Patents Assigned to Kistler Instruments AG
  • Patent number: 5512794
    Abstract: An accelerometer having a pair of piezoplates and masses compressed to a center post by a bolt through bores in the center post, piezoplates and masses without mechanical or electrical contacting the piezoplates or the center post. A symmetrical arrangement includes opposed pairs of piezoplates separated by the center post or two pairs of piezoplates separated from each other by center post. Two bolts through orthogonal bores in a single center post or two perpendicular center post provide two and three axis of force sensing. Either linear or angular acceleration can be sensed. Two orthogonal mounting bores in the housing allows adjustment of the sensing axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Kistler Instrumente AG
    Inventors: John M. Kubler, Michael D. Insalaco
  • Patent number: 5501111
    Abstract: The invention comprises a force measuring system and an assembly procedure for the dynamic determination especially of axle loads, speed, as well as for assembly of force and acceleration sensors. The force measuring system can be laid permanently in the roadway. It is of modular assembly, consisting of the amplifier, sensor and terminal module. The sensor module consists of a hollow section, in which piezo-elements are fitted under elastic preload. The hollow section is designed so that it can be opened elastically by lateral clamping, to allow mechanically interconnected piezo-elements to be inserted simply. After releasing this clamping, the piezo-elements are under high elastic preload. The same design principle can also be applied generally to force pressure and acceleration sensors. The elastical clamping force, vital for perfect force transmission to the piezo-elements, is for assembly purposes easily overcome by a proper lateral clamping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Kistler Instrumente AG
    Inventors: Hans C. Sonderegger, Reto Calderara, Claudio Cavalloni
  • Patent number: 5329823
    Abstract: An interposed sensor having a housing whose lateral extend is not greater than the lateral extend of the machine parts is to be installed between and having a plurality of measuring elements welded under preloading to the housing. Electronics including charge amplifiers are integral with the housing, either interior the lateral extend or in an annular compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Kistler Instrumente AG
    Inventors: Hans Sonderegger, Mario Giorgetta, Peter Wolfer
  • Patent number: 5297430
    Abstract: A thin disk force sensor having measuring elements of not more than five layers including force introducing layers welded under preloading to a thin disk housing. The measuring elements, weld and disk housing are planarized. A vapor deposited layer is selectively applied to the force measuring elements to increase the applied force compared to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Kistler Instrumente AG
    Inventors: Hans Sonderegger, Rolf Kuratle, Peter Wolfer, Reto Calderara
  • Patent number: 5265481
    Abstract: The invention comprises a force measuring system for the dynamic determination especially of axle loads, speed, vehicle wheelbase and gross weight. The force measuring system is laid permanently in the roadway. It is of modular assembly, consisting of the amplifier (11), sensor (12) and terminal module (13). The individual modules may be coupled tightly by plug-and-socket connections, welding flanges or glued flanges. The sensor module (12) consists of a hollow section (1), in which piezo-elements (4) are fitted under elastic preload. The piezo-elements (4) are accommodated in the hollow section (1) at intervals of typically 5 to 10 cm, and they may be connected all together with only one electrically conductive foil (5) to the signal processing facility (19), or groupwise or even singly. According to this subdivision the road width can be sectioned as desired, in order to obtain a road loading diagram for instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Kistler Instrumente AG
    Inventors: Hans C. Sonderegger, Reto Calderara, Mario Giorgetta, Dario Barberis, Markus Caprez
  • Patent number: 5252928
    Abstract: The invention relates to a charge amplifier circuit with a control loop for resetting, which for minimizing the leakage currents that falsify the measuring results includes two diodes (D.sub.1) and (D.sub.2), connected antiparallel in the loop and constituting input protection diodes of an integrated circuit (ISK). In the operating (measuring) phase the diode resistance (R.sub.D) is extremely high and the voltage drop over the diode pair is small, so that no significant leakage current gets through onto the charge amplifier input IN.sub.Q. In the reset phase the diode resistance (R.sub.Dr) is practically nil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Kistler Instrumente AG
    Inventor: Mario Giorgetta
  • Patent number: 5179857
    Abstract: Monitoring systems for cyclically operating machines having a cylinder including sensor to be mounted on the exterior of said cylinder for detecting both force in said cylinder and structure-borne signals in the cylinder; and having a computer for storing pre-recorded force and structure-borne noise signal as a function of time in a cycle and for comparing said detected and pre-recorded force and structure-borne noise signals to determine the status of said machine. The sensor has the form of a thin disk fitted between a cylinder cover and a nut of a cylinder cover stud under preload, thus replacing the standard washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: Kistler Instrumente AG
    Inventors: Hans Sonderegger, Rolf Kuratle, Peter Wolfer
  • Patent number: 5168758
    Abstract: A transducer combining a force or strain or both sensor in a common housing with a structure-borne noise sensor and responsive to transmissions at a common mounting surface of the housing. The transducer may be in a force transducer, a surface strain transducer, or a screw strain transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Kistler Instruments AG
    Inventor: Peter Wolfer
  • Patent number: 5154084
    Abstract: A beam force measuring system having a force sensor to be mounted to each beam of a cyclically operating machine between a force diverting part and a fastener which secures the beam. The sensor is disk shaped and has a height which is a fraction of the fastener. Disk shaped measuring elements are welded under preload to a metal disk of the sensor and have a common planar surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Kistler Instrumente AG
    Inventors: Hans Sonderegger, Peter Wolfer, Paul Brem
  • Patent number: 5009106
    Abstract: The shock resistance of an accelerometer for the measurement of an axial acceleration, having a sensing part consisting of an electromechanical beam, a spacer and a beam carrier can significantly be improved by making the two sections of the oscillating beam of unequal lengths and by providing the beam with a length between 8 mm and 11 mm and a width between 2.5 mm and 6.5 mm at a thickness of 0.6 mm. That way an optimum relationship between measuring sensitivity and shock resistance of the accelerometer will be reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Assignee: Kistler Instrumente AG
    Inventors: John M. Kubler, Michael D. Insalaco
  • Patent number: 4996878
    Abstract: A transducer element for measuring angular and linear accelerations including a pair of electromechanically reacting oscillating beams held symmetrical to a main axis y on a base plate by fixing elements. The electrical output signals proportional to the flexure of the beams under rotation about the y axis are provided to a signal processing circuit, which is designed so that with similar or dissimilar polarity of the oscillating beams a summing amplifier determines the linear acceleration along the z axis and a differential amplifier the angular acceleration about the y axis. The oscillating beams may be piezoelectric bending elements, or bending elements coated with piezoresistive semiconductors, or else provided with strain gauges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: Kistler Instruments AG
    Inventor: John Kubler
  • Patent number: 4982608
    Abstract: A single transducer body having a sealing arrangement including both shoulder sealing surfaces and front end sealing surfaces to seal with mounting holes of component at offset shoulder or front end sealing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Kistler Instrumente AG
    Inventors: Balz Marki, Peter Wolfer
  • Patent number: 4922188
    Abstract: An electrical peak value measuring and evaluating apparatus including a transmitting circuit for transmitting peak values to an output, restoring circuit for restoring the level in the transmitting circuit to a known value after reaching a peak, and a retaining circuit for retaining the restored signal at the known value until the input signal again rises above a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Kistler Instrumente AG
    Inventor: Giorgetta Mario
  • Patent number: 4905518
    Abstract: An accelerometer, consisting of a body having a threaded coaxial nipple for screwably securing the body to a mounting base having a connection for a signal transmission cable. The mounting base can be glued firmly or screwed to a measuring surface, and configured so that accelerometers may be mounted thereto and oriented in several axial directions. It is therefore possible to investigate several axis directions successively using one accelerometer. The object to be measured out can be provided with a large number of single- or multi-axis mounting bases, enabling the entire surface of an object to be measured stepwise in one or more axes, using one or only a few accelerometers. Furthermore the detachable connection between mounting base and accelerometer body facilitates occasional calibration of the accelerometer away from the particular measuring object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Kistler Instrumente AG
    Inventor: John Kubler
  • Patent number: 4800760
    Abstract: A force measuring device includes a transducer mounted on a screw spindle, having force introducing elements interacting directly with the inside taper of a cylindrical sleeve to brace the device in a hold and preload the transducer. The screw spindle is displaced by a moving nut which is guided radially in the sleeve and supported axially at both sides. For bracing the device in a hole, mechanisms are provided for holding the force measuring device in a defined axial position and angle of rotation and for actuating the moving nut. These mechanisms do not extend beyond the outside diameter of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Kistler Instrumente AG
    Inventors: Peter Wolfer, Georges Schaffner, Jean-Jacques Schmid
  • Patent number: 4379405
    Abstract: A force transducer, particularly for the ballistic measuring of the combustion pressure in the cartridge case of a firearm, is disclosed which includes a force transmission element which rests with one of its front areas on the cartridge case. The force transmission element is surrounded on its exterior by an outer sleeve which also rests with its front area on the cartridge case. The front areas of the force transmission element and of the outer sleeve are exactly adapted to the curvature of the cartridge case by reaming after the transducer has been mounted in the firearm. With the combustion of the powder, the cartridge case expands and transmits its force to a sensor element via the force transmission element, with the sensor element being preferably in the form of at least one piezoelectric transversal quartz element which is held under pretension between the force transmission element and a basic receiver component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1983
    Assignee: Kistler Instrumente AG
    Inventors: Paul Engeler, Hans C. Sonderegger, Peter Wolfer
  • Patent number: 4341974
    Abstract: A piezoelectric crystal element for use in force and pressure transducers and accelerometers, consisting of a monocrystalline cubic-polar material with electrode faces that intersect one of the crystallographic principal axes X,Y,Z at an angle .alpha.'=arc sin .sqroot.p and the other principal axes at .beta.'=.+-.1/2 arc cos p, wherein p=0 for the piezoelectric orthoaxial shear effect, p=1/3 for the longitudinal piezoeffect and p=1 for the transverse piezoeffect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1982
    Assignee: Kistler Instrumente AG
    Inventor: Reto Calderara
  • Patent number: 4326143
    Abstract: The invention relates to an acceleration pick-up which can be produced at favorable cost in large numbers, for which new constructional means are used. The apparatus consists of a mushroom-shaped support screw (6,56), which is inserted directly in the synthetic material housing (8) of the measuring device and which mounts and retains both the mass sensor arrangement (1, 2, 3, 4), the printed circuit board (15) as well as the housing cover (9). In the immediate vicinity of the mushroom-shaped head (7) at least one flat holding magnet (30) is likewise inserted directly in the synthetic material housing (8). In order to screen the sensor arrangement against disturbance effects, the inside of the synthetic material housing is coated with a conducting metal layer (26,28,66) for inner screening, which is connected to the screening of the connecting cable piezoelectric, piezoresistive, inductive or other systems can be used as sensor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1982
    Assignee: Kistler Instrumente AG
    Inventors: Werner Guth, Peter Wolfer, Hanspeter Dahler, Reto Calderara
  • Patent number: 4314481
    Abstract: A piezoelectric strain/force transducer is described, which is attached preferably by only one locking screw to a test specimen or machine part. The force transmitting member of the transducer comprises two bearing surfaces at a distance apart, which bear frictionally on the surface of the machine part and experience a change in spacing in the case of a change in length of the machine part. Due to this, a resilient member, which can be adapted to a desired sensitivity of the gauge, is tensioned and a set of piezoelectric plates held under precompression in the force-transmitting member are subjected to a corresponding shearing force. The piezoelectric plates are cut or polarized so that they respond piezoelectrically solely to shearing forces. The resulting piezoelectric charge is a measurement of the strain or mechanical stress of the machine part and can be used for monitoring or controlling machines or components, in particular those which are subjected to cyclic loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1982
    Assignee: Kistler Instruments AG
    Inventors: Peter Wolfer, Hans-Rudolf Derrer, Max Vollenweider, Hans-Conrad Sonderegger
  • Patent number: 4292769
    Abstract: A device for balancing rotating bodies including a sensing arrangement for sensing the out of balance of the rotating body and for abrasion tool at a frequency corresponding to the speed of the rotating member so as to remove material from the rotating member in phase with the working vibration in the same region of the rotating member for effecting a balancing of the rotating member. The apparatus also includes an adjusting arrangement enabling adjustment of the phase relationship of the vibration of the abrasion tool with respect to the phase relationship of the out-of-balance signal so as to effect shifting by any number of steps of 360.degree./n, n being a whole number>3, irrespective of the speed of the rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1981
    Assignee: Kistler Instrumente AG
    Inventors: Willi Maag, Hans U. Baumgartner, Max Vollenweider, Hans J. Wolf