SYSTEM AND METHOD TO MEASURE FORCE OR LOCATION ON AN L-BEAM

• US 20160187210A1
• Filed: 12/31/2014
• Published: 06/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael A. Long, Nate J. Coleman
• Original Assignee: Michael A. Long, Nate J. Coleman
• Inventors: Coleman, Nate J., Long, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US14/588,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20160187210A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/083 lift truck scale

Abstract

Force and location sensing systems and methods are disclosed. A method comprises bending a L-beam at an initially unknown location on a force-supporting portion of the L-beam, the L-beam substantially having a tension side and a compression side, measuring a first local stress at a first location on the tension side, measuring a second local stress at a second location on the tension side, measuring a third local stress at a third location on the compression side, and measuring a fourth local stress at a fourth location on the compression side. A weight-sensing storage system capable of tracking removed items is disclosed with a product image captured via a camera, a plurality of sensors on an L-beam, a first signal from the plurality of sensors indicating a first state prior to change of the product image, and a second signal indicating lower strain on the L-beam than the first signal.

Claims

1. A force-sensing system to measure force on a L-beam, comprising:

an L-beam, the L-beam comprising a force-receiving portion and a leg portion connected at an adjoining portion, wherein the leg portion comprises a compression side and a tension side;

the force-receiving portion is capable of receiving an unknown force “

F”

;

a sum “

S0”

where the sum “

S0”

is derived from a pair of tension-side sensors on the tension side of the leg portion of the L-beam added to a pair of compression-side sensors on the compression side of the leg portion of the L-beam;

a known distance “

b”

substantially equal to the distance between the pair of tension-side sensors;

a constant “

Nc”

, which correlates to the L-beam where Fy=(b)*Nc; and

where the unknown force F=((4*S0)2+Fy2)^0.5.

2. the system of claim 1, where the pair of tension-side sensors are perpendicular to the force-receiving portion.

3. the system of claim 2, where the pair of tension-side sensors are in opposition to the pair of compression-side sensors on the leg portion, and where the pair of tension-side sensors and the pair of compression-side sensors are oriented along the direction of the length of the force-receiving portion.

4. the system of claim 3, where a pair of lateral sensors are transverse to the length of the force-supporting portion of the L-beam such that lateral tilting is detectable.

5. the system of claim 4, where the constant Nc=1/12bh³.