OVERLOAD INDICATOR

• US 3,718,792 A
• Filed: 05/12/1972
• Issued: 02/27/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jack R. Stagner
• Original Assignee: Jack R. Stagner
• Inventors: Stagner, Jack R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jr., David
• Application Number:
  US05/252,556
• Time in Patent Office: 291 Days
• Field of Search: 200/85,61.44 340/52R,272
• US Class Current: 200/85.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/006 Switches operated by mechanical overload condition, e.g. transmitted force or torque becoming too high

Abstract

An overload indicator for a cargo handling vehicle, such as a truck, trailer, or the like, having a chassis mounting a cargo receiver and supported on wheel axles by springs which yield under the cargo weight with resultant lowering of the chassis toward the axles. The indicator has two separate parts to be attached to one axle and the chassis, respectively, in such a way that the chassis part lowers into contact with the axle part to actuate an overload signal upon loading of the vehicle to a predetermined cargo weight. The indicator is adjustable to vary the cargo weight at which the overload signal is actuated and is designated to avoid damage to the indicator in the event of deflection of the vehicle springs beyond the point at which the chassis part initially engages the axle part due to continued loading of the vehicle or bouncing of the vehicle chassis and axle in travel.

Claims

1. An overload indicator for a vehicle having a chassis mountIng a cargo receiver, an axle, and springs supporting said chassis on said axle, whereby loading of said receiver with cargo lowers said chassis toward said axle, said indicator comprising:

first and second indicator parts including mounting means for attaching said parts to the vehicle chassis and cargo receiver, respectively, in positions such that said first part lowers with said chassis toward said second part when said cargo receiver is loaded, all of said parts including further an overload signal control switch, and the other part including further a resiliently yieldable arm having one end attached to the mounting means of the latter part and its other end adapted for contact with said switch to actuate said switch upon relative movement of said parts toward one another under the weight of cargo in said cargo receiver, said arm being yieldably biased in the direction of said switch, whereby said arm may yield in the opposite direction upon continued relative movement of said parts toward one another following initial contact of said arm with said switch, and stop means limiting movement of said arm toward said switch.

2. An overload indicator according to claim 1 wherein:

said stop means is adjustable to adjust the limiting position to which said arm is biased in said direction.

3. An overload indicator according to claim 2 wherein:

said stop means comprises a second arm rigid on the mounting means of said other part and extending longitudinally of said yieldable arm, and an adjustable stop member carried by said second arm and engagable by said yieldable arm.

4. An overload indicator according to claim 1 wherein:

said yieldable arm comprises a rigid arm member, a hinge attaching said arm member at its one end to the mounting means of said other part for swinging of the other end of said arm member toward and away from said switch, and a spring urging said arm member toward said switch.

5. An overload indicator according to claim 4 wherein:

said stop means is adjustable to adjust the limiting position to which said arm member is biased in said direction by said spring.

6. An overload indicator according to claim 5 wherein:

said stop means comprises a second arm rigid on the mounting means of said other part and extending longitudinally of said arm member, and an adjustable stop member carried by said second arm and engagable by said arm member.

7. In combination:

a vehicle having a chassis mounting a cargo receiver, an axle, and springs supporting said chassis on said axle, whereby loading of said receiver with cargo lowers said chassis toward said axle, first and second indicator parts including mounting means attaching said parts to the vehicle chassis and cargo receiver, respectively, in positions such that said first part lowers with said chassis toward said second part when said cargo receiver is loaded, one of said parts including further an overload signal control switch, and the other part including further a resiliently yieldable arm having one end attached to the mounting means of the latter part and its other end adapted for contact with said switch to actuate said switch upon relative movement of said parts toward one another under the weight of cargo in said cargo receiver, said arm being yieldably biased in the direction of said switch, whereby said arm may yield in the opposite direction upon continued relative movement of said parts toward one another following initial contact of said arm with said switch, and stop means limiting movement of said arm toward said switch.

8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein:

said stop means is adjustable to adjust the limiting position to which said arm is biased in said direction.

9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein:

said stop means comprises a second arm rigid on the mounting means of said other part and extending longitudinally of said yieldable arm, and an adjustable stop member carried by said secOnd arm and engagable said yieldable arm.

10. The combination according to claim 7 wherein:

said yieldable arm comprises a rigid arm member, a hinge attaching said arm member at its one end to the mounting means of said other part for swinging of the other end of said arm member toward and away from said switch, and a spring urging said arm member toward said switch.

11. The combination according to claim 10 wherein:

said stop means is adjustable to adjust the limiting position to which said arm member is biased in said direction by said spring.

12. The combination according to claim 11 wherein:

said stop means comprises a second arm rigid on the mounting means of said other part and extending longitudinally of said arm member, and an adjustable stop member carried by said second arm and engagable by said arm member.

13. The combination according to claim 12 wherein:

said vehicle chassis includes longitudinal frame members extending over the ends of said axle, said first indicator part is mounted over and attached to the center of said axle, the mounting means of said second indicator part comprises a bracket attached to one frame member over said axle, and said arm member and second arm of said second indicator part extending from said bracket generally parallel to and toward the center of said axle with said other end of said arm member located over said switch.