Sensor for measuring elongations

• US 5,284,062 A
• Filed: 03/12/1992
• Issued: 02/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Straintec AG
• Original Assignee: Straintec AG
• Inventors: Ryffel, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): RAEVIS, ROBERT R
• Application Number:
  US07/850,130
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 73/768, 73/774, 73/777-780, 73/784, 73/786, 340/690
• US Class Current: 73/768
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0004 Force transducers adapted for mounting in a bore of the force receiving structure G01L5/0009 takes precedence

Abstract

The sensor which is adapted to e inserted into a bore includes a cylinder-shaped body made of an elastomeric material and four resistive wire strains are uniformly distributed around its circumference. This body of an elastic material can be pressed together by means of tensioning members. This causes a deformation of the body in radial direction, such that the resistive wire strains are pressed against the wall of the bore and contact same in a force-locked manner. At the same time, the sensor is held arrested in the bore. Accordingly, an elongation of the structural member is directly transmitted onto the resistive wire strains, such that errors in the signal transmission are avoided.

Claims

1. A sensor for measuring the elongation of material surrounding a structure member in a bore, comprising a cylinder-shaped body made of an elastomeric material, and at least ne resistive wire strain gauge arranged on the circumference of said cylinder-shaped body, a means for pressing said at least one resistive wire straing gauge against the inner wall of the bore in such a manner that said at least one resistive wire straing gauge is in contact with the inner wall by resistive forces in a force-locked manner in order to measure the elongation caused by an acting of force onto the structure member having the bore.

2. The sensor of claim 1, in which said cylinder-shaped body is a hollow body filled by a liquid.

3. The sensor of claim 1, comprising at least four resistive wire strain gauges.

4. The sensor of claim 1, in which said bore is a blind hole and said cylinder-shaped body includes a portion which matches the base of said bore, and in which said pressing means comprises a threaded bolt which, in order to exert a pressure onto said cylinder-shaped body, is adapted to be screwed into said bore in order to press said at least one resistive wire strain gauges against the inner wall of the bore.

5. The sensor of claim 4, comprising an intermediate piece located between said cylinder-shaped body and said threaded bolt.

6. The sensor of claim 1, in which the cylinder-shaped body includes a through bore extending axially therethrough and in which the pressing means includes a threaded bolt having a head portion at one end and a threaded portion at the other end arranged in such a manner that a shaft portion having a smooth surface is positioned between the ends on which smooth surface the cylinder-shaped body is located;

further including a cylinder-shaped intermediate member having an axial through bore and which contacts at one face end the cylinder-shaped body and is located on the threaded bolt, and including a tensioning nut which is threaded onto said threaded portion of said threaded bolt;

whereby the cylinder-shaped body, which is positioned between the head portion and the intermediate member, is adapted to be deformed by the pressure caused by this threaded structure in such a manner that the at least one resistive wire strain is pressed against the inner wall of the bore.

7. The sensor of claim 1, in which the pressing means comprises connection wires for the resistive wire strain gauge and recess means for accessing said connection wires.

8. A sensor for measuring the elongation of material in which a bore is disposed, comprising a cylinder-shaped body made of an elastomeric material, and at least one resistive wire strain gauge arranged on the circumference of said cylinder-shaped body, means for pressing said at least one resistive wire straing gauge against the inner wall of the bore in such a manner that said at least one resistive wire straing gauge is in contact with the inner wall by resistive forces in a manner which measures the elongation caused by the action of the resistive force onto the cylinder shaped body within the bore.