Method and apparatus for measuring the weight of a vehicle while the vehicle is in motion

• US 4,560,016 A
• Filed: 12/14/1983
• Issued: 12/24/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ANCO Engineers Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ANCO Engineers Incorporated
• Inventors: Ibanez, Paul, Barrett, Donald C., Stoessel, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Jr., George H.
• Application Number:
  US06/561,209
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 177/210 R, 177/132, 177/134, 177/177, 177/178, 177/DIG. 6, 250/227, 350/96.15, 73/800
• US Class Current: 177/210.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/03 for weighing during motion G01G19/04, G01G19/07 take precedence check weighing of materials dispensed into removable containers G01G15/00; weighing a continuous stream of material during flow G01G11/00; G01G19/02, e.g. G01G19/022, G01G19/045 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 177/06 Photoelectric

Abstract

The present invention relates to an inexpensive, portable, and accurate method and apparatus for calculating the weight of a vehicle while it is in motion. The apparatus to which the present invention relates is in the field of Weigh-In-Motion devices.

In the present invention, an optical fiber is embedded into a matrix such as a rubber pad and a multiplicity of microbending fixtures are distributed along the path of the optic fiber. Then as the wheels of a vehicle pass over the pad the force of the wheels cause the microbending fixtures over which they pass to pinch together and attenuate the light which is transmitted through the optic fiber. The light transmitted through the optic fiber from a light source at one end of the optic fiber is received by a light receiver at the other end of the optic fiber. Then by measuring the amount of light input and the net amount of light output, and calibrating the device, the weight of each axle and the weight of the vehicle above that axle can be measured. By successively measuring the weight of each such axle and its associated portion of the vehicle as it passes over the pad, the combined weight of the axles can be linearly added together to arrive at the total weight of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring the weight of a vehicle in motion comprising:

a. a substantially flat pad;

b. said pad being substantially rectangular in shape;

c. said pad containing a first ramp on one of its lengthwise sides and a second ramp on its other lengthwise side;

d. an optic fiber embedded into said pad with the leading end and the trailing end of the optic fiber protruding from said pad;

e. a multiplicity of microbending fixtures distributed along the length of said optic fiber at spaced locations. apart from each other;

f. a light source located at the leading end of said optic fiber;

g. a light receiver located at the trailing end of said optic fiber;

h. said light receiver connected to an output transformer; and

i. said first ramp and said second ramp containing a data trigger and velocity sensing system which turns the light source, the light receiver, and the output transformer on when a vehicle runs over the first ramp and off when a vehicle runs over the second ramp;

j. whereby when said pad is placed on a roadway and when a force is exerted on said pad by a vehicle running over it, said discrete microbending fixtures are caused to pinch said optic fiber and thereby attenuate the light transmitted from said light source to said light receiver, and said output transformer can calculate the force exerted on said pad and therefore the weight of the vehicle by knowing the light input from the light source and the light ouput received by the light receiver.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the length of said pad is approximately equal to the width of a lane on a roadway, and the width of said pad is less than the distance between adjacent axles of a vehicle.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said optic fiber is caused to be bent into a series of loops so that the optic fiber extends along the entire length and width of the pad.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said pad is made of rubber.

5. An apparatus for measuring the weight of a vehicle in motion comprising:

a. a substantially flat pad;

b. said pad being substantially rectangular in shape;

c. said pad containing a first ramp on one of its lengthwise sides and a second ramp on its other lengthwise side;

d. an optic fiber embedded into said pad with the leading end and the trailing end of the optic fiber protruding from said pad;

e. a multiplicity of internal protrusions located within said pad and located along the path of said optic fiber;

f. said internal protrusions located above and below said optic fiber and spaced apart from each other along the path of the optic fiber;

g. a light source located at the leading end of said optic fiber;

h. a light receiver located at the trailing end of said optic fiber;

i. said light receiver connected to an output transformer; and

j. said first ramp and said second ramp containing a data trigger and velocity sensing system which turn the light source, the light receiver, and the output transformer on when a vehicle runs over the first ramp and off when a vehicle runs over the second ramp;

k. whereby when said pad is placed on a roadway and when a force is exerted on said pad by a vehicle running over it, said internal protrusions in said pad are caused to pinch said optic fiber and thereby attenuate the light transmitted from said light source to said light receiver, and said output transformer can calculate the force exerted on said pad and therefore the weight of the vehicle by knowing the light input from the light source and the light output received by the light receiver.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein the length of said pad is approximately equal to the width of a lane on a roadway, and the width of said pad is less than the distance between adjacent axles of a vehicle.

7. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said optic fiber is caused to be bent into a series of loops so that the optic fiber extends along the entire length and width of the pad.

8. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said pad is made of rubber.

9. An apparatus for measuring the weight of a vehicle in motion comprising:

a. substantially flat pad;

b. said pad being substantially rectangular in shape;

c. said pad containing a first ramp on one of its lengthwise sides and a second ramp on its other lengthwise side;

d. an optic fiber embedded into said pad with the leading end and the trailing end of the optic fiber protruding from said pad;

e. said optic fiber being bent into a series of loops so that the optic fiber extends along the entire length and width of the pad and also is caused to be looped both over and under itself so that there are numerous intersection points along the length of the optic fiber;

f. a light source located at the leading end of said optic fiber;

g. a light receiver located at the trailing end of said optic fiber;

h. said light receiver connnected to an output transformer; and

i. said firt ramp and said second ramp containing a data trigger and velocity sensing system which turn the light source, the light receiver, and the output transformer on when a vehicle runs over the first ramp and off when a vehicle runs over the second ramp;

j. whereby when said pad is placed on a roadway and when a force is exerted on said pad by a vehicle running over it, said optic fiber is pinched at the location of the intersections where the optic fiber is caused to run over or under itself and thereby attenuate the light transmitted from said light source to said light receiver, and said output transformer can calculate the force exerted on said pad and therefore the weight of the vehicle by knowing the light input from the light source and the light output received by the light receiver.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein the length of said pad is approximately equal to the width of a lane on a roadway, and the width of said pad is less than the distance between adjacent axles of a vehicle.

11. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said pad is made of rubber.

12. An apparatus for measuring the force exerted on a shoe comprising:

a. an optic fiber embedded in the sole of a shoe with the leading end and the trailing end of the optic fiber protruding from the sole of the shoe;

b. said optic fiber being bent into a series of loops so that the optic fiber extends along the entire length and width of the sole of the shoe;

c. a light source located at the leading end of said optic fiber;

d. a light receiver located at the trailing end of said optic fiber;

e. said light receiver connected to an output transformer;

f. the sole of the shoe further comprising a data trigger and velocity sensing system which turns the light source, the light receiver, and the output transformer on when a force is exerted on the shoe when the individual wearing the shoe walks or runs and which turns the light source, the light receiver, and the output transformer off when this force is removed; and

g. said output transformer located in a pack which can be worn by the individual wearing the shoe;

h. whereby forces exerted on said shoe when the individual wearing the shoe walks or runs can be measured by the pinching on the optic fiber due to the force, which causes attenuation of the light transmitted from said light source to said light receiver, and said output transformer can calculate the force exerted on the shoe by knowing the light input from the light source and the light output received by the light receiver.