotational member including a rotational axis, an instrument including a first end and a second end, and adapted for attachment adjacent the first end to the rotational member, a source for providing a fluid, and a monitoring apparatus; c) providing the instrument with fluid from the source such that fluid is dispersed in an outward direction from the instrument; d) orienting the second end of the instrument adjacent the surface such that fluid dispersed from the instrument contacts the surface of the workpiece; and e) monitoring the fluid with the monitoring apparatus to obtain information about the workpiece.
- 43. The method of claim 42, further comprising the step of providing a fluid servo control apparatus adapted to selectively adjust fluid flow.
- 44. The method of claim 43, further comprising the step of adjusting fluid flow with the fluid servo control.
- 45. The method of claim 42, further comprising the step of rotating the rotational member while monitoring the fluid.
- 46. The method of claim 42, further comprising the step of radially offsetting the instrument from the rotational axis.
- 47. A method of obtaining information about a workpiece comprising the steps of:
a) providing a workpiece including a surface; b) providing an apparatus comprising: an instrument, a source for providing a substantially incompressible fluid, and a fluid monitoring apparatus; c) supplying substantially incompressible fluid to the instrument such that the fluid is dispersed from the instrument and contacts the surface of the workpiece; and d) monitoring the fluid with the fluid monitoring apparatus.
- 48. A method of determining the center of a bore defined in a workpiece comprising the steps of:
a) providing a workpiece including a surface defining a bore; b) providing an instrument station including: a rotational member, an instrument including a first end and a second end, and adapted for attachment adjacent said first end to the rotational member, a source for providing a fluid, and a fluid monitoring apparatus; c) providing the instrument with fluid from the source such that fluid is dispersed in an outward direction from the instrument; d) rotating the instrument; e) inserting the second end of the instrument at least partially into the bore at a predetermined position such that fluid dispersed from the instrument contacts the surface defining the bore; f) monitoring the fluid with the monitoring apparatus as the instrument rotates and disperses fluid; and g) determining the center position of the bore relative to the predetermined position based on the information obtained from the fluid monitoring apparatus.
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/1230,012, filed Sep. 5, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60230012 |
Sep 2000 |
US |