LOAD SENSOR

• US 20180340849A1
• Filed: 05/23/2018
• Published: 11/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: FUJII, Hiroyuki, Nakaya, Shintaro
• Granted Patent: US 10,473,537 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/12 having electrical weight-sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/2206 Special supports with preselected places to mount the resistance strain gauges; Mounting of supports
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/2231 the supports being disc- or ring-shaped, adapted for measuring a force along a single direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/26 Auxiliary measures taken, or devices used, in connection with the measurement of force, e.g. for preventing influence of transverse components of force, for preventing overload

Abstract

A load sensor disposed between a first member and a second member to detect a load applied to the first member in an up-down direction, the load sensor includes a strain body including a strain gauge, a first fixation member fixing the strain body and the first member to each other, a second fixation member fixing the strain body and the second member to each other, and a restriction portion restricting a displacement of the strain body in a state where the first member is displaced upward by a predetermined distance relative to the second member based on the upward load applied to the first member.

Claims

1. A load sensor disposed between a first member and a second member to detect a load applied to the first member in an up-down direction, the load sensor comprising:

a strain body including a strain gauge;

a first fixation member fixing the strain body and the first member to each other;

a second fixation member fixing the strain body and the second member to each other; and

a restriction portion restricting a displacement of the strain body in a state where the first member is displaced upward by a predetermined distance relative to the second member based on the upward load applied to the first member.

2. The load sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the second fixation member includes a fastening member integrally including a head portion which is positioned at an upper side of the strain body to extend through the first member, a shaft portion which is positioned at a lower side of the head portion to protrude downward, the shaft portion extending through the strain body to be tightened to the second member, and the restriction portion, the fastening member holding the strain body by sandwiching the strain body between the head portion and the second member,

the restriction portion is a flange provided to protrude at an end portion of the head portion, the end portion extending through the first member, the flange being contactable with the first member in a state where the first member is displaced upward by the predetermined distance relative to the second member based on an upward load applied to the first member.

3. The load sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the restriction portion is mounted at the second fixation member and is arranged in a state where the strain body is contactable with the restriction portion in a direction where the strain body is deformed by a load applied to the first member in the up-down direction.

4. The load sensor according to claim 3, wherein

the second fixation member includes a bush mounted at the strain body and a fastening member tightened to the second member in a state where the fastening member and the strain body are together fitted to the bush,

the restriction portion is mounted at the bush.

5. The load sensor according to claim 1, wherein the restriction portion includes a first restriction member disposed between the strain body and the first member and including a first folding-back portion and a second restriction member disposed between the strain body and the second member and including a second folding-back portion, the first folding-back portion and the second folding-back portion being positioned in an alternating manner so that the second folding-back portion makes contact with the first folding-back portion in a case where a relative position of the second folding-back portion in the up-down direction relative to the first folding-back portion is displaced by the predetermined distance by a load applied to the first member in the up-down direction.

6. The load sensor according to claim 5, wherein

the first fixation member includes a fixture mounted at the strain body and a nut tightened to an end portion of the fixture, the end portion extending through the first member,

the second fixation member includes a bush mounted at the strain body and a bolt tightened to the second member in a state where the bolt and the strain body are together fitted to the bush,

the first restriction member and the second restriction member are mounted at the fixture and the bush respectively.