Integrated payload sensor

• US 6,560,561 B1
• Filed: 04/13/2000
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Technology, LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Tolinski, Roch, Hopson, Charlie, Kalargeros, Nicholas, Grimm, Rainer, Foster, Steven, Giangrande, Holly, Arquevaux, Laurent, Mondello, Carmelo
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAH, KAMINI S
• Application Number:
  US09/548,764
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 702/174, 701/35, 701/50, 177/141, 177/136
• US Class Current: 702/174
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/08 for incorporation in vehicles

Abstract

A system for measuring payload is integrated into the cargo carrying bed of a vehicle. The vehicle bed is formed from a plastic material and includes a body member that is supported on a vehicle frame. At least one sensor assembly is molded within the body member. The sensor is positioned over the vehicle frame and generates a weight signal representative of weight of the payload supported on the body member. A central processor receives the weight signal and transmits the weight signal to a vehicle driver. The weight signal can be used to activate a warning device if the payload exceeds a predetermined limit.

Claims

1. A system for measuring a vehicle payload comprising:

a body member formed from a plastic material and supported on a vehicle frame; and

at least one sensor assembly molded within said body member for generating a weight signal representative of weight of a payload supported on said body member.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said sensor assembly is positioned within said body member directly over said vehicle frame.

3. A system as recited in claim 1 including a central processor for receiving said weight signal and transmitting said weight signal to a driver.

4. A system as recited in claim 3 including a warning device that is activated when said weight signal exceeds a predetermined limit.

5. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said vehicle frame includes a first member for supporting one side of said body member and a second member laterally spaced from said first member for supporting an opposite side of said body member and wherein said at least one sensor assembly is comprised of a first sensor mounted within said body member and positioned over said first frame member and a second sensor mounted within said body member and positioned over said second frame member.

6. A system as recited claim 5 wherein said body member is formed from a plastic material with said first and second sensors being molded within said material.

17. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said body member comprises a truck bed.

18. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein said sensor assembly is at least partially encased within a bottom portion of said truck bed.

7. A system for measuring a vehicle payload comprising:

a plastic body member supported on a vehicle frame;

at least one sensor assembly molded within said body member for generating a weight signal representative of weight of a payload supported on said body member; and

a central processor for receiving said weight signal and transmitting said weight signal to a vehicle driver.

8. A system as recited claim 7 wherein said sensor assembly is positioned over said vehicle frame.

9. A system as recited claim 8 wherein said vehicle frame includes a first member for supporting one side of said body member and a second member laterally spaced from said first member for supporting an opposite side of said body member and wherein said at least one sensor assembly is comprised of a first sensor molded within said body member and positioned over said first frame member and a second sensor molded within said body member and positioned over said second frame member.

10. A system as recited claim 9 including a warning device that is activated when said weight signal exceeds a predetermined limit.

11. A system as recited claim 9 wherein said first sensor generates a first signal representative of a portion of the payload supported on said first frame member and said second sensor generates a second signal representative of a portion of the payload supported on said second frame member.

12. A system as recited claim 11 wherein said processor compares said first and second signals to determine payload distribution on said body member.

13. A system as recited claim 12 including a warning device that is activated if said first signal exceeds said second signal by a predetermined amount.

14. A system as recited claim 9 including a first fender, a second fender laterally spaced from said first fender, a rear body portion interconnecting said first and second fenders at one end, a front body portion interconnecting said first and second fenders at an opposite end, and said body member formed as a substantially planar bottom portion attached to said first fender, said second fender, said rear body portion, and said front body portion to form a bed.

15. A method for producing a vehicle payload measuring system comprising the steps of:

providing a cargo bed for transporting a vehicle payload wherein the bed has a generally planar bottom member formed from a plastic material;

molding at least one sensor into the bottom member; and

mounting The bottom member on a vehicle frame.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 including the step of positioning the sensor over the vehicle frame.

19. A system as recited 7 wherein said body member comprises a truck bed and said sensor assembly is at least partially enclosed within a bottom portion of said truck bed.