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US 5,471,885 AGranted
Self-contained digital electronic force gage with interchangeable force sensor modules
OwnerWilliam B. Wagnerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for measuring compressive and tensile forces over extended incremental ranges of force loads utilizing freely interchangeable pre-calibrated force sensors (load cells) of various capacities each mounted integrally and permanently in a force cell module or housing which readily attaches and detaches to a force display module. The force display module employs an electronic microprocessor circuit to process the signal from the force sensor and to display the signal in units of force on an electronic display (liquid crystal display). The two modules comprise the complete self-contained digital electronic force gage (dynamometer) with all components mounted internally. The gage can be utilized as a hand-held unit or on a test stand or test fixture.
Claims49
An electronic force gage for measuring tensile and compressive forces using various load cell capacities comprising:
- (a) a force display module freely interchangeable with various interchangeable load cells having different capacities, said force display module comprising:
- (i) a force display module housing forming an enclosure, and
- (ii) electronic control and processing circuit mounted within said enclosure of said force display module housing, said electronic control and processing circuit including means for receiving electronic signals corresponding with measured tensile and compressive forces from various interchangeable load cells having different capacities and processing said received signals into user usable electronic signals and means for alternatively selecting between the various load cell capacities;
- and
- (b) a force cell module releasably mounted to said force display module, said force cell module comprising:
- (i) a force cell housing releasable mounted to said force display module housing in abutting engagement to form an integral unit,
- (ii) a load cell mounted on the force cell housing thereby positioning said load cell in a generally fixed relationship with said force display module, said load cell corresponding to one of the various load cell capacities, said load cell including means for receiving the tensile and compressive forces to be measured and means for converting the measured tensile and compressive forces into corresponding electrical signals, and
- (iii) means for transmitting the electrical signals corresponding to the measured tensile and compressive forces to said means for receiving electronic signals of said electronic control and processing circuit of said force display module.
5 more elements
A kit for forming an electronic force gage for measuring tensile and compressive forces using various load cell capacities comprising:
- (a) a force display module freely interchangeable with various interchangeable load cells having different capacities, said force display module comprising:
- (i) a force display module housing forming an enclosure, and
- (ii) electronic control and processing circuit mounted within said enclosure of said force display module housing, said electronic control and processing circuit including means for receiving electronic signals corresponding with measured tensile and compressive forces from various interchangeable load cells having different capacities and processing said received signals into user usable electronic signals and means for alternatively selecting between the various load cell capacities;
- and
- (b) a plurality of force cell modules releasably and alternatively mountable to said force display module, each force cell module comprising:
- (i) a force cell housing releasable mountable to said force display module housing in abutting engagement to form an integral unit,
- (ii) a load cell mounted on the force cell housing thereby positioning said load cell in a generally fixed relationship to said force display module when the force cell housing is mounted on said force display housing, said load cell corresponding to one of the various load cell capacities, said load cell including means for receiving the tensile and compressive forces to be measured and means for converting the measured tensile and compressive forces into corresponding electrical signals, and
- (iii) means for transmitting the electrical signals corresponding to the measured tensile and compressive forces to said means for receiving electronic signals of said electronic control and processing circuit of said force display module.
5 more elements
A method of assembling an electronic force gage for measuring tensile and compressive forces using various load cell capacities comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a force display module freely interchangeable with various interchangeable load cells of different capacities, said force display module comprising:
- (i) a force display module housing forming an enclosure, and
- (ii) electronic control and processing circuit mounted within said enclosure of said force display module housing, said electronic control and processing circuit including means for receiving electronic signals corresponding with measured tensile and compressive forces from various interchangeable load cells having different capacities and processing said received signals into user usable electronic signals and means for alternatively selecting between the various load cell capacities;
- (b) providing a force cell module releasably mountable to said force display module, said force cell module comprising:
- (i) a force cell housing releasably mounted to said force display module housing in abutting engagement to form an integral unit,
- (ii) a load cell mounted on the force cell housing and corresponding to one of the various load cell capacities,the load cell including means for receiving the tensile and compressive forces to be measured and means for converting the measured tensile and compressive forces into corresponding electrical signals, and
- (iii) means for transmitting the electrical signals corresponding to the measured tensile and compressive forces to said means for receiving electronic signals of said electronic control and processing circuit of said force display module;
- (c) mounting said force cell module to said force display module thereby positioning said load cell in a generally fixed relationship to said force display module;
- and
- (d) utilizing said means for alternatively selecting between the various load cell capacities to select the load cell capacity of said force cell module from among the various load cell capacities.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.