Vehicle improper load sensor

• US 9,969,327 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2016
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auto Truck Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: Auto Truck Group, LLC
• Inventors: Zielezinski, Kevin, Schieler, Bryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Jack K
• Application Number:
  US15/060,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20160257250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 340440, 340665, 340438
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/08 responsive to conditions relating to the cargo, e.g. overload
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling

Abstract

A vehicle load warning apparatus utilizing inductive proximity sensors to signal an alarm to an operator when a vehicle achieves a maximum weight. The vehicle load warning apparatus can also provide an intermediate warning to an operator when the vehicle approaches the maximum weight. The vehicle load warning apparatus can also utilize inductive proximity sensors at each end of both axles of a vehicle and provide imbalance warning signals if the weight on a vehicle is not equally distributed throughout the body of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle overload warning apparatus comprising:

a proximity sensor mounted to the body of said vehicle;

a member attached at a first end to the axle housing suspended below said body of said vehicle in a vertical position below said sensor; and

a second end of said member being disposed with respect to said sensor (i) horizontally, so as to be disposed directly under said sensor;

(ii) offset in a direction from front to back of said vehicle, so as to provide a clearance distance that is less than the distance of the nominal range of said sensor between said sensor and said member in the case in which said sensor moves downward as said vehicle is loaded; and

(iii) vertically, in a position when said vehicle approaches becoming overloaded, with the result that in the case in which said sensor deflects downward until said member has become vertically aligned with said sensor whereby said clearance distance between said sensor is within the nominal range of said sensor thereby triggering said sensor, while said clearance distance being great enough so as to avoid contact between said sensor and said member.

2. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mounting of said sensor to said body comprises a first plate to which said sensor is mounted at its first end and a second plate having a first end to which said second end of said first plate is mounted and having a second end mounted to said vehicle body whereby the mounting of said second end of said first plate to said first end of said second plate is adjustable.

3. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an electrical signal being sent from said sensor in the case in which said sensor is within said nominal range of said member wherein said signal is electrically connected via a switch to an alarm.

4. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an electrical signal being sent from said sensor in the case in which said sensor is within said nominal range of said member wherein said signal is electrically connected via a switch to a signal light.

5. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 3 wherein said switch is in an open position unless said vehicle is in a parked gear.

6. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 3 wherein said sensor is triggered only in the case in which said sensor remains within said nominal range of said member for at least one second.

7. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 1 in which said proximity sensor is an inductive proximity sensor.

8. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 7 in which said member is metal.

9. A vehicle load warning apparatus comprising:

a first proximity sensor mounted to the body of said vehicle;

a second proximity sensor mounted to said body at a position above said first sensor;

a member attached at a first end to the axle housing suspended below said body on the said vehicle in a vertical position below said first sensor; and

a second end of said member being disposed with respect to said first sensor (i) horizontally, so as to be disposed directly under said first sensor;

(ii) offset in a direction from front to back of said vehicle, so as to provide clearance between said first sensor and said second sensor in the case in which said sensors move downward as the vehicle is loaded; and

(iii) vertically, in a position when said vehicle is loaded to a maximum weight, said first sensor and said second sensor deflect with said body until said second end of said member has become vertically aligned, first, with said first sensor whereby said clearance distance between said first sensor and said member is within the nominal range of said first sensor thereby triggering said first sensor, while said clearance distance being great enough so as not to permit contact between said first sensor and said member, and second, with said second sensor whereby said clearance distance between said second sensor and said member is within the nominal range of said second sensor thereby triggering said second sensor, while said clearance distance being great enough so as not to permit contact between said second sensor and said member.

10. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 9 wherein each of said sensors is adjustably mounted to said body.

11. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

a first electrical signal being sent from said first sensor in the case in which said first sensor is within said nominal range of said member wherein said first signal is electrically connected via a switch to a first warning signal apparatus; and

a second electrical signal being sent from said second sensor in the case in which said second sensor is within said nominal range of said member wherein said second signal is electrically connected via a switch to a second warning signal apparatus.

12. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 11 wherein said switch is in an open position unless said vehicle is in a parked gear.

13. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 9 wherein said first sensor is triggered only in the case in which said sensor remains within said nominal range of said member for at least one second and wherein said second sensor is triggered only in the case in which said sensor remains within said nominal range of said member for at least one second.

14. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 9 in which each of said proximity sensors is an inductive proximity sensor.

15. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 14 in which said member is metal.

16. A vehicle load warning apparatus comprising:

a first proximity sensor mounted to one side of the body of said vehicle;

a first member attached on said one side at a first end to the rear axle housing suspended below said body of said vehicle on a horizontal plane above the plane of the axle running through said axle housing;

a second proximity sensor mounted to the side of said vehicle opposite to said one side of said body of said vehicle;

a second member attached on said side opposite to said one side at a first end to said rear axle housing on said horizontal plane when said vehicle becomes overloaded in an unbalanced manner such that the center of gravity of the load deflects toward the driver said one side of said vehicle, said first sensor moves downward with the result that said driver side member becomes vertically aligned with and within the nominal range of said first sensor without contact between said first sensor and said driver side member, thereby triggering said first sensor, and, second, in the case in which said vehicle becomes overloaded in an unbalanced manner such that the center of gravity of the load deflects toward said other side of said vehicle, said second sensor moves downward with the result that said other side member becomes vertically aligned with and within the nominal range of said second sensor without contact between said second sensor and said passenger side member, thereby triggering said second sensor.

17. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 16 further comprising an electrical signal being sent from said first sensor in the case in which said sensor is within said nominal range of said one side member wherein said signal is electrically connected via a first switch to a first warning signal apparatus indicating overload unbalanced toward said side of said vehicle and an electrical signal being sent from said second sensor in the case in which said sensor is within said nominal range of said other side member wherein said signal is electrically connected via a second switch to a second warning signal apparatus indicating overload unbalanced toward other side of said vehicle.

18. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 17 wherein each of said first switch and said second switch is in an open position unless said vehicle is in a parked gear.

19. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 16 wherein said first sensor is triggered only in the case in which said sensor remains within said nominal range of said side member for at least one second and said second sensor is triggered only in the case in which said sensor remains within said nominal range of said other side member for at least one second.

20. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 16 in which each of said sensors is an inductive proximity sensor.

21. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 20 in which each of said members is metal.

22. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 17 in which each of said first warning signal apparatus and said second warning signal apparatus is selected from the group consisting of electric audible alarms, electric signal lights, electronic gauges, and electronic meters.

23. A vehicle overload warning apparatus comprising:

a proximity sensor mounted to the body of the said vehicle in a horizontal position relative to the axle housing suspended below said body of said vehicle;

a member attached to said axle housing in a horizontal position relative to and directly below said sensor so that, in the case in which said vehicle approaches becoming overloaded said sensor deflects downward with the result that the distance between said sensor and said member is within the nominal range of said sensor, thereby triggering said sensor; and

a bump stop attached to said body of said vehicle having a width great enough so as to contact said axle housing in the case in which said body and said sensor deflect downward to avoid contact between said sensor and said member.

24. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 23 wherein the mounting of said sensor to said body comprises a first plate to which said sensor is mounted at its first end and a second plate having a first end to which said second end of said first plate is mounted and having a second end mounted to said body of said vehicle whereby the mounting of said second end of said first plate to said first end of said second plate is adjustable.

25. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 23 further comprising an electrical signal being sent from said sensor in the case in which said sensor is within said nominal range of said member wherein said signal is electrically connected via a switch to a warning signal apparatus.

26. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 25 wherein said switch is in an open position unless said vehicle is in a parked gear.

27. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 25 wherein said sensor is triggered only in the case in which said sensor remains within said nominal range of said member for at least one second.

28. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 23 in which said proximity sensor is an inductive proximity sensor.

29. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 28 in which said member is metal.

30. The vehicle load warning apparatus of claim 25 in which said warning signal apparatus is selected from the group consisting of electric audible alarms, electric signal lights, electronic gauges, and electronic meters.

31. A vehicle load warning apparatus and range of vehicle body payload indicator system comprising:

a first proximity sensor mounted to the body of said vehicle;

a second proximity sensor mounted to said body at a position above said first sensor;

a member attached at a first end to the axle housing suspended below said body of said vehicle in a vertical position below said first sensor; and

a second end of said member being disposed with respect to said first sensor (i) horizontally, so as to be disposed directly under said first sensor;

(ii) offset in a direction from front to back of said vehicle, so as to provide clearance between said first sensor and said second sensor in the case in which said sensors move downward as said vehicle is loaded; and

(iii) vertically, in a position when said body of said vehicle is loaded to a maximum weight, said first sensor and said second sensor deflect with said body until said second end of said member has become vertically aligned, first, with said first sensor whereby said clearance distance between said first sensor and said member is within the nominal range of said first sensor thereby triggering said first sensor, said clearance distance being great enough so as not to permit contact between said first sensor and said member, and second, with said second sensor whereby said clearance distance between said second sensor and said member is within the nominal range of said second sensor thereby triggering said second sensor, said clearance distance being great enough so as not to permit contact between said second sensor and said member whereby a predetermined first vehicle body payload range is indicated in the case in which said first sensor has been triggered but said second sensor has not been triggered, and whereby a predetermined second vehicle body payload range that is greater than said first payload range is indicated in the case in which said second sensor has been triggered.

32. The vehicle load warning apparatus and range of vehicle body payload indicator system of claim 31 further comprising:

a third proximity sensor mounted to said body at a position above said second sensor whereby a predetermined third payload range that is greater than said second vehicle body payload range is indicated in the case in which said third sensor has been triggered.

33. The vehicle load warning apparatus and range of vehicle body payload indicator system of claim 32 wherein each of said sensors is adjustably mounted to said body.

34. The vehicle load warning apparatus and range of vehicle body payload indicator system of claim 31 further comprising:

a first electrical signal being sent from said first sensor in the case in which said first sensor is within said nominal range of said member wherein said first signal is electrically connected via a switch to a first warning signal apparatus that indicates that said first predetermined vehicle body payload range has been reached; and

a second electrical signal being sent from said second sensor in the case in which said second sensor is within said nominal range of said member wherein said second signal is electrically connected via a switch to a second warning signal apparatus that indicates that said second predetermined vehicle body payload range has been reached.

35. The vehicle load warning apparatus and range of vehicle body payload indicator system of claim 32 further comprising:

a first electrical signal being sent from said first sensor in the case in which said first sensor is within said nominal range of said member wherein said first signal is electrically connected via a switch to a first warning signal apparatus that indicates that said first predetermined vehicle body payload range has been reached;

a second electrical signal being sent from said second sensor in the case in which said second sensor is within said nominal range of said member wherein said second signal is electrically connected via a switch to a second warning signal apparatus that indicates that said second predetermined vehicle body payload range has been reached; and

a third electrical signal being sent from said third sensor in the case in which said third sensor is within said nominal range of said member wherein said third signal is electrically connected via a switch to a third warning signal apparatus that indicates that said third predetermined vehicle body payload range has been reached.

36. The vehicle load warning apparatus and range of vehicle body payload indicator system of claim 35 further wherein said switch is in an open position unless said vehicle is in a parked gear.

37. The vehicle load warning apparatus and range of vehicle body payload indicator system of claim 35 wherein said first sensor is triggered only in the case in which said sensor remains within said nominal range of said member for at least one and wherein said second sensor is triggered only in the case in which said sensor remains within said nominal range of said member for at least one second and said third sensor is triggered only in the case in which said sensor remains within the nominal range of said member for at least one second.

38. The indicator vehicle load warning apparatus and range of vehicle body payload system of claim 32 in which each of said proximity sensors is an inductive proximity sensor.

39. The vehicle load warning apparatus and range of vehicle body payload indicator system of claim 38 in which said member is metal.

40. The vehicle load warning apparatus and range of vehicle body payload indicator system of claim 34 in which each of said first warning signal apparatus and said second warning signal apparatus is selected from the group consisting of electric audible alarms, electric signal lights, electronic gauges, and electronic meters.

41. The vehicle load warning apparatus and range of vehicle body payload indicator system of claim 35 in which each of said first warning signal apparatus, said second warning signal apparatus, and said third warning signal apparatus is selected from the group consisting of electric audible alarms, electric signal lights, electronic gauges, and electronic meters.

42. A vehicle load warning apparatus and range of vehicle body payload indicator system comprising:

a multiplicity of proximity sensors mounted directly one above the other to the body of said vehicle;

a member attached at a first end to the axle housing suspended below said body of said vehicle in a vertical position below the lowest mounted of said multiplicity of sensors; and

a second end of said member being disposed with respect to said multiplicity of sensors (i) horizontally, so as to be disposed directly under said lowest mounted sensor;

(ii) offset in a direction from front to back of said vehicle, so as to provide clearance between each of said sensors in the case in which said sensors move downward said vehicle is loaded; and

(iii) vertically, in a position when said vehicle is loaded said sensors deflect with said body until said second end of said member has become vertically aligned, first, with said lowest mounted sensor whereby said clearance distance between said first sensor and said member is within the nominal range of said first sensor thereby triggering said first sensor, said clearance distance being great enough so as not to permit contact between said first sensor and said member, and thereafter with each of said sensors in turn, whereby said clearance distance between each of said sensors and said member is within the nominal range of said sensor thereby triggering said sensor, said clearance distance being great enough so as not to permit contact between any of said sensors and said member whereby a predetermined first vehicle body payload range is indicated in the case in which said lowest mounted sensor has been triggered but said second sensor has not been triggered, and in turn whereby predetermined vehicle body payload ranges that are greater than said predetermined first vehicle body payload range are in turn indicated in the case in which each of said sensors in turn has been triggered.