Electronic weight transmitter

Claim 2

Apparatus for producing an electrical signal indicative of a force applied thereto, comprising: a base; a first, second and third member, said first, second and third member and said base being connected together by substantially frictionless pivot means at pivot points to form a parallelogram structure; a torsion bar, said torsion bar being mounted at one of said pivot points to apply a restraining force which tends to restrain movement of said first, second and third member when a force is applied to the parallelogram structure; and an electrical transducer mounted in a position to receive the motion of said parallelogram structure for converting the movement of said parallelogram structure into an electrical output signal proportional to said movement which is proportional to the applied force.

Claim 3

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electrical transducer is a linear variable differential transformer.

Claim 4

Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said linear variable differential transformer comprises: a primary winding; a first and a second secondary winding coupled to said primary winding, said first and second secondary windings being spaced from each other; an oscillator for supplying said primary winding with an alternating current; a movable magnetic core, said magnetic core varying the coupling between said primary winding and said first and secondary windings, respectively, when moved; and means for rectifying the output of said first and second secondary windings and producing a difference output signal indicative of the position of said magnetic core.

Claim 5

Apparatus for producing an electrical signal indicative of a weight applied thereto, comprising: a base having a projecting member thereon; a first member pivotally connected at a first point on said first member to a first point on said projecting member of said base; a second member pivotally connected at a first point on said second member to a second point on said projecting member; a third member pivotally connected at a first point on said third member to a second point on said first member, said second point being a predetermined distance from said first point on said first member, said third member being pivotally connected at a second point on said third member to a second point on said second member, said second point on said second member being said predetermined distance from said first point on said second member; a torsion bar mounted at one of the first and second pivot points on said projecting member of said base, said torsion bar being mounted to the base at one point on the torsion bar and to one of said first and second members at a second point on the torsion bar; a linear variable differential transformer having a movable magnetic core and an output, said linear variable differentransformer being mounted on said base, said movable magnetic core being mounted between said first and second members; and means for applying a weight to said first member at a point displaced from said first point on said first member whereby said movable magnetic core will be caused to move producing a voltage at said output of said linear variable differential transformer proportional to said applied weight.

Claim 6

Apparatus for producing an electrical signal indicative of a weight applied thereto, comprising: a base having a projecting member thereon; a first member pivotally connected at a first point on said first member to a first point on said projecting member of said base; a second member pivotally connected at a first point on said second member to a second point on said projecting member; a third member pivotally connected at a first point on said third member to a second point on said first member, said second point being a predetermined distance from said first point on said first member, said third member being pivotally connected at a second point on said third member to a second point on said second member, said second point on said second member being said predetermined distance from said first point on said second member; a torsion bar mounted at one of the first and second pivot points on said projecting member of said base, said torsion bar being mounted to the base at one point on the torsion bar and to one of said first and second members at a second point on the torsion bar; a linear variable differential transformer having a movable magnetic core and an output, said linear variable differentransformer being mounted on said base, said movable magnetic core being mounted between said first and second members; and means for applying a weight to said first member at a point displaced from said first point on said first member whereby said movable magnetic core will be caused to move producing a voltage at said output of said linear variable differential transformer proportional to said applied weight.

Claim 7

Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said first point on said first and second members is adjacent one end of said first and second members, respectively, and the other ends of said first and second members extend beyond said second point on said first and second members by a predetermined distance, said movable magnetic core of said linear variable differential transformer being mounted between said other ends of said first and second members.

Claim 8

Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said third member comprises a yoke shaped member having a first and a second leg, said first and second leg extending on opposite sides of said first and second members.

Claim 9

Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein a counterweight is mounted on said one end of said first member whereby a tare weight may be automatically compensated for.

Claim 10

Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 including an adjusting means for mechanically adjusting the position of said linear variable differential transformer, said adjusting means being provided with a threaded portion and a tapered portion, said threaded portion of said adjusting means being threadably mounted in said base and said tapered portion of said adjusting means contacting said linear variable differential transformer whereby the position of said linear variable differential transformer may be adjusted by turning said adjusting means threadably mounted in said base.