Patent ID: 6354157
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: G01G,G01L

Abstract:
A system for measuring loads applied to a platform comprising:a. a load platform comprising a bottom surface, and four corner regions; b. a bottom plate positioned underneath and in substantial vertical alignment with said platform, said bottom plate comprising four corner regions in substantial vertical alignment with the four corner regions of said platform; c. first, second, third, and fourth support brackets mounted on said bottom plate and extending upward without touching said platform, each of said brackets having an upper region extending in close proximity to the bottom surface of said platform, the first and second brackets being positioned in substantially perpendicular relation to the third and fourth brackets; d. sixteen spherical rod ends, eight of said spherical rod ends attached to said corner region of said platform and said corner region of said bottom plate such that each said spherical rod end attached to said corner region of said platform is in substantial vertical alignment with a spherical rod end attached to said corner region of said bottom plate, four of said spherical rod ends attached to an upper region each of said brackets, and four of said spherical rod ends attached to the bottom surface of said platform outside any corner regions of said platform; e. four vertically oriented links, each of said links comprising a first end attached to one of said spherical rod ends attached to said corner region of said platform, and further comprising a second end attached to one of said spherical rod ends attached to said bottom plate; f. two transverse links, each of said transverse links having a first end attached to a spherical rod end attached to the bottom surface of said platform outside said corner region of said platform and each of said transverse links further having a second end attached to a spherical rod end attached to an upper region of said bracket, such that said transverse links extend between the bottom surface of said platform and the upper regions of two of said mounting brackets in a substantially parallel arrangement to each other; g. two longitudinal links, each of said longitudinal links having a first end attached to a spherical rod end attached to the bottom surface of said platform outside said corner region of said platform and each of said longitudinal links further having a second end attached to a spherical rod end attached to an upper region of said bracket, such that said longitudinal links extend between the bottom surface of said platform and the upper regions of two of said brackets in a substantially parallel arrangement to each other and in a substantially perpendicular arrangement to said transverse links; and h. eight force measuring devices, one of said force measuring devices mounted in each of said four vertical links, each of said two transverse links, and each of said two longitudinal links.