MNM Scales Four 2,500 lb Shear Beams for Hopper, Tank & Batching Scales
- pete8781
- Jul 29
- 2 min read
For hopper or vessel-weighing application help, call (832) 290-3120 or email mnmscales@yahoo.com.
Four MNM 2,500 lb shear beams can be used under a hopper, ingredient bin, tank or batching vessel when the structure is designed so the vessel's weight is transferred through the sensors rather than bypassing them through rigid piping, braces or grounded equipment. Process weighing is often less about the indicator and more about controlling these unwanted parallel load paths.
Support Geometry for Tanks and Hoppers
Each support should land predictably on one sensor and allow enough movement for thermal expansion without creating side load. A vessel with four legs is a natural match for four cells, but uneven leg stiffness or an unlevel foundation can concentrate load on one corner. Use the supplied feet/spacers only within a properly engineered mounting arrangement.
Piping Can Create Large Weighing Errors
Rigid inlet/outlet pipes, hoses under tension, agitator supports and conduit can carry part of the vessel weight around the load cells. Flexible connections or engineered piping loops help reduce this effect. If a tank reads differently after a hose or pipe is connected, investigate the mechanical restraint before recalibrating.
Calibration for Process Vessels
Balance the four supports first, then establish empty-vessel zero and perform span calibration with known test weights, a known material transfer or another traceable method appropriate to the installation. Verify at several fill levels when possible. If the process involves changing temperature, piping pressure or agitator operation, check whether those conditions shift the indicated weight.
Applications
Possible uses include ingredient hoppers, blending tanks, feed bins, small process vessels, chemical totes, batching systems and inventory-by-weight. The correct capacity depends on empty-vessel weight plus maximum contents, dynamic filling forces, uneven support loading and safety margin.
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