MEASURING DEVICE AND DETECTION OF MEASUREMENT SIGNALS DURING A PENETRATING MOVEMENT OF PENETRATING MEMBER

Abstract

A measuring device for detection pf measurement signals during a penetrating movement of a penetrating member into a surface of a test object or during a sensing movement of the penetrating member on the surface of the test object. The measuring device includes a housing which accommodates a force generating device and on which a holding element is arranged remote from the force generating device, which holding element is movable relative to the housing at least in one direction along a longitudinal axis of the housing and which accommodates the penetrating member. The measuring device also includes at least one first measuring element for measuring the penetration depth of the penetrating member into the surface of the test object or a traversing movement of the penetrating member along the longitudinal axis relative to the housing during a sensing movement on the surface of the test object, wherein a transmission element is provided which extends between the force generating device and the penetrating member.

Claims

1. A measuring device for detecting measurement signals during a penetration movement of a penetration body into a surface of a test body or during a scanning movement of the penetration body on the surface of the test body, having a housing which accommodates a force generator and on which a holding element is arranged spaced apart from the force generator, said holding element being provided to be moveable relative to the housing at least in one direction along a longitudinal axis of the housing and accommodating the penetration body, and having at least one first measuring apparatus for measuring the depth of penetration of the penetration body into the surface of the test body or of a travelling movement of the penetration body along the longitudinal axis towards the housing during a scanning movement on the surface of the test body, and an extending transmission element is provided between the force generator and the penetration body, wherein a first sensor element of the first measuring device is fastened to the housing, said sensor element communicating in a non-touching manner with a second sensor element of the first measuring device and being fastened to the transmission element.

2. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission element is formed to be rod- or pin-shaped.

3. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission element is fastenable to the force generator by a connection element.

4. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission element is fastenable to the holding element and/or the penetration body by a connection element.

5. Measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission element extends between the force generator and the holding element in the housing portion of the housing without guidance.

6. The measuring device according to claim 3, wherein the connection element is formed with an accommodating bore and an end of the transmission element is fastenable therein.

7. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein a second measuring device is provided on the transmission element at a distance to the first measuring device, wherein a first sensor is arrangeable on the housing or a housing portion of the housing and the second sensor of the further measuring device is arrangeable on the transmission element.

8. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the holding element formed on a lower edge region of the housing portion of the housing and at a distance from the force generator.

9. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the holding element is formed as a pressure membrane and has a freedom of movement in at least one degree of freedom, in particular in the degree of freedom of the movement direction of the force generator.

10. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the holding element is formed to be soft in its extension plane at least in the direction of the displacement of the penetration body and rigid in a direction perpendicular thereto.

11. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the holding element consists of copper beryllium.

12. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the first measuring device or the further measuring device or both operate according to the eddy current principle.

13. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the penetration body is arrangeable exchangeably on the transmission pin and/or the penetration tip is arrangeable exchangeably on the penetration body.

14. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the force transmission device is formed as a piezoelectric drive, a pneumatic drive, a hydraulic drive or an electromagnetic drive.

Description

[0022] The invention as well as further advantageous embodiments and developments of the same are depicted and explained in more detail in the following using the examples depicted in the drawings. The features to be taken from the description and the drawings can be applied individually or in any combination according to the invention. Here are shown:

[0023] FIG. 1 a schematic view of a measuring arrangement according to the invention,

[0024] FIG. 2 a schematically enlarged view of an inventive measuring device of the measuring arrangement according to FIG. 1,

[0025] FIG. 3 a schematic view from below of the measuring device according to FIG. 2,

[0026] FIG. 4 a schematic sectional view of the measuring device according to FIG. 2 and

[0027] FIG. 5 a schematic sectional view of an alternative measuring device to FIG. 2.

[0028] A measuring arrangement 11 is schematically depicted in FIG. 1. Such a measuring arrangement 11 can be provided for testing mechanical and/or physical properties of surfaces on test bodies 14, such as, for example, films, layers and/or coatings on objects. For example, the measuring arrangement 11 can be used as a hardness measuring apparatus in which a hardness measurement is carried out by penetration by means of a penetration body 41 of a measuring device 12. Furthermore, this measuring arrangement 11 can be provided with the measuring device 12 for identifying a scratch-resistance of a film, a layer or coating on objects. Here, for example, CVD or PVD coatings can be checked with respect to their scratch-resistance. Likewise, further micro-scratches or other further deformation information can be detected and analysed from the surface. This measuring arrangement 11 likewise enables a roughness measurement of a surface of the test body 14, especially with the measuring device 12, without accompanying damage to the surface of the test body 14. In this case, the penetration body 41 is placed on the surface of the test body 14 and transported along the surface for scanning the roughness of the surface of the test body.

[0029] The measuring arrangement 11 comprises a mutual base body 16. This can preferably be formed from granite. A tripod 17 is provided on the base body 16, said tripod accommodating the measuring device 12 on a boom 18. This tripod 12 comprises a drive motor by means of which the measuring device 12 is transportable from an initial position 21 depicted in FIG. 1 into a test position 22 in which the penetration body 41 rests on a test body 14. For example, the drive motor 19 can drive the boom 18 for an up and down movement along a guide post 23 of the tripod 12.

[0030] A measurement table 25 is furthermore provided on the base body 16. This measurement table 25 has a measurement table receptacle 26 which is transportably driven, at least in the X direction, according to arrow 27. The test body 14 is placed on the measuring table receptacle 26 and fastened thereto.

[0031] The measuring arrangement 11 can furthermore comprise an optical detection apparatus 29 which can likewise be arranged on the tripod 17 or, advantageously, separately therefrom, on a further tripod 31. This optical detection apparatus 29 can be positioned adjacent to the measuring device 12. Here, the measurement table 25 or the measurement table receptacle 26 is designed to be transportable in such a manner that the test body 14 can be transported to the optical detection apparatus 29 after the introduction of a penetration point or a scratch into the surface of the test body 14, such that the penetration point or the scratch which have been introduced into the surface of the test body 14 can be optically detected. Alternatively, a travelling movement of the measurement device 12 and the optical detection apparatus 29 relative to the measurement table 25 can be provided.

[0032] The measuring arrangement 11 furthermore comprises a schematically depicted controller 33 which comprises a computing apparatus which is not depicted in more detail, a display device 35 and an input device 36. The controller 33 is at least connected to the tripod 17, the measuring device 12 and the measurement table 25 by signal lines. Preferably, the optical detection apparatus 29 and optionally the tripod 31 accommodating the optical detection apparatus 29 are also joined thereto.

[0033] Furthermore, the measuring arrangement 11 has at least one pump 38 for controlling the measuring device 12, by which a pressure medium of the measuring device 12 is delivered in order to control a penetration movement of the penetration body 41 of the measuring device 12. This pump 38 is connected to the controller 33 with a signal line. Advantageously, the pump 33 can deliver the pressure medium to a storage container 39, out of which the pressure medium is delivered to the measuring device 12 via a delivery line 40. Both the pump 38 and the storage container 39 are not arranged on the mutual base body 16.

[0034] In FIG. 2, a perspective view of the measuring device 12 according to the invention is depicted. FIG. 3 shows a view from below. In FIG. 4, a schematic sectional view of the measuring device 12 according to FIG. 2 is depicted, which more detailed reference is made, in particular, to the depiction of the structure.

[0035] This measuring device 12 has a force generating apparatus 44 by means of which a travelling movement, in particular penetration movement, of the penetration body 41 onto the surface of the test body 14 is controlled. This force generating apparatus 44 comprises a pressure chamber 46 which is integrated in a housing 47. This housing 47 has a cylindrical housing wall 48 to which a first pressure surface 51 and a second pressure surface 52 is assigned. These two pressure surface 51, 52 are advantageously fixed to the housing wall 48 by a releasable connection, in particular a clamp connection or screw connection. The pressure chamber 46 is formed by the housing wall 48 and the first and second pressure surfaces 51, 52. Alternatively, a closed pressure chamber with terminals arranged thereon can be used. An inlet opening 54 and an outlet opening 55 are provided on the housing wall 48, such that a pressure medium can be delivered and discharged.

[0036] An inlet control valve 56 is preferably provided in the delivery line 40 leading to the inlet opening 54. Alternatively, the inlet valve 56 is directly attached to the inlet opening. An outlet control valve 60 is arranged in a further delivery line 58 on the outlet side for outflow of the pressure medium from the pressure chamber 46. This can also be directly attached to the outlet opening 55.

[0037] The first and second pressure surfaces 51, 52 are preferably formed as a pressure membrane, in particular undulated pressure motors having preferably circular waves, which have one degree of freedom only in one movement direction, said degree of freedom being orientated in the Z direction and being on a longitudinal central axis 61 of the measuring device 12. A rotation of the pressure surfaces 51, 52 around the Z axis is prevented by the clamping of the first and second pressure surfaces 51, 52.

[0038] A pressure stamp 63 is fixedly arranged on each of the first and second pressure surfaces 51, 52. For example, a sensor 66 assigned to the second pressure surface 52 can be fastened via a connection element 64. The sensor 66 is formed in particular as a pressure sensor which detects the pressure located in the pressure chamber 46 depending on the movement of the second pressure surface 52, and conveys it to the controller 33.

[0039] A transmission element 68 is provided between the first pressure surface 51 and the penetration body 41, which extends through a housing portion 69 which adjoins the housing wall 47. This housing portion 69 is formed to be cylindrical, such that a first measuring device 71 for detecting a travelling movement in the Z direction of the penetration body 41 is provided therein. Furthermore, a further measuring device 73 is preferably arranged in the housing portion 69, which detects at least one displacement in the X direction of the penetration body 41 during a penetration into the surface of the test body 25. This can preferably also take place during a simultaneous travelling movement of the test body 14 in the X direction. Furthermore, the at least one further measuring device 73 can also detect a displacement of the penetration body 41 in the Y direction.

[0040] A holding element 57 is also provided on the lower housing portion 69, which accommodates the penetration body 41 and extends up to an outer edge region 76 on the housing portion 69. This holding element 75 can in turn be fastened to a releasable connection on the housing portion 69. The holding element 75 is formed as a pressure membrane which has one degree of freedom in at least one movement direction. This at least one degree of freedom is in the Z axis or in the longitudinal central axis 61 of the measuring device 12. The holding element 47 is preferably provided with two longitudinal slots, as depicted in FIG. 3. The holding element 75 thus becomes soft in a direction parallel to the longitudinal slots, which correspond to the X axis, and rigid in a Y axis. Because the holding device 75 is formed as a pressure medium, this holding device has a very low flexibility and is preferably not formed to be pressure-resistant in the X and Y direction.

[0041] The penetration body 41 is fastened exchangeably on the lower end of the transmission element 68. The penetration body 41 has a penetration tip 78 which can be releasably fastened on the penetration body 41.

[0042] The housing portion 69 has a shoulder 81 which forms a through bore 82 through which the transmission element 68 extends. A first sensor element 84 of the first measurement device 71 is fixedly arranged on the shoulder 81 and a second sensor element 85 of the first measuring apparatus is arranged adjacently thereto on the transmission element 68. For example, the first and second sensor element 84, 85 are formed as a distance sensor, wherein the first sensor element 84 comprises a pot magnet having a coil and the second sensor element 85 is a disc made of a ferritic material which can be fastened to the transmission pin 68. This second sensor element 85 is preferably releasable on the transmission element 68 and adjustable in its distance from the first sensor element 84, such that an aligning of the penetration body 41 in an initial position is possible. The measuring device 71 operates according to the eddy current principle.

[0043] The further measuring device 73 comprises a first sensor element 88 arranged on a holder 87 which is provided to be fixed in place or housing-fixed, as well as a second sensor element 89 which in turn engages the transmission pin 68. According to a first embodiment, this second sensor element 89 can be formed as a ferrite ring, opposite to which there is a coil that forms the first sensor element 88. A deflection of the penetration body 41 in the X direction can thus be detected, said deflection being generated during the introduction of the penetration point or the scratch 91 through the surface onto the penetration body 41 and transmitted to the transmission pin 68. In addition, a third sensor element 90 can also be provided in order to detect a deflection in the X direction, such that an improved statement on the deviation in the X direction can be identified by a comparison of the detected values to the first and third sensor element 88, 90. Alternatively, the third sensor element 90 can also be arranged offset by 90° relative to the first sensor element 88, such that the first sensor element 88 detects a deflection in the X direction and the second sensor element 89 detects a deflection in the Y direction.

[0044] An alternative embodiment of the measuring device 11 to FIG. 4 is depicted In FIG. 5. This embodiment deviates from the embodiment according to FIG. 4 to the extent that the force generating apparatus 44 is formed, for example, by a piezoelectric drive. In this embodiment, the housing 47 is thus simplified. This piezoelectric drive 44 is inserted into the housing portion 69 and fixed by means of a closure 93. An electrical connecting line 94 is guided out of the closure 93. This piezoelectric drive has an actuating member 96, which is formed, for example, as a pressure plate, a stamp or similar. The connection element 64 is preferably arranged on or fastened to this actuating member 96, such that there is a connecting point or coupling point between the piezoelectric drive and the transmission element 68.

[0045] A further alternative drive can likewise be arranged in the housing portion 69 in an analogous manner to the piezoelectric drive fixed thereto with a closure 63.