VEHICLE WHEEL AND AXLE SENSING METHOD AND SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A method for counting vehicle wheels and axles, said method comprising:
- embedding a strip material in a roadway to produce a slightly raised surface, said strip material angled at a relatively large angle with respect to a direction of travel;
counting a number of wheels per axle and a number of axles per vehicle of a vehicle as said vehicle rolls over said strip material and wheels of said vehicle contact said strip material at different intervals; and
transmitting a signal emitted from at least one detection mechanism associated with said strip material to a signal processing unit to determine said number of wheels and axles with respect to said vehicle, thereby providing a reliable, direct measurement with respect to said wheel and axle count for a toll charge purpose.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for counting vehicle wheels and axles. A strip material can be embedded in a roadway to produce a slightly raised surface. The strip can be angled at a relatively large angle, (e.g., 78 degrees) with respect to the direction of travel. The number of wheels per axle and the number of axles per vehicle can be counted as the vehicle rolls over the strip and the wheels contact the strip at different times. A signal emitted from a detection mechanism(s) associated with the strip material can be transmitted to a signal processing unit to determine the number of wheels and axle with respect to the vehicle. The vehicle wheel and axle counts can be determined by the number and grouping of signals from the detection mechanism. Such an approach provides a reliable, direct measure of the wheel and axle counts for toll charge or classification purposes.
10 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for counting vehicle wheels and axles, said method comprising:
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embedding a strip material in a roadway to produce a slightly raised surface, said strip material angled at a relatively large angle with respect to a direction of travel; counting a number of wheels per axle and a number of axles per vehicle of a vehicle as said vehicle rolls over said strip material and wheels of said vehicle contact said strip material at different intervals; and transmitting a signal emitted from at least one detection mechanism associated with said strip material to a signal processing unit to determine said number of wheels and axles with respect to said vehicle, thereby providing a reliable, direct measurement with respect to said wheel and axle count for a toll charge purpose. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for counting vehicle wheels and axles, said system comprising:
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a strip material embedded in a roadway to produce a slightly raised surface thereof, said strip material angled at a relatively large angle with respect to a direction of travel; a counter for counting a number of wheels per axle and a number of axles per vehicle of a vehicle as said vehicle rolls over said strip material and wheels of said vehicle contact said strip material at different intervals; and a transmitter for transmitting a signal emitted from at least one detection mechanism associated with said strip material to a signal processing unit to determine said number of wheels and axles with respect to said vehicle, thereby providing a reliable, direct measurement with respect to said wheel and axle count for a toll charge purpose. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20)
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18. A system for counting vehicle wheels and axles, said system comprising:
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a strip material embedded in and/or attached to a roadway to produce a slightly raised surface thereof, said strip material angled at a relatively large angle with respect to a direction of travel; a counter for counting a number of wheels per axle and a number of axles per vehicle of a vehicle as said vehicle rolls over said strip material and wheels of said vehicle contact said strip material at different intervals; a transmitter for transmitting a signal emitted from at least one detection mechanism associated with said strip material to a signal processing unit to determine said number of wheels and axles with respect to said vehicle, thereby providing a reliable, direct measurement with respect to said wheel and axle count for a toll charge purpose; a pressure transducer such that said tires contacting said tube results in an increase in a pressure and a fluctuation similar to an audible signal; and an estimation module for estimating a gross weight of said vehicle based on a magnitude of said fluctuation in said pressure. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification