Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapid loading stacks of items aboard vessels which can include rotating palletized items to depalletize the items, and then placing the items on a lifting robot, lifting the robot and items into the hold of a vessel, removing the items from the robot using a load push lift truck, and then using the load push lift truck to stow the items in a stowage location. The empty robot can be removed from the hold of the vessel and put in a position to receive a another depalletized stack of cartons. In one option the robot has a plurality of fork channels for receiving the blades of a load push lift truck along with receiving the blades or a rotating lift truck.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapid loading stacks of items aboard vessels which can include rotating palletized items to depalletize the items, and then placing the items on a lifting robot, lifting the robot and items into the hold of a vessel, removing the items from the robot using a load push lift truck, and then using the load push lift truck to stow the items in a stowage location. The empty robot can be removed from the hold of the vessel and put in a position to receive a another depalletized stack of cartons. In one option the robot has a plurality of fork channels for receiving the blades of a load push lift truck along with receiving the blades or a rotating lift truck.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapid loading stacks of items aboard vessels which can include rotating palletized items to depalletize the items, and then placing the items on a lifting robot, lifting the robot and items into the hold of a vessel, removing the items from the robot using a load push lift truck, and then using the load push lift truck to stow the items in a stowage location. The empty robot can be removed from the hold of the vessel and put in a position to receive a another depalletized stack of cartons. In one option the robot has a plurality of fork channels for receiving the blades of a load push lift truck along with receiving the blades or a rotating lift truck.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapid loading stacks of items aboard vessels which can include rotating palletized items to depalletize the items, and then placing the items on a lifting robot, lifting the robot and items into the hold of a vessel, removing the items from the robot using a load push lift truck, and then using the load push lift truck to stow the items in a stowage location. The empty robot can be removed from the hold of the vessel and put in a position to receive a another depalletized stack of cartons. In one option the robot has a plurality of fork channels for receiving the blades of a load push lift truck along with receiving the blades or a rotating lift truck.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapid loading stacks of items aboard vessels which can include rotating palletized items to depalletize the items, and then placing the items on a lifting robot, lifting the robot and items into the hold of a vessel, removing the items from the robot using a load push lift truck, and then using the load push lift truck to stow the items in a stowage location. The empty robot can be removed from the hold of the vessel and put in a position to receive a another depalletized stack of cartons. In one option the robot has a plurality of fork channels for receiving the blades of a load push lift truck along with receiving the blades or a rotating lift truck.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapid loading stacks of items aboard vessels which can include rotating palletized items to depalletize the items, and then placing the items on a lifting robot, lifting the robot and items into the hold of a vessel, removing the items from the robot using a load push lift truck, and then using the load push lift truck to stow the items in a stowage location. The empty robot can be removed from the hold of the vessel and put in a position to receive a another depalletized stack of cartons. In one option the robot has a plurality of fork channels for receiving the blades of a load push lift truck along with receiving the blades or a rotating lift truck.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapid loading stacks of items aboard vessels which can include rotating palletized items to depalletize the items, and then placing the items on a lifting robot, lifting the robot and items into the hold of a vessel, removing the items from the robot using a load push lift truck, and then using the load push lift truck to stow the items in a stowage location. The empty robot can be removed from the hold of the vessel and put in a position to receive a another depalletized stack of cartons. In one option the robot has a plurality of fork channels for receiving the blades of a load push lift truck along with receiving the blades or a rotating lift truck.

Abstract: At least one support tine, disposed generally in parallel to the force sensing tines of a DETF, is added to increase the stiffness of the structure for resisting various strains during assembly. Once the bonding operation is complete, the support tine(s) are cut or broken away from the structure to leave the remaining structure relatively strain free for operation.

Abstract: At least one support tine, disposed generally in parallel to the force sensing tines of a DETF, is added to increase the stiffness of the structure for resisting various strains during assembly. Once the bonding operation is complete, the support tine(s) are cut or broken away from the structure to leave the remaining structure relatively strain free for operation.

Abstract: A force sensor apparatus includes a vibrating beam and first and second isolator mass members that supports ends of the vibrating beam. The first and second isolator mass members are configured symmetrically relative to an axis that intersects the vibrating beam at an angle other than 90 degrees. First and second end mounts connect respectively to the first and second isolator mass members. Each isolator mass member has a center of gravity. Each isolator mass member is shaped so that it can be massive (e.g., along the x-axis direction) while at the same time having its center of gravity at an optimal location so that undesirable beam forces and moments that would otherwise transfer vibrating beam energy to the end mounts are cancelled.

Abstract: A two-piece vibrating beam force sensor is created by utilizing one thickness of quartz for the outer mounting structure. This outer mounting structure in the case of a pressure sensor includes the mounting structure, the flexure beams and the lever arm and, in the case of an acceleration sensor, includes the mounting structure, the parallel flexure beams and the proof mass. An inner quartz structure made of a double-ended tuning fork vibrating beam assembly which provides an electrical output indicative of tension or compression applied to the beam assembly. The vibrating beam assembly is mounted on the outer quartz structure with epoxy resin or low melting temperature glass frit and suitable electrodes for stimulating the vibrating beams into vibration are provided. The resultant structure is an inexpensive, easily produced, yet highly accurate vibrating beam force sensor.

Abstract: A monolithic resonator for a vibrating beam device, either an accelerometer or a pressure transducer, includes an outer structure and an inner structure. The outer structure includes a mounting structure, a proof mass or pressure transfer structure and a plurality of flexure beams parallel for the accelerometer and perpendicular for the pressure transducer, extending between the mounting and either proof mass or pressure transfer structure. The inner structure is connected to the outer structure and contains isolator masses, isolator beams and a vibrating beam. The outer structure has a thickness greater than the intermediate thickness of the isolator masses which is in turn thicker than the inner structure thickness of the isolator beams and vibrating beam. The intermediate thickness is independently selected to achieve the ideal mass requirements of the vibration isolation mechanism.

Abstract: A vibrating beam accelerometer contains an inner structure having a vibrating beam extending between a pair of isolator masses which are connected via isolator beams to a pair of structures, an outer structure having flexure beams extending between a mount structure and a proof mass structure and a peripheral seal structure surrounding said inner structure and said outer structure. Seal plates containing a ring of glass frit material sandwich the above assembly. An electrode pattern termination extends from the above assembly, through the ring of glass frit material, to electronic circuitry containing an oscillator.

Abstract: A monolithic resonator structure for a vibrating beam force sensor, comprising an accelerometer and pressure transducer, is provided which comprises an outer structure including a mounting structure, a force transfer structure, a plurality of flexure beams extending between the mounting and force transfer structures; and an inner structure including a vibrating beam extending between the mounting structure and the force transfer structure. The monolithic resonator is non-planar in that the outer structure has a thickness greater than said inner structure.

Abstract: A monolithic resonator for a vibrating beam accelerometer is provided which comprises an outer structure including a mounting structure, a proof mass structure, a plurality of flexure beams extending between the mounting and proof mass structures; and an inner structure including first and second isolator masses, first and second isolator beams connected to one portion of the isolator masses, respectively, and a vibrating beam extending between other portions of the isolator masses. The monolithic resonator is non-planar in that the outer structure has a thickness greater than said inner structure.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring force, useful in a weighing scale for example, includes a parallelogram-like load cell structure that deflects in response to application of the force to be measured, and a pair of force-sensitive crystal resonators, attached to cantilever sensor beams forming part of the structure for sensing the deflection of the load cell structure. The two resonators are attached to the sensor beams such as to be placed in tension and compression, respectively, upon deflection of the structure and thereby cause their vibration frequency to increase and decrease, respectively, with increases in applied force. The difference between the two frequencies, which varies substantially linearly with changes in applied force and is inherently digital in nature, is used as a measure of the force applied to the load cell structure.

Abstract: In order to implement a vibrating beam accelerometer, preferably in a dual beam configuration, a monolithic piezoelectric structure which includes at least a first mounting surface, a second mounting surface spaced therefrom and between the mounting surfaces and coupled thereto a vibrating beam, is provided. The two mounting surfaces are connected to each other by flexures so that relative movement between them is possible. This structure results in a closed path from mounting surface to vibrating beam to mounting surface avoiding problems present in prior art devices in which there were joints at three different points within the closed path.

Abstract: A vibrating beam resonator is formed with a unitary isolator mass at each end of the vibratory beam. Isolator springs connected to the unitary masses are joined to mounts. Forces applied to the mounts cause the vibrating beam frequency to vary to enable precise force measurements. With this arrangement, fewer cutting operations are required to produce the vibrating beam resonator than were necessary with known resonators. In a preferred embodiment, a side of the vibratory beam is formed by an edge of the crystal blank from which the resonator is cut to further reduce cutting time. This also permits cuts to be made from only one side of the blank.

Abstract: A vibrating beam force transducer includes a piezoelectric beam structure supported at first and second ends, and an oscillator for inducing a vibration in the piezoelectric beam. To permit adjusting the bias frequency of the beam, an adjustment mass is formed at the center of the beam, the adjustment mass made of piezoelectric material. Part of the adjustment mass can be broken off to adjust the bias frequency. The first and second ends are attached to the a support structure by first and second legs at each end of the beam, the legs having an angle therebetween, thereby forming an A-frame mount.

Abstract: An isolation system which prevents energy from being transferred by the vibrating member of a resonator to its end mounts is formed by having isolator springs coupled to respective isolation masses. Each of the isolation masses is connected to a corresponding end mount. Each pair of isolator springs is angled in such a way that the axes of the isolator springs would intersect at a node located somewhere along the longitudinal axes of the vibrating member. Consequently, the axes of the isolator springs are positioned perpendicularly to loci of motions representing the direction of force and moment reactions produced at the roots of the vibrating member.