SUSPENSION ADAPTATION TO MEASURE LOAD OF A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE

• US 20110036646A1
• Filed: 08/13/2009
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Steven Dack
• Original Assignee: Steven Dack
• Inventors: DACK, STEVEN
• Application Number:
  US12/540,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20110036646A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 177/136
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/10 having fluid weight-sensitive devices

Abstract

A method and system of a suspension adaptation to measure load of a commercial vehicle are disclosed. In one embodiment, a load measurement method includes loading a commercial vehicle with a weight, compressing a spring suspension system of the commercial vehicle using the weight, and determining the weight using a gas compression device and a vertical change in position of the commercial vehicle. The method further includes acquiring a pressure of the gas compression device to determine a loading level of the commercial vehicle.

Claims

1. A load measurement method, comprising:

loading a commercial vehicle with a weight;

compressing a spring suspension system of the commercial vehicle using the weight;

determining the weight using a gas compression device and a vertical change in position of the commercial vehicle; and

acquiring a pressure of the gas compression device to determine a loading level of the commercial vehicle.

2. The load measurement method of claim 1, wherein the spring suspension system is comprised of a leaf spring suspension.

3. The load measurement method of claim 1, further comprising:

limiting a loading of the commercial vehicle when the pressure has reached a calibration threshold.

4. The load measurement method of claim 3, wherein the calibration threshold corresponds to a weight limit established by a government standard.

5. The load measurement method of claim 1, wherein the vertical change in position is measured using a compression distance of the spring suspension system.

6. The load measurement method of claim 5, wherein the spring suspension system is comprised of a leaf spring.

7. The load measurement method of claim 1, wherein the gas compression device is mechanically coupled to an axle and a frame of the commercial vehicle.

8. The load measurement method of claim 7, wherein the gas compression device is an automotive air shock.

9. The load measurement method of claim 8, wherein the automotive air shock is comprised of an adjustable pressure range between 10 and 200 pounds per square inch.

10. The load measurement method of claim 1, further comprising:

balancing a pressure change between the gas compression device an additional gas compression device, wherein the gas compression device and the additional gas compression device are mounted on different sides of the commercial vehicle.

11. The load measurement method of claim 1, further comprising:

reducing a diminished load movement of the spring suspension system by using the gas compression device to apply a force between a frame and an axle of the commercial vehicle.

12. A load measurement system, comprising:

a commercial vehicle that is loaded with a weight;

a spring suspension system of the commercial vehicle that is compressed using the weight;

a gas compression device that is used to determine the weight and a vertical change in position of the commercial vehicle; and

a pressure monitor to acquire a pressure of the gas compression device to determine a loading level of the commercial vehicle.

13. The load measurement system of claim 12, wherein the spring suspension system is comprised of a leaf spring suspension.

14. The load measurement system of claim 12, wherein a loading of the commercial vehicle is limited when the pressure has reached a calibration threshold.

15. The load measurement system of claim 14, wherein the calibration threshold corresponds to a weight limit established by a government standard.

16. The load measurement system of claim 12, wherein the vertical change in position is measured using a compression distance of the spring suspension system.

17. The load measurement system of claim 16, wherein the spring suspension system is comprised of a leaf spring.

18. The load measurement system of claim 12, wherein the gas compression device is mechanically coupled to an axle and a frame of the commercial vehicle.

19. The load measurement system of claim 18, wherein the gas compression device is an automotive air shock.

20. A load measurement method, comprising:

loading a commercial vehicle with a weight;

compressing a leaf spring suspension system of the commercial vehicle using the weight;

balancing a pressure change between a gas compression device and an additional gas compression device, wherein the gas compression device and the additional gas compression device are mounted on different sides of the commercial vehicle.

monitoring the weight using the gas compression device and a vertical change in position of the commercial vehicle, wherein the vertical change in position is measured using a compression distance of the spring suspension system;

measuring a pressure of the gas compression device to determine a loading level of the commercial vehicle, wherein the gas compression device is mechanically coupled to an axle and a frame of the commercial vehicle, wherein the gas compression device is an automotive air shock with an adjustable pressure range between 10 and 200 pounds per square inch;

controlling a loading of the commercial vehicle when the pressure has reached a calibration threshold that corresponds to a weight limit established by a government standard; and

reducing a limited load movement of the spring suspension system by applying a force between a frame and an axle of the commercial vehicle using the gas compression device.