US3903976A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mechanical scale and method of calibrating the same
Assignee: Bizerba SE and Co KG
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Filing: 1973-10-04
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Granted: 1975-09-09
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Expires: 1993-10-04
Abstract
Abstract A method of calibrating a mechanical scale to compensate for gravity-caused balance errors is disclosed, and an arrangement for carrying out the method. A balance lever of the scale is fulcrumed on a support, and one arm of the balance lever is to have a load to be weighed connected to it, whereas a spring is connected to the other arm to counter the load. The center of mass of the balance lever is shifted to this other arm, and the support is inclined in the plane of movement of the balance lever with reference to the horizontal, until a gravity-caused balance error is compensated.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin Ziefle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 06:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G23/00; G01G3/00; G01G3/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
272 words
In a gravity compensated spring scale, a combination comprising support means; a balance lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends on said support means and thereby forming a first arm located at one side of the fulcrum and adapted to be connected with a load to be weighed, and a second arm located at the other side of the fulcrum; a biasing spring connected to said other side of said fulcrum; a biasing spring connected to said other side of said fulcrum so as to counter the weight of said load, the force exerted by said biasing spring upon said lever being independent of gravity so that the scale will have indicating errors causing erroneous weight indications for said load at different geographic locations where the force of gravity acts with different magnitude upon the load but does not influence the spring force; means for compensating for gravity comprising a weighted member connected to said other side of said fulcrum and acting to pivotally displace said balance lever in a vertical weighing plane so that measuring errors will occur upon inclining said support means in said vertical weighing plane, and including inclining means for inclining said support means in said vertical weighing plane so that said measuring errors will compensate for said indicating errors of said scale; a level provided on said support means; and adjusting means for adjusting said level in said vertical plane with respect to said support means to a position in which said level indicates apparent horizontality of said support means even though said support means is inclined in said plane to the horizontal to compensate for gravity-caused balance errors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
272 words
In a gravity compensated spring scale, a combination comprising support means; a balance lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends on said support means and thereby forming a first arm located at one side of the fulcrum and adapted to be connected with a load to be weighed, and a second arm located at the other side of the fulcrum; a biasing spring connected to said other side of said fulcrum; a biasing spring connected to said other side of said fulcrum so as to counter the weight of said load, the force exerted by said biasing spring upon said lever being independent of gravity so that the scale will have indicating errors causing erroneous weight indications for said load at different geographic locations where the force of gravity acts with different magnitude upon the load but does not influence the spring force; means for compensating for gravity comprising a weighted member connected to said other side of said fulcrum and acting to pivotally displace said balance lever in a vertical weighing plane so that measuring errors will occur upon inclining said support means in said vertical weighing plane, and including inclining means for inclining said support means in said vertical weighing plane so that said measuring errors will compensate for said indicating errors of said scale; a level provided on said support means; and adjusting means for adjusting said level in said vertical plane with respect to said support means to a position in which said level indicates apparent horizontality of said support means even though said support means is inclined in said plane to the horizontal to compensate for gravity-caused balance errors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said level comprises a spirit level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said adjusting means comprises a screw.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said adjusting means comprises a set screw.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A combination as defined in claim 1; and further comprising a scale associated with said adjusting means for indicating different adjusted positions of said level which respectively correspond to different degrees of inclination of said support means.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
212 words
A method of compensating for gravity-caused balance errors in a spring scale comprising the steps of providing support means; fulcruming a balance lever on said support means intermediate its ends so as to form a first arm located on one side of the fulcrum which is adapted to be connected with a load to be weighed, and a second arm located at the other side of the fulcrum; providing a biasing spring and connecting it to said other side of said fulcrum so as to counter the weight of said load, the force exerted by said biasing spring upon said lever being independent of gravity so that the scale will have indicating errors causing erroneous weight indications for said load at different geographic locations where the force of gravity acts with different magnitude upon the load but does not influence the spring force; and compensating for gravity by connecting a weighted member to said other side of said fulcrum so as to pivotally displace said balance lever in a vertical weighing plane so that measuring errors will occur upon inclining said support means in said vertical weighing plane; and incling said support means in said vertical weighing plane so that said measuring errors will compensate for said indicating errors of said scale.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
212 words
A method of compensating for gravity-caused balance errors in a spring scale comprising the steps of providing support means; fulcruming a balance lever on said support means intermediate its ends so as to form a first arm located on one side of the fulcrum which is adapted to be connected with a load to be weighed, and a second arm located at the other side of the fulcrum; providing a biasing spring and connecting it to said other side of said fulcrum so as to counter the weight of said load, the force exerted by said biasing spring upon said lever being independent of gravity so that the scale will have indicating errors causing erroneous weight indications for said load at different geographic locations where the force of gravity acts with different magnitude upon the load but does not influence the spring force; and compensating for gravity by connecting a weighted member to said other side of said fulcrum so as to pivotally displace said balance lever in a vertical weighing plane so that measuring errors will occur upon inclining said support means in said vertical weighing plane; and incling said support means in said vertical weighing plane so that said measuring errors will compensate for said indicating errors of said scale.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as defined in claim 6, further comprising the step of providing a spirit level on said support; and further comprising the step of adjusting the inclination of said level until said spirit level provides an indication of apparent horizontality.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-08 | 1979-03-10 | 1979-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-08 | 1983-03-10 | 1983-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-08 | 1987-03-10 | 1987-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |