Low-profile load cell assembly having flexural members with double-bending behavior
First Claim
1. A load cell assembly, comprising:
- (a) a load cell body including a spring element having a first cutout window at least partially defined by a top beam on a top side of said load cell body and a bottom beam, said window transversely disposed through a long dimension of said body;
(b) at least one strain-sensing gage, bonded to said spring element, said strain-sensing gage adapted to measure a strain in said spring element;
(c) an at least two-dimensional flexural member having at least a second cutout window, said second cutout window being transversely disposed through said long dimension of said body, said flexural member being mechanically associated with said spring element, said flexural member disposed along a flexural longitudinal section of said load cell body that is defined by a length of said second cutout window along said long dimension, said flexural member being distally disposed with respect to said spring element along said long dimension of said body; and
having a proximal end adjacent the spring element and an opposite distal end; and
(d) an adapter disposed on said top side of said load cell body, said adapter having a first end having a load receiving region, and a second end mechanically associated with the distal end of the flexural member;
the adapter having an unloaded disposition and a loaded disposition in which said first end is depressed with respect to the proximal end of the flexural member;
wherein the load receiving region of the adapter is located nearer to the spring element than is the distal end of the flexure element, such that, in the loaded disposition, each of the spring element and the flexural member assumes a respective double-bending configuration in response to a load acting on the load receiving region of said adapter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A load cell assembly, including an adapter adapted to receive a vertical load, and having loaded and unloaded dispositions; a load cell body including a spring element having a first cutout window defined by a top beam and a bottom beam, the window transversely disposed through the body, the spring element adapted such that responsive to a downward force exerted on a top face of the adapter, the beams assume a primary double-bending configuration; a strain-sensing gage, attached to the spring element, the strain-sensing gage for measuring strain in the spring element; and an at least two-dimensional flexural member having a second cutout window, the second cutout window being transversely disposed through the body; the adapter disposed in mechanical relation to the flexural member such that, in the loaded disposition of the adapter, the flexural member assumes a secondary, substantially double-bending configuration.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A load cell assembly, comprising:
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(a) a load cell body including a spring element having a first cutout window at least partially defined by a top beam on a top side of said load cell body and a bottom beam, said window transversely disposed through a long dimension of said body; (b) at least one strain-sensing gage, bonded to said spring element, said strain-sensing gage adapted to measure a strain in said spring element; (c) an at least two-dimensional flexural member having at least a second cutout window, said second cutout window being transversely disposed through said long dimension of said body, said flexural member being mechanically associated with said spring element, said flexural member disposed along a flexural longitudinal section of said load cell body that is defined by a length of said second cutout window along said long dimension, said flexural member being distally disposed with respect to said spring element along said long dimension of said body; and
having a proximal end adjacent the spring element and an opposite distal end; and(d) an adapter disposed on said top side of said load cell body, said adapter having a first end having a load receiving region, and a second end mechanically associated with the distal end of the flexural member;
the adapter having an unloaded disposition and a loaded disposition in which said first end is depressed with respect to the proximal end of the flexural member;wherein the load receiving region of the adapter is located nearer to the spring element than is the distal end of the flexure element, such that, in the loaded disposition, each of the spring element and the flexural member assumes a respective double-bending configuration in response to a load acting on the load receiving region of said adapter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification