Abstract: A weighing device has not only a scale cell which weighs an object and outputs a weight signal indicative of the measured weight value but also a vibration-detecting load cell for detecting the vibrations of the floor to which the scale cell is set such that the effects of the floor vibrations can be subtracted from the weight value detected by the scale cell. The vibration-detecting load cell has attenuation-adjusting members adhesively attached to strain-generating parts of its load-sensitive element such that the attenuation constant of the load cell is thereby increased at least by a factor of 2. The usable dynamic range of the load cell can thus be increased while the load cell is kept compact. Butyl rubber members can be used for this purpose.

Abstract: An electronic scale is disclosed which has multiple overload protection features for protecting the load cell and a weight distribution plate from excessive strain due to vertical overload on the scale or from twisting resulting from an article being placed thereon which exceeds the load capacity of the scale, or from excessive forces due to mishandling of the scale. A first overload protection is in the form of a boss molded into the base of the scale on which the free end of the load cell abuts if an excessive load is placed on the platter of the scale. A second overload protection is in the form of a peripheral depending flange on the platter which abuts a peripheral portion of the a top cover to prevent excessive strain on the load cell and a weight distribution plate from excessive loading or mishandling of the scale.

Abstract: In an inertial mass measurement instrument, an active force compensator compensates for inertial forces transmitted by an oscillating elastic element to a primary support of the instrument. The compensator applies equal and opposite compensating forces to the primary support along an effective line of action of the oscillating element. Application of the compensating forces result in a substantially zero net acceleration of the primary support and avoids measurement inaccuracies attributable to changes in properties of secondary support elements.

Abstract: A vibration attenuation device serves to damp in a two-stage manner with a non-linear spring characteristic a pair of relatively movable components, such as the weighing pan and the weighing pan carrier of a scale. First and second stage resilient compressible means extend different distances from one side of a base member for successive activation by the components as they are displaced together, thereby to produce a vibration behavior that approximates the inherent frequency of the weighing scale.

Abstract: The support arm (29) for the load-receiving pan (28) of an electronic weighing apparatus (2) is resiliently suspended from the vertically arranged load receiving member (15), thereby to isolate the load receiving member from deleterious forces applied to the weighing pan. To this end, one end of the support arm is suspended by a pair of parallel spaced leaf springs (31,33) from the lower end of the load receiving member. Opposed portions at the upper ends of the leaf springs contain relatively outwardly projecting horizontal U-shaped loop portions (43), thereby to afford resilient displacement of the arm in various directions relative to the load receiving member.

Abstract: A damping mechanism is disclosed for use with a displacement measuring device, such as a load cell of the type immersed in a motion damping liquid contained within a housing. The mechanism includes a shear plate adjustably supported by the housing within the damping liquid for movement towards and away from a facing surface of the load cell, which is supported for movement within a plane disposed parallel to the shear plate, for purposes of controlling the thickness of the layer of damping liquid disposed there-between. The thickness of the layer determines the damping characteristics of the mechanism.

Abstract: A flexible conduit coupled to a chamber of a weighing apparatus for conduiting fluid to the chamber, the conduit having a portion attached to a support spaced apart from the load cell chamber and being sufficiently arcuate in shape between the point and the load cell to substantially reduce relaxation and/or weight effects of the conduit on weight measurements. In a preferred embodiment, the arcuate portion forms a semicircular arch.

Abstract: A weighing cell includes a base, with energy absorbing feet; a load cell supported by the base; a platform supporting member supported by the load cell; a platform for supporting an object to be weighed, the platform being supported by the supporting member; and damping material operatively positioned between the platform and the supporting member. The energy absorbing feet are chosen to substantially dampen the oscillations of a mass spring system consisting of a spring equivalent in total compliant effect to the load cell, the energy absorbing feet and the damping material and a mass equal to the combined mass of the heaviest object to be weighed and of the weighing cell and the damping material is chosen to substantially dampen the oscillations of a mass spring system consisting of a spring equivalent in total compliant effect to the load cell, the energy absorbing feet and the damping material and a mass equal to the combined mass of a relatively light object and of the weighing cell.

Abstract: An electrically powered suspension for a vehicle including a roadwheel and tire assembly, an electrically powered suspension unit having one end attached to the roadwheel and tire assembly and the other end attached to the chassis of the vehicle, with the suspension unit including an electric motor for positioning the roadwheel with respect to the chassis, and a controller for operating the electric motor so as to control the vertical movement of the wheel and tire assembly with respect to the vehicle's chassis. The electric motor may include either a linear or rotating electric motor, acting either alone or in parallel with a static load carrying device such as a fluid or coil spring.

Abstract: A thermoplastic melting apparatus comprises a tank pivotally mounted upon bearings within the interior of a housing having a top cover. A load cell is mounted beneath the tank opposite the bearings which is effective to sense pivotal movement of the tank as it is loaded with and/or emptied of thermoplastic material, and to produce a signal which indicates the quantity of thermoplastic material within the tank. The load cell is isolated from dynamic forces produced by drive linkages which operate pumps associated with the tank, by positioning the pivot axis of the bearings in the same plane as the force produced by the drive linkage. The lid of the tank is isolated from the top cover of the housing to prevent the transmittal of forces to the tank from objects placed on the top cover of the housing or the like.

Abstract: A container filler and weighing system is disclosed. The weighing system is made up of a scale with a support for a container supported on the scale. A vibrator connected to the support so that the material fed into the container from a feeder is packed and settled in the container. An electronic readout is connected to the scale and a digital readout connected to the electronic circuit whereby the readings can be recorded and an annunciator is connected to the electronic circuit to signal when the container is full. The vibrator connected to the container support delivers a vertical component of force that has an especially good and efficient packing reaction on the material in the container.

Abstract: A method for cyclically weighing flowable bulk solid material as part of a dispensing process which includes the steps of supplying the material from a continuously operating controllable delivery feed arrangement to a weigh-pan; generating a signal indicative of the amount of material in the weigh-pan; terminating supply of the material from the feed arrangement when the signal indicates a predetermined amount of material in the weigh-pan; causing the weigh-pan, after receiving and weighing all the materials supplied by the feed arrangement up to such termination of the supply, to deliver its contents; preparing the weigh-pan for the next cycle; predetermining a rate of delivery from the weigh-pan in accordance with the requirements of the dispensing process in terms of the average amount delivered per cycle in a cycling frequency; supplying from the feed arrangement material to the weigh-pan through a valve mechanism in which the material accumulates when the weigh-pan is not receiving material from the val

Abstract: A load cell mass comparator wherein a pressure compensated load cell is connected at its upper end to a floating plate through a self-aligning coupling, such as, a universal joint assembly. The floating plate is slidably mounted on a plurality of guide rods extending between fixed upper and lower plates. A spring assembly and shock absorber are mounted between the upper fixed plate and floating plate. The lower end of the load cell is connected to the mass to be calibrated through a universal joint, thrust bearing, and spherical load stop bearing. The construction and arrangement of the components in the load cell mass comparator provides an instrument employed heretofore in a laboratory environment to a commercial environment where masses in the range of 1 to 10,000 pounds can be compared and calibrated.

Abstract: A weighing system includes a weighing pan connected to a rigid armature by a mechanical filter constraining the armature to motion along a reference axis with respect to a housing and damping out transient forces along this axis resulting from the placement of objects on the pan. The mechanical filter includes spring and damping elements that provide a low-pass filter, that is, one that efficiently and quickly eliminates high frequency oscillations. In one form, the mechanical filter couples the pan to the armature. Because of this connection, friction in the mechanical filter does not result in frictional errors in the weighing measurement. In another form, a mechanical linkage couples the armature to the housing. A force transducer, comprising a pair of complementary opposed surfaces having a mutual separation which is related to the force across the transducer, is coupled between the armature and the housing.

Abstract: Weighing apparatus is disclosed of the short-stroke vibratory string type including a housing (3, 5) in which is arranged a load cell device including a stationary member (1) and a vertically movable load receiving member (2), characterized by the provision of a vertically collapsible overload protection device (F) arranged within the housing around the stationary load cell member for connecting a weighing platform or pan (6) arranged above the housing with the movable load receiver member. The overload protection device includes a horizontal open rectangular frame having relatively vertically movable upper (7) and lower (8) frame sections, stop lugs (23) being provided on the housing for limiting the extent of downward travel of the upper frame member. A snap spring arrangement (14, 18) is provided for biasing the upper and lower frame members vertically apart.

Abstract: A weighing cell which is protected against overloading due to mechanical shock and delayed weight readout due to vibration. The weighing cell, which has a platform, a self-contained base and a load cell operatively connected therebetween, includes, in one embodiment, a plurality of posts connected to the base and separated from the platform by a gap to protect against overload forces applied to the non-axial region of the platform. Feet on the base of the weighing cell have an energy absorbing material thereon and are placed outboard of the load cell to provide quick damping of vibrations caused when a load is placed on the platform. The load cell is spaced at a partial gap from the base and platform to protect it from overload forces applied to the axial region of the platform.

Abstract: This apparatus is for use in measuring a weight, or force, and it is particularly useful as a scale. The apparatus includes a single vibrating wire and wire supports that rigidly clamp the two ends of the wire. A weight to be measured is applied to the wire in substantially the direction of its length, and the applied weight changes the tension in the wire. The apparatus includes a wire drive circuit that causes the wire to vibrate at essentially its natural resonant frequency. The frequency varies as a known cubic equation with respect to the applied weight, and a computer, operating in accordance with the equation, converts the measured frequency to a weight signal. The apparatus further includes vibration dampers and isolators for reducing the effects of sympathetic vibrations and of externally induced vibrations, and means to correct for external influences such as disturbing frequencies and ambient temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing the overload of a load cell used to measure deflection by providing a safety mechanism that will act upon the support of the load cell when an overload condition is reached. The invention is described in the environment of a leaf spring weighing scale that uses load cells to measure deflection of a load support.

Abstract: A device suitable for weighing tablets, during manufacture, comprises a ring whose deflection is proportioned to a normal stress applied to it. The deflection may be measured by a suitable transducer, such as a linear differential transformer. Sideways flexing of the ring is prevented by cantilevers connected to the ring perpendicular to its plane.

Abstract: A device which includes a frame supporting a lever arm for tiltable movement about a horizontal axis intermediate the ends thereof and, more particularly, to an improved apparatus for nullifying the effects of angular acceleration of such frame relative to its lever arm which comprises a counterweight and hanger means for suspending the counterweight between the frame and arm which cooperate with one another under the influence of inertial forces tending to angularly accelerate one relative to the other by generating an offsetting inertial force operative to maintain a condition of stable equilibrium therebetween.

Abstract: The damping arrangement includes a cylinder with various diameters in order to first attain a slow movement of the piston through the restricted position and to cause it to move faster through the enlarged portion. Such movement controls the lowering speed of the platform onto the knife edges and the slower movement is present until the platform comes into contact with the knife edges thereby preventing a damage of the knife edges.

Abstract: The dash-pot connected to the balance beam of a portable balance is sealed about the piston rod of the dash-pot by a rubber ring mounted in the cover of the dash-pot and resiliently deformed when an abutment leg projecting from the balance housing is lifted from a supporting surface. The dash-pot arrangement is held thereafter automatically in the locked position, thereby also immobilizing the balance beam, by a spring-loaded detent until the detent is manually released.

Abstract: A slicing system for automatically controlling the weight of individually sized portions of a sliced food product includes an automatic electric slicer and a scale operably associated therewith for weighing slices of a food product cut by the slicer. A photoelectric element disposed adjacent the path of the movable pointer on the scale detects the proximity of such pointer at a preselected location corresponding to a preselected weight of food product being received upon the receiving platform of the scale and opens the circuit to the slicer to stop the same. Adjusting means are provided to establish the relative position of the photoelectric element and the scale pointer for causing the circuit to break at such selected position.