TRAILER WEIGHING SYSTEM

• US 20170314986A1
• Filed: 04/29/2016
• Published: 11/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Air Ops LLC
• Original Assignee: Air Ops LLC
• Inventors: Dyal, Carl Mitchell
• Granted Patent: US 10,094,703 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/015 Fifth wheel couplings
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/20 trailer type, i.e. a frame specifically constructed for use in a non-powered vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/061 of flat bed or low loader type or fitted with swan necks detachable swan necks B62D53/065; swan neck-fifth wheel couplings B62D53/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/08 for incorporation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/10 having fluid weight-sensitive devices

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.

Claims

1. A trailer comprising:

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.

2. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the displacement-sensing device is a fifth wheel air bag.

3. The trailer of claim 2, further comprising an axle air bag positioned between an attachment portion on the chassis and an axle of the trailer and in fluid communication with the fifth wheel air bag.

4. The trailer of claim 3, wherein the axle is coupled to the chassis with a leaf spring, the leaf spring configured to suspend the chassis above the axle.

5. The trailer of claim 2, further comprising a pressure switch in fluid communication with the fifth wheel air bag.

6. The trailer of claim 5, wherein the pressure switch is adjustable between a plurality of setpoints.

7. The trailer of claim 5, further comprising a load indicator in communication with the pressure switch, the load indicator configured to signal that a pressure corresponding to a target trailer weight has been reached.

8. The trailer of claim 7, wherein the load indicator comprises a load indicator light.

9. The trailer of claim 7, further comprising a mode switch in communication with the load indicator, the mode switch configured to selectably supply power to the load indicator.

10. The trailer of claim 2, wherein the kingpin and the fifth wheel air bag are aligned along an axis.

11. A weighing system for a trailer, the system 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;

a fixed rail attached to a chassis of the trailer; and

a floating rail slideably attached to the fixed rail.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein a one of the fixed rail and the floating rail defines a slot, the system further comprising a fastener extending through the slot, the fastener configured to limit movement of the floating rail with respect to the fixed rail.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising an air bag secured to the floating rail.

14. A method of using a trailer, the method comprising:

loading the trailer with a load, the trailer comprising;

a floating coupling apparatus;

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.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising turning a mode switch of the trailer to an “

ON”

position, the “

ON”

position being the position in which an electrical circuit supplying power to the load indicator is closed.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising signaling when the trailer weight has reached an overloaded condition.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the floating coupling apparatus comprises a fixed rail and a floating rail and the displacement-sensing device comprises an air bag, the fixed rail attached to a chassis of the trailer;

the floating rail slideably attached to the fixed rail, and the air bag attached to the floating rail and positioned between the floating rail and a portion of the chassis;

the method further comprising compressing the air bag by movement of the fixed rail with respect to the floating rail.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining the target trailer weight;

weighing the trailer with an independent scale after loading the trailer with a load; and

adjusting a pressure switch of the fluid system to activate at the target trailer weight.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising pressurizing the fluid system with a fluid.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the displacement-sensing device is an air bag and wherein measuring the displacement of a portion of the floating coupling apparatus relative to the chassis with the air bag comprises measuring a fluid pressure inside the fluid system with a pressure switch.