Bellows-Sealed Load Cell Structure for Accurate Hygienic Weighing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load determination devices in household products, such as smart feeding bottles, face challenges in sealing load cells effectively while allowing gravitational forces to pass through without creating pressure differentials or uncleanable gaps, which are essential for hygiene and water resistance.
Innovation Solution
A load determination device with a sealing component featuring a bellows portion having rotational symmetric rolling, decoupling vertical and horizontal forces from the base component, ensuring all loads pass through the load cell component, and using a low-stiffness sealing material to prevent force transmission and maintain cleanliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing component is provided to seal the load cell component, then protection against liquids and gases is improved, but gravitational forces may be transmitted to the base component through the sealing component, affecting measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing component comprises a bellows portion with a flexible membrane that seals the load cell component while allowing gravitational forces to pass through to the load cell. The flexible membrane structure provides liquid and gas tight sealing without transmitting lateral forces to the base component, thus maintaining measurement accuracy while ensuring IPX4 water resistance.
2Reliability
If the load cell component is fully sealed, then protection against liquids and gases is improved, but small uncleanable gaps may be created
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows portion with its flexible membrane creates a continuous sealing surface without small gaps or crevices. The smooth, gap-free sealing structure allows the entire device to be washed under tap water while maintaining IPX4 water resistance, as there are no trapped spaces where liquid or debris could accumulate.
3Reliability
If the sealing component is made rigid to ensure water tightness, then water resistance is improved, but the ability to accommodate volume changes and movement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows portion is designed as a dynamic, flexible structure that can expand and contract to accommodate volume changes within the sealed enclosure. The flexible membrane maintains water tightness while dynamically adapting to internal pressure changes and movement, allowing the weighing pan to move freely without compromising the seal.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a sealed and self-contained weight determination system that is resistant to water, maintains hygiene by avoiding small gaps, and accurately measures loads without interference from external forces or pressure changes, suitable for household products and other applications.
Implementation Method 1
the bellows portion comprises a rotational symmetric rolling directed away from the surface... ensuring all loads pass through the load cell component
Implementation Method 2
load cells for determining weight... strain gages... load determination portion
Data Source
AI summary
A load determination device (1) is provided, comprising a load cell component (10), a hull component (20) of which the load is to be determined, the hull component (20) being provided in contact with the load cell component (10), a base component (30) for supporting the load cell component (10) on a surface, a sealing component (50) for sealing the load cell component (10) within the load determination device (1) being arranged in sealing connection between the hull component (20) and the base component (30), wherein the sealing component (50) comprises a bellows portion (52) surrounding the base component (30), wherein the bellows portion (52) comprises a rotational symmetric rolling (58) directed away from the surface. The load determination device (1) and a corresponding method for manufacturing such load determination device (1) provide an improved sealing of the load cell component (10).