Flat-spread force measuring device

Claim 2

A flat spread force measuring apparatus comprising: a stiff rigid main body having an essentially plane top surface for receiving a load; a plurality of flat cavities provided in said body spaced from each other and extending in parallel to said top surface; essentially bubblefree elastomeric material contained in said cavities; a plurality of pressure sensors one each arranged in contact with said elastomeric material in each of said cavities; a plurality of force introduction means one each arranged in an essentially vertical alignment to said pressure sensors and below them; and evaluation means electrically connected to said pressure sensors for combining electrical signals received therefrom and representing local force components transmitted from said load receiving means through said elastomeric material to said pressure sensors.

Claim 3

The force measuring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said force introduction means are regions of a bottom surface of said body defining a type of diaphragm below each cavity and being provided at their lower side with a projection each for pointlike support of said force measuring apparatus.

Claim 4

The force measuring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said force introduction means are a piston each inserted in a cylindrical recess an inner face surface of said piston forming a wall of said cavity, a narrow gap being formed between cylindrical surfaces of said piston and said recess filled with elastomeric material.

Claim 5

The force measuring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flat cavities are provided in peripheral regions of said main body only, said main body forming a platform symmetrically supported by said cavities and said force introduction means in peripheral regions of said platform.

Claim 6

The force measuring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said force introduction means are provided at their lower surfaces with projections for pointlike support of said force measuring apparatus.

Claim 7

A flat-spread force measuring apparatus comprising: a generally flat main body having an essentially plane top surface for receiving a load; at least one flat cavity extending in parallel to said top surface over a major part within said main body; essentially bubblefree elastomeric material contained in said cavity or cavities; one pressure sensor each arranged in contact with said elastomeric material in (each) said cavity; a thinned peripheral region at said top surface of said main body imparting a certain resiliency to an upper part of said main body located below said main surface and above said cavities; and evaluation means connected to said pressure sensor(s) for receiving electrical signals therefrom.

Claim 8

A flat-spread force measuring apparatus comprising: a generally flat main body having an essentially plane top surface for receiving a load; at least one flat cavity extending in parallel to said top surface over a major part within said main body; essentially bubblefree elastomeric material contained in said cavity or cavities; one pressure sensor each arranged in contact with said elastomeric material in (each) said cavity; a thinned peripheral region at said top surface of said main body imparting a certain resiliency to an upper part of said main body located below said main surface and above said cavities; and evaluation means connected to said pressure sensor(s) for receiving electrical signals therefrom.

Claim 9

The force measuring apparatus of claim 6 wherein a plurality of cavities is provided in said main body separated from each other and a plurality of flat slots extends in parallel to said top surface below thereof and above said cavities said gaps being interrupted by posts formed of material of said main body and extending in vertical alignment to said pressure sensors to said top surface.

Claim 10

The force measuring apparatus of claim 6 wherein said gaps in a periphery of said main body are broadened toward said top surface for forming said thinned peripheral region of said main body.

Claim 11

The force measuring apparatus of claim 6 wherein said evaluation means are arranged in a compartment unitary to said main body.

Claim 12

The force measuring apparatus of claim 9 wherein said compartment is covered with a transparent plate permitting sight to an indicator provided on said evaluation means.

Claim 13

The force measuring apparatus of claim 6 wherein said main body is made of polymeric material containing filler material distributed therein.

Claim 14

The force measuring apparatus of claim 11 wherein reinforcing means are embedded in said polymeric material.

Claim 15

A flat spread force measuring device comprising: a flat base member; a flat load receiving member arranged in spaced relationship to said base member; elastomeric material interposed between opposing surfaces of said base member and said load receiving member and strongly adhered thereto; at least one pressure sensor in contact with said elastomeric material; an evaluation means electrically connected to said pressure sensors for combining electrical signals received therefrom and representing local force components transmitted from said load receiving member through said elastomeric material to said pressure sensors; and wherein said base member and said load receiving member are made of polymeric material containing filler material distributed therein.

Claim 16

A flat spread force measuring device comprising: a flat base member; a flat load receiving member arranged in spaced relationship to said base member; elastomeric material interposed between opposing surfaces of said base member and said load receiving member and strongly adhered thereto; at least one pressure sensor in contact with said elastomeric material; an evaluation means electrically connected to said pressure sensors for combining electrical signals received therefrom and representing local force components transmitted from said load receiving member through said elastomeric material to said pressure sensors; and wherein said base member and said load receiving member are made of polymeric material containing filler material distributed therein.

Claim 17

The force measuring device of claim 13 wherein reinforcing means are embedded in said polymeric material.

Claim 18

A flat-spread force measuring device comprising: a generally flat base member; a generally flat load receiving member arranged in spaced relationship to said base member; an essentially bubblefree elastomeric material interposed between said base member and said load receiving member and strongly adhered to opposing surfaces thereof; a plurality of pressure sensors arranged in contact with said elastomeric material in distance to each other and distributed over the total area defined by said base member and said load receiving member; and an evaluation means electrically connected to said pressure sensors for combining electrical signals received therefrom and representing local force components transmitted from said load receiving member through said elastomeric material to said pressure sensors.

Claim 19

A flat-spread force measuring device comprising: a generally flat base member; a generally flat load receiving member arranged in spaced relationship to said base member; an essentially bubblefree elastomeric material interposed between said base member and said load receiving member and strongly adhered to opposing surfaces thereof; a plurality of pressure sensors arranged in contact with said elastomeric material in distance to each other and distributed over the total area defined by said base member and said load receiving member; and an evaluation means electrically connected to said pressure sensors for combining electrical signals received therefrom and representing local force components transmitted from said load receiving member through said elastomeric material to said pressure sensors.

Claim 20

The force measuring device of claim 15 wherein said base member and said load receiving member are integrally connected at least at their peripheries, leaving at least one flat cavity therebetween completely filled with said essentially bubblefree elastomeric material, said or each cavity having an opening for establishing a contact between said elastomeric material and a said pressure sensor associated with said cavity.

Claim 21

The force measuring apparatus of claim 15 wherein said housing is made of polymeric material containing filler material distributed therein.

Claim 22

A flat-spread force measuring apparatus comprising: a generally flat housing having an interior bottom surface formed with a plurality of wedge-type ribs extending in parallel to each other in a first dimensional direction of said force measuring apparatus; a wedge member arranged in said interior of said housing having a lower surface provided with wedge-type ribs complementary to those of said bottom surface of said interior of said housing and having a plane top surface opposing a lower surface of a plane top wall of said housing, gaps being formed between opposing surfaces of said ribs of said bottom surface of said interior of said housing and of said lower surface of said wedge member and between said lower surface of said top wall and said top surface of said wedge member; elastomeric material filling main portions of said gaps with the exception of gap parts lying in marginal regions of said top surface of said wedge member and in regions adjacent to steep leading surfaces of said lower surface of said wedge member; and at least one force measuring element mounted in said housing in engagement with a face surface of said wedge member which face surface extends laterally to a direction of movement of said wedge member upon load application on said top surface.

Claim 23

A flat-spread force measuring apparatus comprising: a generally flat housing having an interior bottom surface formed with a plurality of wedge-type ribs extending in parallel to each other in a first dimensional direction of said force measuring apparatus; a wedge member arranged in said interior of said housing having a lower surface provided with wedge-type ribs complementary to those of said bottom surface of said interior of said housing and having a plane top surface opposing a lower surface of a plane top wall of said housing, gaps being formed between opposing surfaces of said ribs of said bottom surface of said interior of said housing and of said lower surface of said wedge member and between said lower surface of said top wall and said top surface of said wedge member; elastomeric material filling main portions of said gaps with the exception of gap parts lying in marginal regions of said top surface of said wedge member and in regions adjacent to steep leading surfaces of said lower surface of said wedge member; and at least one force measuring element mounted in said housing in engagement with a face surface of said wedge member which face surface extends laterally to a direction of movement of said wedge member upon load application on said top surface.

Claim 24

The force measuring apparatus of claim 18 wherein in spaces not filled with elastomeric material a synthetic foam material is provided.

Claim 25

The force measuring apparatus of claim 18 wherein said elastomeric material strongly adheres to said surfaces of said wedge member and said housing.

Claim 26

The force measuring apparatus of claim 18 wherein said at least one force measuring element comprises a cylindrical recess provided in said wall of said housing, a piston member inserted into said recess and forming a narrow gap between cylindrical surfaces of said recess and said piston member, elastomeric material filling said gap and a space defined by surfaces of said recess and an inner face surface of said piston member, and a pressure sensor mounted in said wall and in contact with said elastomeric material.

Claim 27

The force measuring apparatus of claim 21 wherein said piston member is integral with said wedge member.

Claim 28

The force measuring apparatus of claim 18 wherein said housing is made of polymeric material having filler material distributed therein.

Claim 29

The force measuring apparatus of claim 23 wherein reinforcing means are embedded in said polymeric material.

Claim 30

The force measuring apparatus of claim 18 wherein said top wall of said housing is a metal plate of relatively small thickness as compared with the overall height of said apparatus and wherein said metal plate is secured at least to opposing rims of said housing extending laterally to a direction of movement of said wedge member upon load application onto said top surface.

Claim 31

The force measuring apparatus of claim 18 wherein said force measuring element is arranged in a compartment unitary to said housing and covered by a transparent plate permitting sight on an indication means associated to said force measuring element.

Claim 32

The force measuring apparatus of claim 18 wherein said elastomeric material is provided between at least part of interior side surfaces and those side surfaces opposed thereto, of said wedge member extending in parallel to a direction of movement of said wedge member upon load application onto said top surface of said housing.

Claim 33

The force measuring apparatus of claim 18 wherein said at least one force measuring element is integrated into said wall of said housing.