Patent ID: 8511176

Claim:
A method of determining a load applied by a jack, comprising: providing a jack having at least one strain gauge positioned such that a corresponding at least one strain experienced by the jack is related to a load applied by the jack in accordance with a load-strain relationship; applying a load with the jack; measuring the corresponding at least one strain from the at least one strain gauge; and determining the load applied by the jack based on the load-strain relationship, wherein the jack comprises a piston, a cylinder for receiving the piston, and a fluid positioned between a top surface of the piston and a bottom surface of a top of the cylinder, wherein pressurizing the fluid creates a first force on the piston and a second force on the cylinder tending to separate the piston and the cylinder, wherein the at least one strain gauge is incorporated with the piston of the jack, wherein the at least one strain is at least one strain experienced by the piston.