FLUID CONTAINER MEASUREMENT SYSTEM
First Claim
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1. A fluid container measurement system, comprising:
- a load measurement assembly comprising;
a load cell having a principal load axis substantially orthogonal to a ground; and
a measurement control circuit electrically coupled to the load cell, the measurement control circuit configured to receive electrical signals from the load cell indicative of a force imposed on the load cell;
a support member mechanically linked to the load cell, the support member configured to support a fluid container such that a downward force applied by a weight of the fluid container on the support member is applied to the load cell to determine the weight of the fluid container; and
at least one strain relief configured to support a length of a tube in fluid communication with the fluid container to reduce a strain force of a supported portion of the tube and prevent the strain force from unduly influencing the force imposed on the load cell.
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Abstract
A fluid container measurement system is disclosed. The fluid container measurement system is configured to suspend a load measurement assembly a distance above a support surface. The load measurement assembly houses a load cell and a measurement control circuit. The measurement control circuit is coupled to the load cell and configured to receive electrical signals indicative of a force imposed on the load cell. Electrical signals generated by the load cell indicative of the force exerted on the load cell can be used to measure the fluid container attached to the load cell linkage member.
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Citations
59 Claims
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1. A fluid container measurement system, comprising:
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a load measurement assembly comprising; a load cell having a principal load axis substantially orthogonal to a ground; and a measurement control circuit electrically coupled to the load cell, the measurement control circuit configured to receive electrical signals from the load cell indicative of a force imposed on the load cell; a support member mechanically linked to the load cell, the support member configured to support a fluid container such that a downward force applied by a weight of the fluid container on the support member is applied to the load cell to determine the weight of the fluid container; and at least one strain relief configured to support a length of a tube in fluid communication with the fluid container to reduce a strain force of a supported portion of the tube and prevent the strain force from unduly influencing the force imposed on the load cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A fluid container assembly, comprising:
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a fluid container; a tube connected to and extending from the fluid container, the tube in fluid communication with the fluid container; and an indicator positioned on the tube at a length from the fluid container for detection by a sensor of a fluid container measurement system, the length corresponding to a supported portion of the tube to be supported by the fluid container measurement system to reduce a strain force of the supported portion of the tube and prevent the strain force from unduly influencing the force imposed on a load cell. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of measuring a fluid container, comprising:
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attaching a fluid container to be measured to a support member of a fluid container measurement system; attaching a tube in fluid communication with the fluid container to at least one strain relief to support a predefined length of the tube to reduce a strain force of a supported portion of the tube; obtaining a load measurement, by a measurement control circuit in a load measurement assembly of the fluid container measurement system, by measuring the fluid container based on an electrical signal received from a load cell indicative of force of the fluid container imposed on the load cell, the load cell having a principal load axis substantially orthogonal to a ground, the at least one strain relief preventing the strain force from unduly influencing the force imposed on the load cell; setting, by the measurement control circuit, a new baseline load measurement equal to the load measurement if the load measurement is less than a difference between a previous baseline load measurement and a baseline reset threshold load measurement; adding, by the measurement control circuit, a difference between the load measurement and the previous baseline load measurement to a running total if the load measurement is greater than the previous baseline load measurement plus a noise floor threshold load measurement; and setting, by the measurement control circuit, a new baseline load measurement equal to the load measurement if the load measurement is greater than the previous baseline load measurement plus the noise floor threshold load measurement. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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Specification