A hydraulic mass-determining unit arranged for determining the mass of a load held by a hydraulic fluid system, the mass-determining unit is adapted to be connected to a hydraulic pump at a first fluid connection and a hydraulic actuator of a lifting device at a second fluid connection, the mass-determining unit comprises a first pipe arranged for connecting the first fluid connection and the second fluid connection, and at least one pressure sensor arranged to measure the pressure in the first pipe, wherein the mass-determining unit further comprises a flow regulator with a pressure compensator, where the flow regulator is serially connected to the first pipe to regulate the flow in the first pipe, and one of a pressure switch arranged for measuring the pressure difference over the flow regulator, and for sending a signal to the pressure sensor to measure the pressure in the first pipe when the pressure difference is above a preset value, or a magnetic field switch that comprises a magnet attached to the pressure compensator and a detecting unit arranged for detecting whether the magnet and the pressure compensator are in an initial position, and for sending a signal to the pressure sensor to measure the pressure in the first pipe when the detecting unit detects that the pressure compensator is not in the initial position, and a processor for based on the measured pressure in the first pipe by the pressure sensor calculating a mass of the load.

A hydraulic mass-determining unit arranged for determining the mass of a load held by a hydraulic fluid system, the mass-determining unit is adapted to be connected to a hydraulic pump at a first fluid connection and a hydraulic actuator of a lifting device at a second fluid connection, the mass-determining unit comprises a first pipe arranged for connecting the first fluid connection and the second fluid connection, and at least one pressure sensor arranged to measure the pressure in the first pipe, wherein the mass-determining unit further comprises a flow regulator with a pressure compensator, where the flow regulator is serially connected to the first pipe to regulate the flow in the first pipe, and one of a pressure switch arranged for measuring the pressure difference over the flow regulator, and for sending a signal to the pressure sensor to measure the pressure in the first pipe when the pressure difference is above a preset value, or a magnetic field switch that comprises a magnet attached to the pressure compensator and a detecting unit arranged for detecting whether the magnet and the pressure compensator are in an initial position, and for sending a signal to the pressure sensor to measure the pressure in the first pipe when the detecting unit detects that the pressure compensator is not in the initial position, and a processor for based on the measured pressure in the first pipe by the pressure sensor calculating a mass of the load.

A reversible force measuring device for ascertaining the magnitude and/or direction of an applied load and having a cavity containing an indicating material such as a fluid, with the cavity configured such that when a load is applied to the device, it causes a reversible volumetric change to the cavity. This change causes the indicating material to move in or out of the cavity in a quantity which corresponds to the magnitude and/or direction of the applied load. By measuring the movement of the indicating material, a user can determine the magnitude and/or direction of the applied load. The device may include a component which generates an electrical signal from the measured movement and transmits this signal to another device to control the tensioning of one or more fastener components and or make other analytical measurements by combining this measurement with other measurements like torque and or angle.

A reversible force measuring device for ascertaining the magnitude and/or direction of an applied load and having a cavity containing an indicating material such as a fluid, with the cavity configured such that when a load is applied to the device, it causes a reversible volumetric change to the cavity. This change causes the indicating material to move in or out of the cavity in a quantity which corresponds to the magnitude and/or direction of the applied load. By measuring the movement of the indicating material, a user can determine the magnitude and/or direction of the applied load. The device may include a component which generates an electrical signal from the measured movement and transmits this signal to another device to control the tensioning of one or more fastener components and or make other analytical measurements by combining this measurement with other measurements like torque and or angle.

A weight measuring system for weighing an object, the weight measuring system comprising at least one weighing mechanism having a deformable fluid filled chamber, the at least one weighing mechanism operable to receive at least a portion of an object; a sensor unit operable to determine at least one measurable criteria of the fluid filled chamber and provide output sensor data indicative of the measurable criteria, and a processor operable to act upon the output sensor data and, when an object is received by the system, operable to provide weight data indicative of the weight of at least a portion of the object.

A weight measuring system for weighing an object, the weight measuring system comprising at least one weighing mechanism having a deformable fluid filled chamber, the at least one weighing mechanism operable to receive at least a portion of an object; a sensor unit operable to determine at least one measurable criteria of the fluid filled chamber and provide output sensor data indicative of the measurable criteria, and a processor operable to act upon the output sensor data and, when an object is received by the system, operable to provide weight data indicative of the weight of at least a portion of the object.

A refrigerator appliance with sensing for load determination including a shelf and shelf support with a resilient member positioned so as to be compressed by the weight of food items placed on the shelf. Changes in pressure or flowrate of a fluid in the resilient member are used to detect changes in the weight of food items. The appliance can be configured to execute one or more events based on the detected changes.

A refrigerator appliance with sensing for load determination including a shelf and shelf support with a resilient member positioned so as to be compressed by the weight of food items placed on the shelf. Changes in pressure or flowrate of a fluid in the resilient member are used to detect changes in the weight of food items. The appliance can be configured to execute one or more events based on the detected changes.

A method for estimating the weight of loads carried by implements may include controlling an implement subject to actual weighing conditions to lift a load and receiving an input indicative of a sensed force associated with lifting the load. The method may further include determining a correlation value indicative of a correlation between first and second force values for lifting a given load with the implement as a function of the actual weighing conditions and as a function of nominal weighing conditions, respectively, where at least one of the actual weighing conditions differs from at least one of the nominal weighing conditions. Furthermore, the method may include determining an adjusted force value for lifting the load based at least in part on the sensed force and the correlation value. Additionally, the method may include estimating the weight of the load based at least in part on the adjusted force value.

A method for estimating the weight of loads carried by implements may include controlling an implement subject to actual weighing conditions to lift a load and receiving an input indicative of a sensed force associated with lifting the load. The method may further include determining a correlation value indicative of a correlation between first and second force values for lifting a given load with the implement as a function of the actual weighing conditions and as a function of nominal weighing conditions, respectively, where at least one of the actual weighing conditions differs from at least one of the nominal weighing conditions. Furthermore, the method may include determining an adjusted force value for lifting the load based at least in part on the sensed force and the correlation value. Additionally, the method may include estimating the weight of the load based at least in part on the adjusted force value.