Patent ID: 6484593
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: G01L

Abstract:
A load sensor comprising:an annular gauge ring comprising an inner portion and an annular outer ring portion; said gauge ring having strainable beam members extending in a load measuring direction and flexing beam members extending in a transverse direction generally perpendicular to said load measuring direction, said strainable and said flexing beam members interconnecting said inner and outer portions; said flexing beam members being thicker in comparison to said strainable beam members so that said flexing beam members are less subject to elongation and compression due to strain in comparison to said strainable beam members such that said flexing beam members substantially limit relative movement between said inner and outer portions to said load measuring direction when a load with a force component in said load measuring direction is applied to one of said inner and outer portions by (1) resisting elongation and compression to substantially prevent relative movement between said inner and outer portions in said transverse direction and (2) flexing to allow limited relative movement between said inner and outer portions in said load measuring direction; said strainable beam members being constructed and arranged such that the substantially limited relative movement between said inner and outer portions creates a strain in said load measuring direction in said strainable beam members having a magnitude directly related to a magnitude of the force component in said load measuring direction; a strain measuring and outputting device operatively associated with said strainable beam members, said strain measuring and outputting device being operable to measure the magnitude of the strain created in said strainable beam members and to thereafter output the measured strain magnitude as an output signal which can be used to calculate the magnitude of the aforesaid force component and hence the applied load.