Patents by Inventor Hans-Rudolf Burkhard
Hans-Rudolf Burkhard has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11892342Abstract: A parallel guide of a force transmission device has movable and fixed parallel legs, and first and second parallel guiding elements. Thin-point flexional bearings connect the parallel legs to the parallel guiding elements. The movable parallel leg is guided by the parallel guiding element on the fixed parallel leg. A force transmission lever, arranged on the fixed parallel leg, has a lever bearing, and a first lever arm. The force transmission lever is pivotably mounted on the lever bearing and the first lever arm is connected to the movable parallel leg to transmit force. The force-transmitting connection is produced by a coupling element having at least one further thin-point flexional bearing, with at least one functional region of the force transmission device being formed monolithically. A functional region associates at least one bearing point with at least one of the parallel legs, the force transmission lever, and the coupling element.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2018Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbHInventors: Arne Burisch, Hans-Rudolf Burkhard, Stephan Baltisberger, Urs Loher, Andreas Metzger
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Publication number: 20240027256Abstract: The invention relates to a structural body of a weighing sensor with a Roberval mechanism, including a first part with a fixed leg of the Roberval mechanism, a second part with a movable leg of the Roberval mechanism, a third part with an upper traverse link of the Roberval mechanism, a fourth part with a lower traverse link of the Roberval mechanism, a fifth part with a lever arrangement connecting the movable leg to an output side for sensory measurement, and a sixth part comprising a traverse link coupling the movable leg to the lever assembly, at least one of the first to fifth parts including a region of the topology of a handle body of at least type one, the at least one hole of which is penetrated by at least one portion of another of the first to sixth parts integrally connected to said region.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2021Publication date: January 25, 2024Inventors: Hans-Rudolf Burkhard, Bruno Lüchinger, Andreas Metzger
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Patent number: 11231314Abstract: A calibration weight assembly (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) has at least one calibration weight (150, 550, 750) and a transfer mechanism, and is used with a gravimetric force-measuring device (110, 210, 310, 410, 510) having a fixed region (111, 211, 311, 411, 511), a load-receiving region (112, 212, 312, 412, 512), and a measuring sensor (140, 540). The transfer mechanism has at least one poly-stable positioning element (561, 571), a first stable state of which defines a calibration position (KP) and a second stable state of which defines a resting position (RP) of the transfer mechanism. The at least one calibration weight can be coupled with the load-receiving region. The transfer mechanism, as actuated by the measuring sensor, transfers the at least one calibration weight from the calibration position to the resting position, or vice versa.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2019Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbHInventors: Hans-Rudolf Burkhard, David Koller, Andreas Metzger, George Fankhauser
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Publication number: 20200340849Abstract: A parallel guide of a force transmission device has movable and fixed parallel legs, and first and second parallel guiding elements. Thin-point flexional bearings connect the parallel legs to the parallel guiding elements. The movable parallel leg is guided by the parallel guiding element on the fixed parallel leg. A force transmission lever, arranged on the fixed parallel leg, has a lever bearing, and a first lever arm. The force transmission lever is pivotably mounted on the lever bearing and the first lever arm is connected to the movable parallel leg to transmit force. The force-transmitting connection is produced by a coupling element having at least one further thin-point flexional bearing, with at least one functional region of the force transmission device being formed monolithically. A functional region associates at least one bearing point with at least one of the parallel legs, the force transmission lever, and the coupling element.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2018Publication date: October 29, 2020Inventors: Arne Burisch, Hans-Rudolf Burkhard, Stephan Baltisberger, Urs Loher, Andreas Metzger
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Publication number: 20200191641Abstract: A calibration weight assembly (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) has at least one calibration weight (150, 550, 750) and a transfer mechanism, and is used with a gravimetric force-measuring device (110, 210, 310, 410, 510) having a fixed region (111, 211, 311, 411, 511), a load-receiving region (112, 212, 312, 412, 512), and a measuring sensor (140, 540). The transfer mechanism has at least one poly-stable positioning element (561, 571), a first stable state of which defines a calibration position (KP) and a second stable state of which defines a resting position (RP) of the transfer mechanism. The at least one calibration weight can be coupled with the load-receiving region. The transfer mechanism, as actuated by the measuring sensor, transfers the at least one calibration weight from the calibration position to the resting position, or vice versa.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2019Publication date: June 18, 2020Inventors: Hans-Rudolf Burkhard, David Koller, Andreas Metzger, George Fankhauser
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Patent number: 10612965Abstract: A load cell is provided with protection against damage from overload. The load cell has a load receiving member, a main member and a load transmitting member. The main member has a movable portion, a fixed portion and a first parallel guiding member for connecting the fixed portion and the movable portion. The load transmitting member has a first mounting portion for mounting the load receiving member, a second mounting portion for mounting the movable portion and a parallel guiding member for connecting the first mounting portion to the second mounting portion. The first mounting portion is movable vertically relative to the second mounting portion when a load being applied on the first mounting portion. The load-transmitting member is a single piece. The load cell also has a stop portion for preventing the first mounting portion from further moving downwardly for overload protection.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2017Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbHInventors: Chun Yang, Chao Wu, Weixiang Sun, Naifeng Bian, Hans-Rudolf Burkhard
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Patent number: 10156470Abstract: A parallel-guiding mechanism in accordance with the present invention comprises a load-receiving portion for receiving a load of a to be weighed object; a fixing portion including an end portion, an extending portion extending forwardly from the end portion and mounting portions extending forwardly from the extending portion, and parallel-guiding members connecting the load-receiving portion to the fixing portion. The mounting portions include a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion. A receiving space is formed between the first mounting portion, the second mounting portion and the extending portion for receiving at least a portion of the load-receiving portion. A containing space for receiving the extending portion is formed between the parallel-guiding members, the load-receiving portion and the end portion. The parallel-guiding members include an upper parallel-guiding member and a lower parallel-guiding member.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2016Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbHInventors: Chun Yang, Chao Wu, Feng Xu, Weixiang Sun, Naifeng Bian, Hans-Rudolf Burkhard
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Patent number: 10132672Abstract: A force exerted by a load is determined in a force-measuring device (1) operating under electromagnetic force compensation. The device includes a measurement transducer (18, 118) with a coil (20, 120) movably immersed in a magnet system (19, 119) and a force-transmitting mechanical connection between a load-receiving part (12, 112) and the coil or magnet system. A position sensor (21, 28), also part of the device, determines a displacement of the coil from its settling position relative to the magnet system (19, 119) which occurs when the load is placed on the load-receiving part. An electrical current (24) flowing through the coil generates an electromagnetic force between the coil and the magnet system whereby the coil and the load-receiving part are returned to, and/or held at, the settling position. The magnitude of current and the amount of displacement are used to determine the weight force exerted by the load.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2016Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbHInventors: Daniel Schrag, Daniel Rupp, Christoph Trautweiler, Hans-Rudolf Burkhard
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Patent number: 9964429Abstract: A force-measuring device (1) with a parallelogram linkage has a measurement transducer coupled to it. A coil (25) of the transducer has guided mobility in a magnet system (27) and can carry an electric current (24). A position sensor (21) detects the deflection of the coil (25) from a balanced position relative to the magnet system when a load is placed on the force-measuring device. The electric current (24) flowing through the coil (25), by way of the interaction between the coil and the magnet system, returns the coil and the movable parallel leg to the balanced position. A system-characterizing means (29) is established in a processor unit (26). The system-characterizing means and an unchangeable system reference means (30) are compared to determine the functionality of the device. The functionality is verified by the magnitudes of the electric current and the deflection of the coil from its balanced position.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2015Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbHInventors: Daniel Schrag, Daniel Rupp, Christoph Trautweiler, Hans-Rudolf Burkhard
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Patent number: 9958344Abstract: The force-transmitting mechanism (400) includes a parallel-motion guide mechanism with a movable parallel leg (440), a stationary parallel leg, and at least two parallel-guiding members (450), wherein the parallel legs and the parallel-guiding members are connected to each other by flexure pivots and the movable parallel leg is constrained to the stationary parallel leg in guided mobility by the parallel-guiding members. The force-transmitting mechanism further includes a force-transmitting lever (480) which is pivotally supported on a fulcrum pivot (490) arranged on the stationary parallel leg, with a first lever arm (481) having a force-transmitting connection to the movable parallel leg by way of a coupling member (470), and a second lever arm (482) to which a measurement transducer (410) can be attached through a force-transmitting connection.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2017Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbHInventor: Hans-Rudolf Burkhard
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Publication number: 20180100760Abstract: A load cell is provided with protection against damage from overload. The load cell has a load receiving member, a main member and a load transmitting member. The main member has a movable portion, a fixed portion and a first parallel guiding member for connecting the fixed portion and the movable portion. The load transmitting member has a first mounting portion for mounting the load receiving member, a second mounting portion for mounting the movable portion and a parallel guiding member for connecting the first mounting portion to the second mounting portion. The first mounting portion is movable vertically relative to the second mounting portion when a load being applied on the first mounting portion. The load-transmitting member is a single piece. The load cell also has a stop portion for preventing the first mounting portion from further moving downwardly for overload protection.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2017Publication date: April 12, 2018Inventors: Chun Yang, Chao Wu, Weixiang Sun, Naifeng Bian, Hans-Rudolf Burkhard
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Publication number: 20170241846Abstract: The force-transmitting mechanism (400) includes a parallel-motion guide mechanism with a movable parallel leg (440), a stationary parallel leg, and at least two parallel-guiding members (450), wherein the parallel legs and the parallel-guiding members are connected to each other by flexure pivots and the movable parallel leg is constrained to the stationary parallel leg in guided mobility by the parallel-guiding members. The force-transmitting mechanism further includes a force-transmitting lever (480) which is pivotally supported on a fulcrum pivot (490) arranged on the stationary parallel leg, with a first lever arm (481) having a force-transmitting connection to the movable parallel leg by way of a coupling member (470), and a second lever arm (482) to which a measurement transducer (410) can be attached through a force-transmitting connection.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2017Publication date: August 24, 2017Inventor: Hans-Rudolf Burkhard
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Publication number: 20170131135Abstract: A parallel-guiding mechanism in accordance with the present invention comprises a load-receiving portion for receiving a load of a to be weighed object; a fixing portion including an end portion, an extending portion extending forwardly from the end portion and mounting portions extending forwardly from the extending portion, and parallel-guiding members connecting the load-receiving portion to the fixing portion. The mounting portions include a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion. A receiving space is formed between the first mounting portion, the second mounting portion and the extending portion for receiving at least a portion of the load-receiving portion. A containing space for receiving the extending portion is formed between the parallel-guiding members, the load-receiving portion and the end portion. The parallel-guiding members include an upper parallel-guiding member and a lower parallel-guiding member.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2016Publication date: May 11, 2017Inventors: Chun Yang, Chao Wu, Feng Xu, Weixiang Sun, Naifeng Bian, Hans-Rudolf Burkhard
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Patent number: 9612149Abstract: Eccentric loading errors of a weighing cell (1) with a parallel guiding mechanism are determined and corrected or at least reduced. The weighing cell has a test weight actuating device (14), by which at least one test weight (15) is positioned successively on at least three test weight support points (16, 17, 18, 19, 20) of the test load receiver (4) that do not lie in a straight line. A processor unit (21) uses a control signal (S1) to position the test weight on the support points. A test weighing signal (T) is generated for each support point, and from these, eccentric loading errors are ascertained. A device for correcting the eccentric loading errors uses control signals (S2) from the processor unit to make a geometrical-mechanical change in the parallel guiding mechanism, using a first and a second actuating unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2014Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbHInventor: Hans-Rudolf Burkhard
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Publication number: 20160370221Abstract: A force exerted by a load is determined in a force-measuring device (1) operating under electromagnetic force compensation. The device includes a measurement transducer (18, 118) with a coil (20, 120) movably immersed in a magnet system (19, 119) and a force-transmitting mechanical connection between a load-receiving part (12, 112) and the coil or magnet system. A position sensor (21, 28), also part of the device, determines a displacement of the coil from its settling position relative to the magnet system (19, 119) which occurs when the load is placed on the load-receiving part. An electrical current (24) flowing through the coil generates an electromagnetic force between the coil and the magnet system whereby the coil and the load-receiving part are returned to, and/or held at, the settling position. The magnitude of current and the amount of displacement are used to determine the weight force exerted by the load.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2016Publication date: December 22, 2016Inventors: Daniel Schrag, Daniel Rupp, Christoph Trautweiler, Hans-Rudolf Burkhard
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Patent number: 9360362Abstract: A force-measuring device (1) for a gravimetric measuring instrument has a stationary part (11) and a load-receiving part (12). Parallel guide members (14, 15) connect the receiving parts. The device also has at least one balance beam (19) connected to the load-receiving part through a coupling element (17) acting on a first lever arm (18) thereof, and which, at a second lever arm (20) thereof, is connected to a measurement transducer (22) which is arranged on the stationary part. Further levers (29, 30) can be arranged, respectively, between the first lever arm and the load-receiving part, and between the second lever arm and the measurement transducer. At least one sliding weight (23, 23A, 23B) is arranged on the at least one balance beam, wherein the position of each of the sliding weights present can be varied in a controlled way by means of at least one drive mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2013Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbHInventors: Andreas Metzger, Stephan Baltisberger, Hans-Rudolf Burkhard
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Patent number: 9297689Abstract: A parallel-guiding mechanism (120) has a movable parallel leg (121), a stationary parallel leg (122), a first parallel-guiding member (123) and a second parallel-guiding member (124). The parallel legs and the parallel-guiding members are connected to each other by flexure pivots, in the form of narrow material connections. There is at least one adjustment zone (135). An adjustment flexure fulcrum (136) is arranged between a flexure pivot (131) and a parallel leg. The adjustment zone is connected to the first lever end (138) of an adjustment lever (137). The adjustment flexure fulcrum forms the lever fulcrum (146) of the adjustment lever, which has an elastic domain with a section modulus that is smaller than a section modulus of the adjustment flexure fulcrum.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2013Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbHInventors: Christophe Béguin, Thomas Köppel, Hans-Rudolf Burkhard
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Publication number: 20160011038Abstract: A force-measuring device (1) with a parallelogram linkage has a measurement transducer coupled to it. A coil (25) of the transducer has guided mobility in a magnet system (27) and can carry an electric current (24). A position sensor (21) detects the deflection of the coil (25) from a balanced position relative to the magnet system when a load is placed on the force-measuring device. The electric current (24) flowing through the coil (25), by way of the interaction between the coil and the magnet system, returns the coil and the movable parallel leg to the balanced position. A system-characterizing means (29) is established in a processor unit (26). The system-characterizing means and an unchangeable system reference means (30) are compared to determine the functionality of the device. The functionality is verified by the magnitudes of the electric current and the deflection of the coil from its balanced position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2015Publication date: January 14, 2016Inventors: Daniel Schrag, Daniel Rupp, Christoph Trautweiler, Hans-Rudolf Burkhard
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Patent number: 9146149Abstract: A force-transmitting mechanism of a gravimetric measuring instrument, with a stationary portion, and a load-receiving portion that is joined through a force-transmitting connection to a measurement transducer that is arranged on the stationary portion. A calibration weight may be coupled to the force-transmitting mechanism in such a way as to minimize the degree to which changes of the geometry can affect the force that the calibration weight exerts on the measurement transducer.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2012Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AGInventors: Hans-Rudolf Burkhard, Ferdinand Schneider
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Patent number: 9086315Abstract: A weighing cell based on the principle of electromagnetic force compensation. A permanent magnet system is mounted on a base part and includes an air gap within which is suspended a coil that is connected to a load receiver through a force-transmitting mechanism. The coil carries an electrical compensation current when the weighing cell is in operation. An optoelectronic position sensor is also included, and its signal corresponds to the deflection of the coil from a zero position which occurs as a result of placing a load on the load receiver. A closed-loop controller regulates the compensation current in response to the sensor signal in such a way that the coil and the load receiver that is connected to it are returned to their zero position by the electromagnetic force that is acting between the coil and the permanent magnet.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2012Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AGInventors: Andreas Metzger, Stephan Baltisberger, Hans-Rudolf Burkhard, Christophe Béguin, Markus Uster