US 5,207,284 AGranted

Mechanical scale conversion system

AssigneeFairbanks Inc.

InventorsAlec T. Douglas, Harry J. Keen

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Abstract

A load indicator conversion system is disclosed for converting a scale having a mechanical measuring system, such as a conventional portable beam scale, into a scale having an electronic measuring system for providing an electronic display, such as an LCD display, corresponding to the load applied to the mechanical load receiver of the scale, such as the scale platform [104], which is mechanically linked via the beam load rod assembly [110] and an s-hook arrangement [150] to a load cell transducer [1]. A single common temperature sensor is employed adjacent the load cell and the associated electronics to provide information on the variations in temperature to the microprocessor for enabling temperature compensation to take place. The mechanical linkable between the transducer and the existing mechanical load receiving member is accomplished by removing the balance beam [106] and connecting the load cell [1] to the beam load rod [110] which normally mechanically transfers the applied load from the scale platform to [104] the balance beam [106 ].

Claims23

Dependent claims

A mechanical scale conversion system for converting a scale having a mechanical measuring system into a scale having an electronic measuring system, said scale mechanical measuring system comprising mechanical load receiving means for receiving an applied load, a pillar comprising a beam load rod and means for mechanically transferring a load received by said mechanical load receiving means to said beam load rod means, said load indicator conversion system comprising:

a transducer means responsive to an applied load for providing an electrical output in response to said applied load, said electrical output varying with the magnitude of said applied load;
variable tension means for attaching said beam load rod to said transducer means at a desired variable tension level, for directly converting the load transferred to said beam load rod from said mechanical load receiving means into said applied load to said attached transducer means, said applied load being equivalent to said load transferred to said beam load rod;
electronic display means operatively connected to said transducer means electrical output for providing an electronic display corresponding to said magnitude of said applied load;
and a housing containing said transducer means and said electronic display means, said housing being mountable on said pillar means for enabling said beam load rod to be mechanically connected to said transducer means;
whereby said load applied to said mechanical load receiving means is convertible into said electronic display from said electrical output of said transducer means contained within said pillar mounted housing.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.