Self-compensating weight sensing fork blade assembly

• US 10,168,202 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2016
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cascade Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cascade Corporation
• Inventors: Richards, Lawrence E.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAINT SURIN, JACQUES M
• Application Number:
  US15/370,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20180156656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 177139
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 17/003 for fork-lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/12 Platforms; Forks; Other load supporting or gripping members
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/083 lift truck scale
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/23 Support or suspension of weighing platforms G01G21/24 takes precedence

Abstract

A load-weighing assembly has a substantially laterally-extending beam-type load-weighing platform, and a substantially laterally-extending cantilever-type fork blade member located beneath the platform, interconnected by a load weight-measuring cell. The weight measuring cell is laterally movable with respect to at least one of the platform and blade member during an initial part of a load weighing process so as to minimize transmission of lateral force between the platform and the weight-measuring cell, thereby compensating for load-weighing errors which would otherwise occur.

Claims

1. A load-weighing assembly for a bad lifting system, said load-weighing assembly having a substantially laterally-extending load-weighing platform, and a substantially laterally-extending cantilever fork blade member located beneath said platform, said load-weighing platform and said cantilever fork blade member being interconnected by a load weight-measuring cell which is configured to move laterally with respect to at least one of said load-weighing platform and said cantilever fork blade member during an initial part of said load weighing so as to minimize transmission of lateral force between said load-weighing platform and said load weight-measuring cell during said initial part of said load weighing, said load weight-measuring cell being loosely connected to said laterally extending load-weighing platform at least during said initial part of said load weighing.

2. The load-weighing assembly of claim 1 wherein, during a subsequent part of said load weighing, said load-weighing assembly automatically prevents said weight-measuring cell from moving laterally.

3. The load-weighing assembly of claim 1, wherein said cantilever fork blade member is an elongate cantilever member which supports said load-weighing platform at multiple laterally separated positions along said cantilever fork blade member.

4. The load-weighing assembly of claim 1 including a plurality of said load-weight measuring cells loosely connected to said laterally extending load-weighing platform during said initial part of said load weighing.