Abstract: An integrated element scale is provided that can replace an existing support structure within a piece of equipment to achieve a piece of equipment with the integrated scale. The integrated element scale may contain one or more load cells and be configured to replace a standard component used in the assembly of certain types of equipment. The integrated element may include a mechanism to align the load portion and support portion of the element with the load cell or load cells in between them. The integrated element may further include a mechanism for protecting the load cells from damage due to overload or under load as well as side impacts. When higher accuracy is required, the integrated element further may include a mechanism for decoupling the loads within each element from other load cells within the same element or other elements so that horizontal loading between the deflecting load cells does not occur.

Abstract: The electronic load cell is for measuring force using a force sensor within and has reduced susceptibility to shock or impact in the direction of its measurement vector. The load cell device includes a load cell structure formed of a suitable solid and including vertically spaced apart, generally parallel horizontal elements integrally formed with longitudinally spaced apart, generally parallel vertical elements with flexible members. Flexures interconnect each horizontal element with the vertical elements. A force sensor is connected between the horizontal element connecting the two flexures on the first side of the parallelogram and a spring connected to the second parallel member.

Abstract: The multiple load sensing multi-load cell scale is described that provides improved utility to scales with multiple decks that share load cells near supports so that more than one load may be determined at the same time on a single scale. In more detail, the scale uses the sectional sensitivities to load movement on the scale decks, load position and individual normalized load cell outputs to provide separate load magnitude measurements on these individual decks. According to the present invention, more than two load cells associated to form a single scale provide outputs that are converted to individual digital representations of the relative force magnitude on each. These magnitudes are related to the effective location of each load cell to provide the load centroid location on the scale when the sum of the products of the effective location and magnitude of each is divided by the sum of the magnitudes.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the weight of a load carried by a vehicle is provided wherein the vehicle has a tractor, a trailer, and a fifth wheel assembly attached to the trailer for connecting said trailer to said tractor, the trailer having an axle, and the apparatus comprising a system, located on the trailer, for measuring the weight of the trailer and for generating a weight value, and a system, located within the trailer, for displaying the weight value. The measuring system comprises a first weight sensing means located within the fifth wheel assembly for producing a first weight signal, a second weight sensing means located within a first end of said trailer axle for producing a second weight signal, a third weight sensing means located within a second end of said trailer axle for producing a third weight signal, and means for combining said first, second and third weight signals to produce said weight value. A method for measuring the weight of a load carried by a vehicle is also disclosed.

Abstract: A force sensitive scale and dual sensor load cells for use therewith isolate, measure, and reject out residual rejected effects from the output of the scale. By isolating residual rejected effects, the overall accuracy of the scale may be improved, and the scale may be made substantially insensitive to the position of an object on the scale. In addition, where a scale includes multiple load cells coupled in parallel to a load receiving member and spaced apart in the direction of the force vector, the outputs of the load cells may be effectively scaled to cancel out frictional effects inherent in the scale.

Abstract: A force sensitive scale and dual sensor load cells for use therewith isolate, measure, and reject out residual rejected effects from the output of the scale. By isolating residual rejected effects, the overall accuracy of the scale may be improved, and the scale may be made substantially insensitive to the position of an object on the scale. In addition, where a scale includes multiple load cells coupled in parallel to a load receiving member and spaced apart in the direction of the force vector, the outputs of the load cells may be effectively scaled to cancel out frictional effects inherent in the scale.

Abstract: A multi-load cell force sensing apparatus includes a plurality of load cells supporting an operating surface and a controller which determines the position, as well as the magnitude, of an applied force relative to the operating surface. Impulse forces may be distinguished from static forces, thereby enabling the apparatus to function as a user input device whereby a user may request the apparatus to perform functions by pressing or touching a specified location on the operating surface.

Abstract: A load cell assembly includes a load cell body having a pair of sensors mounted therein which provide complementary output signals in response to a force applied to the load cell body. A linearization and common mode discrimination routine analyzes changes in the sensor outputs and characterizes the changes as being either primarily due to applied force or primarily due to common mode effects. A force value, indicative of the applied force on the load cell body, is updated only for changes in the sensor outputs which are primarily due to applied force. However, changes which are primarily due to common mode effects are not incorporated into force value calculations, whereby common mode effects are rejected.

Abstract: A composite load cell utilizes end blocks mounted to the ends of a load cell body to increase the apparent bulk modulus of the end beams on the body. The increased modulus of the end beams improves cornering of the load cell, and further aids in the rejection of moment induced shears, including those due to off-center loading, thereby increasing the usable resolution of the load cell.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a counting scale which implements a load cell assembly for the measurement of weight used in counting calculations. A load cell in such an assembly has a beam structure with beams positioned parallel to each other in at least one plane. Generally, these parallel beams are attached to a stationary base and have sensing means attached between the two beams and the base. These sensing means are preferably resonators which have resonant frequencies that vary in response to an applied force on the load cell. A controller is included in the assembly to drive these resonators, convert their frequency outputs to digital values, and correct for various environmental effects, to obtain an accurate weight measurement for use in the counting scale.

Abstract: The invention is a load cell for the measurement of force, independent of displacement, created by means such as weight, acceleration, pressure, and the like. The load cell has a beam structure with beams positioned parallel to each other in at least one plane. Generally, these parallel beams are attached to a stationary base and have sensing means attached between the two beams. In operation, deflection of one beam creates a response in the sensing means due to the relative action or deflection in the second beam.

Abstract: A load cell device includes a load cell structure formed of a suitable metal and including vertically spaced apart, generally parallel horizontal elements integrally formed with longitudinally spaced apart, generally parallel vertical elements. Flexures interconnect each horizontal element with the vertical elements. A bending beam extends between and is interconnected with the horizontal or vertical elements. When a load is applied vertically and perpendicularly to one of the horizontal elements, the load cell structure will elastically deform as a parallelogram to thereby transfer shear force to the bending beam to cause shear-induced bending of the latter. Strain gages or frequency resonator crystal elements sense the shear-induced bending and are embodied in electronic circuitry which produces an output signal caused by deformation of the bending beam. The electronic circuitry is operable to convert the output signal to a perceptive force readout.

Abstract: The invention is a load cell for the measurement of force, independent of displacement, created by means such as weight, acceleration, pressure, and the like. The load cell has a beam structure with beams positioned parallel to each other in at least one plane. Generally, these parallel beams are attached to a stationary substrate and have sensing means attached between the two beams. In operation, deflection of one beam creates a response in the sensing means due to the relative action or deflection in the second beam.

Abstract: The invention is a center fed hammer mill having a base plate, one or more intermediate plates having a central opening or hole, the intermediate plates being held together in fixed relative position by pins running through the outer edge of the intermediate plates, one or more hammers attached to the pins and a top plate having a central hole which is coextensive with the central hole of the intermediate plates, as well as a tube affixed to the top plate. The invention also comprises a method of using a center fed hammer mill.

Abstract: A low profile electronic bathroom scale includes a base having a pair of elongate rigid deformable members affixed thereto. The end portions of the deformable members are spaced from the base and define cantilevered beams having a plurality of strain gauges secured to the respective upper surfaces thereof. A rigid deck is secured to the ends of the deformable members by clips so that the weight of a person on the deck is transferred to the deformable members, causing the latter to deform, and imposing a strain on the strain gauges. The bridge circuit output signal is converted into a perceptive weight read-out.

Abstract: The weight of items carried by a fork lift truck may be measured by this fork lift scale. This fork lift scale consists of horizontally disposed load sensors connecting a crossbar frame to the crossbars of the fork lift truck. Forks are supported by the crossbar frame. Strain gages are mounted on the load sensors to sense the weight of items carried on the forks. The strain gages are mounted to sense vertical shear or bending in the load sensors. The strain gages are positioned on the load sensors and are electrically interconnected so that types of loading, other than vertical loading due to the weight of items placed on the forks, are rejected and not measured by this fork lift scale.

Abstract: A mounting adapter provides a quick attachment means for mounting or removing an electro-mechanical scale with respect to the lift frame of a fork lift truck. The scale comprises a scale frame, which supports the lifting forks, and also includes a plurality of deformable bolts each having strain gages thereon to sense deformation of the bolts when a load is placed on the forks. Circuit means produce output signals caused by deformation of the bolts and the circuit means also converts the signals to perceptive weight readouts. The mounting adapter includes transverse frame members to which the deformable bolts are secured. Clamping means clamp the frame members of the mounting adapter to the lift frame of the fork lift truck.