Vehicle overload detector

• US 4,384,628 A
• Filed: 04/22/1981
• Issued: 05/24/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James M. Jackson
• Original Assignee: James M. Jackson
• Inventors: Jackson, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartary, Joseph W.
• Application Number:
  US06/256,408
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 177/136, 177/137, 177/138, 177/139
• US Class Current: 177/137
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/08 for incorporation in vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle overload detector characterized as mechanism which, after installation, is calibrated to a preselected initial setting, where upon loading a vehicle, the resulting metered deflection visibly advises the operator of any possible overload condition. Restated otherwise, the mechanism measures vehicle frame deflection, employing two cables, oppositely wound around a control pulley, for establishing the aforesaid initial setting and the deflected setting, respectively.

Claims

1. An overload detector for a vehicle having a framework comprising a housing mounting a single control pulley, a first cable having one end secured to and wrapped around said single control pulley in a clockwise direction and another end fixedly secured to said housing through tensioning means, and a second cable wrapped in a counterclockwise direction around said single control pulley having one end secured thereto and another end secured to said framework of the vehicle at a load receiving location remote from said housing, where said single control pulley operatively connects visual indicating means, where means are provided for selectively maintaining tension on said first cable, and where said selective tension maintaining means bears against said second cable.

2. The overload detector of claim 1 where said second cable passes around an auxiliary pulley mounted on the lower portion of said housing.

3. The overload detector of claim 1 where tightening means serve to selectively position said visual indicating means.

4. The overload detector of claim 1 where means are provided for establishing a base setting of said visual indicating means upon release of said selective tension maintaining means.