US 12,467,804 B2
Elastomeric strain gauge load sensors
David Frank Haynes, Arlington, TX (US); and Philip Reese Boyer, Colleyville, TX (US)
Assigned to Textron Innovations Inc., Providence, RI (US)
Filed by Textron Innovations Inc., Providence, RI (US)
Filed on Aug. 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/234,547.
Application 18/234,547 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/978,904, filed on Nov. 1, 2022, granted, now 12,043,373.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/275,032, filed on Nov. 3, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0392999 A1, Dec. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. G01L 1/22 (2006.01)
CPC G01L 1/2231 (2013.01) [G01L 1/2287 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A load sensor for measuring compressive forces between two surfaces, the load sensor comprising:
a compressible body positionable between the two surfaces, the compressible body having a plurality of aligned layers including first and second outer shims with a middle shim positioned therebetween and with a resilient material interposed between each adjacent shim, the second outer shim having a gap that exposes an unsupported area of the middle shim; and
a strain gauge coupled to the middle shim in the unsupported area;
wherein, when the compressible body is in an uncompressed state, the resilient material interposed between the first outer shim and the middle shim has a substantially uniform thickness; and
wherein, when the compressible body is in a compressed state between the two surfaces, the resilient material aligned with the unsupported area and interposed between the first outer shim and the middle shim has a nonuniform thickness such that the middle shim deflects away from the first outer shim in the unsupported area, thereby deforming the strain gauge.