Decoupling suspension system for an oscillating element microbalance

摘要

A suspension system (11) for effectively decoupling an oscillating element microbalance (10) from its environment employs longitudinally extending suspension members axially aligned with an instantaneous center of rotation (S) of the microbalance. In a preferred embodiment, the microbalance includes a tapered elongate elastic element (12) having an elliptical cross section and the suspending members comprise a torsion bar arrangement (20, 22) oriented parallel to the major axis (HD) of the elliptical cross section. The suspension system minimizes vibrational losses from the microbalance while at the same time rendering environmental noise ineffectual.