Patent ID: 7241956

Claim:
A load cell configured as a load bearing component of a vehicle suspension structure wherein shear strain is created in prescribed areas of said load cell responsive to weight of said vehicle, said load cell comprising: a generally flat plate, a plurality of support pads on one side of said plate, said support pads located on opposed ends of said one side and defining a recess between said support pads, said support pads in load bearing relation with said vehicle suspension structure, a relatively narrow load application pad on an opposite side of said plate, said load application pad centrally located with respect to said recess, and bisected to form two load application pads for facilitating a linear response from said load cell when said load cell is mounted on uneven said vehicle suspension structure surfaces, a plurality of strain measurement cavities located in regions of said recess between said support pads and said load application pad, and at least one strain gage fixed to an interior wall of each strain measurement cavity of said strain measurement cavities to produce an electrical signal indicative of weight applied to said vehicle suspension structure.