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US 2019/0360855 A1Published application
On-board weighing system
AssigneeDekker Industries Pty Ltd
InventorsAlexander DEKKER, Barry John DEKKER
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AssigneeDekker Industries Pty Ltd
InventorsAlexander DEKKER, Barry John DEKKER
Estimating the term…
The invention relates to a suspension (20) in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention that permits reducing the number of load cells (14) incorporated in a suspension (20) of a vehicle or a trailer such as a semi-trailer to be towed by a towing vehicle. In accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention reduction of the number of load cells (14) is accomplished through the use of pivot joints (34) (that pivotally attach the suspension rockers (32) to the hangers 26) of reduced friction. In particular embodiments of the invention, the number and location of the low and lower friction pivot joints (34) may be chosen such as to increase the accuracy of measurement of the load cells. The invention also relates to load cell pins (62) for defining the pivot joint (34) that pivotally attaches rockers (32) to hangers (26) of the suspension (20).
A bearing assembly for a pivot joint that attaches a rocker to a hanger of a suspension, the bearing assembly comprising a core and a sleeve adapted to receive the core, the sleeve comprising outer sections and an inner section sandwiched between the outer sections wherein the inner section comprises at least one bearing having an inner surface in mating arrangement with an outer surface of the core, and an outer surface in mating arrangement with an inner surface of the rocker.
A bearing assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each outer section is configured as truncated conical sections with their end that has the smaller diameter being attached to the bearing through a flexible joint.
A bearing assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein there are a plurality of bearings sandwiched between the outer sections of the outer sleeve.
A bearing assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the core comprises an outer sleeve and an inner rod being adapted to be inserted in the outer sleeve.
A bearing assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the core comprises means for securing the inner rod within the outer sleeve.
A pivot joint for pivotally attaching a rocker to a hanger of a suspension, the pivot joint comprising the bearing assembly in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 11.
A pin for a pivot joint that attaches a rocker to a hanger of a suspension attached to a semi-trailer, the pin comprising a body having a first section, a second section and centre section located between the first and section sections, and at least one sensor means operatively attached to the body of the pin for detecting application of load to the chassis of the semi-trailer as well as measuring the load applied to the semi-trailer.
A suspension for a semi-trailer, the suspension comprising at least one hanger and at least one rocker for attachment of ends of spring assemblies of the suspension, and at least two pivot joints in accordance with the seventh aspect of the invention, wherein each rocker is pivotally attached to a hanger through one of the pivot joints.
A bush for defining a bearing assembly for a pivot joint joining together a rocker and a hanger of a suspension for a semi-trailer, wherein the bush comprises one or more grooves arranged in a spaced apart relationship with respect to each other around the outer surface of the body of the bush.
A bearing assembly comprising an inner bush and an outer bush, the inner and outer bushes being arranged in a spaced apart relationship with respect to each other with inner ends of each bush facing each other, wherein the bodies of the inner bush and outer bush differ in length with respect to each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.