Fifth wheel scale apparatus

• US 4,103,752 A
• Filed: 01/10/1977
• Issued: 08/01/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Trailer Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: General Trailer Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Schmidt, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartary, Joseph W.
• Application Number:
  US05/758,008
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 177/141, 177/139, 177/136, 177/138, 177/208, 177/209, 177/146, 177/254, 73/141 R
• US Class Current: 177/141
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/10 having fluid weight-sensitive devices

Abstract

Weighing apparatus for a fifth wheel assembly, including a rockable subframe adapted for carrying such an assembly constructed for pivotal mounting with respect to an underlying vehicle frame. An inflatable air pad is disposed beneath the subframe, and is operable under inflation to pivot the subframe to a position wherein the pad carries a portion of any load borne by the subframe. Connected to the pad is a calibratable scale system for producing a load indication under such circumstances. Further provided is a safety locking system for releasably locking the subframe against pivoting under conditions of normal vehicle travel.

Claims

1. Weighing apparatus adapted for operative interposition between a fifth wheel assembly and a vehicle frame, said apparatus comprising

a mounting subframe adapted for attachment to a vehicle frame,

a rockable subframe pivoted on said mounting subframe and adapted for carrying a fifth wheel assembly,

an expandible-contractible device mounted on said mounting subframe for engagement and disengagement with said rockable subframe, said device, when disengaged from said rockable subframe, being inflatable to engage the same, thereby to cause rocking of said rockable subframe to a condition wherein at least a portion of any load borne by such a subframe is transmitted through said device, and

means operatively connected to said device for producing an indication of the magnitude of any such transmitted load portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes means for selectively releasably locking said rockable subframe against rocking relative to said mounting subframe.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said expandiblecontractible device comprises a fluid-operable unit which may be charged with and exhausted of fluid to cause expansion and contraction, respectively, of the device.

4. Weighing apparatuus adapted for operative interposition between a fifth wheel assembly and a vehicle frame, said apparatus comprising

a shiftable subframe adapted to carry such an assembly, and further adapted for shiftable-position mounting on such a vehicle frame, said subframe, when so mounted on a vehicle frame, having one shifted-to position relative to the frame wherein all force transmitted to it by any supported fifth wheel assembly is transmitted in full through it directly to the vehicle frame, and having another shifted-to position wherein such a force is only partially transmitted through it directly to the vehicle frame,

shifting means adapted for operative interposition between said subframe and any vehicle frame mounting the subframe, operable to shift the subframe between the latter'"'"'s said two shifted-to positions, and constructed, when in a condition placing said subframe in its said other shifted-to position, to transmit from said subframe to the vehicle frame at least a portion of the force transmitted through said subframe from a supported fifth wheel assembly, and

scale means operatively connected to said shifting means, operable, with the shifting means placing said subframe in its said other shifted-to position, to produce an indication directly reflective of any force transmitted through said shifting means between said subframe and said vehicle frame.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 which further includes means for releasably locking said shiftable subframe against shifting relative to a vehicle frame.

6. Weighing apparatus for mounting a fifth wheel assembly on the frame in a vehicle comprising

mounting means for mounting said apparatus on such a frame,

a rockable subframe pivoted on said mounting means for rocking relative to the mounting means about a substantially horizontal axis with the mounting means in place on a vehicle frame,

7. means in said subframe accommodating the mounting thereon of a fifth wheel assembly,

releasable locking means operatively interposed between said mounting means and said subframe operable to lock the two together to prevent rocking of said subframe, and further operable to release the two to permit such rocking,

inflatable-deflatable means mounted on said mounting means and operatively interposed between the mounting means and said subframe, inflatable, with said subframe unlocked from said mounting means, to produce rocking of the subframe to a rocked-to position, and

scale means operatively connected to said inflatabledeflatable means, operable, with the inflatable-deflatable means supporting said subframe in said rocked-to position, to produce an indication directly reflective of any force transmitted through said inflatable-deflatable means between said subframe and said mounting means.

8. Weighing apparatus adapted for operative interposition between a fifth wheel assembly and a vehicle frame, said apparatus comprising

a mounting subframe adapted for attachment to a vehicle frame,

a rockable subframe pivoted on said mounting subframe and adapted for carrying a fifth wheel assembly,

an expandible-contractible device mounted on said mounting subframe and engageable with said rockable subframe, said device being inflatable to cause rocking of said rockable subframe to a condition wherein at least a portion of any load borne by such subframe is transmitted through said device, said device taking the form of a fluid-operable unit which may be charged with and exhausted of fluid to cause expansion and contraction, respectively, of the device,

fluid-actuated locking means for selectively releaseably locking said rockable subframe against rocking relative to said mounting subframe, and

means operatively interconnecting said expandiblecontractible device and said locking means, whereby charging of said device to expand it is accompanied by actuation of said locking means to release said rockable subframe.

9. Weighing apparatus adapted for operative interposition between a fifth wheel assembly and a vehicle frame, said apparatus comprising

a shiftable subframe adapted to carry such an assembly, and further adapted for shiftable-position mounting on such a vehicle frame, said subframe, when so mounted on a vehicle frame, having one shifted-to position relative to the vehicle frame wherein all force transmitted to it by any supported fifth wheel assembly is transmitted in full through it directly to the vehicle frame, and having another shifted-to position wherein such force is only partially transmitted through it directly to the vehicle frame,

fluid-actuatable shifting means adapted for operative interposition between said subframe and any vehicle frame mounting the subframe, operable to shift the subframe with between the latter'"'"'s said two-shifted-to positions, and constructed, when in a condition placing said subframe in its said other shifted-to position, to transmit from said subframe to the vehicle frame at least a portion of the force transmitted through said subframe from a supported fifth wheel assembly,

scale means operatively connected to said shifting means, operable, with the shifting means placing said subframe in its said other shifted-to position, to produce an indication directly reflective of any force transmitted through said shifting means between said subframe and said vehicle frame,

fluid-actuatable locking means for releaseably locking said shiftable subframe against shifting relative to a vehicle frame, and

means operatively interconnecting said shifting and locking means, whereby actuation of said shifting means is accompanied by actuation of said locking means to release said shiftable subframe.

10. Weighing apparatus for mounting a fifth wheel assembly on the frame in a vehicle comprising

mounting means for mounting said apparatus on such a frame,

a rockable subframe pivoted on said mounting means for rocking relative to the mounting means about a substantially horizontal axis with the mounting means in place on a vehicle frame,

means in said subframe accommodating the mounting thereon of a fifth wheel assembly,

fluid-actuated releasable locking means operatively interposed between said mounting means and said subframe, operable to lock the two together to prevent rocking of said subframe, and further operable to release the two to permit such rocking,

fluid-actuatable inflatable-deflatable means mounted on said mounting means and operatively interposed between the mounting means and said subframe, inflatable, with said subframe unlocked from said mounting means, to produce rocking of the subframe to a rocked-to position,

scale means operatively connected to said inflatabledeflatable means, operable, with the inflatable-deflatable means supporting said subframe in said rocked-to position, to produce an indication directly reflective of any force transmitted through said inflatable-deflatable means between said subframe and said mounting means, and

means operatively interconnecting said locking means and said inflatable-deflatable means, whereby inflation of said inflatable-deflatable means is accompanied by actuation of said locking means to release said rockable subframe for rocking relative to said mounting means.