System for detecting load applied to suspension

A load detecting system in an automotive suspension assembly which includes a shock absorber and a suspension spring, one end of said suspension assembly being connected to a vehicle body via a mounting assembly, said mounting assembly including:

• a supporting ring which supports an upper end of said suspension spring and which is provided between upper and lower ends of said shock absorber of said suspension assembly, a mounting portion fixed to the vehicle body, and an elastic insulator rubber which is provided between said supporting ring and said mounting portion, said load detecting system comprising:
• a strain gauge provided in said mounting assembly which is deformed according to the load, said strain gauge being deformed according to the deformation of said mounting assembly, to cause resistance of said strain gauge to vary;
• and
• a detecting means for outputting an electrical signal on the basis of the resistance of said strain gauge and for detecting the load, said detecting means including a Wheatstone bridge, which is formed by said strain gauge and a plurality of fixed resistors, a power supply and a strain amplifier.

A load detecting system in an automotive suspension assembly which includes a shock absorber and a suspension spring, one end of said suspension assembly being connected to a vehicle body via a mounting assembly, said mounting assembly having:

• a first member which is deformed according to a load applied to the vehicle body by said shock absorber of said suspension assembly, said load detecting system comprising:
• a first thin metallic ring-shaped member provided in said first member, said first ring-shaped member being deformed according to the deformation of said first member caused by a load applied to the vehicle body by said shock absorber;
• a strain gauge integrally fixed to said first ring-shaped member by sputtering or vapor deposition, said strain gauge being deformed according to the deformation of said first ring-shaped member to cause resistance thereof to vary;
• and
• a detecting means for outputting an electrical signal on the basis of the resistance of said strain gauge and for detecting the load, said detecting means including a Wheatstone bridge which is formed by said strain gauge and a plurality of fixed resistors, a power supply and a strain amplifier.

A load detecting system in an automotive suspension assembly which includes a shock absorber and a suspension spring, one end of said suspension assembly being connected to a vehicle body via a mounting assembly, said mounting assembly including:

• a supporting assembly which supports an upper end of said suspension spring provided between upper and lower ends of said shock absorber of said suspension assembly, a mounting portion fixed to the vehicle body, and an elastic insulator rubber which is provided between said supporting ring and said mounting portion, said load detecting system comprising:
• a strain gauge provided in said elastic insulator rubber which is deformed according to a load applied to said vehicle body by said suspension spring and said shock absorber, the resistance of said strain gauge being varied according to the deformation of said strain gauge which is deformed according to the deformation of said insulator rubber;
• and
• a detecting means for outputting an electrical signal on the basis of the resistance and for detecting the load, said detecting means including a Wheatstone bridge which is formed by said strain gauge and a plurality of fixed resistors, a power supply and a strain amplifier.