Weigh system for transfer car

Claim 2

Transfer means for supporting and transporting a container of material and including frame means for supporting said container, a plurality of spaced apart roller means, at least one weighing means mounted on each of said roller means for measuring the weight of said container and the material therein, frame means being mounted on said weighing means, a plurality of coupling means for coupling said frame means to said roller means, said coupling means being generally flexible in a generally vertical direction and relatively non-flexible in a generally horizontal direction for preventing horizontal translation between said roller means and said frame means while transmitting the weight of said frame means and the container supported thereon at least partially to said weighing means.

Claim 3

The transfer means set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said weighing means includes supporting means mounted on said roller means and weight responsive means disposed on said supporting means, said coupling means including a plurality of arm means and a flexible element connected to each arm means, one of said arm means and flexible elements extending generally horizontally between said frame means and each of said support means.

Claim 4

The transfer means set forth in claim 1 wherein said coupling means includes a first plurality of flexible elements for preventing translation in a first horizontal direction and a second plurality of flexible elements for preventing translation in second horizontal direction.

Claim 5

The transport means set forth in claim 1 wherein said transport means includes a plurality of spaced apart truck means, each of said weighing means including a support portion mounted on one of said truck means and weight responsive means mounted on said support portion, said frame means being vertically supported on said weight responsive means, and said coupling means connecting said support portion to said frame means for preventing substantial horizontal translation therebetween.

Claim 6

The transfer means set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said weighing means includes supporting means mounted on said transport means and weight responsive means disposed on said supporting means, said coupling means including a plurality of flexible elements, one of said flexible elements extending generally horizontally between said frame means and each of said support means.

Claim 7

The transfer means set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said weighing means includes supporting means mounted on said transport means and weight responsive means disposed on said supporting means.

Claim 8

Transfer means for supporting and transporting a container of material and including frame means for receiving said container, a plurality of spaced apart weighing means supporting said frame means for measuring the weight of said container and the material therein, a first plurality of flexible diaphragm means coupled to said frame means and said transport means for preventing horizontal translation in a first horizontal direction and a second plurality of flexible elements coupled to said frame means and said transport means for preventing horizontal translation in a second horizontal direction, said flexible elements transmitting The weight of said frame means at least partially to said weighing means.

Claim 9

Transfer means for supporting and transporting a container of material and including frame means for receiving said container, a plurality of spaced apart weighing means supporting said frame means for measuring the weight of said container and the material therein, a first plurality of flexible diaphragm means coupled to said frame means and said transport means for preventing horizontal translation in a first horizontal direction and a second plurality of flexible elements coupled to said frame means and said transport means for preventing horizontal translation in a second horizontal direction, said flexible elements transmitting The weight of said frame means at least partially to said weighing means.

Claim 10

The transfer means set forth in claim 7 wherein said second plurality of means comprises check rod means. supporting

Claim 11

The transfer means set forth in claim 8 wherein each of said weighing means includes supporting means and weight responsive means disposed on said supporiting means, each of said supporting means being mounted on said transport means, each of said diaphragm means being connected between one of said supporting means and said frame means.

Claim 12

The transfer means set forth in claim 9 wherein each of said diaphragm means extends generally horizontally and includes a flexible diaphragm plate portion and an arm portion affixed to said plate portion.

Claim 13

The transfer means set forth in claim 10 wherein said diaphragm means has an area of reduced thickness to facilitate the flexing thereof.

Claim 14

Transfer means for supporting and transporting a container of material and including frame means for receiving said container, a plurality of spaced apart weighing means supporting said frame means for measuring the weight of said container and the material therein, said frame means being substantially horizontally fixed relative to each of said weighing means and vertically translatable relative thereto to transmit at least a portion of the weight of said container to said weighing means, and transport means including a plurality of spaced apart truck means, each of said weighing means including a support portion mounted on one of said truck means and weight responsive means mounted on said support portion, said frame means being vertically supported on said weight responsive means, and connecting means for connecting said support portion to said frame means for preventing substantial horizontal translation therebetween and including diaphragm means connecting said support portion to said frame means and extending in a first horizontal direction and elongate means connecting said housing means to said frame means and extending in a second horizontal direction, said diaphragm means and said elongate means being vertically deflectible to permit limited vertical motion of said frame means relative to said housing means.

Claim 15

Transfer means for supporting and transporting a container of material and including frame means for receiving said container, a plurality of spaced apart weighing means supporting said frame means for measuring the weight of said container and the material therein, said frame means being substantially horizontally fixed relative to each of said weighing means and vertically translatable relative thereto to transmit at least a portion of the weight of said container to said weighing means, and transport means including a plurality of spaced apart truck means, each of said weighing means including a support portion mounted on one of said truck means and weight responsive means mounted on said support portion, said frame means being vertically supported on said weight responsive means, and connecting means for connecting said support portion to said frame means for preventing substantial horizontal translation therebetween and including diaphragm means connecting said support portion to said frame means and extending in a first horizontal direction and elongate means connecting said housing means to said frame means and extending in a second horizontal direction, said diaphragm means and said elongate means being vertically deflectible to permit limited vertical motion of said frame means relative to said housing means.

Claim 16

The transfer car set forth in claim 12 including: beam means connecting laterally adjacent support portions for maintaining the spacing of said truck means.

Claim 17

The transfer car set forth in claim 13 wherein: said elongate means and said diaphragm means which provide a substantially constant resistance to vertical deflection whereby said resistive forces may be tared out of said weigh cell means.

Claim 18

A transfer car for transporting a container of molten metal, said transfer car having an integral weigh system for determining the weight of said molten metal, said transfer car comprising: a frame for receiving said container, a plurality of spaced apart truck means supporting said frame for movement in a first direction, a plurality of weigh cell means, one of said weigh cell means being interposed between said frame and each of said truck means for measuring the weight of said molten metal, and a plurality of vertically flexible members, one of said members connecting said frame to each of said truck means for permitting vertical motion of said frame relative to said truck means to transfer at least a part of the weight of said frame, said members being relatively inflexible in a horizontal direction for restricting horizontal motion of said frame relative to said truck means.

Claim 19

A transfer car for transporting a container of molten metal, said transfer car having an integral weigh system for determining the weight of said molten metal, said transfer car comprising: a frame for receiving said container, a plurality of spaced apart truck means supporting said frame for movement in a first direction, a plurality of weigh cell means, one of said weigh cell means being interposed between said frame and each of said truck means for measuring the weight of said molten metal, and a plurality of vertically flexible members, one of said members connecting said frame to each of said truck means for permitting vertical motion of said frame relative to said truck means to transfer at least a part of the weight of said frame, said members being relatively inflexible in a horizontal direction for restricting horizontal motion of said frame relative to said truck means.

Claim 20

A transfer car for transporting a container of molten metal, said transfer car having an integral weigh system for determining the weight of said molten metal, said transfer car comprising: a frame for receiving said container, a plurality of truck means supporting said frame for movement in a first direction, a plurality of weigh cell means, one of said weigh cell means being interposed betWeen said frame and each of said truck means for measuring the weight of said molten metal, and means connecting said frame to each of said truck means for restricting horizontal motion of said frame relative to said truck means and for permitting vertical motion of said frame relative to said truck means, said connecting means comprise vertically flexible diaphragm means coupling each of said truck means to said frame in said first direction and vertically deflectible check rods coupling said truck means to said frame in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction.

Claim 21

A transfer car for transporting a container of molten metal, said transfer car having an integral weigh system for determining the weight of said molten metal, said transfer car comprising: a frame for receiving said container, a plurality of truck means supporting said frame for movement in a first direction, a plurality of weigh cell means, one of said weigh cell means being interposed betWeen said frame and each of said truck means for measuring the weight of said molten metal, and means connecting said frame to each of said truck means for restricting horizontal motion of said frame relative to said truck means and for permitting vertical motion of said frame relative to said truck means, said connecting means comprise vertically flexible diaphragm means coupling each of said truck means to said frame in said first direction and vertically deflectible check rods coupling said truck means to said frame in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction.

Claim 22

The transfer car set forth in claim 16 wherein: said diaphragm means each includes an arm portion and a diaphragm plate portion and each extends generally horizontally, said diaphragm plate portion having an area of reduced thickness extending generally transversely to said first direction, whereby said diaphragm means may flex vertically about said area.