Load measuring device for a vehicle

• US 5,681,998 A
• Filed: 03/16/1994
• Issued: 10/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited, Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited, Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Atagi, Yutaka, Yasuda, Yoshitaka, Takahashi, Naoya, Nakazaki, Yoji, Aoshima, Hideyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCCALL, ERIC SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US08/213,727
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 73/862.044, 73/862.045, 73/862.335, 73/862.338, 73/862.474, 73/862.627, 73/862.632, 73/779, 73/774, 177/136, 177/137, 177/138
• US Class Current: 73/117.03
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/019 characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/30 Rigid axle suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/318 two or more axles being mounted on a longitudinal rocking or walking beam
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/11 Mounting of sensors thereon
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4302 for fixing suspension arm on the vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4306 Bracket or knuckle for rigid axles, e.g. for clamping
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/60 Load
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/12 Strain gauge
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/17 Magnetic/Electromagnetic
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/52 dependent on the weight of the machine, e.g. change in weight resulting from passengers boarding a bus
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/08 for incorporation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/12 having electrical weight-sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 7/02 by electromagnetic action
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/042 of helical springs
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/14 by measuring variations in capacitance or inductance of electrical elements, e.g. by measuring variations of frequency of electrical oscillators
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0004 Force transducers adapted for mounting in a bore of the force receiving structure G01L5/0009 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle load measuring device comprises a slide plate mounted on the upper surface of an axle case, a load of the vehicle applied through a leaf spring onto the slide plate, the slide plate including a setting portion at an inner surface; and a sensing member fitted into and fixed to the setting portion.

Claims

1. A vehicle load measuring device comprising:

a slide plate mounted on an upper surface of an axle case, wherein a leaf spring is slidably disposed on said slide plate such that a load of the vehicle is applied through the leaf spring onto the slide plate, whereby regardless of the direction in which said load is applied with respect to said axle case said load is applied normal to said slide plate; and

a sensing member fitted into and fixed to the slide plate, for measuring the load of the vehicle by detecting a strain on the slide plate, wherein said sensing element does not transfer said load to said upper surface of said axle case.

2. A vehicle load measuring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide plate includes a setting portion at an inner surface of the slide plate and the sensing member is fitted into and fixed to the setting portion.

3. A vehicle load measuring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slide plate includes a setting portion having a pair of U-shaped projections on a side surface of said slide plate, wherein each U-shaped projection respectively has a groove in the central portion thereof, and wherein said sensing member includes a sensing element formed of a magnetic strain type plate-shaped member and is fitted into and fixed to said groove of each U-shaped projection.

4. A vehicle load measuring device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensing member includes a sensing element which is formed of a magnetic strain type plate-shaped member.

5. A vehicle load measuring device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the setting portion includes U-shaped projections having a groove in the central portion thereof, respectively, and facing each other at the inner surface of the slide plate.

6. A vehicle load measuring device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the setting portion is provided adjacent to a first end portion of the inner surface of the slide plate and another setting portion is provided at a second end portion of the inner surface of the slide plate, and the sensing member is disposed in the first end portion, and another sensing member is disposed in the second end portion to detect the load by summing values provided by the sensing elements.

7. A vehicle load measuring device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensing member includes a sensing element, the sensing element having:

a frame having a substantially U shape in side and front surfaces thereof;

a plate-like member fitted into a recessed portion of the frame, formed of a magnetic material;

a coil incorporated into the plate-like member;

grooves formed adjacent to the two end portions of the inner surface of the slide plate to set the sensing element;

a cover placed on the slide plate to fit the sensing element into the slide plate; and

a taper key inserted between the sensing element and the cover.

8. A vehicle load measuring device as claimed in claim 7, wherein a taper portion is formed on a bottom surface of the sensing element, which corresponds to a taper angle of the taper key.

9. A vehicle load measuring device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensing member includes a sensing element, the sensing element having:

a bottom plate and a vertical plate erected on the central portion of the bottom plate, formed of magnetic material;

a coil incorporated into the vertical plate;

grooves formed adjacent to the two end portions of the inner surface of the slide plate to set the sensing element;

a cover placed on the slide plate to fit the sensing element into the slide plate; and

a taper key inserted between the sensing element and the cover.

10. A vehicle load measuring device as claimed in claim 9, wherein a tape portion is formed on a bottom surface of the sensing element, which corresponds to a taper angle of the taper key.