US 11,733,085 B2
Weigh-in-motion sensor constructions
Michael Pedrick, Hampton, VA (US); Shenghua Liu, Shenzhen (CN); Benxiang Wang, Shenzhen (CN); Ling Qiu, Shenzhen (CN); Zhong Luo, Shenzhen (CN); and Weixing Fu, Shenzhen (CN)
Assigned to TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS GMBH, Schaffhausen (CH); and MEASUREMENT SPECIALTIES (CHINA) LTD., Shenzhen (CN)
Filed by Measurement Specialties, Inc., Hampton, VA (US); and Measurement Specialties (China) Ltd., Shenzhen (CN)
Filed on Feb. 10, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/173,180.
Prior Publication US 2021/0255028 A1, Aug. 19, 2021
Int. Cl. G01G 19/03 (2006.01); G01G 3/13 (2006.01); G01L 1/16 (2006.01)
CPC G01G 19/035 (2013.01) [G01G 3/13 (2013.01); G01L 1/16 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A weigh-in-motion sensor construction comprising:
a beam elongated along a depth axis of the sensor construction, the beam comprising:
a plate with a load-bearing surface;
a tube portion including a base wall and a cover and a cavity between the base wall and the cover; and
a sensing package disposed within the cavity of the beam and under pre-load in engagement with the cover and the base wall, wherein the sensing package comprises a piezoelectric element and a guide plate, wherein the guide plate comprises a first planar section having an opening therethrough and accommodating placement of the piezoelectric element therein, the first planer section extending radially to a guide plate second section that extends axially away from the first section;
wherein the base wall includes an aperture extending therethrough from a mounting surface to the cavity, the aperture configured to receive a fastener therethrough to secure the sensing package within the cavity, and wherein the fastener is sized having a cross-section dimension taken through a center axis of the fastener that is greater than that of a cross-section dimension of the piezoelectric element taken along the fastener center axis.