Low tire sensing and weight transfer system
First Claim
1. A transport vehicle with a cargo deck comprising:
- said cargo carrying deck having first and second sides, said deck having a supporting frame comprised of longitudinal frame members and cross frame members;
a first tandem wheel set attached to said vehicle adjacent said first side of said deck and a second tandem wheel set attached to said vehicle adjacent said second side of said deck, each of said first and second wheel sets being comprised of first and second pneumatic tires, said first and second tires of each said wheel set being rotatably attached to an adjacent walking beam assembly having a walking beam that is substantially parallel to the ground when said first and second tires are both fully inflated, said walking beams being electrically insulated from said frame;
at least one electrically grounded walking beam stop attached to said vehicle adjacent at least one end of each said walking beam, at least part of each said stop intersecting the vertical plane of said adjacent walking beam at a site located above and/or below said adjacent walking beam end when said first and second tires are both fully inflated, said site being sufficiently close to said walking beam end that said walking beam end contacts said stop upon at least one of said tires becoming at least partially deflated; and
a signalling device that is actuated when one of said walking beam ends contacts an adjacent walking beam stop.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle, such as a trailer, having a low tire warning and weight transfer system. The trailer has tandem wheel sets located on each side. The two tires of each tandem wheel set are each rotatably attached to a walking beam assembly which, in turn is attached to the trailer. The walking beam assembly has a horizontal walking beam that is substantially parallel to the ground when both tires of the adjacent wheel set are fully inflated. Walking beam stops are located on the trailer body adjacent each end of the walking beam. At least part of the stops intersect the vertical plane of the adjacent walking beam at a site above and/or below the beam. When one of the tires of a tandem wheel set becomes at least partially deflated, at least one end of the same side walking beam comes into contact with the adjacent stop, which prevents further movement of the walking beam assembly and shifts weight to the other, fully inflated tire. Upon contact of the walking beam end with the stop, a low tire signalling device is actuated.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A transport vehicle with a cargo deck comprising:
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said cargo carrying deck having first and second sides, said deck having a supporting frame comprised of longitudinal frame members and cross frame members; a first tandem wheel set attached to said vehicle adjacent said first side of said deck and a second tandem wheel set attached to said vehicle adjacent said second side of said deck, each of said first and second wheel sets being comprised of first and second pneumatic tires, said first and second tires of each said wheel set being rotatably attached to an adjacent walking beam assembly having a walking beam that is substantially parallel to the ground when said first and second tires are both fully inflated, said walking beams being electrically insulated from said frame; at least one electrically grounded walking beam stop attached to said vehicle adjacent at least one end of each said walking beam, at least part of each said stop intersecting the vertical plane of said adjacent walking beam at a site located above and/or below said adjacent walking beam end when said first and second tires are both fully inflated, said site being sufficiently close to said walking beam end that said walking beam end contacts said stop upon at least one of said tires becoming at least partially deflated; and a signalling device that is actuated when one of said walking beam ends contacts an adjacent walking beam stop. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification