Platform balance
First Claim
1. A transducer body, comprising:
- a support comprising a pair of clevis halves; and
a sensor body coupled to each of the clevis halves, wherein the sensor body is disposed between the clevis halves and adapted to deflect along two orthogonal sensed axes and be rigid along a third axis that is mutually orthogonal to the sensed axes, wherein the sensor body includes a generally rigid peripheral member disposed about a spaced-apart central hub, the central hub being joined to each of the clevis halves, wherein at least three flexure structures couple the peripheral member to the central hub, and wherein the flexure structures are spaced-apart from each other at generally equal angle intervals about the central hub; and
wherein the flexure structures are arranged to be compliant and deflect along the two orthogonal axes and be rigid along the third axis.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to a platform balance that is suitable for transmitting forces and moments in a plurality of directions. The platform balance is adapted to support a test specimen, such as a large vehicle, in a test environment such as a wind tunnel. The platform balance includes a frame support and at least three spaced-apart transducers coupled to the frame support. Each of the transducers is sensitive about two orthogonal sensed axes. The transducers cooperate to provide signals indicative of forces and moments with respect to at least two orthogonal axes. Each transducer includes a transducer body having a support coupled to a sensor body along an axis of compliance. The sensor body is adapted to deflect about the two orthogonal sensed axes where the sensed axes are mutually orthogonal to the axis of compliance.
65 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A transducer body, comprising:
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a support comprising a pair of clevis halves; and a sensor body coupled to each of the clevis halves, wherein the sensor body is disposed between the clevis halves and adapted to deflect along two orthogonal sensed axes and be rigid along a third axis that is mutually orthogonal to the sensed axes, wherein the sensor body includes a generally rigid peripheral member disposed about a spaced-apart central hub, the central hub being joined to each of the clevis halves, wherein at least three flexure structures couple the peripheral member to the central hub, and wherein the flexure structures are spaced-apart from each other at generally equal angle intervals about the central hub; and
wherein the flexure structures are arranged to be compliant and deflect along the two orthogonal axes and be rigid along the third axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A transducer body, comprising:
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a support comprising a pair of clevis halves; and a first body coupled to each of the clevis halves, wherein the first body is disposed between the clevis halves and adapted to deflect along two orthogonal axes and be rigid along a third axis that is mutually orthogonal to the two orthogonal axes;
wherein each of the clevis halves are rigid along the two orthogonal axes and compliant along the third axis. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A transducer body, comprising:
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a support comprising a pair of clevis halves; and a body coupled to each of the clevis halves, wherein the body is disposed between the clevis halves and adapted to deflect along two orthogonal axes and be rigid along a third axis that is mutually orthogonal to the two orthogonal axes; a pivot connection joining the body to the clevis halves allowing pivoting motion of the body relative to the clevis halves about an axis extending through the body and the clevis halves, wherein the pivot connection is a plurality of orthogonally arranged flexures.
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30. A transducer body, comprising:
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a first body; a second body having a rigid peripheral member disposed about a rigid central hub, wherein at least three flexure structures couple the peripheral member to the central hub, and wherein the flexure structures are spaced-apart from each other at generally equal angle intervals about the central hub; a third body having a rigid peripheral member disposed about a rigid central hub, wherein at least three flexure structures couple the peripheral member to the central hub, wherein the flexure structures are spaced-apart from each other at generally equal angle intervals about the central hub; wherein the central hubs of the second and third bodies are joined to the first body on opposite sides of the first body and wherein the flexure structures of the second and third bodies are arranged to be compliant and deflect along two orthogonal axes and be rigid along a third axis; a first flexure joined to the first body; a second flexure joined to the second and third bodies; and wherein the first flexure and second flexure are each arranged to be rigid along the two orthogonal axes and compliant along the third axis. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. A transducer body, comprising:
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a support comprising a pair of clevis halves; a sensor body coupled to each of the clevis halves, wherein the sensor body is disposed between the clevis halves and adapted to deflect along two orthogonal sensed axes and be rigid along a third axis that is mutually orthogonal to the sensed axes; a first flexure joined to the sensor body; a second flexure joined to the support; and wherein the first flexure and second flexure are each arranged to be rigid along the two orthogonal sensed axes and compliant along the third axis. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification