Weighing Scale Measuring Foot with Integrated Load Cell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional weighing scales have a high overall height and suffer from bending and reduced measurement precision due to leverage and drag forces caused by the horizontal displacement of supporting feet relative to load cells.
Innovation Solution
Integrating load cells into vertically extending measuring feet with a non-rotatable load cell carrier and an adjustable foot, allowing for vertical force transmission and adjustable height without adding to the overall height, and incorporating a damping support member for improved accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If supporting feet are horizontally displaced relative to load cells to enable height adjustment, then height adjustability is improved, but leverage and drag forces increase causing beam bending and reduced measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the supporting foot and load cell into a single integrated measuring foot assembly. The load cell is mounted directly on the supporting foot, eliminating the horizontal displacement between these components. This merging removes the leverage arm that caused bending moments and drag forces on horizontal beams, thereby resolving the contradiction between height adjustability and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a horizontal arrangement (supporting feet displaced horizontally from load cells) to a vertical arrangement (load cells mounted directly on supporting feet). By changing the spatial dimension of the force transmission path from horizontal to vertical, the leverage effect is eliminated while preserving height adjustability through vertical positioning of the measuring platform.
2Adaptability or versatility
If supporting feet and load cells are arranged vertically separated to allow height adjustment, then height adjustability is improved, but overall height of the scale increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the load cell within the vertical structure of the supporting foot assembly. The load cell is mounted on the upper surface of the supporting foot, with the force transmission path nested within the vertical footprint of the assembly. This nesting allows height adjustment of the measuring platform without increasing the overall height of the scale, as the adjustment occurs within the existing vertical envelope of the integrated measuring foot.
3Stability of the object's composition
If horizontal beams are used to connect supporting feet to load cells, then structural stability is improved, but leverage forces cause bending and reduce measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the horizontal beam component from the force transmission path. By mounting the load cell directly on the supporting foot, the horizontal beam is removed as a load-bearing element. This extraction eliminates the leverage forces that caused bending in horizontal beams while maintaining structural stability through the direct vertical force transmission path from the measuring platform through the load cell to the supporting foot.
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 a low overall height, prevents bending, and enhances measurement accuracy by ensuring vertical force transmission, making it suitable for large scales with high load capacities.
Implementation Method 1
a load cell is assigned to each supporting foot, which load cell senses a share of the weight force originating from the measuring platform, which share is exerted by the measuring platform on the respective measuring foot
Implementation Method 2
incorporating a damping support member for improved accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
A weighing scale has a measuring platform which is supported by at least three supporting feet resting on a floor, wherein to each supporting foot a load cell is assigned, wherein each load cell senses the share of the weight force originating from the measuring platform supported by the respective supporting foot. Each supporting foot is designed as a vertically extending measuring foot and comprises a load cell carrier on which the load cell rests and is attached, and an adjusting foot located below the load cell carrier. The load cell carrier is screwed with its external thread into the internal thread of the adjusting foot such that, by turning the adjusting foot relative to the load cell carrier, a vertical height of the measuring foot along a vertical screw axis is adjustable.