Load sensor plate

Abstract

A load sensor plate ( 100 ) is adapted for manufacture by stamping spaced apart openings ( 110 ) through a thin blank to define flexure beams ( 112 ) beside the openings ( 110 ); and forming the blank with spaced apart columnar walls ( 102 ), ( 106 ) joined by a web ( 104 ) having the openings ( 110 ) and the flexure beams ( 112 ) whereby, an applied load ( 116 ) exerted on one of the columnar walls ( 102 ) is distributed among the flexure beams ( 12 ), and another of the columnar walls ( 106 ) bears an opposing force ( 118 ) that resists the applied load ( 118 ).

1 . A sensor plate for a load cell, comprising: 
 a load bearing first columnar wall;    a load bearing second columnar wall;    a web between the inner columnar wall and the outer columnar wall; and    flexure beams in the web:    each of the flexure beams undergoing strain when an applied load is transmitted by the first columnar wall to the flexure beams, and when the applied load is resisted by an opposing force borne by the second columnar wall.    
   
   
       2 . The sensor plate of  claim 1  wherein; 
 the sensor plate is of one piece construction.    
   
   
       3 . The sensor plate of  claim 1 , and further comprising: 
 a series of openings through the web; and wherein;    the flexure beams are portions of the web beside the openings.    
   
   
       4 . The sensor plate of  claim 1 , and further comprising: 
 a base of the inner columnar wall; and    a projection on the base of the inner columnar wall for receiving the applied load.    
   
   
       5 . The sensor plate of  claim 1 , and further comprising: 
 a base of the inner columnar wall receiving the applied load.    
   
   
       6 . The sensor plate of  claim 1 , and further comprising: 
 a lip flange on the outer columnar wall bearing the opposing force.    
   
   
       7 . The sensor plate of  claim 1 , and further comprising 
 a receptacle encircling the outer columnar wall and applying an opposing force resisting the applied load.    
   
   
       8 . The sensor plate of  claim 1  and further comprising: 
 a receptacle encircling the outer columnar wall and applying an opposing force resisting the applied load; and    an end wall on the receptacle covering the sensors.    
   
   
       9 . The sensor plate of  claim 1  wherein; 
 the sensor plate is a unitary blank of elastically deformable material.    
   
   
       10 . The sensor plate of  claim 1  wherein; 
 the sensor plate has a flat section to orient the sensor plate.    
   
   
       11 . The sensor plate of  claim 1  and further comprising: 
 a receptacle having a load bearing wall impinging against a lip flange on the outer columnar wall to apply an opposing force that resists the applied load.    
   
   
       12 . The sensor plate of  claim 1  and further comprising: 
 a receptacle having a load bearing wall impinging against a lip flange on the outer columnar wall to apply an opposing force that resists the applied load; and    the load bearing wall projecting beyond the load bearing wall to receive the applied load.    
   
   
       13 . The sensor plate of  claim 1  wherein; 
 the sensors are piezoresistive elements.    
   
   
       14 - 20 . (canceled)