Load measuring apparatus

A load measuring transducer comprising:

• a housing having a base which in use is supported by a load bearing surface and an aperture in said housing opposite said base,
• a load cell means including an abutment portion adapted to receive an applied load, said load cell means mechanically supported by and within said housing, and
• a strut having a lower end which bears against said abutment portion of said load cell means and extends outside said housing through said aperture, at least the portion of said strut passing through said aperture being significantly narrower than said aperture, said strut in use being connected to an applied load,
• said strut being free to move axially in a direction towards said load cell means, and said portion of said strut passing through said aperture being free to move laterally within the confines of said aperture, and said load cell means providing an electrical output which is a function of the applied load.

A weighting system comprising:

• a platform having an area to accommodate the physical dimensions of the load to be weighed,
• at least one foot attached to said platform to support it on a load bearing surface, each said foot including:
• a housing having a base which in use is supported by the load bearing surface and an aperture in said housing opposite said base,
• a load cell means including an abutment portion adapted to receive an applied load, said load cell means mechanically supported by and within said housing, and
• a strut having a lower end which bears against said abutment portion of said load cell means and extends outside said housing through said aperture, at least the portion of said strut passing through said aperture being significantly narrower than said aperture, said strut being connected to said platform,
• said strut being free to move axially in a direction towards said load cell means, and said portion of said strut passing through said aperture being free to move laterally within the confines of said aperture, and
• electronic summing means which receive the electrical signals from each load cell and provide an output signal having a value which is a function of the weight of said load.

A load bearing foot comprising:

• a housing having a base which in use is supported by a load bearing surface and an aperture in said housing opposite said base,
• a load cell means including a load cell having a diaphragm and deformation measuring means adapted to provide a response variable by deformation of said diaphragm, an abutment portion located at the centre of said diaphragm, adapted to receive an applied load, and peripheral support means which mechanically support said diaphragm at its periphery within said housing, and
• a rigid strut having a lower end which bears against said abutment portion of said load cell means and extends outside said housing through said aperture, at least the portion of said strut passing through said aperture being significantly narrower than said aperture, said strut in use being connected to an applied load,
• said strut being free to move axially in a direction towards said load cell means, and said portion of said strut passing through said aperture being free to move laterally within the confines of said aperture.

A load measuring transducer comprising:

• a housing having a base which in use is supported by a load bearing surface and an aperture in said housing opposite said base,
• a load cell means including a load cell having a diaphragm and deformation measuring means adapted to provide a response variable by deformation of said diaphragm, an abutment portion located at the centre of said diaphragm, adapted to receive an applied load, and peripheral support means which mechanically support said diaphragm at its periphery within said housing, and
• a strut having a lower end which bears against said abutment portion of said load cell means and extends outside said housing through said aperture, at least the portion of said strut passing through said aperture being significantly narrower than said aperture, said strut in use being connected to an applied load,
• said strut being free to move axially in a direction towards said load cell means, and said portion of said strut passing through said aperture being free to move laterally within the confines of said aperture, and said load cell means providing an electrical output which is a function of the applied load.

A weighting system comprising:

• a platform having an area to accommodate the physical dimensions of the load to be weighed,
• at least one foot attached to said platform to support it on a load bearing surface, each said foot including:
• a housing having a base which in use is supported by the load bearing surface and an aperture in said housing opposite said base,
• a load cell means including a load cell having a diaphragm and deformation measuring means adapted to provide a response variable by deformation of said of said diaphragm, an abutment portion located at the centre of said diaphragm, adapted to receive an applied load, and peripheral support means which mechanically support said diaphragm at its periphery within said housing, and
• a strut having a lower end which bears against said abutment portion of said load cell means and extends outside said housing through said aperture, at least the portion of said strut passing through said aperture being significantly narrower than said aperture, said strut being connected to said platform
• said strut being free to move axially in a direction towards said load cell means, and said portion of said strut passing through said aperture being free to move laterally within the confines of said aperture, and
• electronic summing means which receive the electrical signals from each load cell and provide an output signal having a value which is a function of the weight of said load.