Patent ID: 6216542
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: G01G

Abstract:
A force sensor comprising:a load body having:(a) a first longitudinal bore hole extending coaxially with a longitudinal axis of said load body from a first end surface of said load body to a transverse wall in said load body extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of said load body,(b) a second longitudinal bore extending coaxially with the longitudinal axis of said load body from a second end surface of said load body to said transverse wall of said of load body,(c) a reduced wall thickness section in the longitudinal walls of said load body defined by first and second diametrically opposed notches in the longitudinal walls of said load body at said transverse wall of said load body dividing said load body into first and second parts and forming first and second flexing springs extending between said first and said second parts of said load body,(d) a core lever extending coaxially with the longitudinal axis of said load body through said second longitudinal bore hole from said transverse wall of said load body, and(e) first load receiving means on an outer surface of said first part of said load body and second load receiving means on a outer surface of said second part of said load body diametrically opposed from said first load receiving means for causing relative movement between said first and said second parts of said load body in response to a force to be measured applied to said first and said second load receiving means;a casing attached to said second end surface of said load body;a measurement transducer fixed within said casing and attached to a free end of said core lever and responsive to relative movement of said first and said second parts of said load body for generating signals representative of relative movements between said first and said second parts of said load body; andevaluation electronics within said casing for processing signals from said measurement transducer and developing indications of forces applied to said first and said second load receiving means.