US3858440A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stress transducer mounting and method of adjustment
Assignee: PRODUCTRONIX Inc
•
Filing: 1972-11-29
•
Granted: 1975-01-07
•
Expires: 1992-11-29
Abstract
Abstract A piezoelectric transducer for measuring the deformation of a member subject to a load. The piezoelectric transducer is mounted between a pair of spaced brackets with a section of the mounting having a stress/deformation ratio which prevents excessive deformation of the transducer. The brackets are mounted on the member with the line between them, which is at right angles to the transducer, oriented at right angles to the load applied to the member so that the lateral rather than the longitudinal deformation is sensed. The terminals for the piezoelectric transducer are conductive elements engaging the faces of the transducer and have relative length and cross-sectional dimensions such that they bend with lateral forces, minimizing unequal compressive forces across the surface of the transducer. A slotted mounting bracket is fitted with a shim for accurate adjustment of the prestress load on the transducer.
Inventors
- 👤 Tadas Budraitis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:46
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01L; G01L1/00; G01L1/16; G01B; G01B7/00; G01B7/16; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S73/00; Y10S73/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A mounting for a piezoelectric transducer which measures the deformation of a member subject to a load, comprising: a pair of brackets secured to said member and having facing supporting surfaces spaced apart along a line parallel with the deformation to be measured; and means carrying the piezoelectric transducer between the supporting surfaces of the bracKets, including a resilient conical washer interposed between one of said brackets and said transducer having a stress-deformation ratio which is less than that of said member, and which deflects on deformation of said member, whereby only a portion of the deformation of the member is transmitted to the piezoelectric transducer and the force exerted on the transducer is less than that corresponding to the deformation of the member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A mounting for a piezoelectric transducer which measures the deformation of a member subject to a load, comprising: a pair of brackets secured to said member and having facing supporting surfaces spaced apart along a line parallel with the deformation to be measured; and means carrying the piezoelectric transducer between the supporting surfaces of the bracKets, including a resilient conical washer interposed between one of said brackets and said transducer having a stress-deformation ratio which is less than that of said member, and which deflects on deformation of said member, whereby only a portion of the deformation of the member is transmitted to the piezoelectric transducer and the force exerted on the transducer is less than that corresponding to the deformation of the member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
122 words
A mounting for a piezoelectric transducer which measures the deformation of a member subject to a load, comprising: a pair of brackets secured to said member and having facing supporting surfaces spaced apart along a line parallel with the deformation to be measured; and means carrying the piezoelectric transducer between the supporting surfaces of the brackets, including a spring interposed between one of said brackets and said transducer having a stress-deformation ratio which is less than that of said member, and which deflects on deformation of said member, whereby only a portion of the deformation of the member is transmitted to the piezoelectric transducer and the force exerted on the transducer is less than that corresponding to the deformation of the member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
122 words
A mounting for a piezoelectric transducer which measures the deformation of a member subject to a load, comprising: a pair of brackets secured to said member and having facing supporting surfaces spaced apart along a line parallel with the deformation to be measured; and means carrying the piezoelectric transducer between the supporting surfaces of the brackets, including a spring interposed between one of said brackets and said transducer having a stress-deformation ratio which is less than that of said member, and which deflects on deformation of said member, whereby only a portion of the deformation of the member is transmitted to the piezoelectric transducer and the force exerted on the transducer is less than that corresponding to the deformation of the member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
156 words
A mounting for a piezoelectric transducer which measures the deformation of a member subject to a load, comprising: a pair of brackets secured to said member and having facing supporting surfaces spaced apart along a line parallel with the deformation to be measured; and means carrying the piezoelectric transducer between the supporting surfaces of the brackets to transmit a compressive force from the member to the piezoelectric transducer, one of the brackets having a head with a slot therethrough generally at right angles to said line parallel with the deformation to be measured, dividing the bracket head into two portions, the supporting surface for the piezoelectric transducer being in only one portion which is resilient and deflects on deformation of the member, whereby only a portion of the deformation of the member is transmitted to the piezoelectric transducer and the force exerted on the transducer is less than that corresponding to the deformation of the member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
156 words
A mounting for a piezoelectric transducer which measures the deformation of a member subject to a load, comprising: a pair of brackets secured to said member and having facing supporting surfaces spaced apart along a line parallel with the deformation to be measured; and means carrying the piezoelectric transducer between the supporting surfaces of the brackets to transmit a compressive force from the member to the piezoelectric transducer, one of the brackets having a head with a slot therethrough generally at right angles to said line parallel with the deformation to be measured, dividing the bracket head into two portions, the supporting surface for the piezoelectric transducer being in only one portion which is resilient and deflects on deformation of the member, whereby only a portion of the deformation of the member is transmitted to the piezoelectric transducer and the force exerted on the transducer is less than that corresponding to the deformation of the member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The mounting of claim 3 in which the supporting surface for the piezoelectric transducer is in the portion of said one bracket intermediate the slot and the other bracket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The mounting of claim 4 in which a load on the bracket causes the bracket portion with the supporting surface to deflect toward the other portion of the bracket.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The mounting of claim 3 in which said piezoelectric transducer carrying means includes a screw threaded to the bracket portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
145 words
A mounting for a piezoelectric transducer which measures the deformation of a member subject to a load, comprising: a pair of brackets secured to said member and having facing supporting surfaces spaced apart along a line parallel with the deformation to be measured; and means carrying the piezoelectric transducer between the supporting surfaces of the brackets, including a pair of electrically conductive terminal elements one on either side of the piezoelectric transducer and each interposed between the transducer and the adjacent bracket to transmit a compressive force from the member to the piezoelectric transducer and to derive an electrical signal therefrom, at least one of the terminal elements being resilient to deflect on deformation of said member, having a stress/deformation ratio which is less than that of said member, whereby only a portion of the deformation of the member is transmitted to the piezoelectric transducer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
145 words
A mounting for a piezoelectric transducer which measures the deformation of a member subject to a load, comprising: a pair of brackets secured to said member and having facing supporting surfaces spaced apart along a line parallel with the deformation to be measured; and means carrying the piezoelectric transducer between the supporting surfaces of the brackets, including a pair of electrically conductive terminal elements one on either side of the piezoelectric transducer and each interposed between the transducer and the adjacent bracket to transmit a compressive force from the member to the piezoelectric transducer and to derive an electrical signal therefrom, at least one of the terminal elements being resilient to deflect on deformation of said member, having a stress/deformation ratio which is less than that of said member, whereby only a portion of the deformation of the member is transmitted to the piezoelectric transducer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The mounting of claim 7 in which each of the terminal elements has a stress/deformation ratio less than that of the loaded member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The mounting of claim 7 in which said one terminal element has an end surface coextensive with a surface of the piezoelectric transducer and an intermediate section of lesser cross section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
115 words
A mounting for a piezOelectric transducer which measures the deformation of a member subject to a load, comprising: a pair of brackets secured to said member and having facing supporting surfaces spaced apart along a line parallel with the deformation to be measured; and means carrying the piezoelectric transducer between the supporting surfaces of the brackets, said carrying means including an element on at least one side of said piezoelectric transducer to transmit a force from the member to the transducer and which has a ratio of length to cross-section such that lateral bending forces between the brackets cause bending of the element and minimize unequal compressive loads across the surface of the piezoelectric transducer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
115 words
A mounting for a piezOelectric transducer which measures the deformation of a member subject to a load, comprising: a pair of brackets secured to said member and having facing supporting surfaces spaced apart along a line parallel with the deformation to be measured; and means carrying the piezoelectric transducer between the supporting surfaces of the brackets, said carrying means including an element on at least one side of said piezoelectric transducer to transmit a force from the member to the transducer and which has a ratio of length to cross-section such that lateral bending forces between the brackets cause bending of the element and minimize unequal compressive loads across the surface of the piezoelectric transducer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mounting of claim 10 in which an element on each side of said piezoelectric transducer has such a ratio of length to cross-section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The mounting of claim 10 in which said element is an electrically conductive terminal means having an end surface coextensive with the surface of said piezoelectric transducer and an intermediate portion of lesser cross-section.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The mounting of claim 12 in which the stress/deformation ratio of the electrical terminal means is less than that of the member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
106 words
A mounting for a piezoelectric transducer which measures the deformation of a member subjected to a load, comprising: a pair of brackets each having a tapered threaded portion received in a tapered threaded hole in said member, said tapered threaded portion having an axial bore therethrough, said bore being at least coextensive with the threads on said bracket portion and the diameter of said bore being of the order of one-half the diameter of said threaded portion, stress in the threaded portion of the bracket caused by wedging of the tapered threads into the hole in said member compressing the wall of the bracket portion circumferentially.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
106 words
A mounting for a piezoelectric transducer which measures the deformation of a member subjected to a load, comprising: a pair of brackets each having a tapered threaded portion received in a tapered threaded hole in said member, said tapered threaded portion having an axial bore therethrough, said bore being at least coextensive with the threads on said bracket portion and the diameter of said bore being of the order of one-half the diameter of said threaded portion, stress in the threaded portion of the bracket caused by wedging of the tapered threads into the hole in said member compressing the wall of the bracket portion circumferentially.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-06 | 1978-07-08 | 1979-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-06 | 1982-07-08 | 1983-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-06 | 1986-07-08 | 1987-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |