VORRICHTUNG ZUR KRAFTMESSUNG MIT SCHWINGUNGSKRISTALL

• Main Author: HANSON, RICHARD A
• Format: Patent
• Language: German
• Published: 15.09.1994
• Edition: 5
• Subjects: INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT; MEASURING; MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER,MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE; MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION,OR SHOCK; PHYSICS; TESTING

A force sensing device (40) especially suitable for use in an accelerometer or a pressure transducer, depending upon its particular design, is disclosed herein. This device includes at least one and preferably two adjacent and parallel, elongate, vibratable tines (42) and means (44, 46) for vibrating the tines (42) back and forth in a direction normal to their axes of elongation (48). These tines (42) are supported for vibration by an arrangement (52) including an array of interconnected links (70A-70D) and mounting means (72AB, 72BC, 72CD, 72AD) adapted to be connected to an external member capable of applying a variable external force (Fs) to the support arrangement along an axis (62) normal to the axes (48) of elongation of the tines. The support arrangement (52) is configured so as to apply to the tines (42) its own internal force in response to and varying with the external force (Fs) in a way which causes the tines (42) to vibrate at a frequency that varies with the magnitude of the internal force and therefore the external force (Fs). In this way, the vibrating frequency of either or both tines (42) can be sensed for determining therefrom the magnitude of the external force (Fs) aoplied to the support arrangement (52).