WO2021179005A1

WO2021179005A1 - Load cell system

Info

Publication number: WO2021179005A1
Application number: PCT/US2021/070225
Authority: WO
Inventors: Spencer Thomas Oulman
Original assignee: Nov Process & Flow Technologies Us, Inc.
Priority date: 2020-03-04
Filing date: 2021-03-03
Publication date: 2021-09-10

Abstract

A load sensing device may include a support frame, a pivot support arranged along a first side of the support frame, and a load cell assembly arranged on a second side of the support frame opposite the first side and forming a structurally determinate support system.

Description

LOAD CELL SYSTEM

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

[001] This patent application claims the benefit of priority to U S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/984,844, filed March 4, 2020, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

[002] The present disclosure relates to a system and method for measuring load. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a device and system for using a load cell in a structurally determinate fashion with a de-sanding device to measure sand accumulation. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to devices and systems for protecting the load cell on the de-sanding device against handling and the environment.

BACKGROUND [003] The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure. [004] Sand traps, sand separators, or other de-sanding equipment is often provided at or near a well head to separate sand from the well effluent before the effluent reaches other equipment. The removal of the sand may be helpful to avoid excessive wear on downstream equipment. Sand may accumulate in the de-sanding equipment and, from time to time, the sand may be emptied or purged. In order to determine when to empty the de-sanding equipment, the amount of accumulation in the equipment may be monitored.

SUMMARY

[005] The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments, nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments.

[006] In one or more embodiments, a load sensing device may include a support frame. The load sensing device may also include a pivot support arranged along a first side of the support frame. The load sensing device may also include a load cell assembly arranged on a second side of the support frame opposite the first side and forming a structurally determinate support system.

[007] In one or more embodiments, a method of measuring the accumulation of sand may include sensing increases in load on a load cell supporting de-sanding equipment, wherein the load cell is part of a structurally determinate structure. The method may also include performing calculations based on the structurally determinate structure to arrive at a load applied to the structurally determinate structure. The method may also include accounting for the effect of piping connected to the de-sanding equipment and determining a fullness level of the de-sanding equipment. The method may also include dumping the sand from the de-sanding equipment when the de-sanding equipment is full.

[008] While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, the various embodiments of the present disclosure are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[009] While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as forming the various embodiments of the present disclosure, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Figures, in which:

[010] FIG. I is a perspective view of a sand trap with a load cell system, according to one or more embodiments. [011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the load cell system, according to one or more embodiments.

[012] FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of the load cell system, according to one or more embodiments.

[013] FIG. 4 is a front end view of the load cell system, according to one or more embodiments.

[014] FIG. 5 is a schematic load diagram of the load cell system, according to one or more embodiments.

[015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a load cell assembly for the load cell system, according to one or more embodiments.

[016] FIG. 7 is another perspective view of a load cell assembly for the load cell system, according to one or more embodiments.

[017] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a method of use, according to one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[018] The present disclosure, in one or more embodiments, relates to a load cell system applicable in multiple contexts and particularly useful in the context of de- sanding equipment for oil and gas wells. The load cell system may function to structurally position one or more load cells such that readings from the load cells may be useful in determining a total load on the system. In the case of de-sanding equipment, the total load may be related to sand accumulation within the system and, as such, be used to determine when emptying and/or closing of the equipment is required. The isolation of the load cell may be contrary to paradigms associated with common load cell use where goals of high accuracy result in high numbers of load cells with a wide variety of signal response being received from each load cell in addition to controls for avoiding external influences on load cells such as bracing, dampeners, additional structures, flexible mating connections and other means to limit restrictions and unintended external forces.

[019] The present disclosure, in one or more embodiments, may also be related to protective measures against environmental conditions and rough handling. That is, load cells may be well suited for carrying and measuring relatively high or heavy static loads along a particular load measuring axis. However, load cells may not be so well suited for agitation, banging, dropping, knocking, or other dynamic or impact-like forces, particularly when the forces are in directions transverse or otherwise non-parallel to the load measuring axis of the load cell. In one or more embodiments, the load cell system described herein may include one or more guard features for protecting against these undesirable forces.

[020] Referring to FIG. 1, a de-sanding device 50 is shown. As shown, the de-sanding device 50 may be in the form of a spherical sand trap or another type of de-sanding device may be used. The de-sanding device 50 may be part of a well head assembly 52 and/or system for receiving and processing well effluent such as well gas or other exiting fluids. As shown, the de-sanding device 50 may be connected to a relatively elaborate piping system for managing the flow of fluids. The de-sanding system may be supported and secured by a frame having a base such as a skid or other platform, for example. In one or more embodiments, the de-sanding device 50 may be equipped with a load cell system 100 adapted to assist with sensing sand accumulation within the de- sanding equipment. As shown, the load cell system may include a support frame 102, a pivot support 104, and a load cell assembly 106.

[021] With reference to FIGS. 2-4, the support frame 102 may be a relatively rigid supporting structure adapted to carry loads from de-sanding or other equipment and distribute those loads to one or more support points. In one or more embodiments, the support frame 102 may be a rectangular or square frame having a pivoting support side and a point support side. Alternatively, the support frame may be triangular or another shape may be provided. As shown in FIG. 1, the support frame 102 may have cross- members providing support points for the equipment within the boundaries of the frame. The cross-members may be secured to the support frame by welding, bolted connections or other approaches. In one or more embodiments, the support frame 102 may be a tube frame comprising a plurality of tubular members joined together to form the frame. Alternatively, the frame may be an angle frame, channel frame, or another structural frame. Still other structural shapes may be used to form the frame. The several members of the frame may be welded or bolted together to form the rigid supporting structure. In one or more embodiments, the frame may be seal welded to avoid intrusion of sand, salt, debris, dust or other potentially harmful items to spaces within the frame.

[022] With continued reference to FIGS. 2-4, a pivot support 104 may be provided along one side of the frame. The pivot support 104 may be adapted to provide vertical support to the support frame while providing little to no resistance to tipping forces of the support frame. That is, for example, the pivot support may be adapted to approximate a true pinned connection for purposes of structural modeling and design. In one or more embodiments, the pivot support may include an elongate member secured to a bottom side of the support frame. The elongate member may include a pointed, radiused, curved, or other convex bottom surface 108 adapted to tip, roll, or otherwise freely rotate or pivot about a longitudinal axis of the elongate member. In one or more embodiments, the elongate member may include a pipe or ½ pipe, for example. In still other embodiments, the elongate member may include a plurality of pipes spaced along the side of the frame and along a common longitudinal axis of the pipes. In still other embodiments, the elongate member may include a member with a triangular cross-section where the apex of the cross-section is pointed downward so as to provide support along a substantially thin line with little to no resistance to tipping when supported by a substantially flat rigid surface. Still other types of pivot supports may be provided to provide vertical support with little to no resistance to tipping forces. Considerations of the nature of the supporting surface may be included when selecting a suitable pivot support. For example, where harder surfaces are anticipated, a more pointed pivot support may be used since issues of sinking/settling into the ground surface may be less of an issue.

[023] The pivot support may be secured to the support frame by welding, bolting, or another connection. In one or more embodiments, the pivot support may be integral with the support frame where, for example, one of the plurality of members of the support frame has a convex, pointed, or other pivot-providing bottom surface. In the case of a bolted connection, and as shown in FIGS. 2-4, the connection may include U- bolts 110 that wrap around a member of the support frame 102 and extend downward through a flange or plate portion of the pivot support 104 and are secured thereof with one or more nuts, for example. Still other types of connections of the pivot support 104 to the support frame 102 may be provided.

[024] It is to be appreciated that some particular structures or elements may lend themselves well to providing a pivot support like those described above. However, other structures or features may be used as a pivot support such as a rectangular tube, a series of supports generally aligned along a support axis, or other elements. In one or more embodiments, one or more load cells generally aligned along a side of the frame may provide a pivot support. That is, while a reduction in the number of load cells may be possible and advantageous using the concepts described herein, nothing should be construed as requiring the elimination of or non-use of load cells for particular aspects of the system. The pivot support could be most any vertically supporting element that has a tendency to allow, or generally allows, pivoting about an axis extending along the support. The pivoting support may allow a load cell opposite the pivot support to receive a large majority of the signal response. For example, the signal response on a load cell opposite the pivot support may range from 50% to 80% or from 55% to 75% or from 60% to 75% of the overall signal response or a signal response of approximately 65% of the overall signal response may be provided. The large signal response generated at the load cell or cells opposite the pivot support may allow the load cell reading or readings to be meaningful with respect to the changes in the load in the desanding equipment. For example, while load cells may be used to provide or assist with pivot support, lower portions of the signal response may be captured by these load cells and the readings from these load cells may be less meaningful.

[025] As also shown in FIGS. 2-4, a load cell assembly 106 may be provided. The load cell assembly 106 may be adapted to support the support frame in conjunction with the pivot support 104 and identify the amount of load being supported by the load cell assembly. Based on a series of calculations and analyses discussed in more detail below, the arrangement of the supports and the knowledge of the load carried by the load cell may allow⁷ the accumulation of sand within the de-sanding equipment to be determined.

[026] The load cell assembly 106 may be arranged on a side of the support frame opposite the pivot support 104. More particularly, the load cell assembly 106 may be arranged along a line extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the pivot support and generally centered along the length of the pivot support. With reference to FIG. 5, for example, this may provide for a structurally determinate supporting staicture where, for example, assuming the summation of linear forces to be zero and the summation of moments to be zero, the support forces for the system may be readily determined and more sophisticated modeling based on member and/or joint rigidities may be avoided. That is, the structurally determinate supporting structure may include a simply supported beam, for example.

[027] In one or more embodiments, the load cell assembly 106 may include a pair of sandwich plates 112A/B, a load cell 114, a ground engaging base 116, and one or more guard features. The ground engaging base 116 may function similar to the pivot support

104 by providing vertical support and avoiding resistance to tipping, rolling, or otherwise rotating about this support point. As such, the ground engaging base may include a pointed, radiused, curved, or other convex bottom surface 118 adapted to tip, roll, or otherwise freely rotate or pivot about an axis extending through the base and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member. In one or more embodiments, the ground engaging base 116 may include a pipe or a ½ pipe, for example. In still other embodiments, the ground engaging base 116 may include a member with a triangular cross-section where the apex of the cross-section is pointed downward so as to provide support at a point, for example or along a short line and, in either case, with little to no resistance to tipping when supported by a substantially flat rigid surface. Still other types of ground engaging bases may be provided to provide vertical support with little to no resistance to tipping forces. Like the pivot support above, considerations of the nature of the supporting surface may be included when selecting a suitable ground engaging base and where harder surfaces are anticipated, a more pointed ground engaging base may be used since issues of sinking/settling into the ground surface may be less of an issue.

[028] The pair of sandwich plates 112A/B may be configured for securing a load cell 114 therebetween. A bottom 112B of the pair of sandwich plates may be secured to the ground engaging base 116 and may be arranged on a bottom side of the load cell 114. As shown in FIG. 6, the bottom 112B of the pair of sandwich plates may include a recess or series of recesses 132/134 for securing and/or helping to position or align the load cell or a supporting biasing element. Still further, the bottom of the pair of sandwich plates may include one or a plurality of bores 128 for receiving fasteners 130 to secure the bottom sandwich plate to the top sandwich plate and secure the load cell therebetween. In one or more embodiments, the bores 128 in the bottom plate may be threaded bores adapted to threadingly receive bolts or other fasteners 130 extending down from the top of the pair of sandwich plates.

[029] The top 112A of the pair of sandwich plates may be secured to the bottom of the support frame with fasteners, by welding, or by other means. In one or more embodiments, fasteners such as U-bolts may be used as shown in FIGS. 2-4, for example. In other embodiments, side bolting may be used. In one or more embodiments, the top of the pair of sandwich plates may be integral with the support frame. Like the bottom plate 112B, the top plate 112A may include a securing recess 136 as shown in FIG. 7. Also like the bottom plate 112B, the top plate 112A may include one or a plurality of bores 138 for receiving fasteners 130 to secure the bottom sandwich plate to the top sandwich plate and secure the load cell therebetween. In one or more embodiments, the bores 138 in the top plate may be smooth-walled bores (e.g., not threaded) to allow fasteners to sleevably pass through the top plate.

[030] With continued reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the load cell 114 may be arranged between the top and bottom sandwich plates. The load cell 114 may be configured to sense load through measuring strain by way of a change in voltage on a strain gauge. As shown, the load cell may include a load cell body 120, internal devices and strain gauges, a top cap button 122, and a power/communications port 124. The load cell body 120 may be a substantially cylindrical body for housing the internal devices and strain gauges. The top cap button 122 may have a smaller diameter than the load cell body 120 and may extend upward above the load cell body by a distance exceeding any anticipated deformation under load. That is, the top cap button 122 may have a height selected to ensure that loading of the load ceil avoids bearing on the load ceil body 120. The power/communications port 124 may be arranged on the body 120 and may be in electrical communication with the internal devices and strain gauges. The power may flow to the strain gauges and return voltages may be received allowing for a determination of load to be determined. In one or more embodiments, the load cell may have one or more types of signal communications outputs such as 4-20mA, 0-20mA, 0-10V, TCP/IP, MOBUS, or other signal communication ouptuts. In one or more embodiments, the range of load cell load capacities may be from 0-200,000 lbs., for example.

[031] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, one or more guard features may be provided. That is, while a load cell may be well suited for handling and measuring static loads in one or more directions, load cells may be relatively delicate with respect to dynamic loads, such as impacts, and/or loads that are not aligned with the primary measuring axis. To this end, one or more guard features may be provided.

[032] In one or more embodiments, a pre-load guard feature 126 may be provided.

Preload may be helpful to increase the control over the load cell with respect to the sandwich plates by ensuring engagement of the top and bottom plates with the load cell.

As shown, the pre-load guard feature may include a combination of bores 128/138 (e.g., threaded and non-threaded), a plurality of shoulder bolts or other fasteners 130, and a biasing element 140. As mentioned with respect to the top and bottom sandwich plates, the bottom plate 112B may have threaded bores 128 and the top plate 112A may have non-threaded bores 138. Shoulder bolts 130 may be placed through the non-threaded bores of the top plate and extend down to engage the threaded bores of the bottom plate. In addition, a biasing element 140 may be arranged between the bottom plate 112B and the load cell 114. The biasing element 140 may include a spring or other resilient device. In one or more embodiments, the biasing element may include a wave spring, for example. As such, when the load cell 114 is placed between the top and bottom sandwich plates with the biasing element and the bolts are inserted and tightened, the bolts may draw the top and bottom sandwich plates together and a selected amount of preload may be imparted on the load cell due the squeezing of the top and bottom plates against the biasing force of the biasing mechanism. In one or more embodiments, the shoulder bolts may function as a preload control. That is, they may be selected (e.g., the amount of thread and the location of the shoulder) such that a particular amount of preload is imparted on the wave spring and the bolts bottom out before the bottom of the load cell contacts the bottom plate. It is to be appreciated that while shoulder bolts are used here, other preload controls may be used such as a bolt with a surrounding sleeve or a plate inserted to a particular depth. The preload guard feature 126 may assist with maintaining a secure grip, so to speak, on the load cell to resist movement of the load cell within the sandwich plates and inadvertent movement from jarring or bumping.

[033] In addition to a pre-load guard feature, the load cell assembly may also include a positioning guard feature 142. As mentioned with respect to the top and bottom sandwich plates, recesses may be provided in the surfaces of these plates to receive particular aspects of the load cell. As shown in FIG. 6, a load cell body recess 132 may be provided in the bottom plate. The load cell body recess 132 may be sized to receive the body of the load cell into a recessed area on the bottom plate and, as such, resist l ateral movement of the load cell with respect to the bottom plate. The load cell body recess 132 may have a depth selected to accommodate fluctuations in the vertical position of the load cell due to the biasing element holding the load cell off of the bottom plate, for example. That is, as shown, the bottom plate 112B may also include a biasing element recess 134 within the load cell body recess. The biasing element recess 134 may be sized to accommodate the biasing element and may have a depth selected based on the anticipated strain of the biasing element under preload. Where the excess distance beyond the biasing element recess is not travelled under preload, the load cell body recess may be selected to be slightly deeper to ensure that the load cell body nestles at least somewhat below the top surface of the bottom plate and into the load cell body recess under preload. The positioning guard feature 142 may also include a top cap button recess 136. The top cap button recess 136 may be sized to receive the top cap button 136 of the load cell 114 and may, thus, maintain the alignment of the load cell 114 with the top plate 112A of the pair of sandwich plates. It is to be appreciated that while the biasing element is shown positioned below the load cell in the biasing element recess, the biasing element may also be placed above the load cell in the top cap button recess, for example. In one or more embodiments, biasing elements may be placed in both locations.

[034] Still another guard feature may be provided in the way of a rotational guard feature 144. The rotational guard feature 144 may include a shear pin 146, for example. As shown in FIG. 6, a pin bore 148 may be provide in the bottom plate 112B within the load cell body recess 132. The pin bore 148 may be sized to receive the shear pin 146. As also shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the load cell body may include a plurality of bores 150 extending into the body 120 along the load measuring axis, but offset radially outward from the axis. The plurality of bores 150 may be sized similarly to the pin bore 148 in the bottom plate and adapted to receive the shear pin 146. As shown, a shear pin 146 may be provided in the pin bore 148 and one of the bores in the load cell body may be aligned with the shear pin when placing the load cell. The pin bore and the bores in the load cell may have depths selected to accommodate the shear pin and avoid bottoming out of the shear pin in the bore of the load cell. In one or more embodiments, the bores in the load cell may pass through the full height of the load cell body and the shear pin length may be selected to extend through the full depth of the pin bore and some, but not ail, of the way through the load cell body. In this manner, axial load to the shear pin may be avoided. The shear pin and bores may function to resist twisting and/or torsional motion of the load cell between the sandwi ch plates.

[035] The system may also include a computing device for receiving the readings from the load cell and interpreting them. The computing device may include a processor, computer readable storage medium, inputs, outputs, and other features common to computing equipment. The computing device may store algorithms in the computer readable storage medium that, when accessed by the processor, may allow the device to determine the amount of sand in the de-sanding equipment or other load increase based on measurements of the load cell. In one or more embodiments, the computing device may perform statics analysis to determine the load applied to the support frame based on a load cell reading reflecting the amount of load to the load cell. The load applied to the support frame may be adjusted to account of external forces not likely to be from accumulated sand, for example. In one or more embodiment, the load may be adjusted to account for the effects of connected piping or other external forces as discussed in more detail below.

[036] In operation and use, a method of use 200 may include pre-assembling the support frame with the pivot support and load cell assembly. The pre-assembly process may include constructing the load cell assembly by placing the shear pin in the pin bore of the bottom plate and placing the biasing element on the bottom plate. (202) Pre- assembly may also include placing the load cell between the top and bottom sandwich plates in its respective recesses and aligning body bore with the shear pin. (204) Pre- assembly may also include inserting the bolts between the top and bottom plates and securing the bolts to draw' the top and bottom plates against the biasing force of the biasing element until the shoulders of the bolts engage the plates and further tightening is prevented. In one or more embodiments, the wave spring and tightening amount may be selected to provide a range of preload on the load cell such as 1% to 75%, or 2% to 50%, or 3% to 25%, or 5% to 15%, or a preload of approximately 10% may be used. (206)

[037] In the context of measuring sand accumulation in a de-sanding equipment, the de-sanding equipment may be placed on the support frame and shipped to the field for use in removing sand from well effluent. (208) The de-sanding equipment may be placed on the ground taking care to ensure that the pivot support and load cell assembly are supporting the full load of the de-sanding equipment and that obstructions are not otherwise present between the support frame and the ground. The de-sanding equipment may be assembled into a well piping system such that well effluent passes through the de-sanding equipment before reaching other, potentially more sensitive equipment, where the presence of sand could cause damage or excessive wear over time. (210) Power and communications may be connected to the power/communications port of the load cell. (212)

[038] As sand is accumulated in the de-sanding equipment, a computing device may be used to receive sensor readings or increases in the load from a load cell supporting de-sanding equipment. (214) The computing device may perform calculations based on the structurally determinate structure to arrive at a load applied to the structurally determinate structure. (216) The computing device may account for the effect of piping connected to the de-sanding equipment (218) and may determine a fullness level of the de-sanding equipment, (220) The computing device may also control dumping the sand from the de-sanding equipment when the de-sanding equipment is full. (222) [039] it is to be appreciated that orientation of the equipment as well as piping and/or other equipment connected to the de-sanding equipment may affect the load sensed by the load cell. That is, in some cases connected piping may bear on the de-sanding equipment increasing the load to the load cell. In other situations, the connected elements may hold up or lift up on the de-sanding equipment. To address this, in one or more embodiments, a reading of the load cell may be taken before shipping and/or upon locating the equipment on site, but before connecting any piping. Upon connecting piping, another reading may be taken to assess the effect of the connected piping. Still further, calibration operations may be performed during operation to continually get closer to readings that properly reflect the amount of sand in the system and/or the proper emptying time. For example, when the de-sanding equipment is believed to be full based on initial calibration, the system may be emptied and the amount of sand removed may be weighed. Based on knowledge of the amount of sand needed to fill the de-sanding equipment, the system may be adjusted. In one or more other embodiments, the system may monitor the change in the load cell reading upon emptying and make adjustments to the system accordingly. Still other approaches to calibrating and/or continually calibrating may be provided.

[040] Although a flowchart or block diagram may illustrate a method as comprising sequential steps or a process as having a particular order of operations, many of the steps or operations in the flowchart(s) or block diagram(s) illustrated herein can be performed in parallel or concurrently, and the flowchart(s) or block diagram(s) should be read in the context of the various embodiments of the present disclosure. In addition, the order of the method steps or process operations illustrated in a flowchart or block diagram may be rearranged for some embodiments. Similarly, a method or process illustrated in a flow chart or block diagram could have additional steps or operations not included therein or fewer steps or operations than those shown. Moreover, a method step may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc.

[041] As used herein, the terms “substantially” or “generally” refer to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is “substantially” or

“generally” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking, the nearness of completion will be so as to have generally the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” or “generally” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an element, combination, embodiment, or composition that is “substantially free of’ or “generally free of” an element may still actually contain such element as long as there is generally no significant effect thereof. [042] In the foregoing description various embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The various embodiments were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principals of the disclosure and their practical application, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the present disclosure as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

Claims

Claims What is claimed is:

1. A load sensing device, comprising: a support frame; a pivot support arranged along a first side of the support frame; and a load cell assembly arranged on a second side of the support frame opposite the first side and forming a structurally determinate support system.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the structurally determinate support system comprises a simply supported beam.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the load cell assembly provides no more than a single point of support within the structurally determinate device.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the load cell assembly comprises a load cell arranged between a pair of sandwich plates.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the pivot support comprises an elongate member having a convex bottom surface.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the load ceil comprises a preload guard feature.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the preload guard feature comprises a biasing element and a plurality of bolts configured for squeezing the pair of sandwich plates.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the biasing element is a wave spring.

9. The device of claim 4, wherein the load cell comprises a positioning guard feature,

10. The device of claim 4, wherein the load cell comprises a rotational guard feature.

11. The device of claim 4, further comprising de-sanding equipment arranged on the support frame.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a computing device configured to determine the amount of additional load added to the de-sanding equipment by sand based on readings from the load cell assembly.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the computing device performs continual calibration calculations to account for connected piping or other external forces acting on the de-sanding equipment.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the computing device is configured to trigger a sand dump when the de-sanding equipment reaches a full level.

15. A method of measuring the accumulation of sand, comprising: sensing increases in load on a load cell supporting de-sanding equipment, wherein the load cell is part of a structurally determinate structure; performing calculations based on the structurally determinate structure to arrive at a load applied to the structurally determinate structure. accounting for the effect of piping connected to the de-sanding equipment; determining a fullness level of the de-sanding equipment; and dumping the sand from the de-sanding equipment when the de-sanding equipment is full.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the structurally determinate structure compri ses a support frame, a pivot support, and a load cell assembly.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the load cell assembly is arranged at a position orthogonal to a pivot axis of the pivot support.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising calibrating the system based on the effects of connected piping.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein calibrating comprises capturing the difference in load cell readings between the full condition and the emptied condition.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein calibrating comprises adjusting the load considered to trigger a full condition.