Helical load cell
First Claim
1. A load cell for detecting compressive and tensile loads comprising:
- a helical coil; and
first and second strain gage modules disposed in diametrically opposite locations upon said helical coil;
each of said strain gage modules having a first transducer element oriented substantially at forty-five degrees relative to a neutral axis of said helical coil and further having a second transducer element disposed proximate said first transducer element and oriented substantially at ninety degrees relative to said first transducer element.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A helical load cell is disclosed which is capable of accurately measuring axially applied forces, whether the force is applied axially within the diameter of the helical coil or outside of the coil diameter. A pair of strain gage modules are disposed on diametrically opposed surfaces of the coil. Each module includes a pair of transducer elements disposed orthogonally with respect to each other and at forty-five degrees relative to a neutral axis of the coil. The modules are coupled in an additive bridge circuit arrangement. In one embodiment, the modules are disposed along the outside diameter of the coil. In another embodiment, the modules are disposed along the inside diameter of the coil. In yet another embodiment, the modules are dispose on the upper or lower surface of the coil. In yet another embodiment, a second pair of strain gage modules is provided and coupled in a subtractive bridge circuit. The second pair of modules provides information as to the location of the applied load.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A load cell for detecting compressive and tensile loads comprising:
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a helical coil; and first and second strain gage modules disposed in diametrically opposite locations upon said helical coil; each of said strain gage modules having a first transducer element oriented substantially at forty-five degrees relative to a neutral axis of said helical coil and further having a second transducer element disposed proximate said first transducer element and oriented substantially at ninety degrees relative to said first transducer element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A helical load cell comprising:
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a helical coil for receiving a compressive or a tensile load; a first pair of transducers, each of said first transducers having a plurality of grid elements; and a second pair of transducers, each of said second transducers having a plurality of grid elements; each pair of said transducers mounted along a neutral axis of said helical coil and in diametrically opposed relation to the other pair; each of said transducers mounted symmetrically about said neutral axis such that said grid elements thereof are oriented substantially forty-five degrees relative said neutral axis; said transducers connected in a bridge circuit arrangement. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of manufacturing a load cell comprising the steps of:
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winding a length of wire to form a helical coil; mounting a first transducer along a first neutral axis of said helical coil; mounting a second transducer along said first neutral axis and adjacent to said first transducer; mounting a third transducer along a second neutral axis of said helical coil and diametrically opposite said first and second transducers; mounting a fourth transducer along said second neutral axis and adjacent to said third transducer; and coupling said transducers in a bridge circuit arrangement; each of said transducers having a plurality of parallel grid elements; each of said steps of mounting including (i) aligning said transducers symmetrically about said first or second neutral axis and (ii) aligning said grid elements at a substantially forty-five degree angle relative to said first or second neutral axis. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A load coil comprising:
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a helical spring coil element; a first pair of transducer means for sensing a force applied to said spring, each of said first transducer means disposed upon said spring element in a diametrically opposed manner along a first neutral axis thereof; and a second pair of transducer means for sensing a force applied to said spring, each of said second transducer means disposed upon said spring element in a diametrically opposed manner along a second neutral axis thereof; each of said transducer means including first and second transducer elements, each positioned forty-five degrees relative to a neutral axis of said spring; said first pair of transducer means coupled as an additive bridge circuit; said second pair of transducer means coupled as a subtractive bridge circuit. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification