Multi-axle vehicle

• US 4,505,344 A
• Filed: 09/27/1982
• Issued: 03/19/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Hobbs, John, Schrader, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER JR, GEORGE
• Application Number:
  US06/424,967
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 177/136, 177/210 EM, 73/862.69, 280/407, 280/438 R
• US Class Current: 177/136
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/068 having devices to equalise or modify the load between the fifth wheel and the rear wheels adjustable couping saddles per se B62D53/0807; load transfer devices to permit coupling or uncoupling B62D53/0857; anti jack-knifing devices B62D53/0871

Abstract

A multi-axle load vehicle has a tractor, a device supporting a load on the tractor and including an axially displaceable holder arranged on the tractor, a supporting plate arranged to support a load, and at least one pin supporting the supporting plate on the holder, and a device for determining a load acting upon the vehicle and including a sensor arranged in the pin composed of a magnetic material and operative for measuring a load and generating an electric signal corresponding thereto, and an indicating element arranged in a driver'"'"'s cabin and operative for receiving the electrical signal and indicating the load.

Claims

1. In a multi-axle load vehicle including a tractor having a driver'"'"'s cabin, a sensor for sensing a load acting on the vehicle and producing an electrical signal corresponding to said load, and an indicator device positioned in said cabin of the vehicle and operative for receiving said signal and supplying a driver with the information about said load, the improvement comprising that

(a) said tractor includes a supporting plate and a holder axially displaceable on said tractor, said holder being attached in such a manner that a pin horizontally extends through holes in said holder and said supporting plate so that said pin holds said holder in overlapping relationship with said pin,

(b) said sensor is accommodated in said pin, said pin being formed of magnetic material;

and

(c) said sensor is a magnetoelastic pickup.

2. A multi-axle load vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein said supporting plate is pivotally mounted about said pin.

3. A multi-axle load vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein said pickup includes a magnetic core havng a central leg and two outer legs, and a primary coil arranged on said central leg and two secondary coils each arranged on a respective one of said outer legs.

4. A multi-axle load vehicle as defined in claim 1, and further comprising means for adjusting a position of said supporting plate from a driver'"'"'s cabin and including a motor controllable from the driver'"'"'s cabin and acting upon said holder.

5. A multi-axle load vehicle as defined in claim 4;

wherein the vehicle has a steering axle; and

further comprising a computer connected to said indicator device and arranged to receive values of an entire load of the vehicle and a distance from said axle to said pin, and determining from said values a position of said supporting plate for favorable loading of said steering axle and controlling said position.

6. A multi-axle load vehicle as defined in claim 5, wherein said pin is hollow and has an inner hollow space, said pickup having a magnetic core provided with several coils and arranged in said inner space of said hollow pin.

7. A multi-axle load vehicle as defined in claim 6, wherein said magnetic core of said pickup is arranged axially adjustable in said inner space of said hollow pin.

8. A multi-axle load vehicle as defined in claim 6, wherein said magnetic core of said pickup is arranged adjustable in its angular position in said inner space of said hollow pin.

9. A multi-axle load vehicle as defined in claim 6, wherein said pin has a blind hole forming an inner hollow space, said pickup including a magnetic core provided with a plurality of coils and a coil supporting member arranged to support said magnetic core with said coils and inserted in said inner blind hole of said pin.

10. A multi-axle load vehicle as defined in claim 6, wherein said pickup is formed as a transformer transmitter.

11. A multi-axle load vehicle as defined in claim 10, wherein said pickup has a magnetic core with two legs and a primary spool and at least one secondary spool supported on said legs, said legs of said magnetic core forming a right angle therebetween with a median extending at least substantially normal to a force-acting direction.

12. A multi-axle load vehicle as defined in claim 10, wherein said pickup has a magnetic core with two legs with two secondary coils arranged thereon operating in accordance with a differential measuring method.

13. A multi-axle load vehicle as defined in claim 10, wherein said pin has an end side, said pickup having electric contacts extending on said end side of said pin.