Axle weight distribution system
First Claim
1. A system for adjusting weight distribution throughout axle groups of a truck and trailer, said trailer having at least one axle group mounted on a pair of rails attached to a frame of the trailer, said at least one axle group locked in position on the rails by locking pins, wherein the system for adjusting weight distribution comprises means for measuring the weight on every axle group on the truck and trailer, means to deliver the measurements as an electrical signal to one or more microprocessors, means to detect the position of said at least one axle group on the trailer relative to said rails, means to deliver the position of said at least one axle group as an electrical signal to one of said one or more microprocessors, one of said one or more microprocessors programmed to calculate the weight on each axle group and determine a needed change in position of said at least one axle group on the rails to optimize the weight distribution, display means located in a cab of the truck and means to lock and unlock the locking pins that lock said at least one axle group in position on the rails.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a system for adjusting weight distribution throughout all axle groups of the truck and trailer. The trailer has at least one axle group mounted on a pair of rails attached to the frame of the trailer. These axle groups are locked in position on the rails by locking pins. The system for adjusting weight distribution according to the present invention measures the weight on every axle group on the truck and trailer. The measurement may be of weight directly by load cells etc. or indirectly, by taking measurements from the air suspension system to calculate weight. The measurements are delivered as an electrical signal to one or more microprocessors capable of receiving the electrical signals and calculating the optimum position of the axle group on the trailer. The position of the trailer axle groups relative to the rails is also determined and the position delivered to the microprocessor(s). The microprocessor(s) is programmed to calculate the weight on each axle group and determine any change in position of the trailer axle group(s) on the rails to optimize the weight distribution. The information is presented to the driver on a display located in the cab of the truck. The system further includes apparatus to lock and unlock the locking pins that lock the trailer axle group(s) in position on the rails. The system also includes a communication interface between the truck and the trailer.
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Citations
8 Claims
- 1. A system for adjusting weight distribution throughout axle groups of a truck and trailer, said trailer having at least one axle group mounted on a pair of rails attached to a frame of the trailer, said at least one axle group locked in position on the rails by locking pins, wherein the system for adjusting weight distribution comprises means for measuring the weight on every axle group on the truck and trailer, means to deliver the measurements as an electrical signal to one or more microprocessors, means to detect the position of said at least one axle group on the trailer relative to said rails, means to deliver the position of said at least one axle group as an electrical signal to one of said one or more microprocessors, one of said one or more microprocessors programmed to calculate the weight on each axle group and determine a needed change in position of said at least one axle group on the rails to optimize the weight distribution, display means located in a cab of the truck and means to lock and unlock the locking pins that lock said at least one axle group in position on the rails.
Specification