Balance

• US 5,895,894 A
• Filed: 04/17/1997
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mettler Toledo GmbH
• Original Assignee: Mettler Toledo GmbH
• Inventors: Zumbach, Melchior
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US08/837,372
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 177/180, 177/185, 177/211, 177/229, 73/863.634, 73/863.639
• US Class Current: 177/180
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/30 Means for preventing contamination by dust

Abstract

A balance includes a weighing cell which is surrounded by an elastic tubular bellows or a soft-elastic hose without ribs and is protected against the penetration of dust and water, wherein one end of the bellows or hose is attached to the stationary end of the weighing cell and the other end of the bellows is attached to the load-receiving deflectable end of the weighing cell. At least one bending-stiff support pipe which surrounds the weighing cell in the area of the bellows or hose is placed in the interior of the bellows or hose.

Claims

1. A balance comprising a weighing cell having a first stationary end and load-receiving deflectable second end, an elastic tubular bellows surrounding the weighing cell for protecting against penetrating dust and water, the bellows having an interior and a length, further comprising a bending-stiff support pipe surrounding the weighing cell in the interior of the bellows and extending at least over a portion of the length of the bellows.

2. The balance according to claim 1, further comprising cup-shaped members surrounding the first and second ends of the weighing cells, wherein the bellows has ends, the ends of the bellows being fastened to the cup-shaped members.

3. The balance according to claim 1, wherein the support pipe is fastened to one of the first and second ends of the weighing cell.

4. The balance according to claim 2, wherein the support pipe is fastened to one of the two cup-shaped members.

5. The balance according to claim 1, wherein the support pipe comprises two support pipe portions, wherein one of the support pipe portions each is fastened to the first and second ends of the weighing cell.

6. The balance according to claim 2, wherein the support pipe comprises two support pipe portions, and wherein each support pipe portion is fastened to one of the two cup-shaped members.

7. The balance according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the support pipe portions is monolithically integrated in one of the cup-shaped members.

8. The balance according to claim 1, wherein the support pipe has an outer circumferential surface, and wherein inwardly directed crowns of the bellows are located at a distance from an outer circumferential surface of the support pipe.

9. The balance according to claim 1, wherein the bellows has outwardly facing crowns, and wherein inwardly directed circumferential ribs are mounted on inner sides of the crowns of the bellows.

10. The balance according to claim 1, wherein the bellows has outwardly facing crowns, and wherein rings of synthetic material or metal are mounted on inner sides of the crowns of the bellows.

11. The balance according to claim 2, wherein the bellows, the cup-shaped members and the at least one support pipe have a round cross-section.

12. The balance according to claim 2, wherein the bellows, the cup-shaped members and the at least one support pipe have a polygonal cross-section.

13. A balance comprising a weighing cell having a first stationary end and a load-receiving deflectable second end, a soft-elastic hose without ribs surrounding the weighing cell for protecting against penetrating dust and water, the hose having an interior and a length, further comprising a bending-stiff support pipe surrounding the weighing cell in the interior of the hose and extending at least over a portion of the length of the hose.