Load cell assembly having a flexural arrangement

Abstract

A weighing scale and a load cell assembly therefor, the weighing scale including: (a) a weighing platform; (b) a base; and (c) a load cell arrangement including: (i) a load cell body, disposed below the platform and above the base, the body secured to the platform at a first position along a length of the body, and secured to the base at a second position along the length, the load cell body having a first cutout window transversely disposed through the body, the window adapted such that a downward force exerted on a top face of the weighing platform distorts the window to form a distorted window; and (ii) at least one strain-sensing gage, mounted on at least a first surface of the load cell body, the strain-sensing gage adapted to measure a strain in the first surface; and (d) an at least a one-dimensional flexure arrangement having at least a second cutout window transversely disposed through the body, the second cutout window shaped and positioned to at least partially absorb an impact delivered to a top surface of the load cell body.

Claims

1. A load cell assembly comprising: (a) a load cell body having a first dimension bounded by first and second faces, and second and third dimensions, disposed transversely to said first dimension, said second dimension being bounded by third and fourth faces, said first dimension being a longest dimension of said load cell body; said load cell body having, transversely disposed through said body, with respect to said first and second dimensions: (i) a first cutout window disposed between load cell bending beams; and (ii) a first flexure arrangement having a plurality of cutout windows, disposed one on top of the other; and (iii) a free end for receiving a load; said first flexure arrangement disposed longitudinally between said free end and said first cutout window, with respect to said first dimension of said load cell body; (b) at least one strain-sensing gage, each said strain-sensing gage mounted on a particular surface of said third and fourth faces, longitudinally aligned with said first cutout window, along said first dimension, said at least one strain-sensing gage adapted to measure a strain in said particular surface; and (c) a second flexure arrangement having an additional cutout window, transversely disposed through said body, with respect to said first and third dimensions; said first flexure arrangement shaped and positioned to at least partially absorb an impact delivered to said free end along said second dimension of said load cell body; said first flexure arrangement disposed, from an impact absorption standpoint, before, and in series with, said load cell bending beams, with respect to said impact.

2. The load cell assembly of claim 1, wherein said additional cutout window passes through said plurality of cutout windows.

3. The load cell assembly of claim 1, said load cell body having at least one screwhole disposed in said third face, for attaching to a weighing platform.

4. The load cell assembly of claim 3, said load cell body having at least one screwhole disposed in said fourth face, for attaching to a base, so as to form a weighing scale.

5. The load cell assembly of claim 1, wherein, with said third face disposed in a top direction, said first cutout window and said first flexure arrangement satisfy an equation:
(H.sub.1+H.sub.2)/H.sub.3<0.50, wherein: H.sub.3 is a height of said first cutout window; H.sub.2 is a height of a protrusion of said first flexure arrangement below a bottom plane of said first cutout window, H.sub.2 being 0; and H.sub.1 is a height of a protrusion of said flexure arrangement above a top plane of said first cutout window, H.sub.1 being 0.

6. The load cell assembly of claim 5, wherein (H.sub.1+H.sub.2)/H.sub.3 is at most 0.20.

7. The load cell assembly of claim 1, wherein, with said third face disposed in a top direction, a top cutout window of said plurality of cutout windows is disposed parallel to said third face of said load cell body, along both said first and second dimensions.

8. The load cell assembly of claim 7, wherein a bottom cutout window of said plurality of cutout windows is disposed parallel to said fourth face of said load cell body, along both said first and second dimensions.

9. A load cell assembly comprising: (a) a load cell body having a first dimension bounded by first and second faces, and second and third dimensions, disposed transversely to said first dimension, said second dimension being bounded by third and fourth faces, said first dimension being a longest dimension of said load cell body; said load cell body having first and second load cell arrangements disposed along first and second portions of said longest dimension of said load cell body; each of said load cell arrangements having: (i) a first cutout window forming load cell bending beams above and below said first cutout window; (ii) a first flexure arrangement having a plurality of cutout windows, disposed one on top of the other; and (iii) a free end for receiving a load; said first flexure arrangement disposed longitudinally between said free end and said first cutout window, with respect to said first dimension of said load cell body; and (b) at least one strain-sensing gage, each said strain-sensing gage mounted on a particular surface of said third and fourth faces, longitudinally aligned with said first cutout window, along said first dimension, said at least one strain-sensing gage adapted to measure a strain in said particular surface; said first flexure arrangement shaped and positioned to at least partially absorb an impact delivered to said free end along said second dimension of said load cell body; said first flexure arrangement disposed, from an impact absorption standpoint, before, and in series with, said load cell bending beams, with respect to said impact.

10. The load cell assembly of claim 9, wherein, with said third face disposed in a top direction, said first cutout window and said first flexure arrangement satisfy an equation:
(H.sub.1+H.sub.2)/H.sub.3<0.40, wherein: H.sub.3 is a height of said first cutout window; H.sub.2 is a height of a protrusion of said first flexure arrangement below a bottom plane of said first cutout window, H.sub.2 being 0; and H.sub.1 is a height of a protrusion of said flexure arrangement above a top plane of said first cutout window, H.sub.1 being 0.

11. The load cell assembly of claim 10, wherein (H.sub.1+H.sub.2)/H.sub.3 is at most 0.25.

12. The load cell assembly of claim 9, wherein, with said third face disposed in a top direction, a top cutout window of said plurality of cutout windows is disposed parallel to said third face of said load cell body.

13. The load cell assembly of claim 12, wherein a bottom cutout window of said plurality of cutout windows is disposed parallel to said fourth face of said load cell body.

14. The load cell assembly of claim 9, further comprising a dampening arrangement associated with said first flexure arrangement, said dampening arrangement including a vibration suppressing material filling at least one of said plurality of cutout windows, said dampening arrangement adapted and disposed to dampen an amplitude of an electrical signal associated with said strain with respect to a strain produced by a load cell arrangement identical to said load cell arrangement, but being unconnected to said dampening arrangement.

15. The load cell assembly of claim 9, wherein each of said plurality of cutout windows has an elongated rectangular profile having a short side and a long side, and wherein said long side is disposed along said longest dimension of said load cell body.

16. The load cell assembly of claim 15, wherein ends of each of said plurality of cutout windows have a rounded profile.

17. A load cell assembly comprising: (a) a load cell body having a first dimension bounded by first and second faces, and second and third dimensions, disposed transversely to said first dimension, said second dimension being bounded by third and fourth faces, said first dimension being a longest dimension of said load cell body; said load cell body having first and second load cell arrangements disposed along first and second portions of said longest dimension of said load cell body; each of said load cell arrangements having: (i) a first cutout window forming load cell bending beams above and below said first cutout window; (ii) a first flexure arrangement having a plurality of cutout windows, disposed one on top of the other; and (iii) a free end for receiving a load; said first flexure arrangement disposed longitudinally between said free end and said first cutout window, with respect to said first dimension of said load cell body; and (b) at least one strain-sensing gage, each said strain-sensing gage mounted on a particular surface of said third and fourth faces, longitudinally aligned with said first cutout window, along said first dimension, said at least one strain-sensing gage adapted to measure a strain in said particular surface; said first flexure arrangement shaped and positioned to at least partially absorb an impact delivered to said free end along said second dimension of said load cell body; said first flexure arrangement disposed, from an impact absorption standpoint, before, and in series with, said load cell bending beams, with respect to said impact; and wherein said first cutout window and said first flexure arrangement of said first load cell arrangement is identical to said first cutout window and said first flexure arrangement of said second load cell arrangement.

18. The load cell assembly of claim 17, further comprising a weighing platform and a base, said load cell body disposed between, and secured to, said weighing platform and said base.

19. The load cell assembly of claim 18, wherein said first cutout window and said load cell body are adapted such that, when a weight is disposed on said platform, bending beams in a vicinity of said first cutout window achieve a double bending position.

20. The load cell assembly of claim 17, wherein, with said third face disposed in a top direction, a top cutout window of said plurality of cutout windows is disposed parallel to said third face of said load cell body, along both said first and second dimensions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. Throughout the drawings, like-referenced characters are used to designate like elements.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1A is a simplified perspective view of an exemplary load cell assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 1B is a schematic side view of the load cell assembly of FIG. 1A, with a partial cross-sectional view at the left end of the assembly;

(5) FIG. 1C is a transverse cross-sectional view of the load cell assembly of FIG. 1a, taken along the A-A plane shown in FIG. 1B;

(6) FIG. 1D is a transverse cross-sectional view of the load cell assembly of FIG. 1A, taken along the B-B plane shown in FIG. 1B;

(7) FIG. 1E is a schematic top view of the load cell assembly of FIG. 1A;

(8) FIG. 1F is a conventional schematic diagram of the strain gage electronics;

(9) FIG. 2 is a schematic exemplary exploded view of a weighing module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(10) FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a top and side of a double ended bending beam having an integral one-dimensional flexure;

(11) FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing a bottom and side of the load cell assembly of FIG. 3A;

(12) FIG. 3C is a perspective, partial, cut-open view of the load cell assembly of FIG. 3A, showing the integral one-dimensional flexure;

(13) FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing a top and side of a double ended bending beam having an integral two-dimensional flexure;

(14) FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing a bottom and side of the load cell assembly of FIG. 4A;

(15) FIG. 4C is a perspective, partial, cut-open view of the load cell assembly of FIG. 4A, showing the integral two-dimensional flexure; and

(16) FIG. 5 is an exemplary static nodal stress plot showing the deflection of the flexure arrangement and the load cell arrangement in one embodiment of the load cell assembly of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(17) The principles and operation of the shock-absorbent load cell according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.

(18) Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

(19) Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1A is a simplified perspective view of a load cell and flexure assembly 100 (also termed load cell assembly) according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B provides a schematic side view of the load cell assembly of FIG. 1A, with a partial cross-sectional view at the left end of the assembly. Transverse cross-sectional views are provided in FIG. 1C (along the A-A line) and FIG. 1D (along the B-B line).

(20) A load cell body 125 may be made from a block of load cell quality metal or alloy. Referring collectively to FIGS. 1A-1D, at least one transverse cutout 110 is formed in a side of the load cell body, to form bending beams above and below the cutout. These beams are held in fixed parallel relationship by end blocks 112, 114 on both ends of the load cell body. Load cell arrangement 105 may include strain-sensing gages 120 adapted and positioned to measure the strains caused by a force applied to the top of the (free side of) load cell body 125. When a vertical load acts on a free end (i.e., an end unsupported by the base, as shown in FIG. 2) 130 of load cell body 125, the load cell body undergoes a slight deflection or distortion, which distortion is measurably sensed by strain gages 120.

(21) The load cell body may also have a hole, threaded hole, or receiving element (not shown) for receiving or connecting to a base or base element of the weighing system. Towards free end 130 of the load cell body, a top face 102 of the load cell body may have one or more hole, threaded hole, or receiving element 104 for receiving or connecting to a platform of the weighing system.

(22) Load cell and flexure assembly 100 may also have at least one transverse cutout or window 150 formed in the side of the load cell body, in lateral position with respect to the transverse cutout(s) associated with the strain gages 120. In FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1D are shown three such windows, disposed one on top of the other. The windows may be of a substantially rectangular profile. The ends of the windows may have a rounded or hemi-circular profile, substantially as shown.

(23) Windows 150 may advantageously provide additional flexibility to the load cell body, and absorb excessive impact delivered to the body. Thus, windows 150 may form or partially form a flexure or shock-absorbing arrangement 175. Thus, flexure or shock-absorbing arrangement 175 is integral with load cell body 125 (e.g., both are disposed within a monolithic load cell body such as a monolithic block of alloy, aluminum metal, or aluminum-containing alloy suitable for use as a load cell body), within load cell and flexure assembly 100.

(24) Windows 150 may be disposed in the proximal side of the load cell body, with respect to the free end 130 of the load cell body. In other words, windows 150 may be disposed longitudinally in-between transverse cutout 110 and free end 130.

(25) In a preferred embodiment, shown in FIG. 1B, at least one of windows 150 may be filled, e.g., with an elastomer, to provide a dampening (vibration suppressing) mechanism 160 to load cell body 125. Typically, all of windows 150 may be filled with a vibration suppressing material. This mechanism is especially important when an excessive impact is delivered to the body. Silicone and rubber may be suitable materials for filling the windows.

(26) The filling material may have a Shore A hardness below 80, and more typically, below 75, or below 70. The Shore A hardness may be at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, or at least 45. The Shore A hardness may be between 35 and 75, between 40 and 70, between 45 and 70, between 50 and 70, between 55 and 70, or between 55 and 65.

(27) The filling material may have a modulus of elasticity that is less than half that of aluminum. More typically, the modulus of elasticity of the elastomer is less than 10.Math.10.sup.9 Pa, less than 7.Math.10.sup.9 Pa, less than 5.Math.10.sup.9 Pa, or less than 2.Math.10.sup.9 Pa. The modulus of elasticity may be at least 0.5.Math.10.sup.6 Pa, at least 1.Math.10.sup.6 Pa, at least 210.sup.6 Pa, at least 3.Math.10.sup.6 Pa, at least 5.Math.10.sup.6 Pa, or at least 8.Math.10.sup.6 Pa. The modulus of elasticity may be within the range of 0.5.Math.10.sup.6 Pa to 10.Math.10.sup.9 Pa, 0.75.Math.10.sup.6 Pa to 10.Math.10.sup.9 Pa, 1.Math.10.sup.6 Pa to 10.Math.10.sup.9 Pa, 3.Math.10.sup.6 Pa to 10.Math.10.sup.9 Pa, 5.Math.10.sup.6 Pa to 5.Math.10.sup.9 Pa, or 1.Math.10.sup.6 Pa to 10.Math.10.sup.6 Pa.

(28) The filling material may advantageously contact an entire, or substantially entire, perimeter of window 150. The filling material may contain extremely small pockets of air. For example, the filler or filling material may have a sponge-like distribution of air pockets.

(29) In one embodiment, the shock absorber arrangement is adapted whereby the arrangement maintains or nearly maintains the profile or footprint of the load cell assembly.

(30) Referring back to FIG. 1B, the height of transverse cutout 110 is defined as H.sub.3. The height of flexure arrangement 175 extending above the top of transverse cutout 110 is defined as H.sub.1, and the height of flexure arrangement 175 extending below the bottom of transverse cutout 110 is defined as H.sub.2. The minimum value of each of H.sub.1 and H.sub.2 is zero (i.e., H.sub.1 and H.sub.2 do not assume negative values).

(31) The inventor has found that it may be highly advantageous for the heights H.sub.1, H.sub.2, and H.sub.3 to satisfy the relationship:
(H.sub.1+H.sub.2)/H.sub.3<0.50.
It may be of further advantage for (H.sub.1+H.sub.2)/H.sub.3 to be less than 0.40, less than 0.30, less than 0.25, less than 0.20, less than 0.15, less than 0.10, or less than 0.05. In some cases it may be of further advantage for (H.sub.1+H.sub.2)/H.sub.3 to be substantially zero.

(32) This structural relationship may enable various low-profile scale modules, and may also enable facile retrofitting of the inventive load cell arrangement in existing weighing scales and weighing scale designs.

(33) The inventive load cell assemblies may be particularly suitable for scanner-type weighing scales.

(34) FIG. 1E provides a schematic top view of the load cell assembly of FIG. 1A, showing two strain sensing gages 120 disposed on a top surface of the load cell body.

(35) FIG. 1F provides a conventional schematic diagram of the strain gage electronics, which may be used in, or with, the load cell assemblies and weighing modules of the present invention. The load cell system may further include a processing unit, such as a central processing unit (CPU). The processing unit may be configured to receive the load or strain signals (e.g., from 4 strain gages SG1-SG4) from each particular load cell and to produce a weight indication based on the load signals, as is known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

(36) FIG. 2 is a schematic exemplary exploded view of a weighing module 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Weighing module 200 may include a load cell assembly such as load cell assembly 100, a weighing platform 260 disposed generally above load cell assembly 100, and a weighing module base 270 disposed generally below load cell assembly 100. Load cell assembly 100 may be secured to base 270 by means of an anchoring assembly 280, which may include at least one fastener such as screws 282. Base 270 may be equipped with a leg or more typically, a plurality of legs 272 adapted to make contact with a surface on which rests weighing module 200.

(37) Load cell assembly 100 may be secured to weighing platform 260 by means of a securing arrangement 280, which may include at least one fastener such as screws 262, adapted to securely attach platform 260 to load cell assembly 100.

(38) FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a top and side of a double ended bending beam assembly 300 having integral, one-dimensional flexures 375A, 375B disposed near each longitudinal end 330A, 330B of beam 300. Flexure 375A, by way of example, may be disposed longitudinally between transverse cutout 310A associated therewith, and longitudinal end 330A.

(39) FIG. 3B provides a perspective view showing a bottom and side of the load cell assembly of FIG. 3A. Referring collectively to FIGS. 3A and 3B, double ended bending beam assembly 300 may be secured within a weighing module in a largely analogous manner to that shown in FIG. 2, and described hereinabove. Double ended bending beam assembly 300 may be secured to a weighing module base by means of an anchoring assembly, which may include at least one fastener such as screws or complementary fasteners adapted to securely fit in at least one receptacle such as screwholes 384. Bending beam assembly 300 may be secured to a weighing platform (similar to weighing platform 260 shown in FIG. 2) by means of a platform securing arrangement, which may include at least one fastener or complementary fastener such as screws, adapted to securely attach the platform to beam assembly 300 by means of at least one receptacle such as screwholes 364.

(40) In this embodiment, screwholes 364 are disposed towards the ends of beam assembly 300, with respect to each respective load cell, while screwholes 384 are disposed towards the center of beam assembly 300, with respect to each respective load cell.

(41) FIG. 3C provides a perspective, partial, cut-open view of the load cell and flexure assembly of FIG. 3A, showing the integral one-dimensional flexure.

(42) In the embodiment provided in FIGS. 3A-3C, beam assembly 300 may be adapted, when secured within a weighing module as described, such that a vertical impact (e.g., an object that is slammed down with great force onto the weighing platform) acts upon one-dimensional flexures 375A, 375B, while load cell arrangements 305 remain largely or substantially completely unaffected. Thus, flexures 375A, 375B may serve as a vertical shock-protection mechanism for the relatively delicate load cell arrangements 305. Flexures 375A, 375B may be designed and adapted to exhibit, at a maximum load capacity for the load cell, a vertical deflection that is at most 3 times, at most 2 times, at most 1.5 times, at most 1.0 times, or at most 0.8 times, the vertical deflection exhibited by the load cell itself (without the flexure), at that maximum capacity.

(43) As described above, at least one of windows 150 may be filled, e.g., with an elastomer, to suppress vibration and reduce settling time. Typically, all of windows 150 may be filled with a vibration suppressing material.

(44) FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing a top and side of a double ended bending beam having an integral two-dimensional flexure (the entire arrangement designated as assembly 400). FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing a bottom and side of assembly 400 of FIG. 4A. FIG. 4C is a perspective, partial, cut-open view of assembly 400 of FIG. 4A, showing the integral two-dimensional flexure.

(45) Referring collectively to FIGS. 4A to 4C, the assembly 400 may be constructed, and may be adapted to operate in a substantially similar fashion to the double ended bending beam having an integral one-dimensional flexure described in detail hereinabove.

(46) However, the second dimension of the integral two-dimensional flexure, including top-oriented windows 490, is adapted to serve as a horizontal shock-absorbing mechanism for the relatively delicate load cell arrangements 405. In the exemplary embodiment provided in FIGS. 4A to 4C, the second dimension of the integral two-dimensional flexure is particularly adapted to act on forces exerted in a direction M, generally perpendicular to the longitudinal or long dimension of assembly 400.

(47) FIG. 5 is an exemplary static nodal stress plot showing the deflection of the flexure arrangement and the load cell arrangement in one embodiment of the load cell assembly of the present invention. It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the bending beams advantageously maintain a substantially double bending position.

(48) It will be appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

(49) Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.