Method for measuring the useful load of a telehandler

• US 8,019,516 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2008
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Huber, Tilo
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson; Randy W
• Application Number:
  US12/345,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20090183927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 177136-141
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 17/003 for fork-lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/24 Electrical devices or systems

Abstract

A method for measuring the useful load of a telehandler including calculation of the useful load from the change of the axle load on the front axle or the rear axle compared with the vehicle in an unloaded condition, the distance of the useful load from the front axle or the rear axle having a defined value or the load-holding device of the telehandler being in a defined position.

Claims

1. A method of measuring a useful load of a telehandler, the method comprising the steps of:

calculating the useful load from a change of an axle load on one of the front axle or the rear axle compared with an unloaded condition of the vehicle wherein a horizontal distance of the useful load from one of the front axle and the rear axle has a defined value or a load-holding device of the telehandler is in a defined position, by

calculating the useful load (F_Payload) with the equation;

F_Payload=Δ

F_FA*[x₃/(x₁+x₃)]

where x₁=a distance of the useful load from the front axle, x₂=a distance between the front axle and the vehicle'"'"'s center of gravity, and x₃=distance between the front and rear axles and Δ

F_FA=a change of the axle load on the front axle, the distance (x₁) of the useful load or the load-holding device of the telehandler from the front axle being kept constant.

2. The method for measuring the useful load of a telehandler according to claim 1, further comprising the step of combining the method with load movement indicator (LMI) methods, so that the useful load can be measured and at the same time critical load curve situations can be recognized.

3. The method for measuring the useful load of a telehandler according to claim 1, further comprising the step of communicating the calculated useful load directly by one of a suitable indicator device or display.

4. A method of measuring a useful load of a telehandler, the method comprising the steps of

calculating the useful load on a front axle of the telehandler when the telehandler is unloaded;

calculating the useful load on the front axle of the telehandler when the telehandler is loaded;

determining a change in the useful load on the front axle of the telehandler from when the telehandler is unloaded to when the telehandler is loaded; and

calculating the useful load-(F_Payload) of the telehandler with the equation;

F_Payload=Δ

F_FA*[x₃/(x₁+x₃)]

where x₁=a horizontal distance of the useful load from the front axle, x₂=a horizontal distance between the front axle and a center of gravity of the vehicle, and x₃=a horizontal distance between the front and rear axles and Δ

F_FA=a change of the useful load on the front axle, the horizontal distance (x₁) of the useful load of the telehandler from the front axle being kept constant.