Abstract: The specification discloses a balance for measuring a load. This balance uses an electronic or optical transducer and a parallelogram support for the load to be weighed. The parallelogram linkage uses one or more torsion bars to resiliently support the load, wherein the deflection of the parallelogram is proportional to the weight of the load. When used with a capacitance transducer, the parallelogram linkage also enables the capacitor plates to remain parallel to one another as the parallelogram is loading, thereby producing a signal that can be electronically processed to provide a liner digital read out signal on indication of weight. Electronic data processing means as provided to calculate and display on indication of weight and/or volume. An optional opitcal indicator means is also disclosed to provide an optical reading of the weight of the load.

Abstract: There is disclosed a weighing scale in which a non-Roberval type load cell is used to detect a weight to be measured. The load cell used consists of two parallel cantilevers with the free ends connected to each other through a connecting means and of four strain gauges applied to the cantilevers by sticking every two of the four strain gauges on two separate positions in the longitudinal direction of each of the cantilevers. The four strain gauges constitute a bridge circuit which outputs the weight value of a weight placed on a weighing tray connected to the two cantilevers so that the center of the tray is positioned above the center of the plane made by the two cantilevers. According to this invention the weighing errors due to an eccentric or uneven weight loading on the tray are automatically eliminated on account of the structural symmetry of the load cell used. The difficulties in manufacturing a Roberval type precision load cell have finally be put out of the way by the present invention.

Abstract: In an analytical balance with a pan and a four-bar mechanism which keeps the balance pan parallel horizontally during its vertical travel, the one vertical side of which is held fast to the housing, the other vertical side of which, in the form of a coupling piece, carries an extension which receives the pan, and both horizontal sides of which are connected in an articulated manner by an upper and a lower rod to the vertical sides, whereby the four-bar mechanism is loaded by the restoring force of a load converter, the extension (16) which receives the pan (17) is L-shaped, the horizontal L-shank (pan arm) (16") carries the pan (17) rigidly connected to its free end and the vertical L-shank (bearing arm) (16') is mounted on the bar (18'") of a U-shaped arm bearing (18) which projects above and below over the vertically movable end (9) of the four-bar mechanism (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) with its two horizontal U-shanks (18, 18") in the rod planes and is rigidly fastened to it in two vertically superposed bearings (118')

Abstract: A unitary load cell having an assembled connector that provides connection between the load beam of the load cell and the sensing beam. The structure allows ease of fabrication as well as subjecting the load cell to a compressive force as opposed to subjecting it to tension.

Abstract: An improved cantilever support beam assembly for a load cell and the like having a longitudinally extending support beam with two openings extending through the sidewalls of the beam. The openings are independent from one another and separated by a web. Strain gages, are mounted on the concave portions of the openings which are adjacent one another.

Abstract: In a spring body which is manufactured from a cubical piece, intended for a balance with an upper scale, divided into an upper and a lower guide bar by a horizontal opening extending all the way through it so that the spring body also forms the parallel guide for the balance scale, and which has wire strain gauges at thin spots in the areas of at least one guide bar the width of the spring body is divided at least in the area of the guide bars into two partial areas by a vertical opening which extends all the way through it and does not contact the edge. The vertical opening can have various shapes. The wide spring body has the advantages of in sensitivity to errors caused by off center loading and allowing the scale to be connected to the parallel-guided part of the spring body at two or three points, which reduces the stability requirements of the scale. The strain gauge are advantageously distributed so that one half of them is on each of the two areas of spring body.

Abstract: A load sensor for a concrete conveyor having a tremie which sounds a signal and releases the tremie in case the tremie becomes overloaded. The device has a U-shaped deflection yoke between the tremie and the conveyor which deflects under the weight of the tremie to close switches and actuate the appropriate safety device. All parts are protected from concrete to insure proper functioning.

Abstract: A transducer system for a weighing scale having a flexure mode crystal resonator includes a parallelogram linkage for supporting the load platform of the scale, a mounting structure for mounting the crystal resonator between two pivotally connected mounting arms, and a coupling assembly for coupling force from the parallelogram linkage to one arm of the mounting structure.

Abstract: A weighing system includes a weighing pan connected to a rigid armature by a mechanical filter constraining the armature to motion along a reference axis with respect to a housing and damping out transient forces along this axis resulting from the placement of objects on the pan. The mechanical filter includes spring and damping elements that provide a low-pass filter, that is, one that efficiently and quickly eliminates high frequency oscillations. In one form, the mechanical filter couples the pan to the armature. Because of this connection, friction in the mechanical filter does not result in frictional errors in the weighing measurement. In another form, a mechanical linkage couples the armature to the housing. A force transducer, comprising a pair of complementary opposed surfaces having a mutual separation which is related to the force across the transducer, is coupled between the armature and the housing.

Abstract: There is disclosed an accurate and relatively inexpensive electronic scale. A parallelogram linkage is provided having one link stationary and secured to or formed integral with the scale housing. A cantilever sensing beam has bonded strain gauges on the tension and compression sides of the beam, the cantilever beam accomodating deflection within its elastic range related to the applied force. The stationary end of the cantilever beam is secured proximate the stationary end of the parallelogram linkage. The free end of the cantilever beam is connected to the link of the parallelogram linkage opposite the fixed or stationary link by flexible coupling member to constitute a compact weight transducing system. The strain gauges are connected in an electrical bridge circuit to provide an electrical analog signal that is an accurate measure of the weight of the postal article and an analog to digital converter is controlled by a microprocessor which also controls the keyboard input and display functions.

Abstract: An improved weighing device of load cell type is proposed, wherein a cantilever type load cell and a parallelogrammatic Roberval's mechanism are combined through a connecting rod having a particular shape which results in greatly increased accuracy of measurement regardless of loading position on a weighing cradle or platform of the device.

Abstract: A platform for a scale is formed by elongate elements rigidly interconnected to provide a platform frame structure having, for example, an H-configuration. The strain gage transducer beams are formed integrally at each end of the elongate elements. Vertical load components are introduced into the transducer beams by suitably locating support feet under the platform frame structure so that the beams may properly flex. Load transfer from an upper platform to the transducer beams is preferably accomplished by ball and socket loading devices provided at each end of the elongate elements forming the frame structure.

Abstract: A force measuring device, in particular a weighing unit, is formed in a one-piece block. First and second spaced parallelogram guides are provided with a load supporting surface. An independent bending measuring body is mounted on the block equidistant between the parallelogram guides. A force introducing unit transmits a force from a load bearing on the parallelogram guides to the bending measuring body. A pair of crosspieces connect opposite ends of the first parallelogram guide to corresponding opposite ends of the second parallelogram guide. A first cantilevered projection protrudes from one of the crosspieces equidistant from the parallelogram guides, and a second cantilevered projection protrudes from the other crosspiece equidistant from the parallelogram guides. The bending measuring body is loaded by attaching it to the second cantilevered projection while the first cantilevered projection is attached to the force introducing unit.

Abstract: Weighing apparatus of the short-stroke type is disclosed including a resilient parallel guidance arrangement (3) connecting a load-receiving member (2) for vertical movement relative to a console member (1), characterized by the provision of a pivotally movable lever (14) connected between the console and load-receiving members and including a resilient arm (18) for transmitting to the measuring device--for example, a vibratory string (23)--a force corresponding with the load applied to the load-receiving member. A stop device (20) is provided for limiting the extent of pivotal movement of the lever, the force introduced into the parallel guidance arrangement being only a fraction of the load to be measured, whereby the deleterious influences disturbing the measurement force are eliminated, whereby a relatively simple and inexpensive parallel guidance arrangement of less expensive materials may be achieved.

Abstract: A scale for weighing infants using four cantilever beams supporting a platform with a strain gauge on each beam. The strain gauges are connected in a Wheatstone bridge circuit to provide a voltage signal which is independent of the location of the infant on the platform.

Abstract: A load cell of the cantilever beam type with a large cylindrical hole extending horizontally through the beam and recesses around the hole to provide a thin tubular surface on which strain gauges are attached.

Abstract: A load cell for measuring forces applied thereto including an adjusting mechanism for off center load adjustment is disclosed. The load cell comprises a substantially parallelogram structure having a moving section on one side and a fixed section on the opposite side. Upper and lower strips extend between and connect the fixed and moving sections. Flexjoints are located at approximately the juncture of each of the strips and the sections, the flexjoints being adapted to flex in response to the force exerted thereon and facilitate transmission of the force to the transducer portion of the load cell. An adjusting mechanism for off center load adjustment is positioned on the load cell and includes both a vertical and horizontal adjusting mechanism that are adapted to alter the position of a first flexjoint adjacent to the adjusting mechanism relative to the position of a second flexjoint.

Abstract: A load measuring apparatus for determining a load affecting a predetermined point of a mechanical system including a solid state member to which the load is directly transmitted and an integrated monolithic sensor, connected with the solid state member, with directional sensitivity to deformation, the sensor producing an electrical signal proportional to the load. The solid state member includes a unilaterally fixed rigid flexional beam having a freely protruding end portion thereof under load stress and a section thereof close to a fixing point which contains in locking contact the sensor which is sensitized in the direction of the maximum inner deformation of the flexional beam.

Abstract: A weight measuring arrangement for a cooking appliance in which a surface heating unit also functions as a scale platform. A three arm cantilever beam supports the heating unit. A set of four strain gages measures the strain of the three support arms, with one gage each being attached to each of two identical support arms and the remaining two gages being attached to the third arm, which arms are constructed such that the strain measured by each of the gages secured to the third arm is one-half that measured by each of the gages secured to the two identical arms when the ends of all three arms are equally deflected by a utensil placed on the surface unit for heating. The gages are electrically connected in a Wheatstone bridge network such that the output voltage from the bridge network is proportional to the weight of the load carried on the surface unit. This arrangement can be used to monitor the weight of the items being heated, throughout the heating period.

Abstract: A load cell having a self-contained overload protection system for preventing the load cell from being loaded beyond its rated capacity, wherein the load cell includes fixed and movable end constraints in spaced relation, upper and lower flexures between the constraints, a sensing beam coacting with the constraints and flexures and having means for sensing stresses, a cantilever beam extending from one of the end constraints coacting with the cantilever beam to prevent the load cell from exceeding its safe overload range.

Abstract: A load cell having a parallelogram configuration formed by a pair of spaced-apart, generally parallel force-receiving members interconnected by a cantilever beam and a parallel spacer beam. The cantilever beam projects perpendicularly from one of the force-receiving members, and its end is secured to the other beam by a flexure hinge. The ends of the spacer beam are secured to the force-receiving members by respective flexure hinges. In order to maintain the parallelogram configuration of the load cell, the length of the spacer beam is equal to the length of the cantilever beam from the beam's virtual pivot point to its end. Rotational moments imparted to the force-receiving members apply forces to the beams along their longitudinal axes without deflecting the cantilever beam, thus making the load cell insensitive to such moments. A reduced thickness portion instrumented with semiconductor strain gauges is formed in the cantilever beam near its point of attachment with the force-receiving member.

Abstract: A mass and force meter particularly suited for weighing large and bulky loads, for example vehicles, which, in spite of the large dimensions of the load support due to the nature of the load, has a small total height and in which possible unpredictable deformations of the frame do not influence the precision of the measurement, said mass and force meter having a frame, a load support directly supported by two brackets each of which is connected to the frame by means of two flat springs forming a parallel guiding device, a measuring system, springs compensating the main share of the load and an elastic transmission element transmitting to the measuring system the load-proportional remaining share of the load.

Abstract: A force sensing apparatus comprising a parallelepipedic block (1) having an application area (2) and a reception area (8) for the force to be measured thereby, upper transverse openings (10,11) connected by a slot (14) and lower transverse openings (12,13) connected by a slot (15). The transverse openings (10,11,12,13) determine zones of lesser strength (20,21) and vertical slots (25,26) determine a zone of lesser strength (35) therebetween, the minimum thickness of which is located on the axis X--X of the zones of lesser strength (20,21) determined by the openings (10,11,12,13).

Abstract: A force transducer includes a pair of rigid force summing members that each extend toward one another along a central axis and a pair of beam members that each extend along the central axis and couple the force summing members to form a parallelogram frame. More specifically, the beam members are mounted to the force summing members to provide a frame such that a force applied to one force summing member along a first reference axis and resisted on the opposite side of the other force summing member produces a flexing of the beam members. The force summing members each include sensing members that also extend along the central axis toward one another. The sensing members are spaced from one another in the direction of the first reference axis. Electrically conductive members mounted on the opposite faces of the sensor form a variable gap capacitor that is integral with the frame. The flexing of the frame produces a change in the gap that relates to the applied force.

Abstract: A weighing apparatus of the type which weighs articles through use of a load cell having strain gauges attached thereto, the apparatus including a sealed vessel filled with a liquid of a specific gravity greater than unity for housing the load cell which is immersed in the liquid, a diaphragm provided on the sealed vessel so as to close an opening formed in a portion of the vessel, a supporting member for supporting a container carrying the articles to be weighed, and a connecting member for mechanically connecting the supporting member with a load-receiving portion of the load cell through the intermediary of the diaphragm.

Abstract: In a scale wherein the force or load receiver is guided along a vertical path by a parallel guidance system having an upper and a lower plate, the lower plate cooperates with a recess in the lower part of the housing to form an air damper. Specifically, the lower plate of the parallel guidance system constitutes the piston of the air damper. For the scale with a capacitive sensor, the plate constituting the piston of the air damper is a metallic plate which also constitutes the movable plate of the measuring capacitor.

Abstract: A load cell is disclosed which in its full operating range entirely eliminates the effects of off-center loading and lends itself to simplicity and economy in manufacturing. The core element of a linear variable differential transformer employed to measure spring deflection is adjustable with precision on two orthogonal axes. Two circular cross section cantilever arms or springs which carry the movable load-receiving member are anchored to a fixed support member in a common vertical plane through the center axis of the linear variable differential transformer and through the support for the core of such transformer which is connected to the movable load-receiving member. State of the art precision weight range indicating means is utilized.

Abstract: A mechanical linkage particularly useful in weighing systems for constraining the motion of a reference member to be along a reference axis.

Abstract: A weighing apparatus is disclosed including a vertically movable load receiving member, and a scale pan carrier resiliently connected with the load receiving member for limited movement with respect thereto, thereby to protect the weighing system against damage upon the occurrence of lateral impact during handling. In the preferred embodiment, a horizontal scale pan carrier arm is connected at one end with the load receiving member for limited movement (a) horizontally axially in a direction normal to the vertical axis of the load receiving member, (b) pivotally upwardly about a horizontal pivot axis, and (c) rotationally in a horizontal plane about the vertical axis of the load receiving member.

Abstract: A damping subassembly for a weigh cell or the like comprises a sprocket wheel, a spool-like valve and a perforated piston disc assembled coaxially, the sprocket and the valve being mounted for movement in unison as the sprocket is rotated about its axis. When the sprocket-valve combination is rotated, its axial separation from the perforated disc is varied. The sprocket, valve and perforated disk are mounted to the weighing platform for axial movement in such a way that sprocket, valve and disc move upwardly and downwardly. A fixed-position bracket has an aperture in which a removable dashpot cup is mounted, the aperture and cup also being coaxially mounted relative to the sprocket, valve and piston disc. The valve-piston disc assembly moves axially into the cup through the aperture in the bracket.

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 constant strain load cell for measuring forces applied to the cell which includes a parallelogram shaped body having fixed and movable end constraints interconnected by upper and lower flexures with flexing areas at the opposite ends of the flexures functioning as sensing beams and on which strain gages are mounted. The flexing areas are formed so that bending stresses caused by applied loads are maintained constant over the flexing areas or regions. The load cell can be easily machined or extruded and the capacity can easily be varied dependent only on the overall size.

Abstract: Weighing apparatus utilizing a load cell wherein overload protection is provided that is external to the load cell. The weighing platform is attached to the load receiving surface of the load cell by a number of outwardly extending arms. Two sets of stops are provided adjacent the load cell and one set is provided at the periphery of the weighing platform.

Abstract: A platform scale has at least three transducers carrying the platform. The transducers are mounted upon a base and are tangentially oriented with respect to a centerpoint. Thus, deformation of the transducers upon application of a force is translated into rotary movement of the platform, and stresses which cause inaccuracies are reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A weighing device for fluent materials, for example grain, enables a flow of the material to be weighed.The device includes a sensor member with an inclined surface over which the flow passes. The member is supported in cantilever and the force on the member due to the flow of material is sensed by sensing means.The sensing means senses the bending forces, or other physical characteristic of the member at two positions along the member and the resulting signals are compared to give an output signal corresponding to the weight of material passing over the member.The sensing means may be strain gauges arranged in a Wheatstone bridge circuit the output from which is passed to integrating means.

Abstract: This invention relates to load receivers in which a solid member with a constriction supplies the opposing elastic force. The connection between this solid member and the remainder of the load receiver is produced exclusively by pairs of bolts, tightly housed in bores of the solid member; each pair of bolts co-operates moreover with a part of the load receiver which has a lower rigidity than that of the material constituting the solid member. Such load receivers can be used in weighing apparatus.

Abstract: Mechanical linkage comprising two pairs of flexure elements constrains the motion of a reference member to be along a reference axis even in the presence of applied moments. The linkage includes a pair of V-shaped flexure elements coupled at their vertex ends to the reference member at points along the reference axis. One of these flexure elements is coupled at its distal ends to a support member fixed with respect to the reference axis. The other of the V-shaped flexure elements is coupled at its distal ends to one of a pair of elongated flexure elements at a point between its two ends. The pair of elongated flexure elements are affixed at one end to the support member and at their other end are adjustably coupled to the support member. This arrangement permits "fine tuning" of the reference axis so that the linkage exhibits the desired high resistance to moments applied to the reference member.

Abstract: A weighing system includes a weighing pan connected to a rigid armature by a linkage in a manner constraining the armature to motion along a reference axis with respect to the housing. Another linkage couples the armature to a housing. A low friction damper is coupled between the weighing pan and the housing to damp the relative motion of the force input member and the housing. A force transducer, comprising a pair of complimentary opposed surfaces having a mutual separation which is related to the force across the transducer, is coupled between the armature and the housing. Coupled to the transducer is a position sensor which generates a signal representative of the separation between the complimentary opposed surfaces of the transducer.

Abstract: A blood collection bag is suspended from a leaf spring, which leaf spring, on being repositioned a specified distance by the weight of a properly filled blood collection bag, energizes an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit generates a pulse to momentarily energize a coil in proximity to a permanent magnet and momentarily disrupt the magnetic field of the magnet. A clamp for terminating the flow of blood to the blood collection bag is actuated upon the disruption of the magnetic field.

Abstract: A load cell is disclosed, which is especially applicable for use with electronic counting and/or weighing scales and the like. The load cell comprises a parallelogram-type flexure frame, and is characterized by four strain gauges, which are located at the upper and lower surfaces of two vertically overlying corner flexure regions of the parallelogram. This arrangement--because of symmetry considerations--is uniquely free of second-order errors generated by offset loading on the weight-receiving platform via which the generally vertically-directed forces to be measured by the cell are applied. At the same time, the arrangement provides two corners completely free of strain gauges, providing sites which can be trimmed by filing or so forth to compensate for small symmetry errors present in the load cell as originally fabricated and assembled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a load receiver. This load receiver comprises a fixed upright integral with a frame, a loaded upright integral with a load-carrying plate and two arms hinged on the uprights to form therewith a deformable parallelogram, and two uprights and the two arms together forming an integral structure, provided with constrictions which define the hinges of the deformable parallelogram, and a load transducer provided to detect the deformation of the parallelogram under the effect of a load applied on the plate. The load receiver is of use notably for commercial balances.

Abstract: A gauge for checking linear dimensions of pieces, including a support, an arm, movable with respect to the support, which carries a feeler for contacting the piece to be checked, and a position transducer for providing a signal responsive to the position of the arm.The arm is coupled to the support through an element including a bent portion having a flat chamfer on the convex side. The chamfer defines, in the bent portion, a thin section, resiliently flexible, which acts as a fulcrum for permitting rotational movements of the arm.

Abstract: An apparatus for weighing transport vehicles in motion, wherein at least two measuring units are electrically connected with a recording unit, each comprising a load platform which bears on a dynamometric pickup load cell at a supporting point and is connected to a supporting structure by means of four rods installed in pairs at two sides of said load platforms, directed to one end thereof and secured at one end on said supporting structure and at the other end on the side surfaces of the load platform in immediate proximity to the geometric line which is a projection of the vertical line through the supporting point of said platform onto the respective side thereof, said load platform bearing on the load cell at a geometric point whose vertical displacement due to an arbitrary moment of forces acting upon the load platform and causing elastic deformation of the rods is equal to zero.

Abstract: Weighing device consisting of a hollow housing in which is mounted a leaf spring and having slots which expose the spring for receiving an object and for indicating the amount of deflection of the spring due to the weight of the object.

Abstract: In a weighing machine a flexure bar is attached as a cantilever to a beam. The force to be measured is applied to the cantilever end of the flexure bar by a weighing lever. In order to protect the flexure bar against overloading the beam is mounted to be pivotable and is held by a spring force acting counter to the direction of action of the force to be measured against a first fixed stop. The spring force is chosen such that said beam moves out of contact with the first stop when an overload is applied to the weighing lever. In addition, a second fixed stop is provided to restrict the pivotal movement of the weighing lever and thus prevent the transmission of further force into the flexure bar.

Abstract: The invention relates to a load receiver for weighing purposes, of the type comprising a stationary upright integral with a frame, a loaded upright integral with a load-carrying plate, and two arms 21 and 22 hinged onto these uprights in order to form therewith a deformable parallelogram. The two uprights and the two arms form an integral unit, the joints being defined by constrictions of the constituent mounting. A capacitor load transducer is formed by a first electrode mounted integrally with the stationary upright and by a second electrode mounted on the parallelogram elsewhere than on the stationary upright. The load receiver is of use notably for commercial balances.

Abstract: In order to obtain, in an electronic balance, ranges which are in a predetermined ratio, for example 1:10, there is provided a measuring arm provided with strain gauges adapted to measure the deformation of this arm when it is subjected to a constraint or force. Between the arm and a knife-edge there is disposed a measuring annulus likewise provided with strain gauges adapted to measure the deformation of this annulus when it is subjected to a weighing force. The balance is operated in such a manner that the force or mass of the weight to be measured at the moment of weighing is exerted firstly on the arm via the annulus, until the arm contacts the abutment. This determines the small measuring scale. If the weight is higher than this value, the force is subsequently exerted solely on the annulus which presents a resistance in the region of 10 times greater and determines the second measuring scale.

Abstract: Mass and force meter with a frame, a load support guided parallely and vertically by parallel guiding means comprising at least two flat springs lying in two at least substantially parallel planes lying one above the other, with a rigid measuring system and a resilient transmission element transmitting only a part of the weight of the mass to be measured or of the force to be measured to the measuring system, said flat springs being fitted in said frame and said load support.

Abstract: An electromagnetically compensated precision scale has a load support guided for parallel movement by a guide assembly comprising upper and lower guides defining a triangular shape in plan connected to a housing and to the load support by flexible couplings, and wherein the guides are one-piece and define a vertical joint at the triangle apex, thereby reducing inaccurate readings caused by thermal effects.

Abstract: An elongated bending beam and an elongated flexure strap are supported in substantially parallel, spaced-apart relationship by end cantilever blocks one of which is secured to a scale base and the other of which mounts a food receiving platform for movement vertically with respect to the scale base. First and second pairs of matched strain sensing resistors are bonded to the opposite faces of the bending beam adjacent the opposite ends thereof and are connected electrically to form a balanced Wheatstone bridge, the output voltage of which is utilized to operate a digital read-out unit for indicating the weight of a small portion of sliced food deposited upon the scale platform from a food slicer, and is also utilized to turn off the food slicer when the desired weight of food is deposited on the scale platform.