Suspension for a linear force transducer

Claim 2

In a device to measure the magnitude of a force applied to a surface by a flow of material impacting the surface, the device including a force detection means, and means coupling the force detection means to the surface, the coupling means and force detection means having means to define one or more parallel axes along which the force is measured including a rod means, the improvement comprising means to support the surface, said support means having means to limit movement of the surface to a substantially linear motion along one of the defined axes and including at least one leaf spring, said at least one leaf spring having a plurality of leaves with a first leaf attached to the surface, means to attach said rod means to said first leaf, and another of its leaves attached to the support means so that movement of the surface deflects said first leaf with respect to said other leaf.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein the support means includes at least three leaf springs.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1 wherein the rod attaching means includes means to adjust the initial relative position of the leaves of said plurality of leaf springs.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 wherein the leaf spring is substantially vertically oriented.

Claim 6

The device of claim 4 wherein the leaf springs have means to mount the surface at an angle with respect to horizontal and limit its movement to a substantially horizontal plane.

Claim 7

The device of claim 1 wherein each leaf spring has the approximate shape of an "M", the middle leaf being approximately twice as wide as either outer leaf, and further comprising a hinge portion connecting an end of each leaf to form the top of the "M", said hinge portion having a width substantially equal to either outer leg.

Claim 8

The device of claim 6 wherein the distance between the hinge portion and the point of attachment for each leaf is substantially equal.

Claim 9

The device of claim 1 wherein each leaf spring has three leaves, the center leaf being attached to one of the surface or support means, and the two outer leaves being attached to the other of the surface or support means, the spring force of the center leaf being substantially equal to the combined spring force of the outer leaves.

Claim 10

The device of claim 8 wherein the center leaf is substantially twice as wide as either outer leaf and further comprising means joining one end of each leaf.

Claim 11

The device of claim 9 wherein the leaf joining means is a leaf of substantially the same width as either outer leaf.

Claim 12

In a device to measure the magnitude of a force applied to a surface by a continuous flow of granular material, the device including a force detection means, means coupling the force detection means to the surface, and a suspension for supporting the coupling means, the suspension having means to limit movement of the coupling means along a substantially horizontal direction, the improvement comprising means to support the surface from a support, said support means limiting movement of the surface to a substantially horizontal direction and comprising a plurality of leaf springs, each leaf spring having three leaves in the approximate shape of an "M", means to attach the center leaf of any particular spring to one of the surface or the support, and means to attach the outer leaves of the same spring to the other of the surface or the support, said leaf attaching means including means connected to the center leaf to adjust the initial relative position of the leaves, and the spring force of the center leaf being substantially equal to the combined spring force of the outer leaves.

Claim 13

In a device to measure the magnitude of a force applied to a surface by a continuous flow of granular material, the device including a force detection means, means coupling the force detection means to the surface, and a suspension for supporting the coupling means, the suspension having means to limit movement of the coupling means along a substantially horizontal direction, the improvement comprising means to support the surface from a support, said support means limiting movement of the surface to a substantially horizontal direction and comprising a plurality of leaf springs, each leaf spring having three leaves in the approximate shape of an "M", means to attach the center leaf of any particular spring to one of the surface or the support, and means to attach the outer leaves of the same spring to the other of the surface or the support, said leaf attaching means including means connected to the center leaf to adjust the initial relative position of the leaves, and the spring force of the center leaf being substantially equal to the combined spring force of the outer leaves.

Claim 14

The device of claim 11 wherein in any one leaf spring the center leaf is approximately twice as wide as either outer leaf.

Claim 15

The device of claim 11 wherein a hinge portion connects an end of each leaf to form the top of the "M", said hinge portion having a width substantially equal to either outer leaf.

Claim 16

The device of claim 11 wherein each leaf spring has its leaves adjusted to a substantially vertical alignment in the initial position.

Claim 17

The device of claim 11 wherein the coupling means includes a rod means.

Claim 18

The device of claim 15 further comprising means connecting the rod means to the center leaf of one of said plurality of leaf springs.