US3993149A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Scale system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-08-20
•
Granted: 1976-11-23
•
Expires: 1995-08-20
Abstract
Abstract A scale system including a vertically displaceable crown supported by a longitudinally displaceable center section. A sensing means disposed above-ground is actuated by the center section in response to a weight applied to the crown. The sensing means sends a signal to an interpreting means. Inclined, mating surfaces interconnect the crown and the center section so that the crown is displaceable substantially vertically only and the center section is displaceable substantially longitudinally only. Alternative embodiments of the invention include a friction-reducing material for the inclined surfaces to render the coefficient of friction therebetween substantially a constant; a sealing means for the inclined surfaces to prevent deterioration thereof; restraining means for the center section to impede the displacement of the center section and prevent overload of the sensing means; and a locking means to prevent removal of the crown from the center section.
Inventors
- 👤 John E. Harvey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 10:45
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G19/00; G01G19/02; G01G19/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 55
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A scale system, comprising: a. a crown vertically displaceable upon the application of a weight; b. a center section supporting said crown and constructed to be longitudinally displaceable upon vertical displacement of said crown; c. a sensing means actuated by said center section upon displacement of said center section for producing an output corresponding to the vertical displacement of said crown; and d. a bottom section supporting said center section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
A scale system, comprising: a. a crown vertically displaceable upon the application of a weight; b. a center section supporting said crown and constructed to be longitudinally displaceable upon vertical displacement of said crown; c. a sensing means actuated by said center section upon displacement of said center section for producing an output corresponding to the vertical displacement of said crown; and d. a bottom section supporting said center section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said center section includes an extended portion, which extended portion engages said sensing means upon displacement of said center section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said scale system additionally comprises a restraining means acting on said center section to restrain the displacement of said center section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said restraining means comprises a leaf spring disposed intermediate a portion of said crown and a portion of said bottom section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said restraining means comprises a coil spring horizontally disposed and acting on said center section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said restraining means comprises and electromagnet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a switch actuated by said crown for selectively activating said electromagnet to return said center section to an initial position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a. said crown comprises at least one downwardly facing inclined surface; and b. said center section includes at least one upwardly facing inclined surface slidably abutting said downwardly facing inclined surface, whereby said center section is longitudinally displaced upon vertical displacement of said crown.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a plurality of bearing members are interposed between said center section and said bottom section for facilitating substantially longitudinal displacement of said center section relative to said bottom section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising means for constraining said crown at its ends for substantially vertical displacement only.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a friction-reducing material is provided for said inclined surfaces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said friction-reducing material is polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said friction-reducing material is of a composition which renders the coefficient of friction between said inclined surfaces substantially a constant.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising sealing means disposed in relation to said inclined surfaces so as to shield them from foreign matter to prevent deterioration of said inclined surfaces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said sealing means comprises: a. flanges depending from the sides of said crown; and b. flanges upstanding from the sides of said bottom section, said depending and upstanding flanges mating with sufficient tightness to seal said inclined surfaces and yet permit relative motion between said crown and said center section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a leaf spring restraining means disposed intermediate said crown and at least one of said upstanding flanges.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein a locking means is disposed intermediate said depending and upstanding flanges to permit selective removal of said crown from said center section.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said locking means comprises a ball disposed for movement in a vertical channel, said channel formed as part of one of said flanges.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said locking means includes a set screw as part of one of said depending flanges, said set screw removable to remove said ball from said channel and thereby unlock said crown from said center section.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a. said crown comprises at least one downwardly facing inclined surface; b. said center section includes at least one upwardly facing inclined surface slidably abutting said downwardly facing inclined surface of said crown; c. said bottom section comprises at least one upwardly facing inclined surface; and d. said center section also includes at least one downwardly facing inclined surface slidably abutting said upwardly facing inclined surface of said bottom section, whereby said center section is horizontally displaced relative to said bottom section upon vertical displacement of said crown.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising means for constraining said crown at its ends for substantially vertical displacement only.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein a friction-reducing material is provided for said inclined surfaces.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said friction-reducing material is polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said friction-reducing material is of a composition which renders the coefficient of friction between said inclined surfaces substantially a constant.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said scale system additionally comprises a restraining means acting on said center section to restrain the displacement of said center section.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said restraining means comprises a leaf spring disposed intermediate a portion of said crown and a portion of said bottom section.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said restraining means comprises a coil spring horizontally disposed and acting on said center section.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said restraining means comprises an electromagnet.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a switch actuated by said crown for selectively activating said electromagnet to return said center section to an initial position.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising sealing means disposed in relation to said inclined surfaces so as to shield them from foreign matter to prevent deterioration of said inclined surfaces.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said sealing means comprises: a. flanges depending from the sides of said crown; and b. flanges upstanding from the sides of said bottom section, said depending and upstanding flanges mating with sufficient tightness to seal said inclined surfaces and yet permit relative motion between said crown and said center section.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising a leaf spring restraining means disposed intermediate said crown and at least one of said upstanding flanges.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 31, wherein a locking means is disposed intermediate said depending and upstanding flanges to permit selective removal of said crown from said center section.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said locking means comprises a ball disposed for movement in a vertical channel, said channel formed as part of one of said flanges.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said locking means includes a set screw as part of one of said depending flanges, said cover removable to remove said ball from said channel and thereby unlock said crown from said center section.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
100 words
A rail scale system disposed entirely above-ground and adapted to replace existing rail structure, comprising: a. a crown vertically displaceable upon the application of a weight; b. a center section supporting said crown and constructed to be longitudinally displaceable upon vertical displacement of said crown; c. a bottom section supporting said center section, said bottom section adapted to replace an existing rail section and to be retained in place by conventional fittings; and d. a sensing means actuated by said center section upon displacement of said center section for producing an output corresponding to the vertical displacement of said crown.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
100 words
A rail scale system disposed entirely above-ground and adapted to replace existing rail structure, comprising: a. a crown vertically displaceable upon the application of a weight; b. a center section supporting said crown and constructed to be longitudinally displaceable upon vertical displacement of said crown; c. a bottom section supporting said center section, said bottom section adapted to replace an existing rail section and to be retained in place by conventional fittings; and d. a sensing means actuated by said center section upon displacement of said center section for producing an output corresponding to the vertical displacement of said crown.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 36, wherein said scale system additionally comprises a restraining means acting on said center section to restrain the displacement of said center section.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said restraining means comprises a leaf spring disposed intermediate a portion of said crown and a portion of said bottom section.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said restraining means comprises a coil spring horizontally disposed and acting on said center section.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said restraining means comprises an electromagnet.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising a switch actuated by said crown for selectively activating said electromagnet to return said center section to an initial position.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 36, wherein a. said crown comprises at least one downwardly facing inclined surface; and b. said center section includes at least one upwardly facing inclined surface slidably abutting said downwardly facing inclined surface, whereby said center section is longitudinally displaced upon vertical displacement of said crown.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 42, wherein a plurality of bearing members are interposed between said center section and said bottom section for facilitating substantially longitudinal displacement of said center section relative to said bottom section.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 43, further comprising means for constraining said crown at its ends for substantially vertical displacement only.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 42, wherein a friction-reducing material is provided for said inclined surfaces.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 45, wherein said friction-reducing material is polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 45, wherein said friction-reducing material is of a composition which renders the coefficient of friction between said inclined surfaces substantially a constant.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising sealing means disposed in relation to said inclined surfaces so as to shield them from foreign matter to prevent deterioration of said inclined surfaces.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 48, wherein said sealing means comprises: a. flanges depending from the sides of said crown; and b. flanges upstanding from the sides of said bottom section, said depending and upstanding flanges mating with sufficient tightness to seal said inclined surfaces and yet permit relative motion between said crown and said center section.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising a leaf spring restraining means disposed intermediate said crown and at least one of said upstanding flanges.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 49, wherein a locking means is disposed intermediate said depending and upstanding flanges to permit selective removal of said crown from said center section.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said locking means comprises a ball disposed for movement in a vertical channel, said channel formed as part of one of said flanges.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said locking means includes a set screw as part of one of said depending flanges, said set screw removable to remove said ball from said channel and thereby unlock said crown from said center section.
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) | 1979-11-23 | 1980-05-24 | 1980-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-11-23 | 1984-05-24 | 1984-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-11-23 | 1988-05-24 | 1988-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |