Vehicle load weighing system

• US 5,780,783 A
• Filed: 09/19/1995
• Issued: 07/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dale J. Heider, Leon J. Heider
• Original Assignee: Craig J. Heider, Dale J. Heider, Leon J. Heider, Merle J. Heider
• Inventors: Heider, Dale J., Heider, Leon J., Scholler, James R., Heider, Craig J., Heider, Merle J., Holten, Lawrence H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gellner, Michael L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US08/531,230
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 177/25.14, 177/136, 177/137, 177/138, 177/139, 177/141
• US Class Current: 177/137
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/10 having fluid weight-sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 5/006 with pneumatic means

Abstract

A vehicle load weighing system of the present invention is used to display the weight of a load on a vehicle from within the cab of the vehicle. The system includes a number of air pressure sensors which sense the air pressure in the air bladders mounted between the frame and axle of a trailer. The air pressure sensors include a processor for converting the measured air pressure into a weight value. The weight values from the sensor units are received and displayed by the display unit in the cab of the vehicle. The display unit can be used with any type of sensor module regardless of the type of air bladder sensed since the sensors send generic weight data rather than air pressure data.

Claims

1. A weight sensing system for a vehicle having an air bladder support system mounted between the frame and axle of the vehicle comprising:

at least one pressure sensor unit, said pressure sensor unit further comprising;

an air pressure sensor for sensing the air pressure in at least one air bladder of the air bladder support system, and

a first processor connected to the pressure sensor, the first processor having access to weight conversion data for the air bladder being sensed for converting the sensed air pressure in the air bladder into generic weight data;

a display unit operatively connected to the at least one pressure sensor unit, said display unit further comprising;

a second processor for receiving and processing the generic weight data from the at least one pressure sensor unit,

a display connected to the second processor; and

wherein said display unit displays information to give an indication of the weight of a load on the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one pressure sensor unit includes memory for storing a conversion table having weight values corresponding to air pressure values for the particular pressure bladder sensed.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one pressure sensor unit is located on a trailer proximate the air bladder which it senses and the display unit is located in the cab of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the system includes a plurality of pressure sensor units.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the display unit selectively displays the weight data from any of the sensor units.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the pressure sensor is comprised of a piezoelectric transducer.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a heating element located in the proximity of the air pressure sensor for heating the air pressure sensor.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the heating element comprises a plurality of resistors surrounding the air pressure sensor.

9. The system of claim 7 further comprising a comparitor for causing current to flow through the heating element when the ambient temperature falls below a threshold temperature.

10. A method of measuring the weight of a load on a vehicle having an air bladder support system comprising the steps of:

providing a pressure transducer for sensing the air pressure in a first air bladder;

monitoring the ambient temperature in the proximity of the pressure transducer;

heating the pressure transducer if the ambient temperature falls below a certain temperature;

sensing the air pressure in the first air bladder;

providing a processor for the first air bladder;

using the processor to convert the sensed air pressure into generic weight data;

providing a display unit on the vehicle;

sending the weight data to the display unit; and

displaying information based on the weight data to provide an indication of the weight of the load on the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of:

sensing the air pressure in a plurality of air bladders.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of selectively displaying the weight value from any of the air bladders.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the ambient temperature in the proximity of the pressure transducer; and

compensating for a change in temperature.

14. A method of displaying weight information in a truck relating to the weight of a load on a trailer having an air bladder support system comprising the steps of:

providing an air pressure sensor for a first air bladder;

determining the temperature in the proximity of the air pressure sensor;

heating the air pressure sensor if the determined temperature falls below a threshold temperature;

sensing the air pressure of the first air bladder;

providing a first sensor processor on the trailer, the first sensor processor being operatively connected to the air pressure sensor;

providing a memory location operatively connected to the first sensor processor;

storing weight conversion data for the first air bladder in the memory location;

converting the sensed air pressure of the first air bladder to weight data using the stored weight conversion; and

sending the weight data to a weight display unit.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

unhitching the trailer from the truck;

hitching a second trailer to the truck;

providing a second air pressure sensor for a second air bladder located on the second trailer;

sensing the air pressure of the second air bladder;

providing a second sensor processor on the second trailer, the second sensor processor being operatively connected to the second air pressure sensor;

providing a second memory location operatively connected to the second sensor processor;

storing weight conversion data for the second air bladder in the second memory location;

converting the sensed air pressure of the second air bladder to weight data using the stored weight conversion from the second memory location; and

sending the weight data from to the truck for use by the weight display unit.

16. A method of displaying weight information in a truck relating to the weight of a load on a trailer having an air bladder support system comprising the steps of:

providing an air pressure sensor for a first air bladder;

sensing the air pressure of the first air bladder;

providing a first sensor processor on the trailer, the first sensor processor being operatively connected to the air pressure sensor;

providing a memory location operatively connected to the first sensor processor;

storing weight conversion data for the first air bladder in the memory location;

converting the sensed air pressure of the first air bladder to weight data using the stored weight conversion;

providing a second air pressure sensor for a second air bladder;

sensing the air pressure of the second air bladder;

providing a second sensor processor on the trailer, the second sensor processor being operatively connected to the second air pressure sensor;

providing a second memory location operatively connected to the second sensor processor;

storing weight conversion data for the second air bladder in the second memory location;

converting the sensed air pressure of the second air bladder to weight data using the stored weight conversion for the second air bladder;

sending the weight data for the first and second air bladders to a weight display unit.