Load cell overload protection by a relieving mechanism for fluid dispensing systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9719845-B2
Application number	US-201314647388-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 26, 2013
Priority date	Nov 27, 2012
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

A method for locking out load cells includes dispensing a fluid into a collapsible bag that is supported within a support housing, the support housing resting on a plurality of load cells that sense the weight of the fluid; manipulating a plurality of lockouts located adjacent to corresponding load cells from a first position to a second position so that the lockouts remove at least a portion of the weight of the fluid from the plurality of load cells; moving the support housing containing the collapsible bag with the fluid therein to a new location; and further manipulating the plurality of lockouts from the second position back to the first position so that the plurality of load cells again sense the full weight of the fluid within the collapsible bag.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for locking out load cells, the method comprising:
dispensing a fluid into a collapsible bag that is supported within a support housing, the support housing resting on a plurality of load cells that sense the weight of the fluid;
manipulating a plurality of lockouts located adjacent to corresponding load cells from a first position to a second position so that the lockouts remove at least a portion of the weight of the fluid from the plurality of load cells;
moving the support housing containing the collapsible bag with the fluid therein to a new location; and
further manipulating the plurality of lockouts from the second position back to the first position so that the plurality of load cells again sense the full weight of the fluid within the collapsible bag.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the fluid within the collapsible bag is sterile.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the fluid within the bag comprises media in which cells can be grown, buffers, reagents or a culture of cells or microorganisms.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the collapsible bag is filled to at least 75% of full capacity with the fluid.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of manipulating the plurality of lockouts comprises rotating a lockout nut or a cam which forms a portion of each lockout.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of manipulating the plurality of lockouts from the first position to the second position removes at least half of the weight of the fluid from the load cells.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
each load cell being disposed between a lower support and an upper support, the weight of the fluid being transferred through the upper support to each of the load cells;
each lockout comprising:
a receiver coupled with one of the lower support or the upper support, the receiver having an end surface with an opening formed thereon;
a stem coupled with the other of the lower support or the upper support, at least a portion of the stem being freely received within the opening of the receiver so that the stem can freely slide within the opening; and
a lockout nut threaded onto the stem such that rotation of the lockout nut in a first direction causes the lockout to be in the second position and rotation of the lockout nut in an opposing second direction causes the lockout to be in the first position.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 , further comprising attaching a fastener to at least one lockout when the lockout is in the first position, the fastener securing the locking nut to the receiver.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the fastener comprises a clamp.

10. A load cell lockout system comprising:
a lower support;
an upper support;
a load cell disposed between the lower support and the upper support, the upper support being movable relative to the lower support between a first position wherein a first load is applied by the upper support to the load cell and a second position wherein either a second load that is lighter than the first load is applied by the upper support to the load cell or no load is applied by the upper support to the load cell; and
a lockout comprising:
a receiver coupled with one of the lower support or the upper support, the receiver having an end surface with an opening formed thereon;
a stem coupled with the other of the lower support or the upper support, at least a portion of the stem being freely received within the opening of the receiver so that the stem can freely slide within the opening; and
a lockout nut threaded onto the stem such that rotation of the lockout nut in a first direction causes the upper support to move to the second position and rotation of the lockout nut in an opposing second direction causes the upper support to move to the first position.

11. The load cell lockout system as recited in claim 10 , further comprising:
the end surface of the receiver having a frustoconical projection or frustoconical recess formed thereon; and
the lockout nut having an end surface with the other of the frustoconical projection or frustoconical recess formed thereon so that the end surface of the lockout nut complementary mates with the end surface of the receiver.

12. The load cell lockout system as recited in claim 10 , further comprising a fastener securing the lockout nut to the receiver when the upper support is in the first position.

13. The load cell lockout system as recited in claim 10 , further comprising:
the receiver comprising a pedestal having an outwardly projecting flange;
the locking nut having an outwardly projecting flange; and
a clamp removably engaging the flange on the receiver and the flange on the locking nut so as to secure the receiver and locking nut together.

14. The load cell lockout system as recited in claim 10 , further comprising a slip connector securing one end of the load cell to the upper support, the slip connector securing the load cell to the upper support but allowing some movement between the slip connector and the load cell.

15. The load cell lockout system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the slip connector is secured to the upper support so that some free movement is permitted between the slip connector and the upper support.

16. The load cell lockout system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the load cell comprises a load cell beam having a first end and an opposing second end with a central longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the first end of the load cell beam being secured to the lower support and the second end of the load cell beam being biased against or secured to the upper support when the upper support is in the first position, the longitudinal axis of the load cell being horizontally disposed within a variance of +/−10°.

17. The load cell lockout system as recited in claim 16 , wherein the lockout is offset from the central longitudinal axis of the load cell beam so that the central longitudinal axis does not intersect with the lockout.

18. The load cell lockout system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the upper support comprises or is secured to a support housing, the support housing bounding a chamber having a volume of at least 40 liters.

19. The load cell lockout system as recited in claim 18 , further comprising:
a collapsible bag disposed within the support housing; and
means for mixing a fluid within the collapsible bag.

20. The load cell lockout system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the lower support comprises or is secured to a movable platform having wheels.

21. A load cell lockout system comprising:
a lower support;
an upper support;
a load cell disposed between the lower support and the upper support, the upper support being movable relative to the lower support between a first position wherein a first load is applied by the upper support to the load cell and a second position wherein either a second load that is lighter than the first load is applied by the upper support to the load cell or no load is applied by the upper support to the load cell; and
a lockout comprising:
a receiver coupled with one of the lower support or the upper support, the receiver having an end surface with an opening formed thereon;
a stem coupled with the other of the lower support or the upper support, at least a portion of the stem being received within the opening of the receiver;
a lockout nut threaded onto the stem such that rotation of the locko

Assignees

• Life Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Kjar Steven R
• Woods Whitt F
• Thacker Paul T

Classifications

• G01G19/22

  for apportioning materials by weighing prior to mixing them (ratio regulation G05D11/00) · CPC title

• G01G17/00

  Apparatus for or methods of weighing material of special form or property (determining weight by measuring volume G01F) · CPC title

• G01G23/005 Primary

  Means for preventing overload · CPC title

• G01G19/12

  having electrical weight-sensitive devices · CPC title

• G01G17/04

  for weighing fluids, e.g. gases, pastes · CPC title