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US5391844A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Load cell

Assignee: Avery Weigh Tronix LLC
•
Filing: 1993-05-19
•
Granted: 1995-02-21
•
Expires: 2013-05-19
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Abstract

Abstract The invention is a load cell for the measurement of force, independent of displacement, created by means such as weight, acceleration, pressure, and the like. The load cell has a beam structure with beams positioned parallel to each other in at least one plane. Generally, these parallel beams are attached to a stationary base and have sensing means attached between the two beams. In operation, deflection of one beam creates a response in the sensing means due to the relative action or deflection in the second beam.

Inventors

  • 👤 Thomas H. Johnson
  • 👤 Michael R. Wyatt

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 15:13
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G3/00; G01G3/12; G01G3/14; G01G3/1402; G01G3/1412; G01G19/00; G01G19/40; G01G19/42; G01G21/00; G01G21/24; G01L; G01L1/00; G01L1/14; G01L1/16; G01L1/162; G01L1/165; G01L1/20; G01L1/22; G01L1/2206; G01L1/2243; G01L9/00; G01L9/0001; G01L9/0005; G01L9/0008; G01L9/0022; G01P; G01P15/00; G01P15/02; G01P15/08; G01P15/097

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 127 words
A force sensing load cell comprising: (a) a load cell body having an interior opening defined by an upper wall and a lower wall joined by first and second side walls; (b) a base positioned within said opening and affixed to at least one of said opening walls; (c) a first cantilever beam affixed to said base; (d) a second cantilever beam affixed to said base; (e) a first transducer comprising two parallel tines joined together at their ends, said first transducer affixed between said first cantilever beam and said base; (f) a second transducer comprising two parallel tines joined together at their ends, said second transducer affixed between said second cantilever beam and said base; and (g) means for sealing said load cell body interior opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 127 words
A force sensing load cell comprising: (a) a load cell body having an interior opening defined by an upper wall and a lower wall joined by first and second side walls; (b) a base positioned within said opening and affixed to at least one of said opening walls; (c) a first cantilever beam affixed to said base; (d) a second cantilever beam affixed to said base; (e) a first transducer comprising two parallel tines joined together at their ends, said first transducer affixed between said first cantilever beam and said base; (f) a second transducer comprising two parallel tines joined together at their ends, said second transducer affixed between said second cantilever beam and said base; and (g) means for sealing said load cell body interior opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
The load cell of claim 1 wherein said first and second transducers comprise quartz crystal double-ended tuning fork resonators.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 12 words
The load cell of claim 1 wherein said sealing means comprises silicon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 57 words
The load cell of claim 1 wherein said load cell interior opening comprises a front side and a back side and said sealing means comprises first and second silicon sealing windows, said first sealing window positioned over said load cell interior opening front side and said second sealing window is positioned over said interior opening back side.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 33 words
The load cell of claim 4 wherein said first and second cantilever beams are positioned parallel to each other within the plane of the load cell interior opening and parallel to said base.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
The load cell of claim 4 wherein said second sealing window comprises a plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
The load cell of claim 1 wherein said first and second transducers are connected by electrical leads, said leads inserted through said sealing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 14 words
The load cell of claim 7 wherein said electrical leads comprise a dampening coating.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 165 words
A force sensing load cell comprising: (a) a load cell body having an interior opening defined by an upper wall and a lower wall joined by first and second side walls said interior opening having a back end and a front end; (b) a base positioned within said load cell interior opening and affixed to said opening lower wall said base comprising a load beam adjoining said opening upper wall; (c) a first cantilever beam, said first cantilever beam affixed to said base; (d) a second cantilever beam, said second cantilever beam affixed to said base; (e) a first piezoelectric quartz crystal transducer comprising two parallel tines joined together at their ends, said first transducer affixed between said first cantilever beam and said load beam; (f) a second piezoelectric quartz crystal transducer comprising two parallel tines joined together at their ends, said second transducer affixed between said second cantilever beam and said load beam; and (g) means for sealing said load cell body interior opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 165 words
A force sensing load cell comprising: (a) a load cell body having an interior opening defined by an upper wall and a lower wall joined by first and second side walls said interior opening having a back end and a front end; (b) a base positioned within said load cell interior opening and affixed to said opening lower wall said base comprising a load beam adjoining said opening upper wall; (c) a first cantilever beam, said first cantilever beam affixed to said base; (d) a second cantilever beam, said second cantilever beam affixed to said base; (e) a first piezoelectric quartz crystal transducer comprising two parallel tines joined together at their ends, said first transducer affixed between said first cantilever beam and said load beam; (f) a second piezoelectric quartz crystal transducer comprising two parallel tines joined together at their ends, said second transducer affixed between said second cantilever beam and said load beam; and (g) means for sealing said load cell body interior opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 57 words
The load cell of claim 9 wherein said load cell interior opening comprises a front side and a back side and said sealing means comprises first and second silicon sealing windows, said first sealing window position over said load cell interior opening front side and said second sealing window is positioned over said interior opening back side.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 15 words
The load cell of claim 10 wherein said second sealing window comprises a stop plate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 34 words
The load cell of claim 9 wherein said first and second cantilever beams are positioned parallel to each other within the plane of the load cell interior opening and parallel to said load beam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 24 words
The load cell of claim 9 wherein said first and second transducers are connected by electrical leads, said leads inserted through said sealing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 14 words
The load cell of claim 13 wherein said electrical leads comprise a dampening coating.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 29 words
The load cell of claim 9 wherein said first and second transducers are encapsulated and said sealing means comprises silicon gel inserted into said load cell body interior opening.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 201 words
A force sensing load cell comprising: (a) a monolithic load cell body having an interior opening defined by an upper wall and a lower wall joined by first and second side walls said interior opening having a back end and a front end; (b) a base positioned within said opening and affixed to said opening lower wall said base comprising a load beam adjoining said opening upper wall; (c) a first cantilever beam, said first cantilever beam affixed to said base; (d) a second cantilever beam, said second cantilever beam affixed to said base; (e) a first piezoelectric quartz crystal transducer comprising two parallel tines joined together at their ends, said first transducer affixed between said first cantilever beam and said load beam; (f) a second piezoelectric quartz crystal transducer comprising two parallel tines joined together at their ends, said second transducer affixed between said second cantilever beam and said load beam; (g) a first sealing window affixed to said interior opening front end, said first sealing window shaped to conform to the opening; and (h) a second sealing window affixed to said interior opening back end, said second sealing window shaped to conform to the walls defining the interior opening.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 201 words
A force sensing load cell comprising: (a) a monolithic load cell body having an interior opening defined by an upper wall and a lower wall joined by first and second side walls said interior opening having a back end and a front end; (b) a base positioned within said opening and affixed to said opening lower wall said base comprising a load beam adjoining said opening upper wall; (c) a first cantilever beam, said first cantilever beam affixed to said base; (d) a second cantilever beam, said second cantilever beam affixed to said base; (e) a first piezoelectric quartz crystal transducer comprising two parallel tines joined together at their ends, said first transducer affixed between said first cantilever beam and said load beam; (f) a second piezoelectric quartz crystal transducer comprising two parallel tines joined together at their ends, said second transducer affixed between said second cantilever beam and said load beam; (g) a first sealing window affixed to said interior opening front end, said first sealing window shaped to conform to the opening; and (h) a second sealing window affixed to said interior opening back end, said second sealing window shaped to conform to the walls defining the interior opening.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 33 words
The load cell of claim 16 wherein said first and second cantilever beams are positioned parallel to each other within the plane of the load cell interior opening and parallel to said base.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 24 words
The load cell of claim 16 wherein said first and second transducers are connected by electrical leads, said leads inserted through said second seal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 14 words
The load cell of claim 18 wherein said electrical leads comprise a dampening coating.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 14 words
The load cell of claim 16 wherein said second sealing window comprises a plate.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1998-02-20 1998-08-22 1999-02-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-02-20 2002-08-22 2003-02-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-02-20 2006-08-22 2007-02-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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