Inductive load weight sensor for controlling brake and audible alarm

• US 5,099,221 A
• Filed: 08/20/1991
• Issued: 03/24/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edelhoff Polytechnik GmbH & Company
• Original Assignee: Edelhoff Polytechnik GmbH & Company
• Inventors: Sandkuhler, Georg
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Sr., Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Jill
• Application Number:
  US07/750,435
• Time in Patent Office: 217 Days
• Field of Search: 116/28 R, 364/281, 364/283, 364/463, 340/666, 340/613, 340/686, 340/440, 303/22.1, 303/22.2, 303/22.3, 303/22.4, 303/22.5, 303/22.6, 303/22.7, 303/22.8, 177/136-141
• US Class Current: 340/440
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/61 Load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/00 Indexing codes relating to the type of sensors based on the principle of their operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1837 characterised by the load-detecting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/08 for incorporation in vehicles

Abstract

In an apparatus for indicating the load on trucks, particularly the weight of the useful load which has been picked up by garbage collecting, which trucks have a frame which is movable relative to the axles and is supported on the axles by springs, a device is provided which detects the distance between the frame of the truck and the axle or axles. The device is arranged to produce a signal when the distance has been reduced to an extent which corresponds to the weight of the highest permissible useful load.

Claims

1. Apparatus for indicating the weight of the useful load on a truck having a frame and an axle, said frame being movable relative to said axle and supported on said axle by springs, and a distance detecting device located in the vicinity of said frame and said axle which detects the distance between said frame and said axle and produces a signal through a signal generator in a circuit connected to an initiator when the distance between said frame and said axle has been reduced to an extent corresponding to the weight of the highest permissible useful load, said distance detecting device comprising a linkage secured to said axle and to said frame, through a rod secured to said axle at one end and which has a lengthwise adjustable actuating member connected thereto at the other end and a regulating valve connected to said frame and to said rod by an adjusting lever connected at one end to said regulating valve and pivoted at other end to said rod in the vicinity of said actuating member, said distance detecting device controlling a load dependent hand brake on said truck depending on the distance of movement of said frame relative to said axle, and said lengthwise adjustable actuating member operating and activating said initiator to close said circuit connected thereto and to said hand brake and a battery of said truck and to said signal generator when the distance between said frame and said axle has been reduced to the weight of the highest permissible useful load.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the actuating member is a sheet metal element and the initiator is an inductive initiator, said actuating member being movable towards and away from the vicinity of said initiator and activating said initiator without physical contact therewith.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the circuit is closed by the initiator when the distance between the frame and the axle of the truck has been reduced to the weight of the highest permissible load.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the circuit is closed by the initiator when the distance between the frame and the axle of the truck has been reduced to the weight of the highest permissable load when the hand brake on the truck has been applied and the truck is in a stationary position.