Abstract: An electrical insulator having high mechanical strength is disclosed for use in connection with a force sensor body portion of a weld probe force gage. The force sensing body includes a pair of pockets for receiving a corresponding pair of welding electrodes. The pockets are lined with one or more anodized aluminum alloy inserts. Disposed upon each surface of each insert is a layer of oxide, which acts as an electrical insulator. The inserts are bonded to the receiving pockets so that one layer of oxide is internally disposed between the receiving pocket and the electrode. The force sensor body is fabricated from an aluminum alloy and anodized to form a second oxide layer between the receiving pockets and the inserts. The inserts protect the two oxide layers from external mechanical wear from welding electrodes.

Abstract: A low profile scale utilizes four strain gage-based sensing beams which are isolated from mechanically or thermally-induced distortions on the weighing platform by means of interposed elastic elements. The platform is capable of moving upwardly relative to the sensing elements without transmitting any load thereto. The platform cooperates with a floating lower enclosure system to essentially seal the mechanism so that it is splash proof and washable as required for use in the food industry. Adjustable overload stops channel excess forces around the sensing beams to protect them from damage.

Abstract: A scale for precise weighing measurements utilizing a strain gauge load cell includes a weighing platform which is cantilevered to one side of the load cell in order to permit a high profile load cell to be used while retaining a low platform height. An overload protection system causes the platform to bottom out against a fixed supporting base when a predetermined load is exceeded.

Abstract: A strain gage load cell for measurement of weight or other forces. The load cell includes opposite and relatively massive end constraints, a pair of stabilizer flexures connected between opposite end constraints in a parallelogram type frame, a sensing beam with a first end supported by one of the end constraints, and a load directing flexure between the other end constraint and a second end of the sensing beam. The load directing flexure intersects the midpoint of the sensing beam and causes equal tensile and compressive stresses along a common surface of the beam upon which the strain gages are mounted.

Abstract: A rotary transformer transducer system includes a rotatable shaft having a rotor and a transducer each mounted thereon, and a stationary member including a stator, with the rotor and stator coupling electrical energy therebetween without physical contact. A selectable resistor is mounted on the rotatable shaft for direct shunt calibration of the transducer without physical contact with the stationary member. A magnetically actuated reed switch is mounted on the shaft for coupling the resistor to the transducer, and an electromagnet is mounted on the stationary member for operating the switch.

Abstract: A device for measuring the magnitude and direction of unbalanced moments about each of two mutually perpendicular axes resulting from the displacement of the center of gravity of an object being measured, such as a tire, from the third mutually perpendicular axis. The moment sensing portion consists of two pairs of strain gage-equipped beams, one pair coincident with each of the two axes, with the intersection of the three axes corresponding with the design center of gravity of the object being measured. The sensing head is mounted on a spherical air bearing whose center of curvature corresponds with the intersection point of the three axes, so that unbalanced moments tend to cause pivotal movement about the associated axis, as permitted by yieldable flexing of the beams, while the weight of the object being measured is exerted parallel to the third axis and against the air bearing, so that such force is bypassed around the moment sensing portion to avoid damaging or influencing the sensing structure.

Abstract: A flexure based transducer structure capable of measuring forces along two mutually perpendicular axes without being adversely affected by large extraneous forces or moments. Forces are applied through one annular collar and are transmitted to a central hub by a pair of flexure elements and a pair of strain-gaged sensing beams, such structure being adapted to measure forces along an axis perpendicular to such beams. The hub connects to the hub of a similar structure oriented at right angles to the first structure for the purpose of measuring forces about a second axis. A second annular collar serves as the connection to the force reacting structure.

Abstract: A novel flexure-based transducer is capable of measuring forces along a first axis and moments about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, using strain-gaged cantilever beams. The configuration facilitates scaling for selected sensitivity to particular inputs. A second embodiment permits the strain gages to be completely sealed from the environment. Also disclosed is a platform weighing system of the force transferral type using four of the novel flexure members with only a single load cell, and permitting the relative sensitivity of each flexure member to be readily adjusted to provide equal sensitivity irrespective of the location of the applied load on the platform.