Truck load indicator apparatus

• US 5,376,760 A
• Filed: 04/26/1993
• Issued: 12/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles L. Horsley
• Original Assignee: Charles L. Horsley
• Inventors: Horsley, Charles L.
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER JR, GEORGE
• Application Number:
  US08/051,775
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 177/137, 177/138
• US Class Current: 177/137
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/08 for incorporation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/002 Means for correcting for obliquity of mounting for pendulum-weight apparatus G01G1/16

Abstract

A switch structure in association with the leaf spring portion of a truck is arranged to indicate deflection of the spring structure to effect indication of load conditions within the associated truck. An individual or a plurality of indicators may be utilized to indicate various levels of load accommodation of the truck structure in use, having a passenger compartment mounted indicator member utilizing audible and visual indicator components.

Claims

1. A truck load indicator apparatus, comprising,

a truck having a truck frame and a passenger compartment mounted to the frame,

and

a truck axle, the truck axle including a plurality of rear wheel members mounted to the truck axle, and the axle having at least one rear leaf spring member mounting the truck axle to the truck frame, with the rear leaf spring member including a spring eye, the truck frame having a rear spring support flange mounted to the truck frame, and the rear spring support flange having a floor plate, the floor plate having a spring shackle pivotally mounted to the floor plate, with the spring eye mounted to the spring shackle,

and

an L-shaped switch support flange mounted to the truck frame in adjacency to the spring eye and in a spaced relationship relative to the spring eye, with the L-shaped switch support flange having a switch member mounted relative to the L-shaped switch support flange, and the switch member arranged for sensing rotation of the spring eye relative to the spring shackle.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rear leaf spring member includes an extension plate mounted to the spring member, and the extension plate extends beyond the rear spring support flange, with the extension plate positioned in adjacency relative to the switch member, and the L-shaped switch support flange having first slots arranged for adjustment relative to the truck frame, and second slots orthogonally oriented relative to the first slots, with a second support flange mounted to the L-shaped support flange and the second slots, with the switch member mounted to the second support flange in adjacency to a free distal end of the extension plate.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the truck frame includes a first mercury level switch mounted between the truck frame and the rear leaf spring member, and a second mercury level switch mounted to the spring member, and the first mercury level switch and the second mercury level switch electrical communication with the signal amplifier, and the signal amplifier in electrical communication with the differentiating amplifier, and a square wave generator mounted in electrical communication with the differentiating amplifier, and an audio speaker mounted in electrical communication with the square wave generator, whereupon displacement of the first mercury level switch and the second mercury level switch selectively effects actuation of the audio speaker.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including a level rod, the level rod including an axle housing bracket fixedly mounted to the level rod to the truck axle, and the level rod oriented intermediate the truck frame and the truck axle, with the level rod orthogonally oriented relative to the truck frame, and a third switch member bracket mounted to the truck frame slidably receiving the level rod therethrough, and a third switch second bracket mounted to the third level switch bracket, with the third level switch second bracket slidably receiving the lever rod therethrough, and the level rod having a rod head at a free distal end of the level rod spaced from the truck axle, and a third switch member mounted to the third switch second bracket intermediate the rod head and the third switch second bracket, and illumination means in electrical communication with the third switch second bracket for effecting visual indication of displacement of the truck axle relative to the truck frame.