Weighing Cell Suspension Parallelogram Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high cost and complexity of manufacturing precise weighing cells with minimal tolerances, due to the need for multiple machined parts, result in expensive construction and maintenance, limiting their accessibility for precise weight measurements.

Innovation Solution

A weighing cell design featuring a suspension system with cylindrical primary elements and bendable secondary elements, allowing for precise movement and accurate weight measurement at a lower cost, by using machined primary elements and flexible secondary elements with stiffening plates to maintain parallelogram accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple machined parts are used to construct the weighing cell with minimal tolerances, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweighing accuracyVSAvoidnumber of parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate machined parts into a single monolithic structure. The weighing cell comprises one continuously machined piece forming the base, vertical links, and mounting features, eliminating the need for multiple assembled components while maintaining precise parallelogram geometry for accurate weight measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single machined monolith serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the base structure, forms the vertical links of the parallelogram mechanism, incorporates mounting features for the load cell, and ensures precise geometric relationships. This multi-functional design reduces part count while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If multiple machined parts with minimal tolerances are used, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweighing accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By merging multiple高精度 machined parts into a single monolithic structure, the patent reduces the number of expensive precision machining operations. Only one monolith requires high-precision machining, eliminating the cumulative cost of machining multiple separate components to tight tolerances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If minimal tolerances are applied to all parts, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweighing accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent consolidates the precision requirements into a single monolithic machining operation rather than requiring multiple separate parts to be machined to tight tolerances and then assembled. This reduces the cumulative manufacturing time while achieving the same overall precision through the monolith's inherent geometric stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This design achieves precise and accurate weight measurements while reducing manufacturing costs, enabling more affordable and efficient weighing solutions for various applications.

Implementation Method 1

two, in a rest position parallel secondary elements are arranged, where each secondary element is provided with at least one bendable section

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3376186B1Suspension for a weighing cell
Publication Date: 2020.12.02 SCANVAEGT SYST AS
  • EP3376186B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3376186B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3376186B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Suspension for a weighing cell, where the suspension comprises a base structure and a moveable structure, and where a load cell is interposed and connected be-tween said base structure and said moveable structure, where the suspension is generally shaped as a parallelogram, said parallelogram having two parallel primary elements, where one primary element is fastened to the base structure and the other primary element is fastened to the moveable structure, and where between the primary elements on respectively the base structure and the moveable structure, two in a rest position parallel secondary elements are arranged, where each secondary element is provided with at least one bendable section, said bend-able sections having the same characteristics with respect to bending, and that the primary elements comprises a cylindrical section and a fastening land in either end of the cylindrical section for fastening an end of the secondary elements.