Apparatus, system and method for weighing loads in motion
First Claim
1. An apparatus for weighing a load in motion, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a rigid member having an upper end, a vertically opposed lower end which is oriented toward such load and is axially aligned with said upper end, a first vertical surface portion joining said upper end and said lower end and an opposed second vertical surface portion joining said upper end and said lower end;
(b) a first measuring means attached to said rigid member in a vertical and axial alignment with such load for measuring a force exerted by such load onto said rigid member and for generating at least one force measurement signal, said at least one force measurement signal characterizing said measured force;
(c) a second measuring means attached to said rigid member for measuring a predetermined parameter associated with a motion of such load and for generating at least one motion parameter measurement signal, said at least one motion parameter measurement signal characterizing said measured motion parameter; and
(d) means coupled to each of said first measuring means and said second measuring means for transmitting said at least one force measurement signal and said at least one motion parameter measurement signal to a control means capable of executing a predetermined logic algorithm.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The apparatus for weighing a load in motion includes a rigid member, a plurality of strain gages mounted within the rigid member and forming a Wheatstone bridge network for measuring a force exerted by such load onto the rigid member and an accelerometer mounted within the rigid member for measuring gravitational acceleration of the load. A controller mounted in remote location compensates the measured force according to a measurement from the accelerometer and according to a predetermined algorithm to determine the actual weight of the load. Strain gages and accelerometer are connected to the controller by way of a wiring connection. The apparatus can be easily retrofitted into existing applications, particularly for loading scrap metal by way of a crane.
26 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for weighing a load in motion, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a rigid member having an upper end, a vertically opposed lower end which is oriented toward such load and is axially aligned with said upper end, a first vertical surface portion joining said upper end and said lower end and an opposed second vertical surface portion joining said upper end and said lower end; (b) a first measuring means attached to said rigid member in a vertical and axial alignment with such load for measuring a force exerted by such load onto said rigid member and for generating at least one force measurement signal, said at least one force measurement signal characterizing said measured force; (c) a second measuring means attached to said rigid member for measuring a predetermined parameter associated with a motion of such load and for generating at least one motion parameter measurement signal, said at least one motion parameter measurement signal characterizing said measured motion parameter; and (d) means coupled to each of said first measuring means and said second measuring means for transmitting said at least one force measurement signal and said at least one motion parameter measurement signal to a control means capable of executing a predetermined logic algorithm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. In combination with a load handling apparatus having a load moving portion and a load carrying device and capable of at least one of lifting and horizontally moving a load, the improvement comprising an apparatus for weighing such load in motion, said apparatus including:
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(a) a rigid member having an upper end, a vertically opposed lower end which is oriented toward such load and axially aligned with said upper end, a first vertical surface portion joining said upper end and said lower end and an opposed second vertical surface portion; (b) a first measuring means attached to said rigid member in a vertical and axial alignment with such load for measuring a force exerted by such load onto said rigid member and for generating at least one force measurement signal, said at least one force measurement signal characterizing said measured force; (c) a second measuring means attached to said rigid member for measuring a predetermined parameter associated with a motion of such load and for generating at least one motion parameter measurement signal, said at least one motion parameter measurement signal characterizing said measured movement parameter; (d) means coupled to each of said first measuring means and said second measuring means for transmitting said at least one force measurement signal and said at least one motion parameter measurement signal to a control means capable of executing a predetermined logic algorithm; (e) a first attachment means for attaching said upper end of said rigid member to such load moving portion in a substantially semi-permanent fashion; and (f) a second attachment means for attaching said lower end of said rigid member to such load carrying device in a substantially semi-permanent fashion. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. In combination with a load handling apparatus having a load moving portion and a load carrying device and capable of at least one of lifting and horizontally moving a load, the improvement comprising a system for weighing such load in motion, said system including:
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(a) a control means capable of executing a predetermined logic algorithm; (b) a first measuring means attached to such load carrying device and coupled to said control means for measuring a force exerted by such load onto such load carrying device and for providing at least one force measurement signal to said control means, said at least one force measurement signal characterizing said measured force; (c) a second measuring means attached to such load carrying device and coupled to said control means for measuring a predetermined parameter associated with a motion of such load and for providing at least one parameter measurement signal to said control means, said at least one motion parameter measurement signal characterizing said measured movement parameter; (d) means for coupling said first measuring means and said second measuring means to said control means; and (e) whereby said control means which is mounted remotely from said first measuring means and said second measuring means compensates said measured force in accordance with said measured motion parameter and in accordance with said predetermined logic algorithm for determining an actual mass of such load as it being moved by such load handling apparatus.
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14. In combination with a load handling apparatus having a load moving portion, a load carrying device and a load sensor coupled therebetween, said load sensor having a housing and at least a force measuring member and a motion compensating member mounted within said housing, the improvement comprising means mounted between said motion compensating member and a predetermined portion of said housing for absorbing detrimental shock and vibration forces present in an operating environment of said load handling apparatus.
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15. In combination with a load handling apparatus having a load moving portion, a load carrying device and a load sensor coupled therebetween, said load sensor having at least a force measuring member, a motion compensating member and a control means coupled to said force measuring member and to said motion compensating member and capable of executing a predetermined logic algorithm wherein a measurement from such force measuring member is compensated by a measurement from such motion compensating member to determine an actual weight of such load during motion, the improvement comprising a step of defining by such control means within such predetermined logic algorithm a steady state condition during motion of such load prior to determining such actual weight of such load.
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16. A method of dynamically weighing a load in motion, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) measuring a force exerted by said load onto said load moving apparatus; (b) providing at least one force measurement signal which characterizes said measured force to a control means capable of executing a predetermined logic algorithm; (c) measuring a parameter associated with said motion of said load; (d) providing at least one motion parameter measurement signal which characterizes said measured motion parameter to said control means; (e) defining, by said control means, a steady state condition during said motion of said load; and (f) determining a mass of said load during said steady state condition. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. In combination with a load carrying device having a rigid upper body for attachment to a load handling apparatus and a load carrying portion coupled to such rigid upper body, the improvement comprising:
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(a) a first measuring means mounted within a first predetermined portion of such rigid upper body and in a vertical and axial alignment with such load for measuring a force exerted by such load onto said lifting device and for generating at least one force measurement signal, said at least one force measurement signal characterizing said measured force; and (b) a second measuring means mounted within a second predetermined portion of such rigid upper body for measuring a predetermined parameter associated with a motion of such load and for generating at least one parameter measurement signal, said at least one motion parameter measurement signal characterizing said measured motion parameter; and (c) means coupled to each of said first measuring means and said second measuring means for transmitting said at least one force measurement signal and said at least one motion parameter measurement signal to a control means capable of executing a predetermined logic algorithm.
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Specification