High visibility on board digital, semi-trailer scale
First Claim
1. A scale for mounting on a semi-trailer having an air bag in the suspension and an air line connected to the air bag, the scale comprising:
- a pressure transducer configured for connecting to the air line and for measuring the pressure in the air bag, and configured to send a signal correlated to the sensed pressure;
a process module in electric communication with the pressure transducer and configured to receive the signal therefrom wherein the process module is configured to correlate the signal from the pressure transducer to a weight of a load on the trailer independent of whether the semi-trailer is connected to a prime mover;
a display module configured to receive a signal from the process module indicating the sensed weight and display the sensed weight of the load on the semi-trailer wherein the display module is of a size shape and brightness to be visible at a distance of approximately 400 feet; and
a compartment having a housing sized to contain and configured to protect the pressure transducer, the process module, and the display module, the compartment mountable to the semi-trailer, and having a display window fixed attached to the housing through which the display module is visible.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A scale for mounting on a semi-trailer having an air bag in the suspension and an air line connected to the air bag includes a pressure transducer for connecting to the air line and measuring the pressure in the air bag, and to send a signal correlated to the sensed pressure, a process module in electric communication with the pressure transducer and configured to receive the signal therefrom wherein the process module is configured to correlate the signal from the pressure transducer to a weight of a load on the trailer, and a display module configured to receive a signal from the process module indicating the sensed weight and display the sensed weight of the load on the semi-trailer. A method for monitoring weight includes converting pressure in the air line to a weight of the semi-trailer, which can be monitored in real-time.
34 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A scale for mounting on a semi-trailer having an air bag in the suspension and an air line connected to the air bag, the scale comprising:
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a pressure transducer configured for connecting to the air line and for measuring the pressure in the air bag, and configured to send a signal correlated to the sensed pressure; a process module in electric communication with the pressure transducer and configured to receive the signal therefrom wherein the process module is configured to correlate the signal from the pressure transducer to a weight of a load on the trailer independent of whether the semi-trailer is connected to a prime mover; a display module configured to receive a signal from the process module indicating the sensed weight and display the sensed weight of the load on the semi-trailer wherein the display module is of a size shape and brightness to be visible at a distance of approximately 400 feet; and a compartment having a housing sized to contain and configured to protect the pressure transducer, the process module, and the display module, the compartment mountable to the semi-trailer, and having a display window fixed attached to the housing through which the display module is visible. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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2. A method of determining weight of a load on a semi-trailer having an air bag and an air line operatively connected to the air bag, the method comprising:
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providing the semi-trailer; determining a pressure in the air line; converting the determined pressure into a signal correlated with the pressure; providing the signal correlated with the pressure to a process module; converting the signal in the process module to a weight; providing a signal indicating the weight to a display module; displaying a sensed weight of the load on the semi-trailer on the display module that is visible at a distance of approximately 400 feet through a window in a compartment attached to the semi-trailer such that a person loading the semi-trailer can view the weight of the load in the trailer to ensure that the semi-trailer is not overloaded; and connecting the semi-trailer to a prime mover. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of loading a semi-trailer having an air bag in the suspension and an air line connected to the air bag, the method comprising:
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providing the semi-trailer monitoring a pressure in the air line during loading of the semi-trailer; converting the pressure in the air line to a weight of the semi-trailer and a load in the semi-trailer; displaying a weight of the semi-trailer and the load on a display located on the semi-trailer during loading that is visible at a distance of approximately 400 feet through a window in a compartment attached to the semi-trailer such that a person loading the semi-trailer can view the weight of the load in the trailer to ensure that the semi-trailer is not overloaded; and attaching the semi-trailer to a prime move for transporting the load on the semi-trailer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification