Mobile Pallet Scale with Disengaging Load Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current metal scrap and raw materials weighing systems lack flexibility, robustness, and reliability, particularly in metal production environments, as they require stationary setups and fail to account for lateral loading and movement, leading to inefficiencies and maintenance challenges.
Innovation Solution
A mobile pallet scale design featuring a lower frame and upper deck with load cells that disengage when the scale is moved, allowing for flexible movement and precise weight measurements by transitioning between engaged and disengaged positions, utilizing friction-reducing engagement members to minimize load transfer during transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If stationary scales or crane scales are used for weighing metal scrap and raw materials, then weight measurement capability is provided, but flexibility and ease of movement are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The scale is designed with a mobile platform that can be moved between different locations in the scrap yard. The load cells are mechanically coupled to the platform through engageable interfaces, allowing the scale to dynamically transition between stationary weighing mode and mobile transport mode, thus providing both reliability for measurement and adaptability for movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The scale is divided into separate functional modules: a mobile platform, load cells, and an indicator device. This segmentation allows the platform to be independently moved while the load cells remain engaged only when needed for weighing, resolving the contradiction between movement flexibility and measurement reliability.
2Reliability
If crane scales with one-directional sensors are used, then weight measurement is achieved, but correction for lateral loading is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple load cells are strategically positioned at different locations on the platform to detect not only vertical loads but also lateral loading conditions. Each load cell measures local force conditions, and the indicator device processes these distributed measurements to provide corrected weight readings that account for lateral loading effects.
3Measurement precision
If load cells remain engaged during movement, then continuous weight monitoring is maintained, but wear on load cells increases and measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical coupling between the platform and load cells is designed to be dynamically engageable and disengageable. During movement, the coupling disengages to prevent wear and damage to the load cells. During weighing operations, the coupling engages to transfer the load to the load cells for accurate measurement, thus resolving the contradiction between continuous monitoring and component durability.
4Reliability
If stationary scales are used, then weight measurement is provided, but additional cranes are required to move material closer to the scale
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile scale platform serves multiple functions: it can be positioned at different locations in the scrap yard, used for weighing various types of material, and then moved to the next weighing location using the same existing crane infrastructure. This eliminates the need for additional dedicated cranes for each weighing location, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining measurement capability.
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
Enables flexible and accurate weighing of metal scrap and raw materials across various locations, reducing wear on load cells and improving measurement accuracy by disengaging load cells during movement, thus enhancing operational efficiency and maintenance accessibility.
Implementation Method 1
an upper deck having a first upper surface and a second lower surface and at least one load cell engagement surface for engaging the at least one load cell
Implementation Method 2
at least one friction reducing engagement member provided on each of the lower frame and upper deck. The at least one friction reducing engagement member on the lower frame engages the at least one friction reducing engagement member on the upper deck to reduce friction when the upper deck is moved
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
A mobile scale including a lower frame having at least one load cell and an upper deck having at least one load cell engagement surface for engaging the at least one load cell. The upper deck is movable from a first position where the at least one load cell engagement surface is engaged with the at least one load cell to a second position where the at least one load cell engagement surface is disengaged from the at least one load cell. Also, a method of weighing and moving a load. The load is placed on the mobile scale described above. The weight of the load is determined using the load cells when the upper deck is in the first position. The mobile scale is then lifted to transition the upper deck from the first position to the second position and moved to a new location.