Charles Wes Brazell

US Patent:

48363081, Jun 6, 1989

Filed:

Apr 4, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/177183

Inventors:

Dick E. Davis - Arlington TX
Charles R. Brazell - Arlington TX
Jerome E. Johnston - Austin TX

Assignee:

General Electrodynamics Corporation - Arlington TX

International Classification:

G01G 2301
G01L 2500

US Classification:

177 2514

Abstract:

A platform weighing system (10) suitable for making accurate weight measurements of heavy objects, such as aircraft, is disclosed. Hardware and software combine to produce the accurate results. Analog hardware (14) includes hydraulic load cells (80a-80d), temperature sensing (91), filtering (90), and voltage-to-frequency conversion (104). Digital hardware (12) receives an oscillation signal output from the voltage-to-frequency conversion (104) and obtains load counts by monitoring the oscillation signal for consistent predetermined durations. The predetermined duration is chosen in software (226) to be immune to particularly pervasive noise signals. A microprocessor (16) converts load counts into a weight code which is output to a display (46). This conversion includes compensation for auto ranging (320), load cell excitation variance (282), temperature compensation (284), null offset variance (286), and zero drifting (304). In addition, nonlinearities in load cell output are compensated by linearly interpolating (288-296) between two of a plurality of calibration points that characterize the load cells (80a-80d ).

US Patent:

51314827, Jul 21, 1992

Filed:

Dec 28, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/457488

Inventors:

Dick E. Davis - Arlington TX
Charles R. Brazell - Arlington TX
James W. Manley - Kennedale TX

Assignee:

General Electrodynamics - Arlington TX

International Classification:

G01G 1940
G01G 1952

US Classification:

177 2514

Abstract:

A self-contained stand-alone weighing system (10) comprises at least one weight supporting surface (24) for bearing the weight of an object, at least one transducer (60) coupled to the weight supporting surface (24) for producing a signal indicative of the weight, and a processor (66) for receiving the signal and producing a resultant weight signal. The resultant weight signal is then represented in a form perceptible to humans by a weight indicator (38). The self-contained weighing system (10) also comprises a rechargeable battery (36) for supplying electrical energy, and a housing (12,14) for enclosing the weighing system (10) to form a single unit.

US Patent:

52704947, Dec 14, 1993

Filed:

Mar 16, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/851759

Inventors:

Dick E. Davis - Arlington TX
Charles B. Brazell - San Francisco CA
James W. Manley - Arlington TX

Assignee:

General Electrodynamics Corporation - Arlington TX

International Classification:

G01G 1940
G01G 1952

US Classification:

177 2514

Abstract:

A self-contained stand-alone weighing system (10) comprises at least one weight supporting surface (24) for bearing the weight of an object, at least one transducer (60) coupled to the weight supporting surface (24) for producing a signal indicative of the weight, and a processor (66) for receiving the signal and producing a resultant weight signal. The resultant weight signal is then represented in a form perceptible to humans by a weight indicator (38). The self-contained weighing system (10) also comprises a rechargeable battery (36) for supplying electrical energy, and a housing (12,14) for enclosing the weighing system (10) to form a single unit.