Swing and roll load cell mount for a weigh scale

• US 6,177,639 B1
• Filed: 04/09/1999
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Glenn R. Feilner
• Original Assignee: Glenn R. Feilner
• Inventors: Feilner, Glenn R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US09/288,607
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 177/132, 177/133, 177/134, 177/255, 177/DIG.9
• US Class Current: 177/134
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/02 for weighing wheeled or rolling bodies, e.g. vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/23 Support or suspension of weighing platforms G01G21/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 177/09 Scale bearings

Abstract

A swing and roll load cell mount for a weigh scale is provided, including a weigh bridge, a saddle mounted to the weigh bridge, the saddle having an upper surface adapted for attachment to the weigh bridge, and having a pair of downwardly extending arms having substantially semi-circular cut-outs in bottom edges of the arms, a bottom pin on which the cut-outs of the arms rest, the arms being freely rotatable on the bottom pin, a pair of link plates having a top hole and a bottom hole, with the bottom pin extending through the bottom hole of the pair of link plates and being freely rotatable within the link plates, with the link plates being spaced apart, a top pin extending through the top hole of the pair of link plates and being freely rotatable within the link plates, a base, and a compression type load cell mounted on the base and having a substantially hourglass shaped medial groove, with the top pin resting in the medial groove of the load cell and the bottom pin passing below the load cell, wherein the saddle is supported in a manner that allows the saddle to swing longitudinally on a combination of the top and bottom pins and the pair of link plates, and further allows the top pin to roll transversely on the medial groove of the load cell.

Claims

1. A swing and roll load cell mount, comprising:

a weigh bridge;

a saddle mounted to said weigh bridge, said saddle having an upper surface adapted for attachment to said weigh bridge, and having a pair of downwardly extending arms having substantially semi-circular cut-outs in bottom edges of said arms;

a bottom pin on which said cut-outs of said arms rest, said arms being freely rotatable on said bottom pin;

a pair of link plates having a top hole and a bottom hole, with said bottom pin extending through said bottom hole of said pair of link plates and being freely rotatable within said link plates, with said link plates being spaced apart;

a top pin, said top pin extending through said top hole of said pair of link plates and being freely rotatable within said link plates;

a base; and

a compression load cell mounted on said base and having a substantially hourglass shaped medial groove, with said top pin resting in said medial groove of said load cell and said bottom pin passing below said load cell;

wherein said saddle is supported in a manner that allows said saddle and said weigh bridge to swing longitudinally on a combination of said top and bottom pins and said pair of link plates, and further allows said top pin to roll transversely on said medial groove of said load cell while maintaining a load force in a substantially centered position on said load cell.

2. The swing and roll load cell mount of claim 1, wherein said top pin further includes a substantially hourglass shaped medial groove.

3. The swing and roll load cell mount of claim 2, wherein said hourglass shaped medial groove of said top pin substantially matches said hourglass shaped medial groove of said load cell.

4. The swing and roll load cell mount of claim 1, wherein said base further includes two piers, with each pier receiving an end of said load cell.

5. The swing and roll load cell mount of claim 4, wherein each pier of said two piers has a cut-out on a side of said each pier facing a center of said load cell, wherein said cut-out allows said load cell more ability to deform.

6. The swing and roll load cell mount of claim 1, wherein said top and bottom pins have portions of a reduced diameter whereby said top and bottom pins are retained in said pair of link plates.

7. The swing and roll load cell mount of claim 6, wherein said link plates are retained by said reduced diameter portions of said top and bottom pins.

8. The swing and roll load cell mount of claim 1, wherein a self-centering capability of said swing and roll load cell mount removes a need for an exactly level base for said weigh scale.

9. The swing and roll load cell mount of claim 1, wherein any motion imparted to said weigh scale is absorbed by a resulting motion of said load cell mount.

10. The swing and roll load cell mount of claim 1, wherein said top pin is not forced to rotate on said load cell when said load cell mount swings.

11. A swing and roll load cell mount for a weigh scale, comprising:

a weigh bridge;

a saddle mounted to said weigh bridge, said saddle having an upper surface adapted for attachment to said weigh bridge, and having a pair of downwardly extending arms having substantially semi-circular cut-outs in bottom edges of said arms;

a bottom pin on which said cut-outs of said arms rest, said arms being freely rotatable on said bottom pin;

a pair of link plates having a top hole and a bottom hole, with said bottom pin extending through said bottom hole of said pair of link plates and being freely rotatable within said link plates, with said link plates being spaced apart;

a top pin, said top pin extending through said top hole of said pair of link plates and being freely rotatable within said link plates, said top pin further having a substantially hourglass shaped medial groove;

a base, including two piers, with each pier of said pair of piers receiving an end of said load cell, with each said pier having a cut-out on a side of said each pier facing a center of said load cell, with said cut-out allowing said load cell more ability to deform; and

a compression load cell mounted on said base and having a substantially hourglass shaped medial groove, with said hourglass shaped medial groove of said top pin resting in and substantially matching said hourglass shaped medial groove of said load cell, with said bottom pin passing below said load cell;

wherein said saddle is supported in a manner that allows said saddle and said weigh bridge to swing longitudinally on a combination of said top and bottom pins and said pair of link plates, and further allows said top pin to roll transversely on said medial groove of said load cell while maintaining a load force in a substantially centered position on said load cell.

12. The swing and roll load cell mount of claim 11, wherein said top and bottom pins have portions of a reduced diameter whereby said top and bottom pins are retained in said pair of link plates.

13. The swing and roll load cell mount of claim 12, wherein said link plates are retained by said reduced diameter portions of said top and bottom pins.

14. The swing and roll load cell mount of claim 11, wherein a self-centering capability of said swing and roll load cell mount removes a need for an exactly level base for said weigh scale.

15. The swing and roll load cell mount of claim 11, wherein any motion imparted to said weigh scale is absorbed by a resulting motion of said load cell mount.

16. The swing and roll load cell mount of claim 11, wherein said top pin is not forced to rotate on said load cell when said load cell mount swings.