Measurement device and seating arrangement

• US 6,931,947 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2002
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sartorius Weighing Technology GmbH (Sartorius AG)
• Original Assignee: Sartorius AG
• Inventors: Engelhardt, Herbert, Golla, Lothar, Schulze, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Noori, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): Martir, Lilybett
• Application Number:
  US10/325,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20030136202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 738/26, 738/18, 738/620.45, 738/623.91, 738/623.81
• US Class Current: 73/862.381
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4142 for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 177/09 Scale bearings

Abstract

A measurement device (10; 110; 210) and associated seating arrangement, in particular for measuring a weight acting on a vehicle seat, that includes: a force transmission element (12; 112; 212), which is connectable to a first unit, preferably a vehicle seat, and a measurement assembly (14; 50; 114; 214), which is rigidly connectable to a second unit (80), preferably a vehicle body part. The force transmission element (12; 112; 212) is pivotable about at least one axis around the measurement assembly (14; 50; 114; 214).

Claims

1. A measurement device comprising:

a force transmission element, which is configured to connect to a first unit; and

a measurement assembly, which is configured to connect to a second unit;

wherein the force transmission element is pivotable around at least one axis around the measurement assembly and is configured to transmit tensile forces and pressure forces from the first unit onto the measurement assembly;

wherein the force transmission element and the measurement assembly form a ball joint;

wherein the force transmission element has the shape of a hollow spherical zone in at least some regions and has an attachment element that is positioned on an equator region of the spherical zone and that attaches the force transmission element to the first unit, and

wherein the measurement assembly comprises a spherical zone region that mates with an interior of the spherical zone of the force transmission element.

2. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the measurement assembly is rigidly connected to the second unit.

3. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the first unit is a vehicle seat, the second unit is a vehicle body part, and the measurement device measures a weight acting on the vehicle seat.

4. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment element extends along and around a circumference of an equator region of the spherical zone of the force transmission element.

5. The measurement device according to claim 4, wherein the attachment element extends outward in radial directions from the spherical zone of the force transmission element.

6. The measurement device according to claim 1, further comprising a positioning device that fixes the force transmission element in radial directions in relation to the measurement assembly and allows rotation of the force transmission element in tangential directions in relation to the measurement assembly;

wherein the measurement assembly comprises a projection that is located on a pole area of the spherical zone region and that is configured to receive the positioning device.

7. The measurement device according to claim 6, wherein the positioning device has a substantially spherical shape in at least some regions, and corresponds at least substantially to the external shape of the ball joint.

8. The measurement device according to claim 7, wherein the positioning device has a flattened pole.

9. The measurement device according to claim 6, wherein the projection of the spherical zone region of the measurement assembly comprises a thread.

10. The measurement device according to claim 9, wherein the thread is an external thread.

11. The measurement device according to claim 9, wherein the positioning device comprises a thread which mates with the thread of the measurement assembly, and by which the positioning device is non-rotationally fixed on at least one part of the measurement assembly, and wherein a part of the positioning device exerts an elastic pre-tension on the ball joint.

12. The measurement device according to claim 11, wherein the thread is an internal thread.

13. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the measurement assembly comprises a polygonal region that non-rotatably connects the measurement assembly to the second unit.

14. The measurement device according to claim 13, wherein the polygonal region is rectangular.

15. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the measurement assembly comprises a threaded region that fixedly connects the measurement assembly to the second unit.

16. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the measurement assembly comprises at least one strain gauge.

17. A seating arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first unit is an aircraft seat and the second unit is a structural fixture of an aircraft.

18. A measurement device comprising:

a force transmission element, which is configured to connect to a first unit; and

a measurement assembly, which is configured to connect to a second unit;

wherein the force transmission element is pivotable around at least one axis around the measurement assembly and is configured to transmit tensile forces and pressure forces from the first unit onto the measurement assembly; and

further comprising a positioning device that fixes the force transmission element in radial directions in relation to the measurement assembly and allows rotation of the force transmission element in tangential directions in relation to the measurement assembly; and

wherein the force transmission element and the measurement assembly form a ball joint, the measurement device further comprising a fixing device rotatably fixing the positioning device on the measurement assembly, wherein the positioning device comprises a bearing region exerting a pre-tension on the ball joint.

19. The measurement device according to claim 18, wherein the fixing device is a nut.

20. The measurement device according to claim 19, further comprising a pre-tension element provided between the nut and the positioning device and exerting a force in a direction of the axis of the positioning device.

21. The measurement device according to claim 18, wherein the measurement device further comprising a spring washer that exerts the pre-tension on the ball joint.

22. The measurement device according to claim 18, wherein the attachment element comprises at least one recess, and the positioning device comprises at least one tangentially projecting region, which projects into the recess of the attachment element and allows rotation of the force transmission element in relation to the measurement assembly.

23. A measurement device comprising:

a force transmission element, which is configured to connect to a first unit; and

a measurement assembly, which is configured to connect to a second unit;

wherein the force transmission element is pivotable around at least one axis around the measurement assembly and is configured to transmit tensile forces and pressure forces from the first unit onto the measurement assembly; and

wherein the measurement device further comprises a positioning device that fixes the force transmission element in radial directions in relation to the measurement assembly and allows rotation of the force transmission element in tangential directions in relation to the measurement assembly, and a friction-reducing layer provided in at least some regions between the force transmission element and the positioning device.

24. The measurement device according to claim 23, wherein the friction-reducing layer is made of Teflon.

25. The measurement device according to claim 23, wherein the friction-reducing layer comprises at least one of a coating or a molded part.

26. A measurement device comprising:

a force transmission element, which is configured to connect to a first unit; and

a measurement assembly, which is configured to connect to a second unit;

wherein the force transmission element is pivotable around at least one axis around the measurement assembly and is configured to transmit tensile forces and pressure forces from the first unit onto the measurement assembly; and

further comprising a friction-reducing layer provided in at least some regions between the force transmission element and the measurement assembly.

27. The measurement device according to claim 26, wherein the friction-reducing layer is made of Teflon.

28. The measurement device according to claim 26, wherein the friction-reducing layer comprises at least one of a coating or a molded part.