Guide jacket force sensor
AssigneeFUTEK Advanced Sensor Technology
InventorMaciej Lisiak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A load sensor is designed to be mounted on a continuous force-applying medium such as a cable so as to deform according to the force transmitted through the medium. The sensor includes a body having a longitudinal through-passage for the medium and is mechanically secured to the medium only at the opposite ends of the body. A lateral hole provides a strain concentration area with zones that are instrumented with strain gages. The sensor body can be enclosed to provide support for a wrap-around lead carrier.
Claims6
A load sensor for attachment in surrounding relationship to a linear load transmission medium, said linear load transmission medium consisting of one of a wire, a cable, or a rod, comprising:
- a solid flexure body of high modulus of elasticity material having a longitudinal axis,
- a circumferential outer surface having opposite ends and a passage extending fully through the body along the longitudinal axis and between said ends;
- said circumferential outer surface having rounded sides and opposite planar surface portions;
- said body having a lateral aperture extending through the body and intersecting the longitudinal passage;
- said body further having lateral slots extending across said planar surface portions in parallel with said lateral aperture to create stress concentration areas in said circumferential outer surface;
- said body having strain sensing elements mounted on at least one of said planar surface portions proximate said concentration areas to produce electrical signals representing forces transmitted trough said medium and transferred to said flexure body;
- means for mechanically connecting said body to said medium only at points proximate said ends;
- an insulative and flexible lead carrier film attached to said body and extending from said outer surface portion circumferentially fully around said body at right angles to said longitudinal axis;
- and
- conductive leads attached to said strain sensing elements and bonded to said lead carrier film so as to extend fully around the circumferential outer surface of said body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.