System and method for measuring weights of vehicles and trailers

A method of weighing a vehicle or trailer, comprising:

• providing a hydraulic jack, wherein the jack includes:
• a piston, configured to lift at least a portion of a vehicle or trailer;
• a housing, wherein the housing includes a high pressure fluid chamber configured to receive at least a portion of the piston, wherein increasing fluid pressure within the high pressure chamber moves the piston further out of the housing;
• and
• a weight gauge attached to the housing and in fluid communication with the high pressure fluid chamber, wherein the weight gauge is configured and calibrated to measure and display the weight of the vehicle or trailer being lifted by the piston;
• positioning the hydraulic jack such that the piston is underneath at least a portion of a vehicle or trailer;
• actuating the hydraulic jack such that the fluid pressure in the high pressure fluid chamber increases and moves the piston further out of the housing, lifting the vehicle or trailer;
• and
• measuring the weight of the vehicle or trailer using the weight gauge.

A method of measuring force, comprising:

• providing a jack, wherein the jack includes:
• a piston, configured to lift or push at least a portion of an object;
• a housing, wherein the housing includes a high pressure chamber configured to receive at least a portion of the piston, wherein altering a pressure within the high pressure chamber moves the piston further into or out of the housing;
• and
• a force gauge attached to the housing and configured to measure a force applied to the piston by the object to be lifted or pushed;
• positioning the jack such that the piston is underneath at least a portion of an object;
• actuating the jack such that the pressure in the high pressure chamber increases and moves the piston further out of the housing, lifting or pushing the object;
• and
• measuring the force applied to the piston by the object using the force gauge.

A method of weighing a vehicle or trailer using a hydraulic jack, comprising:

• providing hydraulic lift, the hydraulic lift including:
• a piston, configured to lift at least a portion of a vehicle or trailer;
• a housing, wherein the housing includes a high pressure fluid chamber configured to receive at least a portion of the piston, wherein increasing fluid pressure within the high pressure chamber moves the piston further out of the housing;
• a weight gauge attached to the housing and in fluid communication with the high pressure fluid chamber, wherein the weight gauge is configured and calibrated to measure and display the weight of the vehicle or trailer being lifted by the piston, wherein the weight gauge is configured to display the measured weight in pounds or kilograms, wherein the weight gauge is calibrated to measure weight by factoring the surface area of a terminating end of the piston within the high pressure fluid chamber, and wherein the weight gauge includes an analog display;
• a release valve in fluid communication with the high pressure fluid chamber and configured to release pressure within the high pressure fluid chamber, wherein the weight gauge and the release valve have separate fluid communications to the high pressure fluid chamber;
• and
• a lift adaptor connected to the piston, wherein the lift adaptor includes a substantially cylindrical engagement surface;
• positioning the hydraulic jack such that the piston is underneath at least a portion of a vehicle or trailer;
• actuating the hydraulic jack such that the fluid pressure in the high pressure fluid chamber increases and moves the piston further out of the housing, lifting the vehicle or trailer;
• measuring the weight of the vehicle or trailer using the weight gauge;
• and
• displaying the weight of the vehicle or trailer being lifted by the piston.