Patents by Inventor Robert W. Bruns
Robert W. Bruns 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: 6672176Abstract: A torsional sensing load cell, particularly for mounting at support locations of an automotive seat in order to determine weight and sitting position of an occupant of a motor vehicle. The load cell has the shape of a tuning fork, with one arm fixed to a foot attached to a chassis and a second parallel arm, not contacting the first arm, arranged to support a quadrant of a seat by means of a flange on the side of the second arm, causing torsion in the arm. The two arms are connected at one end by means of a bridge section through which torsion is transmitted arising from twisting in the second arm. Torsion is measured by transducers on the bridge section with torsion signals converted to weight signals. The weight signals are used to control deployment of an air bag or other safety apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2001Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Gagetek Technologies Holdings CompanyInventor: Robert W. Bruns
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Patent number: 6571456Abstract: A method for manufacturing a torsional sensing load cell includes providing a member configured to sense torsion. Strain gauges are provided on selected portions of the member, such that torsion force produced an applied load is detected by the strain gauges.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2001Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: GageTek Technologies Holdings CompanyInventor: Robert W. Bruns
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Publication number: 20030015041Abstract: A torsional sensing load cell, suitable for mounting at support locations of an automotive seat in order to determine weight and sitting position of an occupant of a motor vehicle. The load cell has the shape of a tuning fork, with one arm fixed to a foot attached to a chassis and a second parallel arm, not contacting the first arm, arranged to support a quadrant of a seat by means of a flange on the side of the second arm, causing torsion in the arm. A stop pin arrangement is provided in the load cell to prevent overloading the cell in a high force situation such as a collision.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2001Publication date: January 23, 2003Inventor: Robert W. Bruns
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Patent number: 6499360Abstract: A torsional sensing load cell, suitable for mounting at support locations of an automotive seat in order to determine weight and sitting position of an occupant of a motor vehicle. The load cell has the shape of a tuning fork, with one arm fixed to a foot attached to a chassis and a second parallel arm, not contacting the first arm, arranged to support a quadrant of a seat by means of a flange on the side of the second arm, causing torsion in the arm. A stop pin arrangement is provided in the load cell to prevent overloading the cell in a high force situation such as a collision.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2001Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: GageTek Technologies Holdings CompanyInventor: Robert W. Bruns
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Publication number: 20010027687Abstract: A method for manufacturing a torsional sensing load cell includes providing a member configured to sense torsion. Strain gauges are provided on selected portions of the member, such that torsion force produced an applied load is detected by the strain gauges.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2001Publication date: October 11, 2001Inventor: Robert W. Bruns
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Patent number: 6293585Abstract: A torsional sensing load cell, particularly for mounting at support locations of an automotive seat in order to determine weight and sitting position of an occupant of a motor vehicle. The load cell has the shape of a tuning fork, with one arm fixed to a foot attached to a chassis and a second parallel arm, not contacting the first arm, arranged to support a quadrant of a seat by means of a flange on the side of the second arm, causing torsion in the arm. The two arms are connected at one end by means of a bridge section through which torsion is transmitted arising from twisting in the second arm. Torsion is measured by transducers on the bridge section with torsion signals converted to weight signals. The weight signals are used to control deployment of an air bag or other safety apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1999Date of Patent: September 25, 2001Assignee: Gagetek Technologies Holdings CompanyInventors: Robert W. Bruns, Christopher A. Gartner, Robert S. Simmons
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Publication number: 20010018849Abstract: A torsional sensing load cell, particularly for mounting at support locations of an automotive seat in order to determine weight and sitting position of an occupant of a motor vehicle. The load cell has the shape of a tuning fork, with one arm fixed to a foot attached to a chassis and a second parallel arm, not contacting the first arm, arranged to support a quadrant of a seat by means of a flange on the side of the second arm, causing torsion in the arm. The two arms are connected at one end by means of a bridge section through which torsion is transmitted arising from twisting in the second arm. Torsion is measured by transducers on the bridge section with torsion signals converted to weight signals. The weight signals are used to control deployment of an air bag or other safety apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2001Publication date: September 6, 2001Inventor: Robert W. Bruns
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Patent number: 6232566Abstract: A device for lifting a load includes a carriage supported by one end of a chain. The chain passes over a sprocket wheel (mast roller) atop a hydraulically operated telescoping element and is anchored at a second end. In a first embodiment of the invention, an equalizing scheme for reducing errors in measuring the weight of the load includes providing a chain and sprocket-wheel having dimensions such that the rollers comprising each link of the chain span a predetermined portion of the circumference of the sprocket-wheel. In a second embodiment of the invention, the equalizing scheme includes a force sensor coupled to sense a force in connection with movement of the load thus generating a series of force measurements, the measurements being proportional to the weight of the load. The measurements are taken over a predetermined rotational movement of the sprocket-wheel and averaged to produce a value that is an accurate reflection of the weight of the load.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1999Date of Patent: May 15, 2001Assignee: Gagetek Technologies, Holdings CompanyInventor: Robert W. Bruns
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Patent number: 5925832Abstract: A torsional sensing load cell comprises a load sensing member having first and second deflecting portions. Force-receiving areas are defined on upper and lower surfaces of the deflecting portions for bearing a load and its corresponding reactive force. This imposes a torque on the load sensing member which is detected by transducers positioned to detect torsional stress. The transducers are coupled in a bridge circuit and are placed such that the output signal of the circuit is insensitive to the location of an applied load.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1997Date of Patent: July 20, 1999Assignee: GageTek CompanyInventor: Robert W. Bruns
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Patent number: 5872319Abstract: A helical load cell includes a first pair of transducers disposed along a neutral axis of a helical coil. A second pair of transducers is disposed in diametrically opposed relation to the first pair. Sensitivity to side loading is eliminated by "splitting" the second pair of transducers. In another embodiment, each of the transducers in each pair are respectively oriented parallel and perpendicular to a neutral axis of the coil. This configuration provides a measure of torsional forces.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 1997Date of Patent: February 16, 1999Assignee: GageTek CompanyInventors: Robert W. Bruns, Greg E. Schindler
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Patent number: 5824963Abstract: A lifting device that has a carriage supported by a chain which passes over a sprocket-wheel disposed to rotate about an axis and features a sensing device which allows detecting forces on the chain for a predetermined duration so that the weight of a load supported by the carriage may be determined by calculating an average weight during the duration. To further enhance the accuracy of the measurement, the load cell is designed to accurately measure the load placed thereon independent of the position of the load on the cell.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 1997Date of Patent: October 20, 1998Assignee: GageTek CompanyInventors: Robert W. Bruns, John R. Payne
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Patent number: 5783755Abstract: A lifting device that has a carriage supported by a chain which passes over a sprocket-wheel disposed to rotate about an axis and features an equalizer system that reduces variations in the measurement, by a load cell, of a load supported by the carriage. To further enhance the accuracy of the measurement, the load cell is designed to accurately measure the load placed thereon independent of the position of the load on the cell. The equalizer system consists of providing the chain and the sprocket-wheel with the dimensions necessary so that each link of the chain subtends a predetermined portion of the sprocket-wheel's circumference.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 1997Date of Patent: July 21, 1998Assignee: GageTek CompanyInventor: Robert W. Bruns
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Patent number: 5714695Abstract: A helical load cell is disclosed which is capable of accurately measuring axially applied forces, whether the force is applied axially within the diameter of the helical coil or outside of the coil diameter. A pair of strain gage modules are disposed on diametrically opposed surfaces of the coil. Each module includes a pair of transducer elements disposed orthogonally with respect to each other and at forty-five degrees relative to a neutral axis of the coil. The modules are coupled in an additive bridge circuit arrangement. In one embodiment, the modules are disposed along the outside diameter of the coil. In another embodiment, the modules are disposed along the inside diameter of the coil. In yet another embodiment, the modules are dispose on the upper or lower surface of the coil. In yet another embodiment, a second pair of strain gage modules is provided and coupled in a subtractive bridge circuit. The second pair of modules provides information as to the location of the applied load.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 1997Date of Patent: February 3, 1998Assignee: Sentek ProductsInventor: Robert W. Bruns
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Patent number: 5666295Abstract: A hydraulic lifting device, such as a forklift, is provided and is capable of dynamically measuring the weight of a load being lifted. A plurality of pressure measurements are taken during the lift for a period of time, which are stored in memory. A computer program is operated on by a microprocessor to process the pressure measurements to filter unwanted signals associated with vibration and other mechanical disturbances. The pressure samples processed by the computer program correspond to a portion of the lift during which acceleration of the forks has ceased, allowing a closer correspondence between the weight lifted and the pressure of the hydraulic fluid sensed.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 1996Date of Patent: September 9, 1997Assignee: Sentek ProductsInventor: Robert W. Bruns
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Patent number: 4902988Abstract: An electrically-conductive flexible probe is mounted within a wave guide that receives radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation. A leading portion of the probe has an orientation that is adjustable between two positions that are angularly displaced with respect to each other by 90.degree.. A permanent bar magnet is connected to the leading portion of probe, and an electromagnet is mounted adjacent to the bar magnet so as to be capable of being magnetically coupled to the bar magnet.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 1989Date of Patent: February 20, 1990Assignee: Chapparal Communications, Inc.Inventors: Robert W. Bruns, Lorenzo J. Morris, John G. Weber, H. Taylor Howard
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Patent number: 4804971Abstract: A guy system is disclosed for a parabolic reflecting antenna having a reflecting surface and a signal receiver or feedhorn mounted at its focal point. A plurality of stays or guy wires is secured to the feedhorn, each of such guy wires extending through the reflecting surface to an anchor point behind the antenna substantially at or near its vertex. The resultant force acting on the antenna as a result of tension in the guy wires is thereby substantially tangential to the curvature of the reflecting surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 1986Date of Patent: February 14, 1989Assignee: Chapparral CommunicationsInventors: Robert W. Bruns, Douglas Kotval