US 11,752,054 B2
Lift systems with strain gauges incorporated in load beams and methods for operating the same
Gavin Monson, Oxford, OH (US); James Walke, Batesville, IN (US); Jonathan D. Turner, Dillsboro, IN (US); and Aziz Bhai, Fishers, IN (US)
Assigned to Liko Research & Development AB, Lulea (SE)
Filed by LIKO RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT AB, Lulea (SE)
Filed on Nov. 3, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/517,813.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/109,924, filed on Nov. 5, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0133566 A1, May 5, 2022
Int. Cl. A61G 7/10 (2006.01)
CPC A61G 7/1017 (2013.01) [A61G 7/108 (2013.01); A61G 7/1046 (2013.01); A61G 7/1051 (2013.01); A61G 2200/34 (2013.01); A61G 2203/10 (2013.01)] 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An overhead lift unit comprising:
a carriage, the carriage comprising wheels engageable with a rail;
a lift frame coupled to the carriage such that the lift frame is suspended from the carriage, the lift frame comprising:
a lift strap extending from the lift frame;
an actuator coupled to the lift strap, the actuator selectively paying-out and taking up the lift strap; and
a pair of connection points extending from the lift frame;
a pair of load beams, wherein:
each load beam of the pair of load beams is attached to one connection point of the pair of connection points of the lift frame at an inferior end of the load beam;
each load beam of the pair of load beams is attached to the carriage at a superior end of the load beam; and
each load beam of the pair of load beams comprises a strain gauge operable to register a weight supported on the lift strap; and
an electronic control unit communicatively coupled to each load beam and the actuator, the electronic control unit comprising a processor communicatively coupled to a non-transitory memory storing computer readable and executable instructions that, when executed by the processor cause the processor to receive signals from each load beam indicative of a weight supported on the lift strap and modulate the pay-out or take-up of the lift strap based on the weight supported on the lift strap.