Installation in a vehicle for indicating the load distribution and for warning against overloads

• US 4,218,672 A
• Filed: 08/02/1977
• Issued: 08/19/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Schmid, Walter, Weisshappel, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Waring, Alvin H.
• Application Number:
  US05/821,250
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 340/27 R, 340/52 R, 340/52 H, 340/58, 340/272, 340/267 C, 200/85 R, 200/86 R, 180/100
• US Class Current: 340/440
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/61 Load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/04 Means for informing, instructing or displaying
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/044 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/12 having electrical weight-sensitive devices

Abstract

An installation in a vehicle for indicating the load distribution and for warning against overloads with load-value transmitters coordinated to the vehicle axles; in which a first load-value transmitter coordinated with a vehicle axle for respective lateral sides of the vehicle includes a load-dependent threshold switch whereby the two threshold switches connect the positive terminal of the battery by way of the ignition lock with a filter, and the filter output is connected with a switching device which turns on the load-distribution indication and/or the overload warning.

Claims

1. An installation in a vehicle for indicating load distribution and warning against overloads comprising an electrical power source and ignition switch means for activating said power source, load-value transmitter means coordinated to a vehicle axle including at least a first load value transmitter means having at least one load dependent threshold switch coordinated with the vehicle axle at respective lateral sides of the vehicle for detecting predetermined threshold load values, said threshold switches being operatively connected to said power source through said ignition switch means, indicator means for indicating load distribution and overload conditions of said vehicle, monitoring means connected to said threshold switches for monitoring functioning and/or operation of said indicator means, and switching means connected between said monitoring means and said indicator means for activating said indicator means, the installation further including a second load-value transmitter means coordinated to the axle including a pair of threshold switches adjusted to a larger load, and wherein said monitoring means and said switching means are associated with the said second load value transmitter means, said indicating means including an indicating lamp coordinated to each of the first load-value transmitter means, and in that upon response of the switching means of all of the first load-value transmitter means an overload condition is indicated, said switching means coordinated to said first load-value transmitter means including a first normally closed contact means which operatively connects an associated indicating means with said power source and a second normally closed contact means, the second normally closed contact means of all load-value transmitter means being connected in series and being operable to connect an overload warning lamp with said power source.

2. An installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching means of the second load-value transmitter means includes a normally closed contact means which operatively connects an overload warning lamp with the power source.

3. An installation according to claim 2, characterized in that said monitoring means essentially consists of an RC-integrating element.

4. An installation according to claim 2, characterized in that said monitoring means consists of an RC-differentiating element, in that the threshold switches are so constructed that they close upon exceeding a predetermined load and in that the threshold switches are connected in parallel to the condenser of the RC-differentiating element.

5. An installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the threshold switches are disposed in an axle guide bearing means.

6. An installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the threshold switches are disposed in a shock absorber housing means.

7. An installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching means of the second load-value transmitter means includes a normally closed contact means which operatively connects an overload warning lamp with the power source.

8. An installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching means includes a relay means having at least one normally closed contact.

9. An installation according to claim 8, characterized in that the threshold switches are so constructed to open upon exceeding a predetermined load.

10. An installation in a vehicle for indicating load distribution and warning against overloads comprising an electrical power source and ignition switch means for activating said power source, load-value transmitter means coordinated to a vehicle axle including at least a first load value transmitter means having at least one load dependent threshold switch coordinated with the vehicle axle at respective lateral sides of the vehicle for detecting predetermined threshold load values, said threshold switches being operatively connected to said power source through said ignition switch means, indicator means for indicating load distribution and overload conditions of said vehicle, monitoring means connected to said threshold switches for monitoring functioning and/or operation of said indicator means, and switching means connected between said monitoring means and said indicator means for activating said indicator means, said monitoring means includes an RC-integrating element for controlling operation of said indicator means.

12. An installation according to claim 10, wherein said load value transmitter means includes at least a pair of said threshold switches, one threshold switch at each lateral side of the vehicle, said pair of threshold switches being normally closed to connect said power source to said monitoring means.

13. An installation according to claim 12, wherein said RC integrating element is connected to each pair of threshold switches for controlling operation of said indicator means in accordance with a time constant thereof.

14. An installation according to claim 13, wherein said pair of threshold switches are connected in parallel between said ignition switch means and said RC integrating element.

15. An installation according to claim 13, wherein said switching means include relay means having at least one normally closed contact, said closed contact remaining closed upon activating said power source by said ignition switch means for a time duration determined by the time constant of said RC integrating element to connect said indicator means to said power source, and thereafter said normally closed contact being opened.

16. An installation according to claim 15, wherein said indicator means includes at least one indicating lamp connected to each RC integrating element through said switching means.

17. An installation according to claim 16, wherein said indicator means includes at least one indicating lamp for indicating load distribution and at least one indicating lamp for indicating overloads.

18. An installation according to claim 16, wherein said indicator means includes at least one indicating lamp corresponding to each pair of threshold switches.

19. An installation according to claim 16, wherein said load-value transmitter means further includes a second pair of said threshold switches associated with at least one of the vehicle axles and having one threshold switch at respective lateral sides of the vehicle, wherein an RC integrating element is connected with said second pair of threshold switches, and wherein said switching means includes relay means having one normally closed contact connected between said RC integrating element and an indicating lamp for indicating an overload condition.

11. An installation in a vehicle for indicating load distribution and warning against overloads comprising an electrical power source and ignition switch means for activating said power source, load-value transmitter means coordinated to a vehicle axle including at least a first load value transmitter means having at least one load dependent threshold switch coordinated with the vehicle axle at respective lateral sides of the vehicle for detecting predetermined threshold load values, said threshold switches being operatively connected to said power source through said ignition switch means, indicator means for indicating load distribution and overload conditions of said vehicle, monitoring means connected to said threshold switches for monitoring functioning and/or operation of said indicator means, and switching means connected between said monitoring means and said indicator means for activating said indicator means, said monitoring means consists of an RC-differentiating element for controlling operation of said indicator means, in that the threshold switches are so constructed that they close upon exceeding a predetermined load and in that the threshold switches are connected in parallel to the condenser of the RC-differentiating element.

20. An installation in a vehicle for indicating load distribution and warning against overloads comprising an electrical power source and ignition switch means for activating said power source, load-value transmitter means coordinated to a vehicle axle including at least a first load value transmitter means having at least one load dependent threshold switch coordinated with the vehicle axle at respective lateral sides of the vehicle for detecting predetermined threshold load values, said threshold switches being operatively connected to said power source through said ignition switch means, indicator means for indicating load distribution and overload conditions of said vehicle, monitoring means connected to said threshold switches for monitoring functioning and/or operation of said indicator means, and switching means connected between said monitoring means and said indicator means for activating said indicator means, said load value transmitter means including at least a pair of said threshold switches, one threshold switch at respective lateral sides of the vehicle, said pair of threshold switches being normally opened to connect said power source to said monitoring means, and said monitoring means including an RC differentiating element, said threshold switches being connected in parallel to the condenser of said RC differentiating element.