On-board vehicle weighing apparatus and method
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring the weight of a load carried by a vehicle, the vehicle including a tractor, a trailer, and a fifth wheel assembly attached to the trailer for connecting said trailer to said tractor, the trailer having an axle rotatably supporting wheels for supporting the trailer on the ground, the apparatus comprising:
- sensing means, located on the trailer, for sensing the weight of the trailer and for generating a weight value representative of the weight; and
indicating means, located within the trailer, for indicating the weight value;
said sensing means comprising;
first weight sensing means associated with the fifth wheel assembly for producing a first weight signal, said first weight sensing means comprising a plurality of sensing assemblies located equidistant about said fifth wheel assembly;
second weight sensing means adjacent a first end of said axle for producing a second weight signal;
third weight sensing means adjacent a second end of said axle for producing a third weight signal; and
means for combining said first, second and third weight signals to produce said weight value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for measuring the weight of a load carried by a vehicle is provided wherein the vehicle has a tractor, a trailer, and a fifth wheel assembly attached to the trailer for connecting said trailer to said tractor, the trailer having an axle, and the apparatus comprising a system, located on the trailer, for measuring the weight of the trailer and for generating a weight value, and a system, located within the trailer, for displaying the weight value. The measuring system comprises a first weight sensing means located within the fifth wheel assembly for producing a first weight signal, a second weight sensing means located within a first end of said trailer axle for producing a second weight signal, a third weight sensing means located within a second end of said trailer axle for producing a third weight signal, and means for combining said first, second and third weight signals to produce said weight value. A method for measuring the weight of a load carried by a vehicle is also disclosed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring the weight of a load carried by a vehicle, the vehicle including a tractor, a trailer, and a fifth wheel assembly attached to the trailer for connecting said trailer to said tractor, the trailer having an axle rotatably supporting wheels for supporting the trailer on the ground, the apparatus comprising:
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sensing means, located on the trailer, for sensing the weight of the trailer and for generating a weight value representative of the weight; and indicating means, located within the trailer, for indicating the weight value; said sensing means comprising; first weight sensing means associated with the fifth wheel assembly for producing a first weight signal, said first weight sensing means comprising a plurality of sensing assemblies located equidistant about said fifth wheel assembly; second weight sensing means adjacent a first end of said axle for producing a second weight signal; third weight sensing means adjacent a second end of said axle for producing a third weight signal; and means for combining said first, second and third weight signals to produce said weight value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for measuring the weight of a load carried by a vehicle, the vehicle including a tractor, a trailer, and a fifth wheel assembly for connecting said trailer to said tractor, the trailer having an axle rotatably supporting wheels for supporting the trailer on the ground, the apparatus comprising:
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a first sensing assembly, associated with the fifth wheel assembly, for sensing the weight of the load on the fifth wheel assembly and for generating a first weight value representative of the weight on the fifth wheel assembly; a second and a third sensing assemblies, adjacent opposing ends of the axle, for sensing the weight of the load on the axle and for generating a second weight value representative of the weight on the axle, said second and third sensing assemblies being integrally formed within associated axle stubs connected with said axle; a processor for combining the first and second weight values to generate a total weight value; and an indicator system, responsive to the total weight value, for indicating a total weight signal; wherein said fifth wheel assembly comprises a kingpin and a support member for distributing the load on said fifth wheel assembly, and said first sensing assembly comprises a plurality of weight sensors, each weight sensor being attached to said support member substantially equidistant from said kingpin so that each weight sensor produces equivalent weight signals for a predetermined load on the kingpin; and wherein said first sensing assembly comprises a first and second substantially parallel spaced apart end members, and first and second legs connecting said end members together and defining an aperture with the weight sensor so that a response time of the weight sensor is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method for measuring the weight of a load carried by a vehicle, the vehicle including a tractor, a trailer, and a fifth wheel assembly attached to the trailer for connecting said trailer to said tractor, the trailer having an axle, the method comprising:
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sensing the weight on the fifth wheel assembly with a first sensing system to generate a first weight signal, wherein said first sensing system comprises a plurality of sensing assemblies located equidistant about said fifth wheel assembly; sensing the weight on the axle of the trailer with a second sensing system to generate a second weight signal, wherein said second sensing system is integrally formed within an axle stub connected with said axle; combining the first weight signal and said second weight signal to generate a total weight signal; and indicating the total weight signal on a display in an enclosed space within the trailer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for measuring the weight of a load carried by a vehicle, the vehicle including a tractor, a trailer, and a fifth wheel assembly attached to the trailer for connecting said trailer to said tractor, the trailer having an axle rotatably supporting wheels for supporting the trailer on the ground, the apparatus comprising:
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a rail connected to a trailer for supporting the trailer; and a fifth wheel assembly attached to the trailer comprising a central structural portion including a plate and a kingpin assembly, a plurality of weight sensing assemblies, a pair of flanges connecting said central structural portion to said rail through said weight sensing assemblies, each weight sensing assembly being attached to said flanges and said central structural portion so the weight of the trailer is communicated to said kingpin through said weight sensing assemblies, wherein said plurality of weight sensing assemblies are located equidistant about said fifth wheel assembly. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A fifth wheel assembly, comprising:
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a central structural portion including a plate and a kingpin assembly; a plurality of weight sensing assemblies located equidistant about said fifth wheel assembly; and a pair of flanges connecting said central structural portion to a trailer support rail through said weight sensing assemblies, each weight sensing assembly being attached to said flanges and said central structural portion so the weight of the trailer is communicated to said kingpin through said weight sensing assemblies.
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Specification