Device for application of force

Claim 2

A load sensing system comprising, a load cell operative to sense loads applied in a load measuring direction, a load carrier, a force applying member resting on and supported only by said load cell for applying forces to said load cell, a plurality of elongated force transmitting elements each having a longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to said load measuring direction, said force transmitting elements supporting and operatively connecting said load carrier to said force applying member for transmitting the loads on said load carrier to said load cell in said measuring direction, means for permitting swinging movement of said force transmitting elements relative to said load cell and movement of said load carrier in a direction generally transverse to said load measuring direction, and stop means for restricting the range of movement of said load carrier in said transverse direction.

Claim 3

The load sensing system of claim 1 and further including resilient means operatively associated with said load carrier and deflectable in said load measuring direction continuously or when the loads on said load carrier exceed a predetermined level, and additional stop means for restricting the range of movement of said load carrier in said load measuring direction.

Claim 4

The load sensing system of claim 1 wherein said force member comprises, a plate member supported on said load cell, said plurality of elongated force transmitting elements each being connected at one end to said plate member, and means operatively connecting the other ends of said elements to said load carrier, at least portions of said elements being movable relative to said plate member as the load carrier moves in said transverse direction.

Claim 5

The load sensing system of claim 1 wherein said force member comprises a first plate member supported on said load cell, said load carrier comprising a second plate member with said first and second members lying in generally parallel spaced planes and which extend generally transverse to said load measuring direction, said plurality of elongated force transmitting elements extending between said first and second members, and said means for permitting swinging movement includes means interconnecting each of said elements with said first and second members whereby said second member is shiftable in said transverse direction.

Claim 6

The system of claim 4 wherein said means interconnecting said elements with said members comprises pin means on each of said members and apertures in said elements in which said pin means are received.

Claim 7

The load sensing system of claim 4 wherein said transmitting elements comprise steel cables.

Claim 8

The load sensing system of claim 4 wherein said transmitting elements comprise elongated rods fixedly attached to said members, each of said rods having length and thickness such that the rods are relatively readily elastically deformable transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof.

Claim 9

The load sensing system of claim 4 wherein said transmitting elements include oppositely directed spherical screw points in bearing engagement with said members.

Claim 10

The load sensing system of claim 4 wherein one of said members includes means for adjustably varying the distance between said members.

Claim 11

The system of claim 4 and further including a base supporting said load cell, said second member having a central opening formed therein with said base being positioned in said central opening, said central opening being of a dimension such that the walls thereof are spaced from said base.

Claim 12

The system of claim 4 wherein said second member includes a central opening formed therein, said stop means being positioned in said opening and spaced from the walls thereof, the clearance defined by the space bEtween said stop means and the walls of the opening and the length of said transmission elements being selected to permit said second member to shift transverse to said load measuring direction into engagement with said stop means while the transverse component of the load transmitted by said elements to said first member is within a predetermined limit.

Claim 13

The system of claim 4 wherein said plurality of transmitting elements comprises three elements spaced around said load cell.

Claim 14

The system of claim 4 wherein said interconnecting means comprises a pivotable connection between said members and said elements.

Claim 15

The load sensing system of claim 13 wherein said connecting means for said transmitting elements comprises pivotable bearing means.

Claim 16

The load sensing system of claim 4 and further including resilient means operatively associated with said load carrier and deflectable in said load measuring direction continuously or when the loads on said load carrier exceed a predetermined level, and additional stop means for restricting the range of movement of said load carrier in said load measuring direction.

Claim 17

The system of claim 15 wherein said load carrier further comprises a load carrying platform and wherein said resilient means is positioned between said second member and said load carrying platform.

Claim 18

The system of claim 15 wherein said resilient means is positioned to support said load cell.

Claim 19

The system of claim 15 wherein said elements include said resilient means.

Claim 20

A load cell adapter for use in a weighing system of the type having a load carrier such as a weigh platform or the like and in which the load carrier is supported on a plurality of spaced apart load cells of the type having a load application point to which loads are applied in a load measuring direction, said adapter comprising; a first member adapted to engage the load application point of a load cell, a second member adapted to be operatively associated with the load carrier, at least three elongated force transmitting elements each having a longitudinal axis generally parallel to the load measuring direction, means connecting said first member to said force transmitting elements, and means connecting said second member to said force transmitting elements, said force transmitting elements and said connection means being adapted to cooperate to permit movement of said force transmitting elements and one of said members relative to the other member in a direction generally transverse to the load measuring direction whereby the load cell adapter associated with a load cell in a weighing system is operative to permit shifting movement of the load carrier transverse to the load measuring direction without imposing harmful side loads on the load cell and to automatically return the load carrier to a centered position.

Claim 21

A load cell adapter for use in a weighing system of the type having a load carrier such as a weigh platform or the like and in which the load carrier is supported on a plurality of spaced apart load cells of the type having a load application point to which loads are applied in a load measuring direction, said adapter comprising; a first member adapted to engage the load application point of a load cell, a second member adapted to be operatively associated with the load carrier, at least three elongated force transmitting elements each having a longitudinal axis generally parallel to the load measuring direction, means connecting said first member to said force transmitting elements, and means connecting said second member to said force transmitting elements, said force transmitting elements and said connection means being adapted to cooperate to permit movement of said force transmitting elements and one of said members relative to the other member in a direction generally transverse to the load measuring direction whereby the load cell adapter associated with a load cell in a weighing system is operative to permit shifting movement of the load carrier transverse to the load measuring direction without imposing harmful side loads on the load cell and to automatically return the load carrier to a centered position.

Claim 22

A load sensing system comprising, base means, a load carrier, a plurality of load cells supported on said base means and each being operative to sense loads applied in a load measuring direction, and adapter means associated with each of said load cells and supporting said load carrier on said load cells, each of said adapter means including: a first member in engagement with said load cell, a second member spaced in the measuring direction from said first member and lying in a plane generally parallel to said first member, a plurality of elongated force transmitting elements connected to said members with the longitudinal axis of each of said force transmitting elements being generally parallel to said loading measuring direction, the engagement with said load cell and the connection with said force transmitting elements providing the sole support for said first member, said force transmitting elements being operative to permit swinging movement of one of said members relative to the other of said members while maintaining the generally parallel relationship of saiD members whereby said load carrier may move in directions generally transverse to said load measuring direction as transverse forces are applied to said load carrier without imposing harmful side loads on said load cell with said adapter means being operative to automatically return said load carrier to be centered weighing position when the transverse forces acting on said load carrier disappear.

Claim 23

A load sensing system comprising, base means, a load carrier, a plurality of load cells supported on said base means and each being operative to sense loads applied in a load measuring direction, and adapter means associated with each of said load cells and supporting said load carrier on said load cells, each of said adapter means including: a first member in engagement with said load cell, a second member spaced in the measuring direction from said first member and lying in a plane generally parallel to said first member, a plurality of elongated force transmitting elements connected to said members with the longitudinal axis of each of said force transmitting elements being generally parallel to said loading measuring direction, the engagement with said load cell and the connection with said force transmitting elements providing the sole support for said first member, said force transmitting elements being operative to permit swinging movement of one of said members relative to the other of said members while maintaining the generally parallel relationship of saiD members whereby said load carrier may move in directions generally transverse to said load measuring direction as transverse forces are applied to said load carrier without imposing harmful side loads on said load cell with said adapter means being operative to automatically return said load carrier to be centered weighing position when the transverse forces acting on said load carrier disappear.

Claim 24

A load sensing system of the type having a generally horizontally positioned load carrier adapted for supporting loads for weighing thereon, base means and a plurality of load sensing means supporting said load carrier at a plurality of spaced locations on said base means and operative to sense the loads on said carrier, the improvement comprising: each of said load sensing means including: a load cell supported on said base means operative to sense loads applied in a vertical load measuring direction; a horizontally arranged force member resting on said load cell for applying loads to said load cell in said load measuring direction, and means operatively connecting said force member to said load carrier for transmitting loads on said carrier to said load cell; said connecting means including a plurality of elongated force transmitting elements each having a longitudinal axis generally parallel to said measuring direction and swingable relative to said load cell while maintaining the horizontal orientation of said force member whereby movements of said load carrier under forces acting transverse to said load measuring direction cause said force transmitting elements to swing relative to said load cell without imposing harmful side loads on said load cell with said force transmitting elements being operative to return said load carrier to a centered position when said forces disappear.

Claim 25

A load sensing system of the type having a generally horizontally positioned load carrier adapted for supporting loads for weighing thereon, base means and a plurality of load sensing means supporting said load carrier at a plurality of spaced locations on said base means and operative to sense the loads on said carrier, the improvement comprising: each of said load sensing means including: a load cell supported on said base means operative to sense loads applied in a vertical load measuring direction; a horizontally arranged force member resting on said load cell for applying loads to said load cell in said load measuring direction, and means operatively connecting said force member to said load carrier for transmitting loads on said carrier to said load cell; said connecting means including a plurality of elongated force transmitting elements each having a longitudinal axis generally parallel to said measuring direction and swingable relative to said load cell while maintaining the horizontal orientation of said force member whereby movements of said load carrier under forces acting transverse to said load measuring direction cause said force transmitting elements to swing relative to said load cell without imposing harmful side loads on said load cell with said force transmitting elements being operative to return said load carrier to a centered position when said forces disappear.

Claim 26

The load sensing system of claim 21 wherein said connecting means further includes a second generally horizontal force member spaced from said first mentioned force member, and pivotable connections between each of said force transmitting elements and said force members.