Air spring load monitoring system

• US 5,167,289 A
• Filed: 04/30/1991
• Issued: 12/01/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David L. Stevenson
• Original Assignee: David L. Stevenson
• Inventors: Stevenson, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER JR, GEORGE
• Application Number:
  US07/693,556
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 177/141, 177/209, 177/254, 177/178
• US Class Current: 177/141
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/08 for incorporation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 5/04 with means for measuring the pressure imposed by the load on a liquid pressure gauges per se G01L

Abstract

An air spring load monitoring system provides a vehicle operator with an on-board visual display of the load distribution imposed on each axle from front to rear of a truck and trailer, and displays differential loads imposed from side to side across each axle as a result of local overloading caused by unequal load distribution. Pneumatic transducers produce analog output signals proportional to the internal air pressure of each air spring as an accurate indicator of payload distribution. Load data is presented by load display groups in which visual display elements are positioned in spaced relation along a scale representative of a predetermined air spring load range. The visual display elements of each group are positioned in side by side relation for visual comparison to each other and to the scale. Each visual display element is representative of a predetermined load range increment. A signal conversion circuit drives a predetermined visual display element in each display group which corresponds with the load range increment containing the air spring load value represented by the analog output signal.

Claims

1. Apparatus for displaying the load distribution of cargo carried by a vehicle of the type having a load bearing frame supported by left and right air springs mounted on a first axle and left and right air springs mounted on a second axle comprising, in combination:

first and second pneumatic transducers coupled to the left and right air springs on the first axle, respectively, for separatingly sensing the internal air pressure thereof;

third and fourth pneumatic transducers coupled to the left and right air springs on the second axle, respectively, for separating sensing the internal air pressure thereof;

each transducer being adapted to produce an analog output signal proportional to the internal air pressure of the air spring to which it is coupled;

a display panel having a scale representative of a predetermined air spring load range;

first and second load display groups mounted on said display panel, said first and second display groups each including an array of visual display elements positioned at spaced locations about said scale, each visual display element being representative of a predetermined load range increment, and the visual display elements of said first and second groups being disposed for visual comparison to each other and to said scale;

third and fourth load display groups mounted on said display panel, said third and fourth display groups each including an array of discrete visual display elements positioned at spaced locations about said scale, each visual display element being representative of a redetermined load range increment, and the visual display elements of said third and fourth groups being disposed for visual comparison to each other and to said scale; and

,

a signal conversion circuit having multiple inputs electrically coupled to said transducers for separately receiving the air spring analog output signals and having multiple outputs electrically coupled to said display groups, respectively, for separately driving a predetermined visual display element of each display group in correspondence with the load range increment containing the air spring load value represented by the analog output signal.