Vibrating beam force transducer with A-frame beam root and frequency adjusting means

• US 4,658,175 A
• Filed: 03/26/1986
• Issued: 04/14/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kearfott Corp. (Astronautics Corporation of America)
• Original Assignee: The Singer Company - Patent Department
• Inventors: Albert, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUDD, MARK OSBORNE
• Application Number:
  US06/844,479
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 310/321, 310/323, 310/324, 310/338, 310/312, 310/367, 310/368, 310/361, 310/25, 310/330-332, 73/777, 73/778, 73/781, 73/141 R, 73/DIG. 1, 73/DIG. 4, 73/517 AV, 73/517 R, 338/2, 338/47, 357/26
• US Class Current: 310/323.21
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/162 using piezoelectric resonators
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/097 by vibratory elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 73/04 Piezoelectric

Abstract

A vibrating beam force transducer includes a piezoelectric beam structure supported at first and second ends, and an oscillator for inducing a vibration in the piezoelectric beam. To permit adjusting the bias frequency of the beam, an adjustment mass is formed at the center of the beam, the adjustment mass made of piezoelectric material. Part of the adjustment mass can be broken off to adjust the bias frequency. The first and second ends are attached to the a support structure by first and second legs at each end of the beam, the legs having an angle therebetween, thereby forming an A-frame mount.

Claims

1. In a vibrating beam force transducer comprising a piezoelectric beam structure having first and second ends, and means for inducing a vibration in the piezoelectric beam, the improvement comprising:

an adjustment mass formed at the center of said beam, said adjustment mass made up of said piezoelectric material, whereby parts of said adjustment mass can be broken off to adjust the bias frequency of said vibrating beam; and

further including first and second legs at each end of said beam for directly mounting said beam to a support structure or mass.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said adjustment mass comprises first and second portions extending perpendicularly from opposite sides of the center of said beam structure.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said vibrating beam has a rectangular cross section with a width greater than its thickness and wherein said adjustment mass portions comprise thin rectangular portions extending perpendicularly from both of the wider sides of said rectangular beam.

15. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transducer is symmetrical and made of a single piece of piezoelectric material.

4. In a vibrating beam force transducer comprising a piezoelectric beam structure having first and second ends and means for inducing a vibration in the piezoelectric beam, the improvement comprising:

an adjustment mass formed at the center of said beam, said adjustment mass made up of said piezoelectric material, whereby parts of said adjustment mass can be broken off to adjust the bias frequency of said vibrating beam;

wherein said first and second ends are attached to a support structure, and further including first and second legs at each end of said beam mounting said beam to said support structure, said legs forming an angle therebetween to thereby form an A-frame mount.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, and further including an isolator structure between each end of said vibrating beam and said support structure.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said transducer is symmetrical.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein all of said transducer is made of a single piece of piezoelectric material.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7, and further including an isolator structure between each end of said vibrating beam and said support structure.

12. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said adjustment mass comprises first and second portions extending perpendicularly from opposite sides of the center of said beam structure.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said vibrating beam has a rectangular cross section with a width greater than its thickness and wherein said adjustment mass portions comprise thin rectangular portions extending perpendicularly from both of the wider sides of said rectangular beam.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said first and second legs at each end of said beam form an angle therebetween.

8. In a vibrating beam force transducer comprising:

a piezoelectric beam structure supported at first and second ends; and

means for inducing a vibration in the piezoelectric beam;

said first and second ends attached to a support structure, the improvement comprising first and second legs at each end of said beam mounting said beam to said support structure, said legs forming an angle therebetween to thereby form an A-frame mount.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said transducer is symmetrical.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein all of said transducer is made of a single piece of piezoelectric material.

16. In a vibrating beam force transducer comprising a piezoelectric beam structure having first and second ends, a pair of isolator means, and means for inducing a vibration in the piezoelectric beam, the improvement comprising:

an adjustment mass formed at the center of said beam, said adjustment mass made up of said piezoelectric material, whereby parts of said adjustment mass can be broken off to adjust the bias of frequency of said vibrating beam; and

further including first and second legs at each end of said beam for mounting said beam to said isolator means.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said adjustment mass comprises first and second portions extending perpendicularly from opposite sides of the center of said beam structure.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said vibrating beam has a rectangular cross section with a width greater than its thickness and wherein said adjustment mass portions comprises thin rectangular portions extending perpendicularly from both of the wider sides of said rectangular beam.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said first and second legs at each end of said beam form an angle therebetween.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said transducer is symmetrical and made of a single piece of piezoelectric material.