Strain-gauge transducer

• US 5,287,757 A
• Filed: 03/05/1992
• Issued: 02/22/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Hazan, Jean-Pierre, Maniguet, Francois, Polaert, Remy
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr., Richard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BIEGEL, RONALD L
• Application Number:
  US07/846,371
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 73/161, 73/720, 73/862.627, 73/862.632, 73/862.634, 73/862.474, 73/862.637, 73/862.639, 73/720, 73/726, 177/211, 177/229
• US Class Current: 73/862.627
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 3/1402 Special supports with preselected places to mount the resistance strain gauges; Mounting of supports
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/2206 Special supports with preselected places to mount the resistance strain gauges; Mounting of supports
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/26 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 strain-gauge transducer comprises a strain gauge enclosed between pressure members which deform the strain gauge, the strain gauge comprising a plate-shaped substrate provided with strain-detection elements. At least one spring having a flexibility larger than that of the substrate is arranged between the strain gauge and at least one of the pressure members, said substrate and said spring being in contact with one another so as to be jointly subjected to deformations. The spring may be a blade spring, a helical spring, or a cylindrical buffer spring. The excursions of the pressure members can be limited by means of stops. In the case of a blade spring the contact between the substrate and the spring can be controlled by giving the substrate a toothed shape or by providing it with contact elements.

Claims

1. A strain-gauge transducer comprising:

a strain gauge enclosed between pressure members, the strain gauge including a plate-shaped substrate provided with strain-detection elements,

at least one spring disposed between said substrate and one of the pressure members so as to be deformed in conjunction with said substrate by force exerted by the pressure members wherein said substrate exclusively contacts said spring in an arrangement such that the substrate is not connected to the spring, said spring having a flexibility larger than that of the substrate.

2. A transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring is a curved blade spring.

3. A transducer as claimed in claim 1, said substrate being subject to movement relative to at least one of the pressure members wherein said movement is limited by stops which prevent the substrate from breaking.

4. A transducer as claimed in claim 2, wherein said curved blade spring has a concave surface or a convex surface, edges of said substrate being in contact with said spring at the side of said concave surface.

5. A transducer as claimed in claim 4, wherein, for limiting the movement of said substrate towards said spring, at least one stop is arranged either on at least one of a central part of said substrate and on a central part of said spring, the two central parts facing each other.

6. A transducer as claimed in claim 4, wherein, for limiting the movement of said substrate towards said spring, a hole is formed in a central part of said spring to allow the passage of a stop arranged on the pressure member supporting said spring.

7. A transducer as claimed in claim 4 wherein of said substrate which are in contact with said spring have a toothed shape.

8. A transducer as claimed in claim 4 wherein the edges of said substrate are in contact with said spring by means of contact elements.

9. A transducer as claimed in claim 8, wherein the contact elements are interconnected.

10. A transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the curved blade spring has a concave surface and a convex surface, a central part of said substrate being in contact with a central part of said spring at the side of the convex surface.

11. A transducer as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one stop is arranged on at least one of the end portions of the substrate and one of the pressure members.

12. A transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring is a helical spring.

13. A transducer as claimed in claim 12, wherein said substrate is subject to movement relative to at least one of the pressure members, said movement being limited by stops arranged on at least one of the pressure members and the substrate.