Cable load sensing device
First Claim
1. Load sensor apparatus for sensing the magnitude of a load on a cable as the cable is employed to support the load, comprising;
- (a) a non-load bearing beam structure, wherein the beam structure does not bear a load in the axial direction of the cable;
(b) means for slidably attaching said beam structure to said cable so that a length of cable lies along said beam structure;
(c) spacer means associated with said beam structure for forcing a slight curvature in a portion of said length of cable under a no-load condition so that said portion of said length of cable is spaced from said beam structure to define a cable curved portion; and
(d) sensing means secured to said beam structure;
whereby as said cable is employed to support a load the load causes said cable curved portion to exert a force normal to said cable through said spacer means and on said beam structure to deform said beam structure as said cable curved portion attempts to straighten under the load and said sensing means detects the magnitude of the normal strain on said beam structure during said deformation which is proportional to the magnitude of the load on said cable.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for sensing the magnitude of a load on a cable as the cable is employed to support the load includes a beam structure clamped to the cable so that a length of the cable lies along the beam structure. A spacer associated with the beam structure forces a slight curvature in a portion of the length of cable under a cable "no-load" condition so that the portion of the length of cable is spaced from the beam structure to define a cable curved portion. A strain gauge circuit including strain gauges is secured to the beam structure by welding. As the cable is employed to support a load the load causes the cable curved portion to exert a force normal to the cable through the spacer and on the beam structure to deform the beam structure as the cable curved portion attempts to straighten under the load. As this deformation takes place, the resistance of the strain gauges is set to a value proportional to the magnitude of the normal strain on the beam structure during such deformation. The magnitude of the normal strain is manipulated in a control device to generate a value equal to the magnitude or weight of the load supported by the cable.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. Load sensor apparatus for sensing the magnitude of a load on a cable as the cable is employed to support the load, comprising;
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(a) a non-load bearing beam structure, wherein the beam structure does not bear a load in the axial direction of the cable; (b) means for slidably attaching said beam structure to said cable so that a length of cable lies along said beam structure; (c) spacer means associated with said beam structure for forcing a slight curvature in a portion of said length of cable under a no-load condition so that said portion of said length of cable is spaced from said beam structure to define a cable curved portion; and (d) sensing means secured to said beam structure;
whereby as said cable is employed to support a load the load causes said cable curved portion to exert a force normal to said cable through said spacer means and on said beam structure to deform said beam structure as said cable curved portion attempts to straighten under the load and said sensing means detects the magnitude of the normal strain on said beam structure during said deformation which is proportional to the magnitude of the load on said cable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification