Abstract: A heated platform scale for vehicles. A pair of electrical resistance heaters is installed in an enclosure for a load cell of a vehicle platform scale. A thermostat controls the heaters so as to maintain the enclosure, and therefore, the load cell within a range of temperatures above freezing. Accumulation of snow and ice around the load cell is thereby prevented, and inaccuracies due to temperature variations are eliminated.

Abstract: A vending machine which measures the weights of a retaining vessel, having commodities, so as to determine the difference in weight before and after the removal of commodities as an electrical signal. An in-line system includes a locking access door for taking out commodities from the machine by inserting a lock-releasing medium into the automatic vending machine. An off-line system includes a system for storing nomenclature, quantity, price and the like of commodities to be purchased by inserting a storing medium into the automatic vending machine.

Abstract: A fluid reservoir for hydraulic power systems comprises a tank divided into a liquid compartment and an air compartment by a flexible diaphragm so that the liquid will be pressurized by compressed air in the air compartment. The tank is supported in a stationary frame upon horizontal pivots and a balancing spring. The liquid inlet and outlet connections pass through the pivots. An indicator is provided for showing the vertical position of the tank relative to the frame on the balancing spring and thus indicating the amount of liquid in the tank.

Abstract: A chair including a backrest and lateral arm rests is attached to a scale. At least one of the arm rests can be opened to provide lateral access to the chair by pivoting it about a vertical axis through an arc of 180.degree. to enable the positioning of the chair in close proximity with beds and the like for the transfer of disabled patients. Details of the construction of the openable arm rests and the mechanism for moving the arm rest and locking it in place are described.

Abstract: In a wheel cleaner for the cleaning of truck wheels solely by centrifugal action, a weigh beam is incorporated whereby the individual axle loadings and the total weight of the truck can be determined. At the center of a wheel cleaner frame that is set into the ground, pairs of transverse horizontal rollers are provided on which the truck wheels can be spun to throw off mud, stones etc. At the end of the frame a transverse weigh beam, having its top surface substantially at the same level as the tops of the rollers and the frame members, is carried for limited downward travel on end suspension mountings each incorporating a load cell. The load cells give analogue electrical signals that are converted to digital form and processed to derive individual axle loadings and vehicle payload.

Abstract: An electronic digital readout diet scale including means for accurately detecting and displaying minute changes of weight in a dieter accurate to small fractions of pounds is described. One embodiment comprises a transducer for generating a signal representing the weight of the dieter, and means for storing a signal representing a reference weight for the dieter. These signals are applied to a time gated oscillator whose output in turn is applied to an up-down counter. The counter is responsive to the oscillator output signals to display the dieter's weight or change in weight, and provides a digital display of current weight or weight change. A switching device, either manual or automatic with a time delay, first couples the transducer output to the counter to display the current weight of a user and then couples the storage means to the counter to decrease the displayed weight by the reference weight, whereby the relative change of weight of the user may be displayed.