Load transducer with lockup assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10495533-B2
Application number	US-201715722917-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2017
Priority date	Aug 1, 2013
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

A transducer body includes a support comprising a pair of clevis halves; a sensor body coupled to each of the clevis halves, wherein the sensor body is disposed between the clevis halves and includes a generally rigid peripheral member disposed about a spaced-apart central hub, the central hub being joined to each of the clevis halves with the peripheral member spaced apart from each clevis half, wherein at least three flexure components couple the peripheral member to the central hub, and wherein the flexure components are spaced-apart from each other at generally equal angle intervals about the central hub; and a lockup assembly configured to selectively inhibit movement of the sensor body relative to the clevis halves.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transducer body, comprising:
a support comprising a pair of clevis halves including a first clevis half and a second clevis half; and
a sensor body coupled to each of the clevis halves, wherein the sensor body is disposed between the clevis halves and includes a generally rigid peripheral member disposed about a spaced-apart central hub, the central hub being joined to each of the clevis halves with the peripheral member spaced apart from each clevis half, wherein at least a flexure component couples the peripheral member to the central hub;
a first plate member coupled to the first clevis half and a second plate member coupled to the second clevis half, wherein a portion of the sensor body is disposed between the first plate member and the second plate member.

2. The transducer body of claim 1 and an actuator having a first portion joined to the first plate member and a second portion joined to the second plate member.

3. The transducer body of claim 2 wherein the peripheral member of the sensor body is disposed between the first plate member and the second plate member.

4. The transducer body of claim 3 wherein the actuator is configured to selectively move portions of the plate members having engaging surfaces for frictional contact to contact opposed surfaces of the peripheral member, the engaging surfaces and the opposed surfaces being spaced apart from each other to allow forces to be transferred by the flexure component when the engaging surfaces and the peripheral member are not in frictional contact.

5. The transducer body of claim 4 wherein a portion of each plate member is spaced apart from the associated clevis half.

6. The transducer body of claim 5 wherein when the engaging surfaces engage the opposed surfaces, the portion of each plate member frictionally engages the associated clevis half.

7. The transducer body of claim 6 wherein the actuator is configured to selectively bring the engaging surfaces in contact with the opposed surfaces and also bring the portions of each plate member into contact with each associated clevis half.

8. The transducer body of claim 7 wherein major surfaces of the portions of the plate members engage major surfaces of the associated clevis halves.

9. The transducer body of claim 8 wherein the engaging surfaces are on the plate members, and wherein each plate member comprises a hinges and a link portion between the hinges, the link portion connecting portions of the first and second plate members having the engaging surfaces with portions of the first and second plate members having the major surfaces.

10. The transducer body of claim 9 wherein the actuator is operably mounted to the portions of the plate members having the engaging surfaces, and wherein the actuator includes a pull rod to selectively pull the pull rod so as to bring the engaging surfaces in contact with the opposed surfaces.

11. The transducer body of claim 10 wherein the pull rod extends through a bore opening to one of the opposed surfaces, the pull rod being spaced apart from inner surfaces of the bore at least when the actuator is not pulling on the pull rod to bring the engaging surfaces in contact with the opposed surfaces.

12. The transducer body of claim 11 wherein said at least the flexure component comprises at least three flexure components spaced-apart from each other at generally equal angle intervals about the central hub.

13. A transducer body, comprising:
a support comprising a first clevis half and a second clevis half; and
a sensor body coupled to each of the clevis halves, wherein the sensor body is disposed between the clevis halves and includes a peripheral member disposed about a spaced-apart central hub, the central hub being joined to each of the clevis halves with the peripheral member spaced apart from each clevis half, wherein at least a flexure component couples the peripheral member to the central hub; and
a lockup assembly comprising:
a first plate member joined to the first clevis half and a second plate member joined to the second clevis half such that a first pair of opposed ends extend past first end surfaces of the first and second clevis halves and a second pair of opposed ends extend past second end surfaces of the first and second clevis halves, wherein inwardly facing surfaces of each pair of opposed ends face each other with an associated portion of the peripheral member disposed between the inwardly facing surfaces of each pair of opposed ends;
a first actuator assembly operably coupled to the first pair of opposed ends to selectively hold the first pair of opposed ends to the associated portion of the peripheral member; and
a second actuator assembly operably coupled to the second pair of opposed ends to selectively hold the second pair of opposed ends to the associated portion of the peripheral member.

14. The transducer body of claim 13 wherein each actuator is operably mounted to each pair of opposing ends, and wherein each actuator includes a pull rod coupled to an opposed end of each pair of opposed ends.

15. The transducer body of claim 14 wherein each pull rod extends through a bore opening in each associated portion of the peripheral member, the pull rod being spaced apart from inner surfaces of the bore at least when the actuator is not holding each pair of opposed ends to the associated portion of the peripheral member.

16. The transducer body of claim 13 wherein the plate members are configured such that major surfaces of the portions of the plate members selectively engage major surfaces of the associated clevis halves when each actuator is operated to hold each pair of opposed ends to the associated portion of the peripheral member.

17. The transducer body of claim 16 wherein each plate member comprises a center portion fixedly joined to each associated clevis half, and wherein at least each end of each pair of opposed ends is spaced apart from the associated clevis half when each actuator is not holding each pair of opposed ends to the associated portion of the peripheral member.

18. The transducer body of claim 17 wherein each plate member comprises hinges and a link portion between the hinges from the center portion to each end.

19. The transducer body of claim 18 wherein said at least the flexure component comprises at least three flexure components spaced-apart from each other at generally equal angle intervals about the central hub.

Assignees

• Mts System Corp

Inventors

• Meyer Richard A
• Lamoore Nicholas Devon

Classifications

• G01M9/062

  Wind tunnel balances; Holding devices combined with measuring arrangements · CPC title

• G01M9/02

  Wind tunnels · CPC title

• G01L5/00

  Apparatus for, or methods of, measuring force, work, mechanical power, or torque, specially adapted for specific purposes · CPC title

• G01L5/16

  for measuring several components of force · CPC title

• G01L1/26 Primary

  Auxiliary measures taken, or devices used, in connection with the measurement of force, e.g. for preventing influence of transverse components of force, for preventing overload · CPC title