Abstract: A measuring and sensing head (6, 30, 50) is moved under computer control in engagement with right and left flanks of gears. These may be internal or external gears. The head is moved in a tangential direction with respect to the base circle of the gear and, in accordance with the invention, additionally in a radial direction with respect to the axis (3) of the gear (2), in such a manner that, when setting right and left flanks, respectively, of a gear tooth, the paths of the measuring and sensing head form straight lines which intersect at intersection points (43, 53) outside of the base circle (32, 52) of the gear. The movement of the sensing head is controlled by a computer (C) in accordance with an involute mathematical function following the involute curve of gear teeth. Other curves, similar to an involute curve, may be controlled by the computer.

Abstract: With the gear wheel (23) stopped, a testing head (13) is sequentially introduced into tooth gaps to measure adjacent teeth (FIG. 1a), sequentially, by sensing and recording the position of engagement of the measuring head with tooth flanks at a predetermined measuring circle, for example the pitch circle; the measuring head can move, with respect to the gear wheel, in X and Y vectorial directions, and if it is desired to also measure profile and/or inclination of inclined or spiraled gears, in the Z vectorial direction. The measuring head is moved from tooth gap to tooth gap until the end of a scanning range is reached. At that point, a control apparatus (24) rotates the gear wheel to place the last measured flank at least approximately at an initial measuring or reference position, so that the testing head can remeasure the last measured flank, thus determining the position of the gear wheel, and proceed with the next measuring cycle from tooth gap to tooth gap, while measuring the flanks.

Abstract: A method for orienting a feeler of an apparatus for testing gear flank profiles and flank lines of gear wheels is disclosed, in which the feeler is successively inserted, in two adjacent positions, into an accurately made gap element located on the gear wheel and from the thus ascertained values the location of the point of intersection of the wheel axis with the measuring plane is ascertained, optionally by means of a computer. The gap element, embodied as an orientation gap mounted on the gear wheel, that is approached by the feeler in the first position is rotated with the gear wheel into a second position, and there the feeler, embodied solely by the measuring feeler, is inserted into the same orientation gap. Therefore measurements are made by use of the same orientation gap and the same feeler at two different locations.

Abstract: A multiple-coordinate scanner having regulated scanning force for scanning objects, and preferably for length- and gear-measuring machines, is disclosed. The scanner detects the scanning force via a multiple-coodinate force measuring device and uses it to regulate the scanning force, in that corresponding straight-line guides in the multiple-coordinate scanner are deflected by drive units such that the resultant measuring force corresponds to a predetermined magnitude, regardless of the direction and magnitude of the multiple-coordinate scanner deflection.

Abstract: An automatic test apparatus for testing circumferential spacing in gears, as well as a further development for testing deviations in tooth thickness, tooth gaps, and gear concentricity, are disclosed, in which with a single revolution of the gear the testing of circumferential spacing is accomplished for both the right and left flanks of the wheel. The values for the deviations in gear concentricity, tooth thickness and tooth gaps are preferably detected at the same time, thereby avoiding the possibility that the measuring feeler can undergo vibration-caused deviations with respect to the tooth flank to be approached for attaining a particular measuring position.

Abstract: In a gear probe for testing the shape and orientation of gear flanks, a control and computer unit is used to effect the necessary positioning between the gear flank to be tested and a measuring sensor. First the gear is positioned coarsely; during this step a transmission disc and a linear transmission track are out of engagement with one another. Thereafter, the measuring sensor is advanced into the tooth gap and a fine positioning for a zero balancing of a potentiometer of the measuring sensor is effected by automatically displacing the linear transmission track with respect to the carriage on which it is mounted or by automatically changing the relative angular position between the gear to be tested and the transmission track. All displacements of apparatus components for the coarse and fine positioning as well as for the performance of the measuring process proper are automatically effected by the program-controlled control and computer unit.

Abstract: An automatic testing apparatus is proposed for testing the circular spacing of gears and, in a further development, for simultaneously testing the deviations in gear concentricity, tooth thickness and tooth gap. The testing of circular spacing is accomplished in only one revolution simultaneously for both the right and left tooth flanks of the gear, and the measurement values thus obtained can be used as well for ascertaining the deviations in gear concentricity, tooth thickness and tooth gaps.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing the sensor movements of a pitch an/or concentricity measuring device for gears, wherein the sensor enters into gaps between teeth on the rotating gear, the measurement is made and then the sensor is retracted until the next gap has appeared in front of the sensor. The sensor movement is synchronized with the rotary movement of the gear by utilizing the output signals from the sensor to provide a measurement of the rate of rotation of the gear at the onset of the period when it is being carried along and, under consideration of the known gear parameters, using this measurement to automatically calculate the waiting period during which the sensor must be held in its retracted position before the next gap will arrive. An apparatus for determining the rate of rotation by measuring the time required for the sensor to traverse a given path length and to then control the sensor movement on the basis of the waiting period calculated from the determined rate of rotation is also disclosed.