Vehicle load measuring system
First Claim
1. In a vehicle suspension having tandem wheels supported by forward and rear axles, an equalizing beam positioned at both sides of said vehicle, said equalizing beams having their forward ends connected with the forward axle, their rear ends connected with the rearward axle, and their midpoints pivotally supporting the frame of said vehicle, the improvement comprising a vehicle load monitor having a pair of transducer means operatively associated with respective of said equalizing beams for indicating the deflection of such beams responsive to the weight of said vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A load measuring system for a tandem-wheeled vehicle. The tandem axles of the vehicle engage opposite ends of two transversely spaced equalizing beams having their midpoints pivotally supporting the vehicle. Deflections of the equalizing beams and front axle, responsive to loading of the vehicle, are sensed by a load cell transducer mounted on each equalizing beam and on the front axle. An amplifying circuit receives the transducer outputs and drives a load indicator. The load indicator provides a visual indication of front and rear wheel axle loading with respect to a preset maximum load point.
66 Citations
24 Claims
- 1. In a vehicle suspension having tandem wheels supported by forward and rear axles, an equalizing beam positioned at both sides of said vehicle, said equalizing beams having their forward ends connected with the forward axle, their rear ends connected with the rearward axle, and their midpoints pivotally supporting the frame of said vehicle, the improvement comprising a vehicle load monitor having a pair of transducer means operatively associated with respective of said equalizing beams for indicating the deflection of such beams responsive to the weight of said vehicle.
- 11. In a vehicle suspension system having tandem wheels supported by forward and rear axles, an equalizing beam positioned at both sides of said vehicle, said equalizing beams having their forward ends connected with the forward axle, their rear ends connected with the rearward axle, and their midpoints pivotally supporting the frame of said vehicle, a vehicle load monitor comprising transducer means including an integral beam element having a relatively flexible portion extending between a pair of relatively rigid mounting portions carried by each of said equalizing beams at points longitudinally spaced apart therealong, said flexible portion having strain sensing means operatively associated therewith for indicating deflection of said flexible portion responsive to deflection of said equalizing beams.
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15. A transducer for measuring the deflection of a structural member, said transducer comprising:
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integral beam means having a relatively flexible portion extending between a pair of relatively rigid mounting portions adapted to be mounted on the structural member at points longitudinally spaced apart therealong, said flexible portion including a narrowed mid-piece of generally uniform thickness, a respective cylindrical end piece integral with each said mounting portion having a cross sectional area substantially greater than the cross sectional area of said mid-piece, and a respective transition piece integrally joining said mid-piece to a respective said end piece, each of said transition pieces having a cross sectional area substantially greater than the cross sectional area of said mid-piece and including a cylindrical outside end and a rectangular inside end mating, respectively, with the respective end piece and said mid-piece for evenly coupling stress from said end pieces to said mid-piece so that substantially all of the strain is transferred to said flexible portion, said mid-piece being precurved so that in its relaxed state its midpoint is curved toward said structural member, whereby the curvature of said flexible portion is biased to increase responsive to bending of said structural member toward said beam means; and strain sensing means carried by said beam means for indicating deflection of said flexible portion responsive to bending of said structural member. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for measuring a load carried by the frame of a vehicle, said vehicle having a set of front wheels and tandem sets of rear wheels, each of said sets being connected to a respective transverse axle, the axle of the forward set of said tandem wheels being connected to the forward ends of a pair of transversely spaced equalizing beams and the axle of the rearward set of said tandem wheels being connected to the rearward ends of said equalizing beams, said equalizing beams having their mid-points pivotally supporting said vehicle frame at opposite sides thereof, said load measuring system comprising:
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front axle transducer means operatively associated with the axle of the front wheels for producing an electrical indication of the bending thereof; respective transducer means operatively associated with each of said equalizing beams for producing electrical indications of the bending thereof; and display means receiving electrical indications from said transducer means for producing a visual indication of the load carried by said vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification