Strain force sensor means

Improved strain sensing means to measure tension on a web member comprising a frame member, a shaft having an axis extending outwardly from the frame member and having web engaging means mounted thereon, strain sensing means connecting one end portion of the shaft to the frame member, said strain sensing means including a block member having spaced and opposed first and second wall portions located to be arranged substantially normal to the axis of the shaft, means connecting said first wall portion to the frame member, a cross-bar in the second wall portion of the block member for receiving and supporting a portion of the shaft member therein, said block member having two spaced and opposed third and fourth wall portions extending between and integrally connecting the spaced first and second wall portions, said third wall portion having spaced relatively thin stress concentrating areas therein capable of limited deflection when the second wall portion is moved under load relative to the first wall portion, said stress concentrating areas having cross-sectional shapes which are substantially wider in one direction than in another direction so that when force is exerted on the shaft and on the second wall portion through which the shaft extends by tension of a web member passing thereover substantially parallel deflection will occur in the third and fourth wall portions, and strain sensing transducer means located on the third wall portion adjacent at least one stress concentration area for producing a response that is representative of the tension on the web, the shaft extending into the cross-bore in the second wall portion at least to a location aligned transversely with a portion of the transducer means so that some force from the shaft is directed substantially normal to said portion of the transducer means.

A load sensor comprising a block having opposed side, edge and end faces and an opening therethrough extending between the side faces, said opening having spaced portions extending adjacent to the end faces and a portion connected therebetween forming connected block portions adjacent to the end and edge faces thereof, means on one of the block portions adjacent to an edge face for attachment to fixed support structure and means including a bore through the block portion adjacent the opposite edge face for receiving and supporting a roll shaft over which a flexible member whose tension is to be sensed extends whereby tension on the flexible member causes lateral pressure on the roll shaft and on the bore through the block portion through which the roll shaft extends whereby some relative movement occurs in the block between the opposed block portions adjacent to the opposed edge faces, means to limit the amount of possible relative movement that can occur between said opposed block portions including a stop m ember having a first portion attached to one of said opposed block portions, means on the other of said opposed block portions for engagement by said stop member when predetermined relative movement occurs between said opposed block portions, and transducer means on at least one of the block end faces to respond to deflections that occur in the block portion adjacent said block end face when the opposed block portions move relative to each other.

A sensor device which responds to tension on a web movable against a roll including a roll shaft, said sensor device including means for supporting the roll shaft over and around which a web extends whereby tension on the web exerts lateral force on the roll shaft and on the sensor device, the sensor device including a block member having spaced side, end and edge faces and having an opening extending therethrough between the spaced side faces to establish in the block member pairs of opposed block portions adjacent to the end faces and pairs of block portions adjacent to the edge faces, the block portion adjacent to one of the edge faces having a cross bore therein for receiving and supporting the roll shaft, means for attaching the block member adjacent to the other of the edge faces to a supporting structure, the pair of opposed block portions adjacent to the end faces being connected at spaced locations to the pair of block portion is adjacent the edge faces whereby the pair of block portions adjacent to the edge faces are permitted limited relative movement parallel to each other due to pressure on the roll shaft caused by tension on the web and on the cross bore through which the roll shaft extends, means forming areas of reduced cross-section in at least one portion of the pair of block portions adjacent the respective end faces whereby the deflection in said one portion will be concentrated in said areas when the block portions adjacent the edge faces move relative to each other, transducer means attached to the block portion adjacent to the areas of reduced cross-section to produce responses representative of deflections produced therein when the block portions adjacent the edge faces move relative to each other under load on the roll shaft, and means on one of said block portions adjacent the edge faces engageable with the other portion of said pair to limit the amount of relative movement that can take place between the portions of said pair.

A load sensor for producing responses representative of web tension on a roll shaft over which a web member extends comprising a block having opposed side, edge and end faces and an opening therethrough extending between the side faces, said opening having spaced portions extending adjacent to the respective end faces and a portion connected therebetween, said opening forming opposed first and second pairs of block portions adjacent respectively to the end and edge faces thereof, means on one of the second pair of block portions adjacent to an edge face for attachment to a fixed support structure, means including a bore in the other of said second pair of block portions for receiving and supporting a roll shaft over which a web member extends whereby tension on the web member causes lateral pressure on the roll shaft and on the other of said second pair of block portions through which the roll shaft extends whereby some relative movement occurs in the block between the opposed second pair of block portions, means to limit the amount of possible relative movement that can occur between said second pair of block portions including a member fixedly mounted on one of the second pair of block portions, means on the other of said second pair of block portions for engagement by said member to limit the amount of relative movement that can take place between said second pair of block portions, and transducer means mounted on at least one end face of the block to respond to deflections that occur in the respective first pair of block portions when the portions of the second pair of block portions move relative to each other.

Strain sensing means to measure tension on a strand comprising a frame member, a shaft extending from the frame member and having strand engaging means mounted thereon, a strain sensing means connecting an end portion of the shaft to the frame member, said strain sensing means including a block having spaced and opposed wall members located to be substantially normal to the axis of the shaft, one of said wall members being connected to the frame member and the other wall member having a bore therein for receiving and supporting the shaft, at least two spaced and opposed deflectable block portions extending between and integrally connecting the spaced wall members, at least one of said deflectable portions having portions of reduced cross-section to form areas of stress concentration where said deflectable portion undergoes most of its deflection under load, said deflectable portions having cross-sectional shapes which are substantially wider in one direction than in another direction such that when force is exerted on the shaft by the tension of a strand passing thereover substantially parallel deflection of the deflectable portions will occur, and strain sensing transducer means located on the strain sensing means adjacent to the stress concentration areas of at least one of said deflectable portions for producing responses representative of tension on the strand, the shaft extending through the bore at least to a depth in the block aligned transversely with a portion of the transducer means.