Onboard trailer weighing system above a kingpin
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A trailer comprising:
- a chassis defining a pair of cross members, each of the pair of cross members positioned substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the trailer and fixed in position with respect to the chassis;
a floating coupling apparatus coupled to the chassis between a first cross member and a second cross member of the pair of cross members, the floating coupling apparatus comprising;
a fixed rail suspended between and attached to each of the first cross member and the second cross member of the chassis;
a floating rail extending from a position proximate to the first cross member to a position proximate to the second cross member, the floating rail configured to move in a vertical direction relative to the fixed rail, the floating rail positioned adjacent to the fixed rail in a horizontal direction; and
a fifth wheel plate coupled to the floating rail;
a kingpin attached to the fifth wheel plate of the floating coupling apparatus, a portion of the fifth wheel plate proximate to the kingpin fixed in position with respect to the floating rail;
a displacement-sensing device positioned between an attachment portion on the chassis and an attachment portion on the floating coupling apparatus, the displacement-sensing device configured to sense a load acting on the displacement-sensing device; and
a fluid system in fluid communication with the displacement-sensing device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A trailer includes: a chassis; a floating coupling apparatus coupled to the chassis, a portion of the floating coupling apparatus configured to move in a vertical direction relative to the chassis; a kingpin attached to the floating coupling apparatus; a displacement-sensing device positioned between an attachment portion on the chassis and an attachment portion on the floating coupling apparatus, the displacement-sensing device configured to sense a load acting on the displacement-sensing device; and a fluid system in fluid communication with the displacement-sensing device.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A trailer comprising:
-
a chassis defining a pair of cross members, each of the pair of cross members positioned substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the trailer and fixed in position with respect to the chassis; a floating coupling apparatus coupled to the chassis between a first cross member and a second cross member of the pair of cross members, the floating coupling apparatus comprising; a fixed rail suspended between and attached to each of the first cross member and the second cross member of the chassis; a floating rail extending from a position proximate to the first cross member to a position proximate to the second cross member, the floating rail configured to move in a vertical direction relative to the fixed rail, the floating rail positioned adjacent to the fixed rail in a horizontal direction; and a fifth wheel plate coupled to the floating rail; a kingpin attached to the fifth wheel plate of the floating coupling apparatus, a portion of the fifth wheel plate proximate to the kingpin fixed in position with respect to the floating rail; a displacement-sensing device positioned between an attachment portion on the chassis and an attachment portion on the floating coupling apparatus, the displacement-sensing device configured to sense a load acting on the displacement-sensing device; and a fluid system in fluid communication with the displacement-sensing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 20)
-
-
10. A weighing system for a trailer, the system comprising:
-
a floating coupling apparatus comprising; a fifth wheel plate; a kingpin fixably attached to the fifth wheel plate and configured to slideably and lockably fit within a coupling aperture defined in a fifth wheel of a vehicle configured to pull the trailer; a fixed rail attached to a chassis of the trailer, the fixed rail comprising a substantially vertical portion resistant to deflection between a first end and a second end of the fixed rail; and a floating rail slideably attached to the fixed rail, the floating rail comprising a substantially vertical portion resistant to deflection between a first end and a second end of the floating rail, the floating rail configured to move in a vertical direction with respect to the fixed rail; and a displacement-sensing device positioned above each of the fixed rail and the floating rail, the displacement-sensing device configured to sense a load acting on the displacement-sensing device through the floating rail. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
-
-
13. A method of using a trailer, the method comprising:
-
loading the trailer with a load, the trailer comprising; a chassis defining a pair of cross members, each of the pair of cross members comprising a substantially vertical portion resistant to deflection between a first end and a second end of the respective cross member; a floating coupling apparatus coupled to the chassis between a first cross member and a second cross member of the pair of cross members, the floating coupling apparatus comprising; a fixed rail of the floating coupling apparatus suspended between and attached to each of the first cross member and the second cross member of the chassis; and a floating rail of the floating coupling apparatus extending from a position proximate to the first cross member to a position proximate to the second cross member, the floating rail configured to move in a vertical direction relative to the fixed rail, the floating rail positioned adjacent to the fixed rail in a horizontal direction; a displacement-sensing device coupled to the floating coupling apparatus; and a load indicator; measuring displacement of a portion of the floating coupling apparatus relative to the chassis with the displacement-sensing device; and signaling via the load indicator when the displacement of the portion of the floating coupling apparatus corresponds with a trailer weight reaching a target trailer weight. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification