Low profile load cells for use with a scale
AssigneeIntercomp Company
InventorWilliam P. Kroll
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A low profile, high capacity load cell suitable for use in connection with in motion weighing or other weighing scales and systems. Also disclosed are scales for use with the load cell, and systems for using the scales. The load cells are especially suited for use in high speed in-motion weighing.
Claims29
A load cell having a low profile, strip configuration, comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal aspect and opposing first and second sides, a pair of legs disposed on the first side, and a rail disposed on the second side.
A low profile, strip electronic load cell for use in in-motion weighing of vehicles or cargo passing over the scale, the load cell having an elongated, thin geometry with a length of between 20.0-78.7 inches (0.5-2.0 meters), a width approximately 2.0-6.0 inches (5.08-15.24 cm) and a height approximately 1.465 to 1.475 inches, comprising:
- (a) a body, the body having a rectangular shape with a longitudinal aspect, opposing top and bottom sides and opposing longitudinal edges, the body having a predetermined length, width and thickness;
- (b) a pair of legs formed unitarily with the body on the bottom side thereof, the legs being disposed proximate the opposing longitudinal edges of the body, the legs defining a central recess along the first side of the body between the legs, the legs further extending the length of the body, and
- (c) a rail formed unitarily with the body on the top side thereof, the rail being disposed centrally and longitudinally with respect to the body, the rail extending the length of the body.
A method of weighing vehicles or cargo moving over a surface while the vehicles or cargo are moving:
- a. providing an electronic load cell having an elongated, thin, strip geometry, comprising:
- (i) a body, the body having a rectangular shape with a longitudinal aspect, opposing top and bottom sides and opposing longitudinal edges, the body having a predetermined length, width and thickness;
- (ii) a pair of legs formed unitarily with the body on the bottom side thereof, the legs being disposed proximate the opposing longitudinal edges of the body, the legs defining a central recess along the first side of the body between the legs, the legs further extending the length of the body, and
- (iii) a rail formed unitarily with the body on the top side thereof, the rail being disposed centrally and longitudinally with respect to the body, the rail extending the length of the body.
- b. placing the load cell on or in a surface, whereby a predetermined portion of the rail is exposed to sense the weight of the vehicle or cargo passing over the load cell;
- c. passing vehicles or cargo over the surface and the load cell;
- and
- d. actuating the load cell and sensing a weight.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.