Design of an Electronic Weighing Balance. Technology Term Paper (Term Paper Sample)

DESIGN OF AN ELECTRONIC WEIGHING BALANCE
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Abstract
Electronic weighing is more convenient than use of spring balances when determining weights of large things like vehicles. The weight of the vehicle is given instantly in the digital readout. Weighing of heavy trucks and cars happens daily and thus it is important to come up with better ways of determining the weights instantly to reduce congestion in the weigh bridges. Some of the weighing balances just measure the vehicle’s weight but do not show the vehicle weight distribution which is very important.
Background
Most of the electronic weighing balances use load cells which are calibrated according to the environmental conditions of the place. The longitudinal and lateral distribution of forces is not of interest in most weigh bridges. They measure the absolute weight of the vehicle only. When a car is loaded, it is good to determine the weight distribution taking into account the safety factor of the vehicle structural parts. A car can be loaded with a weight that is below the weight limit, but the distribution of load in some directions surpass the limit of that direction leading to increased stresses to the structural parts in that direction. The electronic weighing balances should have transducers for measuring the distribution of forces in X-axis, Y –axis and Z-axis. The X and Y axes give the weight distribution in the lateral and longitudinal respectively. The Z-axis gives the weight distribution in the vertical direction. Load cells used to measure the weight are piezoelectric transducers or sensors. This is a type of crystal that produces an electric current when compressed. The more the compressive force, the more the electric current produced. An electronic circuit usually an AC bridge circuit measures the electric current and converts it into weight measurement. In most cases, the Z-axis measurement is emphasized than the longitudinal and lateral measurements. Each axis of load distribution has its electronic circuit for converting the current registered into weight