LOAD-SENSING SYSTEMS FOR LIGHT-DUTY TRUCKS

• US 20100076673A1
• Filed: 09/23/2008
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Saloka, George S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,160,806 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/124
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/248 for measuring, indicating or displaying the weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/58 Auxiliary devices

Abstract

Systems are provided to avoid overloading a truck'"'"'s bed and/or overloading a truck'"'"'s towing capacity. Systems are also provided to detect and alert drivers of unbalanced loads.

Claims

1. A system to avoid overloading a light-duty truck, comprising:

(a) a sensing system to detect height or weight of a truck bed; and

(b) a controller to compare the sensed value with a predetermined threshold; and

(c) if the sensed value differs from the threshold in a predetermined manner, a signal configured to trigger a warning.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensing system comprises a digital height sensor.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the predetermined manner is that the sensed height is lower than the predetermined threshold for height.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensing system comprises a load cell.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the predetermined manner is that the sensed weight exceeds the predetermined threshold for weight.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the warning is visual.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the warning is auditory.

8. A system to avoid overloading a light-duty truck'"'"'s towing capacity, comprising:

(a) a sensing system to determine the angle of an accelerator pedal; and

(b) a controller to compare the sensed angle and a speed of the truck against predetermined threshold relationships of accelerator pedal angle and truck speed; and

(c) if the speed is lower than the truck speed identified in the predetermined threshold relationship for the sensed angle, a signal configured to trigger a warning.

9. A system to avoid overloading a light-duty truck'"'"'s towing capacity, comprising.

(a) a sensing system to determine towing strain;

and

(b) a controller to compare the sensed strain against a predetermined threshold; and

(c) if the sensed strain is greater than the threshold, a signal configured to trigger a warning.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the sensing system comprises a strain gauge embedded into a trailer hitch.