Force measuring apparatus

Claim 2

Force measuring apparatus comprising: an endless body having inner and outer peripheral surfaces extending between a pair of spaced end surfaces; a first set of force applying elements formed integrally on said body and projecting axially from one of said end surfaces for applying forces in one axial direction to said body at spaced locations on said body; a second set of force applying elements formed integrally on said body and projecting axially from the other of said end surfaces for applying forces in the opposite axial direction to said body at spaced locations on said body, the force applying elements of said first set being in staggered relationship with the force applying elements of said second set to cause flexural, bending stressing of said body between adjacent force applying elements of the two sets; a first force applying member engaged with said first set of force applying elements; a second force applying member engaged with said second set of force applying elements; said first force applying member being in the form of a cap having a depending peripheral skirt receiving said body; and said second force applying member having a recesses surface engaging said second set of force applying elements and an axially projecting peripheral skirt surrounding said recessed surface.

Claim 3

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body is reduced in cross section on each side of each of said force applying elements to concentrate the flexural stresses at said force applying elements.

Claim 4

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first force applying member is threadedly attached with said first set of force applying elements and said second force applying member is threadedly attached to said second set of force applying members.

Claim 5

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further including a base member, and means resiliently supporting one of said force applying members on said base member.

Claim 6

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further including a recess formed iN said base member, said means resiliently supporting said one force applying member comprising an elastomeric member received in said recess.

Claim 7

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first force applying member is threadedly attached with said first set of force applying elements and said second force applying member is threadedly attached to said second set of force applying members.

Claim 8

Force measuring apparatus comprising: an endless body having inner and outer peripheral surfaces extending between a pair of spaced end surfaces; a first set of force applying elements projecting from said body for applying forces in one axial direction to said body at spaced locations on said body; a second set of force applying elements projecting from said body for applying forces in the opposite axial direction to said body at spaced locations on said body; the force applying elements of said first set being in staggered relationship with the force applying elements of said second set the cause flexural, bending stressing of said body between adjacent force applying elements of the two sets, a first force applying member engaged with said first set of force applying elements and a second force applying member engaged with said second set of force applying elements; a base member, means resiliently supporting one of said force applying members on said base member; a recess formed in said base member; said means resiliently supporting said one force applying member comprising an elastomeric member received in said recess wherein said recess has a circular, axially extending wall; and said elastomeric member comprising an O-ring received in said recess and projecting axially beyond said axially extending wall and restrained against radial expansion by said axially extending wall.

Claim 9

Force measuring apparatus comprising: an endless body having inner and outer peripheral surfaces extending between a pair of spaced end surfaces; a first set of force applying elements projecting from said body for applying forces in one axial direction to said body at spaced locations on said body; a second set of force applying elements projecting from said body for applying forces in the opposite axial direction to said body at spaced locations on said body; the force applying elements of said first set being in staggered relationship with the force applying elements of said second set the cause flexural, bending stressing of said body between adjacent force applying elements of the two sets, a first force applying member engaged with said first set of force applying elements and a second force applying member engaged with said second set of force applying elements; a base member, means resiliently supporting one of said force applying members on said base member; a recess formed in said base member; said means resiliently supporting said one force applying member comprising an elastomeric member received in said recess wherein said recess has a circular, axially extending wall; and said elastomeric member comprising an O-ring received in said recess and projecting axially beyond said axially extending wall and restrained against radial expansion by said axially extending wall.

Claim 10

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said one force applying member includes an axially projecting portion received in said O-ring with its outer periphery engaging the inner periphery of said O-ring, said one force applying member having a portion overlying the axially projecting portion of said O-ring whereby said one force applying member is resiliently supported on said O-ring in both an axial and transverse direction with respect to said base member.

Claim 11

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further including fastener means securing said one force applying member to said base member against axial separation therefrom.

Claim 12

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said one force applying member is formed with at least one axially extending fastener receiving opening and said base member is formed with at least one fastener receiving opening, and said fastener means comprises a screw having a head portion overlying the surface of said one force applying member opposite said base member, said screw having a shank extending through the opening in said one force applying member in loose, nonthreaded engagement therewith and into threaded engagement with the opening in said base member.

Claim 13

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 10 further including an elastomeric O-ring clamped between the head of said screw and the adjacent surface of said one force applying member.

Claim 14

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said first set of force applying elements projects axially from one end surface of said body and said second set of force applying elements projects axially from the other end surface of said body.

Claim 15

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said load cell body is annular.

Claim 16

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said one force applying member is screw-threadedly attached to said first set of force applying elements and said second force applying member is screw-threadedly attached to said second set of force applying elements.

Claim 17

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further including a weighing platform overlying the other of said force applYing members, and means resiliently supporting said platform on said other force applying member both axially and transversely.

Claim 18

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 16 further including means defining a downwardly opening recess on said platform having a circular, axially extending wall, said means resiliently supporting said platform comprising an elastomeric O-ring received in said downwardly opening recess projecting axially beyond said axially extending wall and restrained against radial expansion by said axially extending wall.

Claim 19

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said other force applying member includes an axially projection portion received in said O-ring with its outer periphery engaging the inner periphery of said O-ring, said other force applying member having a portion underlying the axially projecting portion of said O-ring whereby said platform is supported on said O-ring in both an axial and transverse direction with respect to said other force applying member.

Claim 20

Force measuring apparatus comprising: a base member; a load cell; means resiliently supporting said load cell both axially and transversely on said base member; a recess formed in said base member, said means resiliently supporting said load cell comprising an elastomeric member received in said recess wherein said recess has a circular, axially extending wall, and said elastomeric member comprising an O-ring received in said recess and projecting axially beyond said axially extending wall and restrained against radial expansion by said axially extending wall.

Claim 21

Force measuring apparatus comprising: a base member; a load cell; means resiliently supporting said load cell both axially and transversely on said base member; a recess formed in said base member, said means resiliently supporting said load cell comprising an elastomeric member received in said recess wherein said recess has a circular, axially extending wall, and said elastomeric member comprising an O-ring received in said recess and projecting axially beyond said axially extending wall and restrained against radial expansion by said axially extending wall.

Claim 22

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said load cell includes an axially projecting portion received in said O-ring with its outer periphery engaging the inner periphery of said O-ring, said load cell having a portion overlying the axially projecting portion of said O-ring whereby said load cell is resiliently supported on said O-ring in both an axial and transverse direction with respect to said base member.

Claim 23

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 19 further including fastener means securing said load cell to said base member against axial separation therefrom.

Claim 24

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein said load cell is formed with at least one axially extending, fastener receiving opening; and said base member is formed with at least one fastener receiving opening, and said fastener means comprises a screw having a head portion overlying the surface of said load cell opposite said base member and a shank extending through the opening in said load cell in loose, nonthreaded engagement therewith, and into threaded engagement with the opening in said base member.

Claim 25

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 21 further including an elastomeric O-ring clamped between the head of said screw and the surface of said load cell.

Claim 26

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein said load cell comprises an endless body having inner and outer peripheral surfaces extending between a pair of spaced end surfaces; a first set of force applying elements projecting from said body for applying forces in one axial direction to said body at spaced locations on said body; and a second set of force applying elements projecting from said body for applying forces in the opposite axial direction to said body at spaced locations on said body; the force applying elements of said first set being in staggered relationship with the force applying elements of said second set to cause flexural stressing of said body between adjacent force applying elements of the two sets.

Claim 27

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 23 wherein said body is reduced in cross section on each side of each of said force applying elements to concentrate the flexural stresses at said force applying elements.

Claim 28

A force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 23 wherein said load cell further includes a first force applying member engageD with said first set of force applying elements and a second force applying member engaged with said second set of force applying elements.

Claim 29

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 25 wherein said first force applying member is threadedly attached with said first set of force applying elements and said second force applying member is threadedly attached to said second set of force applying members.

Claim 30

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 25 wherein said first force applying member is integral with said first set of force applying elements and said second force applying member is integral with said second set of force applying elements.

Claim 31

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 19 further including a weighing platform overlying said load cell and means resiliently supporting said platform on said load cell.

Claim 32

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 28 further including means defining a downwardly opening recess on said platform having a circular, axially extending wall, said means resiliently supporting said platform comprising an elastomeric O-ring received in said downwardly opening recess and projecting axially beyond said axially extending wall and restrained against radial expansion by said axially extending wall.

Claim 33

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 29 wherein said load cell includes an upwardly axially projecting portion received in the O-ring of said platform with its outer periphery engaging the inner periphery of said O-ring and having a portion underlying the axially projecting portion of said O-ring whereby said platform is supported in said load cell in both an axial and transverse direction with respect to said load cell.

Claim 34

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 30 wherein said load cell comprises an endless body having inner and outer peripheral surfaces extending between a pair of spaced end surfaces; a first set of force applying elements projecting from said body for applying forces in one axial direction to said body at spaced locations on said body; and a second set of force applying elements projecting from said body for applying forces in the opposite axial direction to said body at spaced locations on said body; the force applying elements of said first set being in staggered relationship with the force applying elements of said second set to cause flexural stressing of said body between adjacent force applying elements of the two sets.

Claim 35

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 31 wherein said body is reduced in cross section on each side of each of said force applying elements to concentrate the flexural stresses at said force applying elements.

Claim 36

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 32 wherein said load cell further includes a first force applying member engaged with said first set of force applying element and a second force applying member engaged with said second set of force applying elements.

Claim 37

Force measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 33 wherein said first force applying member is integral with said first set of force applying elements and said second force applying member is integral with said second set of force applying elements.