Load sensing wheel chocks
AssigneeAltec Industries, Inc.
InventorsJordan A. Desmarais, David F. Lindquist
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wheel chock system comprising at least one wheel chock for supporting a vehicle, detecting a load imparted by the vehicle, and displaying information indicative of the load imparted by the vehicle is described herein. In some embodiments, the wheel chock detects a load imparted by a vehicle with a load sensor and displays the load. The wheel chock may be in communication with other wheel chocks supporting the vehicle. The wheel chocks may display the loads detected by all wheel chocks and may determine and display a load distribution across all wheel chocks.
Claims20
A wheel chock system for supporting a vehicle and measuring a load imparted on the wheel chock system by the vehicle, the wheel chock system comprising:
- a first wheel chock, comprising:
- a surface for receiving a first tire of the vehicle and supporting the vehicle;
- a first sensor for measuring a first load on the first wheel chock imparted by the vehicle;
- and
- a display on a first side of the first wheel chock displaying information indicative of the first load;
- a second wheel chock for receiving a second tire of the vehicle;
- the second wheel chock comprising:
- a second sensor measuring a second load imparted by the vehicle;
- and
- a transmitter for transmitting information indicative of the second load to the first wheel chock.
A wheel chock system for supporting a vehicle and measuring a load imparted on the wheel chock by the vehicle, the wheel chock system comprising:
- a plurality of wheel chocks, each wheel chock of the plurality of wheel chocks comprising:
- a sensor for measuring the load imparted by the vehicle on each wheel chock;
- at least one processor for receiving a first signal from the sensor and determining a load on each wheel chock of the plurality of wheel chocks;
- and
- a transmitter for transmitting a second signal indicative of the load determined by the processor;
- a receiver for receiving the second signal indicative of the load;
- and
- at least one display for displaying the load measured at each wheel chock of the plurality of wheel chocks,
- wherein the at least one display is disposed on a first side of at least one wheel chock of the plurality of wheel chocks.
A method of supporting a vehicle on a slanted surface, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first wheel chock comprising:
- a first surface for receiving a first tire thereon;
- and a first sensor for measuring a first load on the first wheel chock;
- placing the first surface adjacent the first tire of the vehicle;
- detecting the first load imparted by the vehicle using the first sensor, sending a first signal indicative of the first load from the first sensor to at least one processor;
- sending a second signal comprising information indicative of the first load from the at least one processor to a display;
- providing a second wheel chock comprising:
- a second surface for receiving a second tire of the vehicle and measuring, by a second sensor, a second load imparted by the vehicle;
- transmitting, by a transmitter, information indicative of the second load from the second wheel chock to the first wheel chock;
- and
- displaying the information indicative of the first load and the information indicative of the second load on the display.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.