Load cell retaining apparatus for on-board vehicle weighing systems

• US 3,927,724 A
• Filed: 02/26/1975
• Issued: 12/23/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Peerless Corporation (Charlotte PIPE & Foundry Company)
• Original Assignee: Charles J. Baker
• Inventors: Baker, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Jr., George H.
• Application Number:
  US05/553,132
• Time in Patent Office: 300 Days
• Field of Search: 177/136,138,184,211
• US Class Current: 177/136
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/08 for incorporation in vehicles

Abstract

Apparatus for retaining a load cell on the frame of a vehicle in an on-board vehicle weighing system, includes a horizontal base plate fixed on the vehicle frame. Fixed to the base plate are Ushaped retaining bars, having horizontal lip sections on their inner lateral surfaces which form horizontally extending channels between the base plate and the lips. A mounting plate fixed to the bottom of the load cell is supported on the base plate, the lateral edges of the mounting plate extending into the channels, the edges being sized to fit into the channels with horizontal and vertical clearance such that the load cell is retained on the vehicle'"'"''"'"'s frame, but may shift to prevent application of distorting forces to the load cell.

Claims

1. Apparatus for retaining an electronic load cell on the frame of a load carrying vehicle in an on-board weighing system in said vehicle, which comprises in combination:

a supporting base on said vehicle frame defining an upwardly facing, generally horizontally extending base surface for supporting said load cell;

a load cell;

a rigid load cell mounting plate fixed to a bottom portion of said load cell having a generally horizontally extending bottom surface adapted for normally resting on said base surface to support said load cell thereon; and

retainer means operatively arranged between said supporting base and said mounting plate permitting vertical and lateral movement of said mounting plate by a predetermined amount relative to said supporting base but positively restraining said plate from movement beyond said predetermined amount.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said supporting base comprises an upper surface portion of a T-shaped bar fixed to a vehicle frame.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said supporting base includes a horizontally disposed base plate fixed upon an upper surface portion of a vehicle frame, said base surface comprising an upper surface of said base plate.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein a portion of said base plate extends laterally outward from said upper surface portion of said vehicle frame.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said base plate is removably fixed to said vehicle frame.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting plate includes a rigid edge section extending horizontally outwardly from said bottom portion of said load cell, said retainer means is fixed on an edge portion of said base surface to define a retaining channel extending around at least a portion of the edge of said base surface, and an outer edge portion of said mounting plate edge section extends into said channel, said retainer means having predetermined clearance with respect to said mounting plate, whereby the latter has limited free movement with respect to said base both horizontally and vertically.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said edge section of said load cell mounting plate includes a generally horizontal top edge surface and a generally vertical outer edge surface, said retainer means having a side wall adjacent said vertical surface and a lip extending over said horizontal surface.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said retainer means comprises a rigid bar of inverted L-shaped cross section defining horizontally extending bottom surface adapted to at least partially rest on said base surface, said bar having a base portion defining a vertical surface portion and having a lip extending horizontally from said base portion, said base portion and said lip defining said channel.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said base surface is generally rectangular and said bar is generally U-shaped, said bar comprising two parallel arm sections extending horizontally at right angles from a connecting section, said bar being adapted to at least partially rest upon an edge portion of said base surface at a longitudinal end of said base surface with said arm sections at least partially resting upon longitudinally extending edge portions of said base surface and said connecting section at least partially resting upon a transversely extending edge section of said base surface to define a generally U-shaped channel at said longitudinal end of said base surface.

10. Apparatus for retaining an electronic load cell on the frame of a log truck for use in an on-board weighing system in said truck, which comprises in combination:

a pair of horizontally disposed, parallel frame beams having generally vertical lateral web faces, positioned longitudinally on said truck;

a pair of longitudinally elongated, reinforcing angle bars mounted one on each said frame beam by a vertically extending section on each said angle bar, said vertical section defining a generally vertical, lateral angle bar surface, and each said angle bar including a horizontal section extending one over each said frame beam defining a generally horizontal top angle bar surface;

four pairs of brackets, two pairs thereof being fixed on said lateral surface of each said angle bar;

a pair of longitudinally elongated, rectangular base plates positioned horizontally one on each said top angle bar surface, each said base plate having the longitudinal center line thereof lying substantially in the plane of one said web beam face, and each said base plate extending laterally from the plane of said lateral angle bar surface to define a horizontal base plate bottom surface;

four ears fixed two to each said base plate extending downward from each said base plate bottom surface, positioned one in each said pair of brackets;

four pins for removably securing said ears within said brackets;

a pair of load cells each having studs extending upwardly from the top side thereof;

a pair of longitudinally elongated, rectangular mounting plates welded one on the bottom end of each said load cell, each having the bottom surface thereof normally resting on the top surface of one said base plate;

four U-shaped retaining bars each having an inverted L-shaped cross-section formed from an upper, inwardly extending lip and a lower base portion having a flat bottom surface overlapping and engaging an upper surface of one said base plate at a longitudinal end thereof, each said retaining bar being welded onto one said base plate longitudinal end and each said lip extending horizontally over an adjacent edge portion of one said mounting plate;

each said lip and each said base plate longitudinal end defining a channel for receiving said adjacent mounting plate edge portion, said retainer bars and said mounting plates being dimensioned to provide a vertical clearance space of predetermined amount between each said lip and an upper surface of each said mounting plate and to provide a side clearance space of predetermined amount between said lower base portions and a side surface of each said mounting plate;

a bolster beam fixed transversely between said top sides of said pair of load cells and attached to said load cells by said studs;

a log bunk positioned above said bolster beam; and

a turntable operatively connecting said log bunk to said bolster beam.

11. Apparatus for retaining an electronic load cell on the frame of a log truck for use in an on-board weighing system in said truck, which comprises in combination:

a horizontally disposed frame beam having a generally vertical web face, positioned longitudinally on said truck;

a longitudinally elongated T-bar mounted on said frame beam with the web of said bar abutting and parallel to said beam face and with the flange of said bar extending horizontally over said frame beam and defining a generally horizontal top surface;

a load cell having a longitudinally elongated, rectangular mounting plate secured to the bottom side of said load cell, said plate having the bottom surface thereof normally resting on said T-bar flange surface;

a pair of U-shaped retaining bars of inverted L-shaped cross-section formed from an upper, inwardly extending lip and a lower base portion secured to said T-bar flange surface at the opposite ends of said flange, said lips extending horizontally over an adjacent edge portion of said mounting plate;

each said lip and said T-bar flange defining a channel for receiving the adjacent mounting plate edge portion, said retainer bars being dimensioned to provide a vertical clearance space of predetermined amount between each said lip and the upper surface of said mounting plate and to provide a side clearance space of predetermined amount between said lower base portions and a side surface of each said mounting plate whereby the latter may slide upon said flange within the limits of said clearance;

log holding means on said truck, and means operatively connecting said log holding means to said load cell so as to impose on said load cell at least part of the load carried by said log holding means.