Weighing system and force transmission

Bending beam weighing apparatus of the kind in which load and reaction forces are applied to a beam in equilibrium, said forces being applied to respective force transmission means spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the beam, and in which is measured at a selected region of the beam the strain therein which arises from the bending of the beam by said forces and which is proportional to the distances between the location of said region and said force transmission means and between said force transmission means, wherein said reaction forces are applied to said beam by means of force transmission means comprising a body of elastomer, said body being shaped as a rectangular prism, said elastomer being chosen such that in creep, hysteresis and linearity the characteristics of the body closely approximate those of an ideal spring, said body having upper and lower faces, and a pair of opposite side faces which are inwardly waisted between said upper and lower faces.

Force transmission means for use in bending weighing apparatus of the kind in which load and reaction forces are applied to a beam in equilibrium, said forces being applied to respective force transmission means spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the beam, and in which is measured at a selected region of the beam the strain therein which arises from the bending of the beam by said forces and which is proportional to the distances between the location of said region and said force transmission means and between said force transmission means, said force transmission means comprising a body of elastomer, said body being shaped as a rectangular prism which has a top face, a bottom face and side faces, said elastomer being chosen such that in creep, hysteresis and linearity the characteristics of the body closely approximate those of an ideal spring, a pair of opposite side faces of said body being inwardly waisted between said top and bottom faces.

Force transmission means according to claim 21 wherein said elastomer is natural rubber.

Force transmission means according to claim 21 wherein a rigid plate is bonded to said body at each of its upper and lower faces, fixing means being attached to each of said plates.

Bending beam weighing apparatus of the kind in which load and reaction forces are applied to a beam in equilibrium, said forces being applied to respective force transmission means spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the beam, and in which is measured at a selected region of the beam the strain therein which arises from the bending of the beam by said forces and which is proportional to the distances between the location of said region and said force transmission means and between said force transmission means, wherein said load and reaction forces are applied to said beam by means of force transmission means comprising a body of elastomer, said body being shaped as a rectangular prism, said elastomer being chosen such that in creep, hysteresis and linearity the characteristics of the body closely approximate those of an ideal spring, said body having upper and lower faces, and a pair of opposite side faces which are inwardly waisted between said upper and lower faces.