Six axis load cell

A structural assembly that measures forces along and moments about three orthogonal axes with very low cross talk or likelihood of affecting the reading in one axis from loads in another axis is disclosed. The assembly comprises a support structure having a longitudinal axis that is positioned on an axis of the plurality of orthogonal axes. The support structure is substantially compliant for moments about the longitudinal axis and substantially rigid for forces along the orthogonal axes and for moments about the non-longitudinal orthogonal axes. Structural elements of the support structure are joined together with elliptical fillets to minimize stress concentration within the structure. A torque cell that measures moments about the longitudinal axis is positioned concentrically about the longitudinal axis either within a cavity located in the support structure or cylindrically around the support structure. An upper and lower flexure diaphragm connect adjacent ends of the support structure and the torque cell. The flexure diaphragms are substantially rigid to transmit moments about the longitudinal axis from the support structure to the torque cell and substantially compliant for all forces along the orthogonal axes and moments about the non-longitudinal orthogonal axes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a structural assembly that transmits and 
measures linear forces along and moments about three orthogonal axes. More 
particularly, a structural assembly is disclosed having structural 
elements connected with elliptical fillets to minimize stress 
concentration and interchangeable sensing elements with very low cross 
talk or the likelihood of affecting the reading in one axis from loads in 
another axis. 
Transducers or load cells for determining rotational loads and axial loads 
about and along three orthogonal axes have been known. Two such load cells 
are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,640,138 and 4,821,582. U.S. Pat. No. 
4,640,138 illustrates a multiple axis load-sensitive transducer having 
inner and outer members that are joined by a pair of axially spaced 
spiders. The spiders comprise arms that are integral with the inner member 
and are connected to the outer member by flexible straps that have 
longitudinal lengths with the ends of the straps fixed to the outer 
member. The arms of the spiders are fixed to the center of the associated 
strap. Loads are sensed as a function of bending on the spider arms. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,582 illustrates a load transducer that measures linear 
forces in three axes and moments about two of the axes. The transducer has 
inner and outer structures connected by load-sensitive spider arms or 
shear beams. The outer ends of the spider are connected to outer lengths 
which are stiff when the inner structure is loaded in a direction along an 
axis perpendicular to the plane of the spider. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a structural assembly that measures forces 
along and moments about a plurality of orthogonal axes. The structural 
assembly has high force and moment isolation features such that measured 
values obtained for each principal axis are substantially decoupled from 
one another. The assembly minimizes stress concentration within the 
structure as well as minimizes the likelihood of forces and moments along 
and about one orthogonal axis from affecting values obtained for another 
axis even when large forces and moments are present on the other axes. 
The assembly includes a support structure having a first end and a second 
end that define a longitudinal axis. The support structure is oriented 
such that the longitudinal axis is on one of the plurality of orthogonal 
loading axes. Manufactured preferably from a single unitary piece of 
material, the support structure is substantially rigid for forces along 
the orthogonal axes and for moments about the non-longitudinal orthogonal 
axes and substantially compliant for moments about the longitudinal axis. 
In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of support columns connect the 
first end of the support structure to the second end thereof. Conventional 
strain gages can be affixed to the support columns to measure compression 
and tension of the support columns in order to determine forces applied 
along the orthogonal axes and moments about the non-longitudinal 
orthogonal axes. 
The support columns are each connected between a first base or loading ring 
at the first end and a second base or loading ring at the second end using 
at least partially elliptical surface fillets to minimize stress 
concentration. Each support column includes an upper end portion and a 
lower end portion coupled to the respective base or loading ring, and 
joined to each other to form the column. Each end portion has diverging 
outer surfaces on all sides extending for a selected distance along the 
exterior of the column and diverging and blending into a connected surface 
of the respective first or second base or loading rings. At least a 
portion of the diverging outer surfaces of each end portion is 
substantially elliptical when viewed in cross section or end view. 
A torque cell is positioned concentrically about the support structure such 
that a longitudinal axis thereof is substantially parallel to the 
longitudinal axis to be monitored. The torque cell is connected to the 
support structure at opposite ends through removable flexure diaphragms 
having planar surfaces perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the 
torque cell. Each flexure diaphragm is substantially rigid when 
transmitting moments about the longitudinal axis from the support 
structure to the torque cell, and substantially compliant to forces and 
moments along and about the non-longitudinal orthogonal axes and compliant 
to forces along the longitudinal axis. 
With appropriate loading members connected to the first and second ends of 
the support structure, the assembly is well suited for measuring forces 
and moments present in vehicle suspension testing systems as well as 
robotic arms. Since the flexure diaphragms are removable from both the 
support structure and the torque cell, the support structure, the torque 
cell and the flexure diaphragms can be interchanged with other similar 
component parts having different structural capabilities and sensitivity 
levels. Therefore, the assembly can be optimized for each testing 
situation to withstand the maximum force loads along and about selected 
axes without sacrificing sensitivity for other axes. In addition, the 
removable flexure diaphragms allow the torque cell to be separated from 
the support structure to permit easy gaging of both elements, thus 
substantially reducing the time needed to gage the assembly, and therefore 
providing substantial cost reductions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
A dynamic testing system for testing vehicle suspension road handling 
performance is shown generally at 10 in FIG. 1. The testing system 10 
includes a force transmitting and isolating structural assembly 12 coupled 
to force producing actuators. The testing system 10 supports a portion of 
a vehicle 14 on a wheel 16 that has a pneumatic tire 18 mounted thereon. 
The vehicle suspension is shown schematically at 20. The vehicle 
suspension 20 includes a base support 22 having an axle 24 defining an 
axle axis 26. The wheel 16 is connected to the axle 24 on an end opposite 
the base support 22 such that the tire 18 has a loading axis 28 that is 
substantially perpendicular to the axle axis 26. A spring 30 and a shock 
absorber 32 are connected between the base support 22 and a portion of the 
vehicle frame 14 to support a portion of the vehicle weight and dampen 
simulated road vibrations. 
Also shown schematically is a steering system 36 connected to the base 
support 22 and fixed to a portion of the vehicle frame 14. The steering 
system includes control linkages 40 for selective positioning of the wheel 
16 and tire 18 about the axis 28. 
The assembly 12 supports the vehicle 14 upon a wheel pan or wheel support 
plate 42 positioned below and in contact with the tire 18. An upper 
surface layer 43 in contact with the tire 18 simulates different road 
surfaces such as asphalt or concrete. The assembly 12 further includes a 
support structure 44, a torque cell 46, and flexure diaphragms 48 and 50 
connecting the support structure 44 to the torque cell 46. A base member 
52 also connects to the support structure 44 at the lower end. The wheel 
pan 42 is mounted to the top of the support structure 44 with a plurality 
of cap screws 54, two of which are illustrated in FIG. 1. 
The support structure 44 is illustrated in perspective in FIG. 3. The 
support structure includes a lower base portion 56 and an upper base 
portion 58. The lower base portion 56 and upper base portion 58 each 
include a central aperture 60 and 62, respectively, each centered on a 
longitudinal axis 64, hereinafter also denoted as the "Z" axis. As 
illustrated in FIG. 1, the longitudinal axis 64 is substantially parallel 
to the tire loading axis 28. 
Referring to FIGS. 1-3 and 5, the upper base or loading ring portion 58 is 
connected to and spaced from the lower base or loading ring portion 56 by 
a plurality of support webs or columns forming flat shear beams 66A, 66B, 
66C and 66D. The support columns 66A-66D are positioned at 90.degree. 
angular intervals about axis 64 and extend radially out from an inner edge 
68 of aperture 60 and an inner edge 70 of aperture 62. Referring to FIG. 
5, support columns 66A and 66C lie on a common plane and 66B and 66D also 
lie on a common plane. These planes form two shear planes 72 and 74, 
respectively. The shear plane 72 on which the support columns 66A and 66C 
lie also lies along an axis 76, hereinafter also denoted as the "X" axis, 
that is perpendicular to the longitudinal or "Z" axis 64. Similarly, the 
shear plane 74 on which the support columns 66B and 66D lie, also lies 
along an axis 78, hereinafter also denoted as the "Y" axis, that is 
mutually perpendicular to both the "Z" axis 64 and the "X" axis 76. In 
other words, the support structure 44 is aligned with three orthogonal 
axes 64, 76 and 78 formed by the planes of the pairs of support columns 
66A, 66C and 66B, 66D, and the longitudinal axis 64. 
FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate in detail the structure of the support columns by 
way of example using the support column 66A. The support column 66A 
includes an upper end portion 61 and a lower end portion 63. The upper end 
portion 61 has an outer base end 65 that joins a flat surface of upper 
base portion 58 and an arbitrarily selected inner end represented at 
dotted line 67 that is opposite the outer base end 65. Similarly, the 
lower end portion 63 has an outer base end 69 and an arbitrarily selected 
inner end represented by dotted line 71 that is opposite the outer base 
end 69. The outer base end 65 or upper end portion 61 joins a flat surface 
of upper base portion 58, while the outer base end 69 or lower end portion 
63 joins a flat surface of the lower base portion 56. Although the inner 
ends 67 and 71 of the upper and lower end portions can be at a common 
junction line, in the embodiment as shown, a central column portion 73 is 
connected between the inner end 67 and the inner end 71 to increase the 
height of the support column and provide substantially flat outer surfaces 
upon which conventional strain gages are applied. 
The upper and lower end portions 61 and 63 of the column 66A and other 
columns, are designed to minimize stress concentration at the respective 
connections or junctions to the upper base portion 58 and the lower base 
portion 56, respectively, through surrounding fillets that have at least 
partially elliptical outer surfaces when viewed in end views or 
cross-section. In the description to follow, elliptical curvature is used 
for convenience in defining the curvature of the fillet outer surfaces. 
Such elliptical curvature is close to the optimum curvature but not 
necessarily the optimum curvature needed to minimize stress concentration 
at the respective connections to the upper base portion 58 and the lower 
base portion 56. The important feature of this invention is a curvature of 
each outer surface that has a substantially larger radius of curvature as 
the outer surface blends into the support column at inner ends 67 and 71 
than the radius of curvature as the outer surface meets with upper base 
portion 58 and lower base portion 56. Preferably, the radius of curvature 
decreases continuously as each outer surface approaches the upper base 
portion 58 and the lower base portion 56. The curvature of the outer 
surfaces can be obtained from modern machining techniques, using for 
example a programmable machining tool. 
Referring to upper end portion 61, fillet outer surfaces 75A and 75B extend 
from the inner end line 67 to the junction of outer end 65 and the joined 
surface of upper base portion 58, at least a portion of each of the 
surfaces 75A and 75B follow part of ellipses 77A and 77B, respectively. 
Ellipses 77A and 77B each have corresponding foci 79 and 81 that form 
respective major ellipse axes 83 and 85 that are substantially parallel to 
a longitudinal axis 87 of the support column 66A. In the embodiment as 
shown, the elliptical portions of the outer surfaces 75A and 75B begin at 
inner end line 67 and follow the perimeter contours of ellipses 77A and 
77B to selected points 89A and 89B so the outer surfaces 75A and 75B blend 
into the flat surface of upper base portion 58 which is joined with the 
outer end 65 of upper end portion 61. Points 89A and 89B are chosen to be 
where the amount of strain present in the upper end portion 61 for applied 
stress is below a desired level. In other words, the elliptical portions 
of outer surfaces 75A and 75B need not be tangent upon blending with the 
flat surface of upper base portion 58, but rather, may continue upon any 
desired contour once the amount of strain present is below a desired 
level. An outer surface 91A opposite outer surface 75A and an outer 
surface 91B opposite outer surface 75B have similarly elliptical outer 
surface fillets at the junction with upper base portion 58. 
The lower end portion 63 has elliptical outer surfaces similar to the upper 
end portion 61. Referring to upper end portion 63, fillet outer surfaces 
93A and 93B extend from the inner end line 71 to the junction of outer end 
69 and the joined surface of lower base portion 56, at least a portion of 
each of the surfaces 93A and 93B follow part of ellipses 95A and 95B, 
respectively. Ellipses 95A and 95B each have corresponding foci 97 and 99 
that form respective major ellipse axes 101 and 103 that are substantially 
parallel to the longitudinal axis 87 of the support column 66A. In the 
embodiment as shown, the elliptical portions of the outer surfaces 95A and 
95B begin at inner end line 71 and follow the perimeter contours of 
ellipses 95A and 95B to selected points 105A and 105B so the outer 
surfaces 93A and 93B blend into the flat surface of lower base portion 54 
which is joined with the outer end 69 of lower end portion 63. Points 105A 
and 105B are chosen to be where the amount of strain present in the lower 
end portion 63 for applied stress is below a desired level. In other 
words, the elliptical portions of outer surfaces 93A and 93B need not be 
tangent upon blending with the flat surface of lower base portion 56, but 
rather, may continue upon any desired contour once the amount of strain 
present is below a desired level. An outer surface 107A opposite outer 
surface 93A and an outer surface 107B opposite outer surface 93B have 
similarly elliptical outer surface fillets at the junction with lower base 
portion 58. Preferably, the upper end portion 61, the lower end portion 63 
and the center portion 73 are formed from a single unitary block of 
material. 
FIG. 10 illustrates a second embodiment of a support column 109. The 
support column 109 is concentric about a longitudinal axis 117 and 
includes an upper end portion 111, a lower end portion 113 and a center 
portion 115 located between the end portions 111 and 113. Each end portion 
111 and 113 has diverging outer surfaces 119 and 121, respectively. Like 
the outer surfaces of end portions 61 and 63 described above, a portion of 
each outer surface 119 and 121 is substantially elliptical following a 
part of the perimeter contour of ellipses 123 and 125. As illustrated, the 
support column 109 can be connected between loading members 127 and 129 
and conventionally gaged to form a force and moment measuring transducer 
or load cell 131. 
Referring back to the support structure 44 illustrated in FIG. 5, the 
support structure 44 can use any convenient number of support columns. For 
example, three support webs or columns can be used each separated from the 
other by 120.degree. angular intervals. Alternatively, six support columns 
can be used each separated from the other by 60.degree. angular intervals. 
The support columns 66A-66D can be welded to the upper and lower base 
portions; however, preferably the support structure 44 is formed from a 
single block of material with no welds or other junctions that cause 
problems in loading or fatigue life. 
The support structure 44 is substantially stiff or rigid for load or axial 
forces applied along the "Z" axis 64, as well as for load or shear forces 
applied along the "X" axis 76 and "Y" axis 78. Strain gages 84A, 84B, 84C, 
84D, 86A, 86B, 86C and 86D are applied to each corresponding support 
column 66A-66D to measure axial and shear forces. The strain gages 84A-84D 
are connected in conventional Wheatstone bridges comprising two axial 
gages and two Poisson gages for each column. The strain gages 84A-84D 
provide a separate signal proportional to the axial loading applied to 
each support column 66A-66D whereby the total axial loading on the support 
structure 44 is determined from summing together each of the separate 
support column signals. Shear forces present in the shear plane 72 are 
measured with a conventional Wheatstone bridge formed from strain gages 
86A and 86C, while shear forces present in the shear plane 74 are measured 
with a corresponding Wheatstone bridge formed from strain gages 86B and 
86D. It is understood that other sensing devices such as capacitive, 
inductive or fiber optic based gages can be applied to the support 
structure using conventional known techniques to measure and determine all 
forces and moments. 
In addition, the support structure is substantially stiff for overturning 
moments "M.sub.X " and "M.sub.Y " illustrated by arrows 88 and 90, 
respectively, about the "X" axis 76 and "Y" axis 78. The overturning 
moments "M.sub.X " and "M.sub.Y " are conventionally determined from 
compression or tension loading applied to each of the support columns 
66A-66D. However, the support structure is substantially compliant for 
moments "M.sub.Z ", illustrated by arrow 92, which are moments about the 
longitudinal or "Z" axis 64. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the base member 52 is connected to the 
lower base portion 56 of the support structure 44 with a plurality of 
concentrically positioned threaded cap screws 94. Shear forces along the 
"X" axis 76 are applied to the base member 52 and subsequently transferred 
to the vehicle suspension 20 through the support structure 44 and the 
wheel pan 42 from an actuator 95. The actuator 95 is connected to a drive 
arm 96 that is connected at an end opposite the actuator to a universal 
swivel joint 98. The actuator 95 is fixed to a stationary point through a 
suitable universal swivel joint 100. Swivel joints 100 and 98 allow for 
sufficient angular displacement of the assembly 12 during testing. In like 
fashion as, shear forces along the "Y" axis 78 are applied to the vehicle 
suspension 20 from an actuator, not shown, through a drive arm 104 (FIG. 
2) connected to swivel joint 106. 
The support structure 44 is compliant for moments about the "Z" axis in the 
presence of shear forces in shear planes 72 and 74. For example, when a 
shear force is applied along the "X" axis 76 from the lateral actuator 95, 
the support columns 66A and 66C each carry approximately 45% of the total 
applied shear force with the remaining 10% distributed approximately 
equally between the support columns 66B and 66D. In like fashion, when a 
shear force is applied along the "Y" axis 78 from the corresponding 
lateral actuator, the support columns 66B and 66D each carry approximately 
45% of the total applied shear force with the remaining 10% distributed 
approximately equally between the support columns 66A and 66C. 
Concentric axial loads and overturning moments about the "X" and "Y" axes 
are applied to the vehicle suspension 20 through the assembly 12 from 
actuators 110A, 110C and 110D located below the base member 52. A fourth 
actuator 110B below column 66B is also used but is not shown in FIG. 1. 
Like the shear force actuators, the axial actuators 110A-110D are secured 
to a stationary point through suitable universal swivel joints 112. Each 
actuator 110A-110D is connected to a drive arm 114A, 114B, 114C and 114D 
that is in turn connected to universal swivel joints 116A, 116B, 116C and 
116D located below each corresponding support column 66A-66D, as shown in 
FIG. 2. 
The support structure 44 is rigid for axial loading along the "Z" axis and 
overturning moments about the "X" and "Y" axes. For example, when a 
concentric axial load is applied by the actuators 110A-110D each exerting 
a force parallel to the "Z" axis 64, each of the support columns 66A-66D 
carry 25% of the total applied axial load. However, when an overturning 
moment is applied about the "X" axis 76 by unequal forces from the 
actuators 110B and 110D, then the moment creating forces resolved and 
reacted by the corresponding support columns 66B and 66D are equal and 
opposite. Similarly, when an overturning moment is applied about the "Y" 
axis 78 by unequal forces from the actuators 110A and 110C, then the 
moment creating forces resolved and reacted by the corresponding support 
columns 66A and 66C are equal and opposite. In addition, there is 
substantially no moment reaction about the "Z" axis 64 for small strains 
in the support columns 66A-66D due to moments about either the "X" axis 76 
or "Y" axis 78. 
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the torque cell 46 is concentrically aligned 
along the longitudinal axis 64 of the support structure 44. As 
illustrated, the torque cell 46 is positioned within the apertures 60 and 
62 spaced apart from associated inner side walls 120 and 122, 
respectively. The torque cell 46 includes a first end 124, a second end 
126 and a sensing section 128 that is mounted therebetween to respond to 
moments about the longitudinal axis 64. In the embodiment as shown, the 
sensing section 128 is tubular in structure with the sensing section 
having four apertures 130A, 130B, 130C and 130D disposed at angular 
intervals of 90.degree. to define four flexure beams 132A, 132B, 132C and 
132D. The flexure beams 132A-132D are supported in the torque cell 46 only 
at their ends, and are relatively thin in cross section. The first end 124 
and the second end 126 are also tubular in structure with the cross 
sectional area greater than that of the flexure beams 132A-132D. With the 
first and second ends substantially thicker than the cross sectional area 
of the flexure beams 132A-132D, moments about the longitudinal axis 64 are 
30 substantially confined to the flexure beams 132A-132D. Conventional 
strain gages 134, shown in FIG. 4, connected in a Wheatstone bridge are 
applied easily to the flexure beams 132A-132D since the torque cell 46 can 
be removed from the support structure 44. The strain gages measure the 
shear forces present on the flexure beams 132A-132D and provide a signal 
that is proportional to the moment about the longitudinal axis 64. 
Alternatively, other longitudinal torque cells such as a twisting solid 
rod can be used. 
As stated above and illustrated in FIG. 1, the torque cell 46 is positioned 
within the apertures 60 and 62 of the support structure 44 and aligned 
with the longitudinal axis 64. The torque cell 46 is connected to the 
support structure 44 at the first end 124 and the second end 126 with the 
upper base portion 58 and lower base portion 56, respectively, with the 
upper flexure diaphragm 48 and the lower flexure diaphragm 50. The upper 
and lower flexure diaphragms 48 and 50 each are formed from a unitary 
block of material to include an inner stiff rim portion 136 and an outer 
stiff rim portion 138. The inner rim portion 136 and the outer rim portion 
138 are separated by and connected to each other with an axially flexible 
diaphragm ring or plate 140 having a cross sectional area narrower than 
the inner rim portion 136 or the outer rim portion 138. The upper flexure 
diaphragm 48 is connected to the torque cell 46 on the first end 124 with 
a plurality of concentrically positioned cap screws 142 projecting through 
the inner rim portion 136 and threaded into suitable apertures in the 
first end 124. The outer rim portion 138 of the upper flexure diaphragm 48 
is clamped between the wheel pan 42 and the support structure 44 and 
secured with the concentrically positioned cap screws 54 projecting 
through the wheel pan 42, outer rim portion 138 and threaded into suitable 
apertures in the support structure 44. A lower surface portion 144 of the 
wheel pan above the torque cell 46 is recessed to provide an air gap 
sufficient for movement of the torque cell 46 during testing. In like 
fashion, the lower flexure diaphragm 50 is connected to the second end 126 
of the torque cell 46 with a plurality of concentrically positioned cap 
screws 146 projecting through the inner rim portion 136 and threaded into 
suitable apertures in the second end 126. The outer rim portion 138 of the 
lower flexure diaphragm 50 is clamped between the base member 52 and the 
support structure 44 and secured with the concentrically positioned cap 
screws 94 projecting through the base member 52, outer rim portion 138 and 
threaded into suitable apertures in the support structure 44. An upper 
surface portion 148 of the base member 52 below the torque cell 46 is 
recessed to provide an air gap sufficient for movement of the torque cell 
46. 
The upper and lower flexure diaphragms 48 and 50 are substantially stiff in 
annular direction to transfer moments developed about the longitudinal 
axis or "Z" axis 64 from the support structure 44 to the torque cell 46. 
When the upper and lower flexure diaphragms 48 and 50 are connected to the 
torque cell 46 as described above and illustrated perspectively as 
assembly substructure 150 in FIG. 4, the assembly substructure 150 is 
compliant for axial loads along the "Z" axis 64 due to axial compliance of 
the flexible diaphragm ring or plate 140 of the diaphragms 48 and 50. In 
addition, the assembly substructure 150 is compliant for shear forces 
developed along the "X" axis 76 and the "Y" axis 78 and overturning 
moments about these axes due to compliance of the flexure diaphragms 48 
and 50 and the axial spacing between the diaphragms. 
A second embodiment of the load-sensitive assembly of the present invention 
is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 generally as 160. In this form, a support 
structure 164 and a torque cell 166 have been interchanged with respect to 
their concentric placement about the longitudinal axis 64. As shown, the 
support structure 164 has a structure similar to the support structure 44 
shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 5 having a first end 168 and a second end 170 that 
have end surfaces generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 64. A 
plurality of support columns 172A, 172B, 172C and 172D connect the first 
end 168 with the second end 170. The support columns 172A-172D are 
substantially rigid for forces along the orthogonal axes 64, 76 and 78 and 
for moments about the non-longitudinal orthogonal axes 76 and 78 but 
substantially compliant for moments about the longitudinal axis 64. Like 
the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, shear forces along the 
non-longitudinal orthogonal axes 76 and 78 are applied to the support 
structure 164 through a base member 174 that is connected to lateral 
actuators such as actuator 176. Axial forces along the longitudinal axis 
64 are provided from actuators 178A, 178B, 178C and 178D located below the 
base member 174. The forces and moments along and about the 
non-longitudinal orthogonal axes 76 and 78 are transferred to the first 
end 168 where a wheel pan 180 is mounted in a manner similar to that of 
the assembly 12. Compression and tension forces present within the support 
columns 172A-172D are measured with conventional strain gages in order to 
calculate the forces applied along the orthogonal axes 64, 76 and 78 and 
moments about the non-longitudinal orthogonal axes 76 and 78. 
The torque cell 166 surrounds the support structure 164 and is attached 
thereto with an upper flexure diaphragm 182 and a lower flexure diaphragm 
184 using concentrically positioned cap screws 186 and 188, respectively. 
Like the diaphragms 48 and 50, the diaphragms 182 and 184 have an inner 
stiff rim portion 190 and an outer stiff rim portion 192 separated by and 
connected with a flexible diaphragm plate 194 having a cross-sectional 
area narrower than the inner rim portion 190 or the outer rim portion 192. 
The flexure diaphragms 182 and 184 are substantially rigid to transmit 
moments about the longitudinal axis 64 from the support structure 144 to 
the torque cell 146, and substantially compliant to forces and moments 
along and about the non-longitudinal orthogonal axes 76 and 78 and forces 
along the longitudinal axis 64. Conventional strain gages, not shown, can 
be affixed to outer surfaces of the flexure beams 198A, 198B, 198C and 
198D of the torque cell 146 to provide an output signal proportional to 
the applied moment. Annular grooves 200 and 202 on a lower surface of the 
wheel pan 180 and an upper surface of the base member 174, respectively, 
allow sufficient movement of the torque cell 166 and the diaphragms 182 
and 184 during testing. 
The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 with the torque cell 166 
surrounding the support structure 164 is particularly well suited when 
substantial moments are expected about the longitudinal axis 64. Whereas, 
the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 having the torque cell 46 
located within a longitudinal cavity of the support structure 44 is 
preferable when small moments about the longitudinal axis 64 are expected 
in the presence of either relatively large orthogonal forces or 
non-longitudinal overturning moments. 
Although the present invention has been described with reference to 
preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that 
changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit 
and scope of the invention.