The present invention relates to a novel weight monitoring apparatus. More particularly,
this invention is concerned with an apparatus that constantly monitors the weight of
utilities and appliances and makes it convenient to replenish or replace them as and
when required.
LPG cylinders in the kitchens at homes or hotels or eateries, or oxygen cylinders used
for treating patients at home or in small nursing homes need to be replaced
immediately when the contents are used up. Timely replacement is imperative for the
ongoing process, and delays may not only result in interruption, loss of goodwill or red-
faced hosts, but also loss of life.
The most common methods of weight monitoring, particularly LPG or oxygen cylinders
is bubbling the gas through water kept in a transparent container, or incorporating flow-
meters, or simply watching the colour of the flame when the LPG is being burnt for
cooking etc. While the last named method is quite crude and unreliable, incorporation of
fragile and complex flow-meters, gauges or bubbling apparatus affects the portability of
the gas containers, or the gadgets getting physically damaged due to external
mechanical impacts, rendering the gas delivery system ineffective and endangering life
as a whole.
The present invention aims at overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a
novel weight monitoring apparatus, on which the container is placed. While the weight
of the container is thus monitored continuously, the apparatus forms a strong and
stable base for the container, and the whole arrangement can be rolled along the
ground, rendering the system portable.
The apparatus of the present invention primarily proposes a novel mechanical weight
sensing mechanism, operated by springs and rack-pinion arrangement, duly protected
against damage due to mechanical forces. The container of the gas is placed on the
apparatus, the top surfaced of which may be suitably shaped to receive the bottom of
the gas container. The weight of the container can be read from a dial-pointer
mechanism
visible at the front of the apparatus. This would make it possible to constantly monitor
the weight of the container with the contents, and by adjusting the tare weight of the
container against this combined weight, timely measures can be taken to replace an
empty container with a full one.
The principal object of the invention is to provide a weight monitoring apparatus which
is novel in design, easy to fabricate from indigenous components and is capable of
measuring and monitoring weights accurately and continuously.
A further object of the invention is to provide a weight monitoring apparatus that can
accept the combined weight of the material whose weight to be monitored along with its
container, and form a stable arrangement.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a weight monitoring apparatus wherein
the combination mentioned above can be rendered portable by fixing wheels/rollers at
the base of the arrangement.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a weight monitoring apparatus, where
the weight of the contents, either absolute, or adjusted from the weight of its contents, is
constantly displayed at a convenient location.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel weight monitoring apparatus
that would indicate when the weight of the contents to be monitored has reached a low
point, so that replenishment action can be taken suitably.
The foregoing objects have been achieved by the present invention which relates to a
novel weight monitoring apparatus comprising in combination :
a) a base frame (1);
b) a sliding rack (2), mating with
c) a pinion (3) that turns
d) a graduated dial (11);
e) a tension spring (5);
f) an actuating platform (6);
g) a tension adjusting thumbwheel (7);
h) an actuating lever (8);
i) plurality of cross links (9);
j) plurality of long links (10);
k) a pointer (12) and
I) a Top Frame assembly (13) secured to the base frame (1) by means of
m) plurality of springs (14)
The basic features of the present invention may be outlined as follows:
At the heart of the invention is a novel rack and pinion mechanism, where the rack is
made to move forward and backward against tension from a plurality of springs, making
the pinion revolve around a vertical axis, which, in turn, rotates a finely and accurately
graduated dial against a pointer, thus indicating the weight of the material placed on a
platform above the mechanism. The weight of the material is transferred to the rack by
means of strategically positioned long and cross links that ensure smooth and equal
transfer of weight to the lever actuator moving the rack against the tension of springs
that are accurately designed and calibrated for this intended purpose. Also transparent
sheets may be used to fabricate the top platform or to protect the visible portion of the
dial, while retaining transparency for reading the weight.
The present invention will now be more particularly described and illustrated by means
of drawings accompanying this specification wherein:
Fig. 1 depicts the base frame(1) that houses the weight sensing mechanism consisting
of the rack(2) mating with and rotating the pinion(3). The weight on the top frame(13) is
transferred through the long links(10) and cross links(9) through the actuating
platform(6) to the actuating lever(8) that operates the rack against springs(4) and (5).
The tension of spring(5) can be adjusted by rotating the thumbwheel(7), so as to set the
weight reading. The pinion(3) rotates the dial(11) against a static pointer(12). This
portion of the apparatus protrudes out and is visible to the naked eye even when the
weight is placed on the apparatus. Fig. 2 depicts the top frame(13) of the apparatus,
which receives the weight of the container and material, and connected to the base
frame(1) with plurality of springs(14).
The principal advantages of the novel humidity sensing system may be outlined as
follows:
1. In the invented device the weight of the container with the material can be
monitored on a continuous basis, particularly because the reading is
available to the naked eye at all times.
2. The apparatus is constructed out of locally available material and
components, and quite easy to manufacture.
3. The apparatus, along with the material to be measured, forms an integrally
stable and portable system that is sufficiently protected from faults,
mechanical damages, breakages etc.
There could be a number of variations to the apparatus of this invention. The most
obvious of these is changes in the mechanism of the apparatus. This may be replaced
by other known mechanisms like gear-pinion arrangements, or complex mechanisms
using more springs, levers and the like. The guiding mechanism for the rack can also
be achieved through roller or sliding guides, using ferrous or non-ferrous metals, or
non-metals including polymers.
Apart from the above, electronic components like strain gauges, LCD and LED weight
indicators, and complex circuitry to monitor the weight, set the tare weight of the
container to zero, indicating only the weight of the contents, and operating alarm sight
and sound when the weight is low, with provision of adjusting the various set-points, are
all part of variations of this invention.
While the invention has been described in detail and with specific embodiments thereof,
it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can
be made therein without deviating or departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. Thus the disclosure contained herein includes within its ambit obvious
equivalents and substitutes as well.
Having described the invention in detail with particular reference to the
accompanying drawings, it will now be more specifically defined by means of the claims
appended hereinafter.
I. claim:
1. A novel weight monitoring apparatus comprising in combination :
a) a base frame ;
b) a sliding rack, mating with
c) a pinion that turns
d) a graduated dial;
e) a tension spring ;
f) an actuating platform ;
g) a tension adjusting thumbwheel;
h) an actuating lever;
i) plurality of cross links ;
j) plurality of long links;
k) a pointer and
I) a Top Frame assembly secured to the base frame by means of
m) plurality of springs.
2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that it is capable of
continuously monitoring within its capacity the weight of the object placed on the top
plate.
3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the apparatus can be fixed or mobile
on wheels or rollers.
4. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the movement of the sensitivity of the
system can be enhanced using motion amplifying mechanisms like additional
gears, or similar components.
5. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the weight measurement, indication
and control can be achieved by using electrical and electronic components like
strain gauge(s), load-cell(s), LED and LCD indicators, alarms for low-weight
indication and similar components,.
6. A novel weight monitoring apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with
particular reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 9th day of March, 2011.

A novel weight monitoring apparatus comprising in combination :
a) a base frame ;
b) a sliding rack , mating with

c) a pinion that turns
d) a graduated dial;
e) a tension spring;
f) an actuating platform;
g) a tension adjusting thumbwheel;
h) an actuating lever;
i) plurality of cross links;
j) plurality of long links ;
k) a pointer and
l) a Top Frame assembly secured to the base frame by means of
m) plurality of springs.