Mts Systems Corporation

Douglas J Olson

Richard Alan Meyer

Ian T Kunsch

Jodi L Sommerfeld

Brett A Larson

Byron John Saari

Paul J Carroll

Robert L Josephson

Alan J Kempainen

A multiple degree of freedom displacement transducer and body thereof is used to measure linear displacements along and/or rotational or pivotal displacements about up to three orthogonal axes. In one embodiment, a displacement transducer body includes a first pivoting assembly and a second pivoting assembly. Each pivoting assembly has a support member pivotable relative to another portion about two orthogonal axes. A structure joins said another portion of each pivoting assembly together. In another embodiment, a displacement transducer includes a first support member, a second support member, and a cross flexure assembly joining the first support member to the second support member. The cross flexure assembly is arranged to allow the first support member to pivot relative to the second support member about two intersecting orthogonal axes. An angular sensing device is arranged to provide an output signal related to angular movement of the first support member relative to the second support member about at least one of the orthogonal axes.

Multiple degree of freedom displacement transducer

The present disclosure is directed to a platform balance that is suitable for transmitting forces and moments in a plurality of directions. The platform balance is adapted to support a test specimen, such as a large vehicle, in a test environment such as a wind tunnel. The platform balance includes a frame support and at least three spaced-apart transducers coupled to the frame support. Each of the transducers is sensitive about two orthogonal sensed axes. The transducers cooperate to provide signals indicative of forces and moments with respect to at least two orthogonal axes. Each transducer includes a transducer body having a support coupled to a sensor body along an axis of compliance. The sensor body is adapted to deflect about the two orthogonal sensed axes where the sensed axes are mutually orthogonal to the axis of compliance.

Platform balance

A load cell assembly for sensing force and/or moment components on a rotating body supported by a frame includes an axle having opposite ends joined to the frame. A hub is supported by the axle and rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof. A load cell body joined to the hub and the rotating body is used to sense force and/or moment components between the hub and the rotating body.

Transducer for a rotating body

The present invention relates to a telemetry assembly for a spindle. The telemetry assembly includes a wireless transmitter coupled to the spindle to rotate therewith and a receiving antenna wirelessly coupled to the transmitter. A guiding system having a central aperture and coupled to the wireless transmitter and the receiving antenna guides rotation of the wireless transmitter relative to the receiving antenna. If desired, the telemetry assembly can be used in a telemetry system including a hub adapter mountable to the spindle and a transducer mountable to the hub adapter. Furthermore, an angular positioning device and a wireless power coupling can be provided.

Spindle mounted telemetry system

A load cell is provided that includes first and second sensor support assemblies. Each sensor support assembly has a rigid central hub having an end plate and a support element extending transversely from the end plate and also includes a rigid annular ring concentric with the central hub. A first mount is joined to the end plate of the first sensor support assembly, the mount being spaced apart from and extending in the same direction as the support element of the first sensor support assembly. A first plurality of sensing devices are operably coupled between the support element of the first and second sensing support assemblies and the corresponding annular rings, respectively. The end plates of the first and second sensor support assemblies are joined together.

Multi-axis load cell

A load cell comprises two rings having at least three tubes extending from the first ring to the second ring. Sensors are mounted on the tubes to measure strain of the load cell body in a plurality of directions. The load cell can further be mounted on a vehicle spindle to measure forces and moments of a wheel assembly at the spindle as a vehicle is operated.

Multi-axis load cell body

A load cell for sensing forces or moments with respect to an orthogonal coordinate system includes a load cell body and a plurality of sensing circuits. The load cell body includes a rigid central member, a rigid annular ring and a plurality of radial members extending radially and joining the central member to the annular ring. A plurality of sensing circuits are mounted to the plurality of radial members. Each radial member includes a first sensing circuit providing a first output signal responsive to a first force exerted between the central member and the annular ring through the corresponding radial member in a first direction. Each radial member also includes a second sensing circuit providing a second output signal responsive to a second force exerted between the central member and the annular ring through the corresponding radial member in a second direction, wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

A structural assembly that measures forces along and moments about three orthogonal axes with very low cross talk or likelihood of affecting the reading in one axis from loads in another axis is disclosed. The assembly comprises a support structure having a longitudinal axis that is positioned on an axis of the plurality of orthogonal axes. The support structure is substantially compliant for moments about the longitudinal axis and substantially rigid for forces along the orthogonal axes and for moments about the non-longitudinal orthogonal axes. Structural elements of the support structure are joined together with elliptical fillets to minimize stress concentration within the structure. A torque cell that measures moments about the longitudinal axis is positioned concentrically about the longitudinal axis either within a cavity located in the support structure or cylindrically around the support structure. An upper and lower flexure diaphragm connect adjacent ends of the support structure and the torque cell. The flexure diaphragms are substantially rigid to transmit moments about the longitudinal axis from the support structure to the torque cell and substantially compliant for all forces along the orthogonal axes and moments about the non-longitudinal orthogonal axes.

Six axis load cell

A load transducer used for determining loads on a tire in a tire testing apparatus has very high stiffness and a high natural frequency. A tire support spindle has an end plate mounted on one end of the transducer on a center support sleeve which is supported relative to an outer housing at spaced locations in direction along the wheel rolling axis. The support sleeve is supported relative to the outer housing at each end by four arms or beams that operate as shear beams in reaction to the vertical and rolling loads on the tire, and the corresponding moments created by these two forces or loads. Forces on the tire at the tire rolling radius parallel to the rolling axis of the tire are also measured by bending the support beams.

Growing community of inventors

Plymouth, MN, United States of America

Douglas J Olson