Load bar mounting assembly

A load bar assembly comprising:

• a load bar having at least first and second end portions, each end portion having a lower surface and defining a aperture therethrough, a middle portion which is adapted to be connected with a first associated structure, and a plurality of strain gauges disposed between the middle and end portions;
• a fulcrum member having a base side engaging a second associated structure, a fulcrum surface engaging the end portion lower surface and defining an aperture therethrough in alignment with the end portion aperture;
• an elongated connecting means having an elongated central portion extending through the end portion aperture and the fulcrum member aperture, an enlarged portion connected adjacent one end of the central portion and disposed adjacent the end portion for constraining separating movement of the end portion lower surface and the fulcrumming surface, and a connecting means adjacent the other end of the central portion for connecting the central portion with the second associated structure;
• and,
• a resilient interconnecting means disposed between the load bar end portion and the elongated connecting means and for resiliently interconnecting the load bar and the elongated connecting means.

In a vehicle which includes a supported hopper structure and a wheel mounted supporting structure, a plurality of load bar assemblies connected between the hopper and supporting structure for detecting an amount of load in the hopper structure, each load bar mounting assembly comprising:

• a load bar having at least first and second end portions, each end portion having a lower surface and defining a aperture therethrough, a middle portion which is adapted to be connected with the hopper structure, and a plurality of strain gauges disposed between the middle and end portions;
• a fulcrum member having a base side engaging the supporting structure, a fulcrum surface engaging the end portion lower surface and defining an aperture therethrough in alignment with the end portion aperture;
• an elongated connecting means having an elongated central portion extending through the end portion aperture and the fulcrum member aperture, an enlarged portion connected adjacent one end of the central portion and disposed adjacent the load bar end portion for constraining separating movement of the end portion lower surface and the fulcrumming surface, and a connecting means adjacent the other end for connecting the central portion with the supporting structure;
• and,
• a resilient interconnecting means disposed between the load bar end portion and the elongated connecting means for resiliently interconnecting the load bar and the elongated connecting means.