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Decoupling suspension system for an oscillating element microbalance

  • US 4,696,181 A
  • Filed: 04/10/1986
  • Issued: 09/29/1987
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1986
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. Mass measuring apparatus comprising:

  • a microbalance having an elongate elastic element which can be excited to oscillate at a resonant frequency, said element having a longitudinal axis, one end of said element being available to support a specimen to be measured and being free to oscillate, the other end of said element being anchored to the base of a housing, the housing at least partially enclosing said element, the mass of said specimen being measured by monitoring changes in the resonant frequency of the oscillating element;

    a support member; and

    suspension means connected to and between said support member and housing for suspending said microbalance from said support member, said suspension means extending along a first axis which intersects an instant center of rotation of said microbalance, said instant center of rotation comprising a single location on said longitudinal axis which would experience no translation were the microbalance operated unsupported in a gravity free environment, whereby vibration losses from the oscillating element and external mechanical perturbations to the microbalance are minimized.

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