Systems and methods are described for monitoring displacement on structural elements of subsea systems such as on components of a subsea pipeline network used to transport production fluid from a subsurface wellhead to surface facilities. The described techniques sense changes in displacement using a sensing blade, for example made of crystalline material such as sapphire, that is anchored to the structural element such that it is approximately perpendicular to the direction of sensed displacement. Displacement is sensed as bending of the sensing blade using one or more instruments fabricated on the blade. Robustness of design is in part provided by additional flexible non-sensing blades mounted in parallel to the sensing blade.

Described is a compression apparatus for a testing system having a load cell. The compression apparatus includes a compression rod and at least one mechanical fastener. The compression rod has a first portion at a distal end and a second portion that defines a threaded bore at a proximal end. The first portion is configured to contact a specimen and the second portion is configured to couple to the load cell. The mechanical fastener is configured to mate with the threaded bore.

A strain body of a force sensor according to the present invention includes a tilting structure disposed between a force receiving body and a support body, a force-receiving-body-side deformable body connecting the force receiving body and the tilting structure, and a support-body-side deformable body connecting the tilting structure and the support body. The tilting structure includes a first tilting body that extends in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction and that is elastically deformable by the action of force in the first direction.

The present disclosure relates to force sensors and force sensor substrates for use with surgical devices.

A method for dynamically operating a header float system of an agricultural vehicle having a header movably mounted to a frame of the agricultural vehicle by an actuator. The method includes: determining a target ground reaction force between the header and a ground surface located below the header, determining an actual ground reaction force between the header and the ground surface, comparing the actual ground reaction force to the target ground reaction force, and upon determining that the actual ground reaction force differs from the target ground reaction force by a predetermined amount, operating the actuator to reduce a difference in value between the actual ground reaction force and the target ground reaction force. An agricultural vehicle having a header operated as described above is also provided.

A device for attachment to a linear force transmission medium such as a wire or rod includes a flexure body having axially aligned tubular extensions on opposite ends that can receive and be crimped to the medium to create a continuous path for tensile force transmission. The flexure carries strain gages on top and bottom planar surface portions that are connected into a bridge circuit that responds to stress in the flexure body. Leads are protected against disconnection from solder pads by wrapping the leads and a carrier for them around the exterior circumferential surface of a jacket that fits on and around the flexure body. An FPC plug embodiment is disclosed.

A load cell unit includes: a load cell that is provided with a distortional member including a free-end block, a fixed-end block, an upper beam portion connecting an upper end of the free-end block and an upper end of the fixed-end block, and a lower beam portion connecting a lower end of the free-end block and a lower end of the fixed-end block; a first temperature sensor that is disposed at the upper beam portion or the lower beam portion; and a second temperature sensor that is disposed at one of the free-end block and the fixed-end block.

A monolithic weighing system (100) includes a plurality of levers (120), which are joined together by thin-section joints (110). The levers, on the one hand, and the thin-section joints, on the other hand, are made of different materials or material combinations; and the levers, adjoining one of the thin-section joints on both sides thereof, have a first material (21), and the thin-section joint has a second material (22) which is different from the first material. An associated method includes (i) an additive manufacturing process, in which different materials, including the first and second material (21, 22), are applied in layers and are joined to form a single-piece weighing system blank (10), wherein the weighing system blank (10) has prospective lever regions (12) and prospective thin-section joint regions (11), and (ii) subsequent subtractive finishing of the weighing system blank at least on the prospective thin-section joint regions to obtain the weighing system.

A strain body of a force sensor according to the present invention includes a tilting structure disposed between a force receiving body and a support body, a force-receiving-body-side deformable body connecting the force receiving body and the tilting structure, and a support-body-side deformable body connecting the tilting structure and the support body. The tilting structure includes a first tilting body that extends in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction and that is elastically deformable by the action of force in the first direction.

A load cell for use with a tong assembly includes a body; a chamber formed in the body; and a strain gauge disposed in the chamber. The load cell also includes a first eye for pivotal coupling to the tong assembly, and a second eye for pivotal coupling to the tong assembly. An optional biasing member is disposed around the second eye for biasing the body relative to the tong assembly.