US 5,600,104 AGranted

Load cell having reduced sensitivity to non-symmetrical beam loading

AssigneeStructural Instrumentation, Inc.

InventorsJerry L. McCauley, William J. Moon

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Abstract

A load cell having a measurement beam and a pivotal support for either coupling a load to the beam or supporting opposite ends of the beam. In one embodiment, opposite ends of a beam are secured to the upper surface of a frame, and the load is applied to the upper surface of the beam at its mid-point through a load applying member and a sphere positioned between the load applying member and the beam. Bolts positioned symmetrically about the sphere pass loosely through the load applying member and are threaded into the beam. The bolts maintain the sphere in contact with the load applying member and beam while allowing relative angular movement between the beam and the load applying member. In another embodiment of load cell, opposite ends of a beam are supported on a frame through respective, generally spherical members, and the load is applied to the center of the beam.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A load cell for use in an on board weighing system for measuring the weight of a load, said load cell comprising:

a vehicle frame;
a load carrying member supporting said load;
a beam positioned between said vehicle frame and said load carrying member;
a pivot point support positioned between said beam and a support member, said support member being one of said load carrying member and said vehicle frame so that said load is carried by said vehicle frame through said load carrying member, said beam and said pivotal support, said pivot point support preventing said beam from receiving rotational moments about at least one axis;
transducer means for measuring load induced strains in said beam indicative of the weight of said load;
and
at least one fastener interconnecting said beam and said support member, said fastener restraining relative movement between said beam and said support member toward and away from each other while allowing relative angular movement between said beam and said support member, said fastener including a bolt extending through a bore formed into said support member into said beam where an end of said bolt threadingly engages said beam, said bolt having a diameter that is less than the diameter of the bore formed in said support member so that said support member can pivot with respect to the longitudinal axis of said bold, said bolt further including a head formed on said bolt at its end opposite the end that is treaded into said beam, said load cell further including a spring extending between the head of said bolt and said support member to urge said support member toward said beam.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.