# US 5,347,871 A · Strain sensor

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- Number: US 5,347,871 A
- Document ID: US5347871A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/831,376
- Filed: 1992-02-03
- Granted: 1994-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 1992-02-03
- Assignees: Teledyne Industries, Inc.
- Inventors: Louis A. D'Andrea; Roger W. Masson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5347871A

## CPC

- G01L 5/0061: {Force sensors associated with industrial machines or actuators (for the specific machine or actuator involved see relevant class, e.g. F01, F04, F16, B66, E21)}
- G01L 1/2287: {constructional details of the strain gauges (adjustable resistors H01C10/00)}
- G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G)

## Abstract

A strain sensor adapted for adhesive attachment to a device element such as a valve stem includes a sensor circuit coupon, a support for the coupon, and a clamp carried by the support for clamping the support around the device element.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A strain sensor comprising
a thin, flexible non-loadbearing support sheet, and
a flexible strain gauge coupon mounted on said support sheet, said coupon comprising a strain gauge circuit embedded in a flexible insulating element, and said support carrying a pair of clamping means.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sensor of claim 1 in which said support is shim stock.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The sensor of claim 2 in which said clamping means is spot welded to said shim stock.

### Claim 4

The method of applying a strain gauge torque bridge circuit and a strain gauge thrust bridge circuit to a cylindrical stressable cylindrical base which comprises the steps of:
adhering on a flexible plastic layer a layer of etchable conductor,
adhering over said flexible plastic layer and said etchable conductor a cover layer of flexible plastic,
adhering the coupon produced by the steps thus far to a sheet of flexible support materials,
applying a layer of adhesive material, and
circumferentially and radially pulling said support material against said cylindrical base with said adhesive material therebetween, and rendering said adhesive material operatively adhesive.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 which includes the steps of:
attaching to said coupon spaced protuberances,
engaging said protuberances with tensioning means in carrying out said pulling step, and
removing said protuberances.