Load cell
AssigneeBLH Electronics, Inc.
InventorBülent Bulat
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A load cell comprises a member for receiving forces applied by the load, and a plurality of force sensing elements supported by the member and arranged with respect, to each other to independently sense differently directed components of the applied forces. The member is disposed, e.g., in a horizontal plane for receiving the load forces, and the force sensing elements are strain gages. One of the strain gages is arranged to sense a component of the forces applied in a vertical direction relative to the plane, and a second strain gage is arranged to sense a component of the forces applied in a horizontal direction relative to the plane. Among other advantages, the load cell is highly versatile can be used to measure loading forces applied in virtually any direction.
Claims30
A load cell comprising:
- a member disposed in a plane for receiving forces applied by a load, said member comprising a plurality of sections disposed in the plane and having an axial dimension, and an arm extending transversely to the axial dimension between the sections, said arm comprising a surface oriented in a first direction in the plane, said sections and said arm being arranged so that the forces applied by the load to a first one of said sections are transmitted by the arm to a second one of said sections,
- a plurality of force sensing elements disposed on the surface and arranged with respect to each other to independently sense differently directed components of the forces transmitted by said arm;
- and
- a first one of the force sensing elements being arranged to sense a component of the forces directed transverse to the plane and a second one of the force sensing elements being arranged to sense a component of the forces directed in the plane.
A load cell comprising:
- a member disposed in a horizontal plane for receiving forces applied by a load, said member comprising a plurality of generally planar sections disposed in the horizontal plane and having an axial dimension, and an arm extending transversely to the axial dimension between the sections, said arm comprising a surface oriented in a first direction in the horizontal plane, said sections and said arm being arranged so that the forces applied by the load to a first one of said sections are transmitted by the arm to a second one of said sections, and
- a plurality of force sensing elements disposed on the surface for sensing the forces transmitted by said arm, a first one of the force sensing elements being arranged to sense a component of the forces applied in a vertical direction relative to the plane, and a second one of the force sensing elements being arranged to sense a component of the forces applied in a horizontal direction relative to the plane.
A method of measuring forces applied by a load, comprising:
- providing a load cell comprising a member disposed in a plane for receiving forces applied by a load, said member comprising a plurality of sections disposed in the plane and having an axial dimension, and an arm extending transversely to the axial dimension between the sections, said arm comprising a surface oriented in a first direction in the plane, said sections and said arm being arranged so that the forces applied by the load to a first one of said sections are transmitted by the arm to a second one of said sections, and a plurality of force sensing elements disposed on the surface;
- receiving the applied forces by the member of the load cell;
- independently sensing differently directed components of the applied forces transmitted by said arm with the force sensing elements;
- and
- sensing a component of the forces directed transverse to the plane with a first one of the force sensing elements and sensing a component of the forces directed in the plane with a second one of the force sensing elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.