US3966003A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Weighing apparatus
Assignee: UNIROYAL PLASTICS COMPANY Inc WORLD HEADQUARTERS MIDDLEBURY CT 06749 A CORP OF
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Filing: 1974-10-15
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Granted: 1976-06-29
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Expires: 1994-10-15
Abstract
Abstract Weighing apparatus which utilizes the variation in the strain of a weighing platform adapted to be loaded by the force to be measured. The weighing apparatus has a low profile and, in the preferred embodiment, the platform is supported at its four corners by sensing arms in which the strain is measured by resistive or semi-conductive strain sensors which are connected in a Wheatstone type bridge circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry F. Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:07
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G3/00; G01G3/12; G01G3/14; G01G3/1402; G01G3/1406; G01G19/00; G01G19/02; G01G19/025; G01G19/027
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
Weighing apparatus comprising: a supporting base; an elongated horizontal platform adapted to be loaded by an object to be weighed and attached to said base at two ends of said platform, said platform having four horizontally displaced flexible elongated parallel supporting arms in the plane of said platform and integral therewith and attaching said platform to said base, each of said supporting arms having attached thereto one or more electrical strain sensors, said sensors being so located on said arms and so connected in a single electrical bridge circuit as to provide an electrical signal representative of the load applied to said platform in a direction normal to said platform, said bridge circuit being non-responsive to shear loads applied to said platform in planes parallel to the plane of said platform and being non-responsive to the location of the load and the area of contact between the load and the platform.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
Weighing apparatus comprising: a supporting base; an elongated horizontal platform adapted to be loaded by an object to be weighed and attached to said base at two ends of said platform, said platform having four horizontally displaced flexible elongated parallel supporting arms in the plane of said platform and integral therewith and attaching said platform to said base, each of said supporting arms having attached thereto one or more electrical strain sensors, said sensors being so located on said arms and so connected in a single electrical bridge circuit as to provide an electrical signal representative of the load applied to said platform in a direction normal to said platform, said bridge circuit being non-responsive to shear loads applied to said platform in planes parallel to the plane of said platform and being non-responsive to the location of the load and the area of contact between the load and the platform.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
Weighing apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which all of said electrical sensors are attached under said supporting arms with one sensor under each arm being subject to compression and another sensor under each arm being subject to tension when said platform is loaded by a force acting perpendicularly to said platform.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
175 words
Weighing apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which said platform has a rectangular surface and in which said sensors subject to compression are connected in two opposite arms of a Wheatstone bridge circuit and said sensors subject to tension are connected in two opposite arms of said Wheatstone bridge circuit and in which said sensors subject to compression under a first pair of diagonally opposite arms of said platform are connected in the same first arm of said Wheatstone bridge circuit and in which said sensors subject to compression under a second pair of diagonally opposite arms of said platform are connected in the same second arm of said Wheatstone bridge circuit and in which said sensors subject to tension under said first pair of diagonally opposite arms of said platform are connected in the same third arm of said Wheatstone bridge circuit and in which said sensors subject to tension under said second pair of diagonally opposite arms of said platform are connected in the same fourth arm of said Wheatstone bridge circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
157 words
Weighing apparatus comprising: a supporting base; an elongated horizontal platform adapted to be loaded by an object to be weighed and attached to said base at two ends of said platform, said platform having four horizontally displaced flexible elongated parallel supporting arms attaching said platform to said base, said platform having slots therein extending longitudinally and transversely of said platform forming said supporting arms, each of said supporting arms having attached thereto one or more electrical strain sensors, said sensors being so located on said arms and so connected in a single electrial bridge circuit as to provide an electrical signal representative of the load applied to said platform in a direction normal to said platform, said bridge circuit being non-responsive to shear loads applied to said platform in planes parallel to the plane of said platform and being non-responsive to the location of the load and the area of contact between the load and the platform.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
157 words
Weighing apparatus comprising: a supporting base; an elongated horizontal platform adapted to be loaded by an object to be weighed and attached to said base at two ends of said platform, said platform having four horizontally displaced flexible elongated parallel supporting arms attaching said platform to said base, said platform having slots therein extending longitudinally and transversely of said platform forming said supporting arms, each of said supporting arms having attached thereto one or more electrical strain sensors, said sensors being so located on said arms and so connected in a single electrial bridge circuit as to provide an electrical signal representative of the load applied to said platform in a direction normal to said platform, said bridge circuit being non-responsive to shear loads applied to said platform in planes parallel to the plane of said platform and being non-responsive to the location of the load and the area of contact between the load and the platform.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
143 words
Weighing apparatus comprising: a supporting base; an elongated horizontal platform adapted to be loaded by an object to be weighed and attached to said base at two ends of said platform, said platform having slots therein extending longitudinally of said platform forming a plurality of independently flexible elongated beams in said platform, each of said beams having an electrical strain sensor attached thereto near each end of said beam, said electrical sensors being so connected in a single electrical bridge circuit as to provide an electrical signal representative of the load applied to said platform in a direction normal to said platform, said bridge circuit being non-responsive to shear loads applied to said platform in planes parallel to the plane of said platform and being non-responsive to the location of the load and the area of contact between the load and the platform.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
143 words
Weighing apparatus comprising: a supporting base; an elongated horizontal platform adapted to be loaded by an object to be weighed and attached to said base at two ends of said platform, said platform having slots therein extending longitudinally of said platform forming a plurality of independently flexible elongated beams in said platform, each of said beams having an electrical strain sensor attached thereto near each end of said beam, said electrical sensors being so connected in a single electrical bridge circuit as to provide an electrical signal representative of the load applied to said platform in a direction normal to said platform, said bridge circuit being non-responsive to shear loads applied to said platform in planes parallel to the plane of said platform and being non-responsive to the location of the load and the area of contact between the load and the platform.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
Weighing apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which said beams are of the same dimensions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
Weighing apparatus in accordance with claim 6 in which said electrical sensors have the same electrical resistance and are connected in series in an arm of a Wheatstone bridge circuit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3439761A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-06-29 | 1979-12-29 | 1980-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-06-29 | 1983-12-29 | 1984-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-06-29 | 1987-12-29 | 1988-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |