Bending beam load cells are the most common type of load cells. When the measurement is done, weight tends to act on the metal spring of the load cell and causes elastic deformation. The strain is transformed into an electrical signal by a strain gauge that is installed in the spring. The most commonly used and simplest type of load cell is a bending beam with a strain gauge. Usually, the main and basic parts are spring element and strain gauge, which are further complemented by extra elements like miniature load cells that shield the strain gauge elements.
Types of bending beam load cells
- Single bending beam load cell
These are the most ideal for many measuring tasks. In this case, the signal depends on the bending moment. When the load application point in the longitudinal direction alters with the same loads, different signals are derived. For the same, the single bending beam is rarely used in load cells as it needs special measures to guarantee a constant load application point.
- Multiple bending beam load cell
They are usually used as spring elements for load up to 5t. This uses double or triple bending beams. They are paired through strong elements on the clamping and on the load application side. This strong coupling evokes a pure vertical shift on the load application point along with an S shaped deformation on two beams. This very system is very less sensitive to load application point than the former case. This deformation forms positive and negative strain zones, which are very near to each other and facilitates strain gauge installation and wiring.
- HBM bending beam load cell
This range of load cell types tends to make use of a number of modifications of bending beams. They are used in tank weighing, process weighing applications, and plant engineering.
Other designs
- Load Cells for Tensile/Compressive Loading
Tension load cells let you weigh the suspended loads like tanks. Common applications are gravimetric level measurement with suspended process tanks. Compression load cells measure applied loads, like in vehicle scales, silo, etc.
- Shear Beam Load Cells
They offer excellent stability when it comes to lateral forces. They don’t differ when the load application point moves in a particular range. Hence the electrical signal that is proportional to the applied load is independent of the load application point.
