Load cells keep check on handbrake forces
A
Novatech Measurements product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Dec 5, 2002
Novatech has come up with a novel load-cell design for measuring the ergonomic forces applied to automotive handbrakes.
Novatech has come up with a novel load-cell design for measuring the ergonomic forces applied to automotive handbrakes.
Measuring forces in mechanical systems where forces are aligned and transmitted through engineered structures is a relatively simple matter compared with measuring forces generated by human body part interactions where ergonomic aspects play havoc with the arrangement of force transmission.
Investigations into handbrake operation efficiency and ergonomic forces require the actual force applied by a hand to the handbrake lever to be measured.
The force applied varies with the size of occupant, the seating position and the handbrake mechanism adjustment.
To measure these forces, the load-cell design had to take account of: uneven force distribution over a typical four-finger grip; variations in force centre position with lever movement; nonintrusive dimensions for adaptation of the handbrake lever; and the ability to minimise the effect of the resultant force vector changing in direction relative to the handle by inbuilt extraneous force immunity, maintaining force measurement in the normal axis only.
By designing a handgrip shroud the force transmission is routed either side of two shear sensing elements which are arranged to sum the reaction in total.
Due to summation and the shear sensing element immunity to moment and extraneous forces the normal reaction is measured accurately despite ergonomic induced variation in how the force is applied.
The load cell has been incorporated into the handbrake lever for R and D investigation and has also been used as a production tool where a moulding has been produced which fits over the production car's hand grip.
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