Load transducers
OwnerRichard A. Hansoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Force sensing transducers which employ inline sensing and an integral crossarm support for a sensing component. These transducers have a metal frame with at least one ring; a beamlike crossarm which lies within, spans, and is integral with a ring of the transducer frame; and at least one strain sensor mounted, preferably under preload, in an aperture in the innermost (or single) ring.
Claims20
A force sensing transducer which comprises:
- a ringlike load carrying component with a force transmitting segment which moves as an external force is applied to said component;
- crossbeam means located in a hollow in the load carrying component, said crossbeam means being deflectable by the application of a force to the load carrying component and the consequent movement of the force transmitting segment of the load carrying component;
- and
- a force sensing means mounted in said hollow between a segment of said load carrying component and said crossbeam means.
A transducer as defined in claim I which said sensing means is in direct contact with said crossbeam means.
A transducer as defined in claim I in which said crossbeam means is preloaded and trapped between said crossbeam means and said load carrying component.
A transducer as defined in claim I in which the crossbeam means has at least one segment configured to increase the compliance of said crossbeam means.
A transducer as defined in claimed I in which the force transmitting segment and the crossbeam are so related as to preload the sensing means.
A force sensing transducer which comprises a ringlike component having caging means which keeps excessive stresses from being applied to said sensing means.
A transducer as defined in claim I in which said sensing means comprise at least one vibrating crystal.
A force sensing transducer which comprises:
- a frame which includes a ringlike load carrying component with a force transmitting segment which moves as force is applied to said component;
- crossbeam means mounted in a hollow in the load carrying component, said crossbeam. means being deflectable by the application of a force to said load carrying component;
- and
- a preloaded force sensing means so mounted in the hollow of said load carrying component relative to said crossbeam means that deflection of said crossbeam imposes a signal generating strain on said sensing means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.