Axle weight distribution system

• US 6,921,100 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2002
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wheel Monitor Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wheel Monitor Inc.
• Inventors: Mantini, John, Iankoulov, Dimitre
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US10/331,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20030155164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 280/406.1, 280/407, 280/407.1, 280/149.2, 280/6.159, 180/24.02, 180/209, 340/438, 340/440, 340/431, 701/36, 701/37, 701/124, 177/137
• US Class Current: 280/407
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/005 Suspension locking arrangements for retractable wheels B62D61/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/61 Load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/12 having electrical weight-sensitive devices

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.

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.

2. A system for adjusting weight distribution throughout axle groups of a truck and trailer according to claim 1 wherein said system includes means for providing a communications interface between the truck and the trailer.

3. A system for adjusting weight distribution throughout axle groups of a truck and trailer according to claim 2 wherein said truck and trailer have an air suspension system with air bags located at opposite ends of each axle group and supply lines to said air bags, wherein said means for measuring the weight on every axle group on the truck and trailer comprises a series of pressure sensors associated with the supply line for the air bags to measure the pressure in the supply lines.

4. A system for adjusting weight distribution throughout axle groups of a truck and trailer according to claim 3 wherein the means to detect the position of said at least one axle group relative to said rails consist of position sensors.

5. A system for adjusting weight distribution throughout axle groups of a truck and trailer according to claim 4 wherein said position sensors are selected from the group consisting of proximity sensors, Hall effect sensors and contact or non-contact limit switches.

6. A system for adjusting weight distribution throughout axle groups of a truck and trailer according to claim 5 wherein said means to lock and unlock the locking pins includes an air chamber having a piston rod controlled by said air chamber wherein maximum movement of the piston rod causes the locking pins to be unlocked and when the pressure in the air chamber is released, the piston rod retracts, causing the locking pins to move into holes on the rails.

7. A system for adjusting weight distribution throughout axle groups of a truck and trailer according to claim 6 wherein said means to lock and unlock the locking pins includes one or more pin position sensors located in association with the locking pins to determine if the locking pins are in a locked or unlocked position.

8. A system for adjusting weight distribution throughout axle groups of a truck and trailer according to claim 1 wherein the truck has a fifth wheel connection for the trailer, where the fifth wheel connection is mounted on a pair of rails attached to a frame of the truck and the fifth wheel connection is locked in position on the rails by locking pins wherein said system for adjusting weight distribution additionally includes means to detect the position of the fifth wheel connection relative to the rails, means to deliver said position to one of said one or more microprocessors as an electrical signal and means to lock and unlock the locking pins that fix the position of the fifth wheel connection on the rails.