US3650340A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Strain gage weighing device
Assignee: Arts Way Manufacturing Co Inc
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Filing: 1969-07-02
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Granted: 1972-03-21
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Expires: 1989-07-02
Abstract
Abstract An electromechanical weight-measuring system for weighing successive and cumulative loads deposited in a load-receiving medium which utilizes one or more cantilevered, resilient or elastic deformable elements. Supporting the load-receiving medium are one, or preferably a plurality of crucial load points, wherein the cantilevered elements are interposed between the receiving medium and ground or other supporting base; pairs of strain gage sensing elements are mounted on and under each of the cantilevered elements. The sensing elements can be a variable resistance type connected together to form a bridge circuit, coupled to amplifying means and an indicating device for the measurement of the magnitude of bridge unbalance.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard S Bradley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:14
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G3/00; G01G3/12; G01G3/14; G01G3/142; G01G19/00; G01G19/08; G01G19/12; G01G3/1402; G01G3/1406; G01G3/145
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
A system for electromechanically weighing loads reposing in a material-receiving container comprising: a. a cantilevered deformable elastic element supporting said container at its load point; b. a first pair of strain gages; c. a second pair of strain gages disposed in a horizontal spaced relation with said first pair of strain gages, one of each of said pairs of strain gages being affixed to the upper surface and the other of each of said pairs of strain gages being affixed to the lower surface on said cantilevered element, said upper and lower strain gages being mounted in juxtaposition, d. means for connecting said strain gages in the appropriate arms of a bridge circuit, e. means for supplying a substantially constaNt electrical energy to said bridge circuit, f. adjustable means for balancing said bridge circuit when there is no material load in said receiving container, g. means for indicating the balance condition of said bridge circuit, said indicating means having a scale calibrated in units of weight, whereby a load added to said materialreceiving container causes said bridge circuit to become unbalanced and causes said indicating means to indicate the weight of the additional load, said means for indicating the balance condition of said bridge circuit comprising: h. a second adjustable means for balancing said bridge circuit when said material-receiving container contains a load, and i. a counting means connected with the movable portion of said second adjusting means to indicate the magnitude of the changed load.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
246 words
A system for electromechanically weighing loads reposing in a material-receiving container comprising: a. a cantilevered deformable elastic element supporting said container at its load point; b. a first pair of strain gages; c. a second pair of strain gages disposed in a horizontal spaced relation with said first pair of strain gages, one of each of said pairs of strain gages being affixed to the upper surface and the other of each of said pairs of strain gages being affixed to the lower surface on said cantilevered element, said upper and lower strain gages being mounted in juxtaposition, d. means for connecting said strain gages in the appropriate arms of a bridge circuit, e. means for supplying a substantially constaNt electrical energy to said bridge circuit, f. adjustable means for balancing said bridge circuit when there is no material load in said receiving container, g. means for indicating the balance condition of said bridge circuit, said indicating means having a scale calibrated in units of weight, whereby a load added to said materialreceiving container causes said bridge circuit to become unbalanced and causes said indicating means to indicate the weight of the additional load, said means for indicating the balance condition of said bridge circuit comprising: h. a second adjustable means for balancing said bridge circuit when said material-receiving container contains a load, and i. a counting means connected with the movable portion of said second adjusting means to indicate the magnitude of the changed load.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system set forth in claim 1 including means adapted to multiply the output of said second adjustable balancing means interposed between said movable portion of said second balancing means and said counting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for indicating the balance condition of said bridge comprises: a. a mechanical motion transmission means; and b. a mechanical counter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
361 words
In a system for electromechanically weighing loads reposing in a material-receiving container which is mounted for travel on a plurality of ground-engaging elements, the improvements in conjunction with each of said ground-engaging elements comprising: a. a readily affixable axle unit having means for a substantially rigid connection adjacent one end thereof with said receiving medium; b. extension axle means beyond said rigid connection constructed of metallic material of deformable but elastic characteristics and having an outer extension for assembly with its associated ground-engaging elements; c. a first pair of electrical resistance type strain gages affixed respectively to the top and bottom portions of said extension, disposed substantially in vertical alignment and located at the intermediate portion of each of said axle extension elements between said rigid connection and said ground-engaging elements; d. a second pair of electrical resistance type strain gages affixed respectively to the top and bottom portions of said extension in a substantially horizontal spaced relation with said first pair of strain gages disposed substantially in vertical alignment; e. means for electrically connecting said strain gages of said several axle units together to form a bridge circuit. f. an electrical, substantially constant power supply means connected to opposite corners of said bridge circuit; g. a null-type indicating means connected to the remaining corners of said bridge circuit; h. a first potentiometer for obtaining a balanced condition of said bridge circuit when there is no material-load in said receiving medium, and having the ends of its resistance element connected to the corners of the bridge circuit to which said power supply means is connected and having its slider element connected to one of the corners of the bridge circuit to which said null-type indicating means is connected; i. a second readout potentiometer having the ends of its resistance element connected to the corners of the bridge circuit to which the power supply means is connected and having its slider connected to the second corner of the bridge circuit to which said indicating means is connected; j. a mechanically actuated counter calibrated for indicating; and k. mechanical motion transmission means connected with the slider of said second potentiometer and said counter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
361 words
In a system for electromechanically weighing loads reposing in a material-receiving container which is mounted for travel on a plurality of ground-engaging elements, the improvements in conjunction with each of said ground-engaging elements comprising: a. a readily affixable axle unit having means for a substantially rigid connection adjacent one end thereof with said receiving medium; b. extension axle means beyond said rigid connection constructed of metallic material of deformable but elastic characteristics and having an outer extension for assembly with its associated ground-engaging elements; c. a first pair of electrical resistance type strain gages affixed respectively to the top and bottom portions of said extension, disposed substantially in vertical alignment and located at the intermediate portion of each of said axle extension elements between said rigid connection and said ground-engaging elements; d. a second pair of electrical resistance type strain gages affixed respectively to the top and bottom portions of said extension in a substantially horizontal spaced relation with said first pair of strain gages disposed substantially in vertical alignment; e. means for electrically connecting said strain gages of said several axle units together to form a bridge circuit. f. an electrical, substantially constant power supply means connected to opposite corners of said bridge circuit; g. a null-type indicating means connected to the remaining corners of said bridge circuit; h. a first potentiometer for obtaining a balanced condition of said bridge circuit when there is no material-load in said receiving medium, and having the ends of its resistance element connected to the corners of the bridge circuit to which said power supply means is connected and having its slider element connected to one of the corners of the bridge circuit to which said null-type indicating means is connected; i. a second readout potentiometer having the ends of its resistance element connected to the corners of the bridge circuit to which the power supply means is connected and having its slider connected to the second corner of the bridge circuit to which said indicating means is connected; j. a mechanically actuated counter calibrated for indicating; and k. mechanical motion transmission means connected with the slider of said second potentiometer and said counter.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
25 words
The system set forth in claims 4 wherein said indicating means, and power supply means in combination are adapted for use with multiple material-receiving containers.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
22 words
The system set forth in claims 4 wherein provision is incorporated for selectively inserting a strain gage or a dummy load resistor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system Set forth in claim 6 wherein said strain gages are adapted to have a predetermined resistance value.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
198 words
The system for electromechanically weighing loads reposing in a material-receiving container which is mounted on at least one load point support, said system having in combination, for each of said load point supports: a. a generally horizontal, elastic, weight-bendable member having one of its ends rigidly secured to said container and having upper and lower longitudinal surfaces, b. a primary upstanding support member connected in supporting relation with the other end of said elastic member, c. at least a pair of cooperating electrical strain gages affixed in a predetermined spaced relation upon one of said longitudinal surfaces of said elastic member between the ends thereof, d. means for connecting each of said strain gages to the appropriate arms of a common electrical bridge circuit; and in common with the foregoing components, said bridge circuit comprising, e. a null-type indicating means, f. a first potentiometer for obtaining a balanced condition of said bridge circuit when there is no material load in said container, g. a second readout potentiometer, and h. means responsive to the changes of said readout potentiometer and connected with said indicating means for measurably indicating changes effected by the weights of material deposited upon said container.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
198 words
The system for electromechanically weighing loads reposing in a material-receiving container which is mounted on at least one load point support, said system having in combination, for each of said load point supports: a. a generally horizontal, elastic, weight-bendable member having one of its ends rigidly secured to said container and having upper and lower longitudinal surfaces, b. a primary upstanding support member connected in supporting relation with the other end of said elastic member, c. at least a pair of cooperating electrical strain gages affixed in a predetermined spaced relation upon one of said longitudinal surfaces of said elastic member between the ends thereof, d. means for connecting each of said strain gages to the appropriate arms of a common electrical bridge circuit; and in common with the foregoing components, said bridge circuit comprising, e. a null-type indicating means, f. a first potentiometer for obtaining a balanced condition of said bridge circuit when there is no material load in said container, g. a second readout potentiometer, and h. means responsive to the changes of said readout potentiometer and connected with said indicating means for measurably indicating changes effected by the weights of material deposited upon said container.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The structure and combination set forth in claim 8 and a second pair of predeterminately spaced strain gages affixed to the other of said longitudinal surfaces and appropriately electrically connected with arms of said electrical bridge circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system and combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said last-recited means comprises: a. a mechanically actuated counter calibrated for indicating weight, and b. a mechanical motion transmission means connected with the slider element of said second potentiometer and with said counter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system and combination of elements set forth in claim 8 wherein: said primary support members comprises ground-engaging elements of the class comprising wheels, tracks and runners.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
242 words
A system for electromechanically weighing various loads carried in a material-receiving container which is mounted on a plurality of spaced, load point supports, each of said load point supports constituting an independent replaceable unit comprising: a. an independent, elastic, weight-bendable axle having a first end rigidly secured to said container and a second end extending laterally from said container, b. an upright, ground-engaging support member connected with the second end of said axle and supporting the same, c. a load-supporting and fulcruming plate closely surrounding said axle at an area adjacent the first end thereof and rigidly secured to said container to exert force downwardly against said axle proportional to weight variations in said container, d. at least a pair of cooperating electrical strain gages affixed in predetermined spaced relation upon one of the upper or lower longitudinal surfaces of said elastic axle, between said fulcrum plate and said upright ground-engaging support, such strain gages having known parameters which vary in known manner in respect to varying deformation thereof as produced by weight variations transmitted by said fulcrum plate, e. said system requiring at least a pair of said load point support units to be opposed in spaced relation with their axles substantially aligned, and f. electrical measuring and indicating apparatus connected with the said strain gages of all of said elastic axles for detecting the load variations in known electrical parameters, and for indicating said variations in a measurement of weight.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
242 words
A system for electromechanically weighing various loads carried in a material-receiving container which is mounted on a plurality of spaced, load point supports, each of said load point supports constituting an independent replaceable unit comprising: a. an independent, elastic, weight-bendable axle having a first end rigidly secured to said container and a second end extending laterally from said container, b. an upright, ground-engaging support member connected with the second end of said axle and supporting the same, c. a load-supporting and fulcruming plate closely surrounding said axle at an area adjacent the first end thereof and rigidly secured to said container to exert force downwardly against said axle proportional to weight variations in said container, d. at least a pair of cooperating electrical strain gages affixed in predetermined spaced relation upon one of the upper or lower longitudinal surfaces of said elastic axle, between said fulcrum plate and said upright ground-engaging support, such strain gages having known parameters which vary in known manner in respect to varying deformation thereof as produced by weight variations transmitted by said fulcrum plate, e. said system requiring at least a pair of said load point support units to be opposed in spaced relation with their axles substantially aligned, and f. electrical measuring and indicating apparatus connected with the said strain gages of all of said elastic axles for detecting the load variations in known electrical parameters, and for indicating said variations in a measurement of weight.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system and combination set forth in claim 12 wherein: the ground-engaging support members for said opposed pair of load point support units are constructed for travel over the ground and said pair of units are Replaceable with the axle units and body attachment members of conventional load-carrying vehicles.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-21 | 1975-09-20 | 1976-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-21 | 1979-09-20 | 1980-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-21 | 1983-09-20 | 1984-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |