Forklift scale, load cell thereof and method of measuring a forklift load
First Claim
1. A forklift scale to measure a load carried by a pair of forks of a forklift that includes a fork carriage to movably position the forks, the forklift scale comprising:
- a pair of load cells, each load cell configured to mount to the fork carriage independent of the other and to removably receive a respective fork of the forklift, and wherein each load cell includes a structural arrangement that couples the respective fork to the fork carriage during operation such that an entirety of the load carried by the forks is transmitted to the fork carriage via the pair of load cells, the structural arrangement of each load cell including an elongated, vertically oriented structural member having a vertically oriented aperture extending entirely through a width of the elongated, vertically oriented structural member, the elongated, vertically oriented structural member being configured to deform elastically in response to a load carried by the forks to generate load signals from strain gauges positioned at upper and lower ends of the elongated, vertically oriented structural member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A forklift scale to measure a load carried by a pair of forks of a forklift that includes a fork carriage to movably position the forks. The forklift scale includes a pair of load cells that are configured to mount to the fork carriage independent of each other and to removably receive a respective fork of the forklift. Each load cell includes a structural arrangement that couples the respective fork to the fork carriage during operation such that an entirety of the load carried by the forks during operation is transmitted to the carriage via the pair of load cells. Other related forklift scales, load cells thereof and methods of measuring a forklift load are also provided.
30 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A forklift scale to measure a load carried by a pair of forks of a forklift that includes a fork carriage to movably position the forks, the forklift scale comprising:
a pair of load cells, each load cell configured to mount to the fork carriage independent of the other and to removably receive a respective fork of the forklift, and wherein each load cell includes a structural arrangement that couples the respective fork to the fork carriage during operation such that an entirety of the load carried by the forks is transmitted to the fork carriage via the pair of load cells, the structural arrangement of each load cell including an elongated, vertically oriented structural member having a vertically oriented aperture extending entirely through a width of the elongated, vertically oriented structural member, the elongated, vertically oriented structural member being configured to deform elastically in response to a load carried by the forks to generate load signals from strain gauges positioned at upper and lower ends of the elongated, vertically oriented structural member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A forklift scale to measure a load carried by a pair of forks of a forklift having a fork carriage to movably position the forks, the forklift scale comprising:
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a first load cell having a deformable body configured to mount directly to the fork carriage and being configured to removably receive one of the pair of forks of the forklift; and a second load cell having a deformable body configured to mount directly to the fork carriage and being configured to removably receive the other one of the pair of forks of the forklift, wherein the first load cell and the second load cell are independently attachable to the fork carriage, and wherein the deformable body of each of the first and second load cells is elongated and vertically oriented, includes a vertically oriented aperture extending entirely through a width thereof, and is configured to deform elastically in response to a load carried by the forks to generate load signals from strain gauges positioned at upper and lower ends thereof.
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17. A load cell to measure a portion of a load carried by a pair of forks of a forklift that includes a fork carriage to movably position the forks, the load cell comprising:
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an elongated, vertically oriented structural member including opposing side portions separated by a primary, vertically oriented aperture extending entirely through a width of the elongated, vertically oriented structural member and extending at least a majority of a height of the elongated structural member, the elongated, vertically oriented structural member further including at least one pair of parallel offset horizontal strain gauge mounting surfaces at each of opposing upper and lower ends of the elongated, vertically oriented structural member, and the elongated, vertically oriented structural member being configured to deform elastically in response to a load carried by the forks to generate load signals from strain gauges positioned at the horizontal strain gauge mounting surfaces at the upper and lower ends of the elongated, vertically oriented structural member; carriage engagement features configured to removably attach to complementary features of the fork carriage; and fork engagement features configured to removably attach to complementary features of one of the forks. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification