Apparatus and method responsive to the on-board measuring of the load carried by a truck body

An apparatus for processing data derived from a weight of a load carried by a body of a truck, said apparatus comprising:

• a truck frame including a hinge assembly for pivotally supporting said truck body between raised and lowered positions;
• a pressure sensor assembly mounted to said frame for supporting an entire weight of said body in its lowered position and providing pressure data representative of said entire weight of said truck body;
• a processor means for receiving said pressure data and detecting a change in said entire weight of said truck body and formulating data indicative of truck condition in response to said pressure data and its change;
• a distance sensor for providing distance data to said processor means indicative of truck movement;
• and
• said processor means including first means responsive to said pressure data for detecting said truck body raised off said pressure sensor assembly and second means responsive to said first means and said distance data for providing an output signal when said truck moves with said body raised off said pressure sensor assembly.

An apparatus for processing data derived from a weight of a load carried by a body of a truck, said apparatus comprising:

• a truck frame including a hinge assembly for pivotally supporting said truck body between raised and lowered positions;
• a pressure sensor assembly mounted to said frame for supporting a weight of said body in its lowered position and providing pressure data representative of said weight of said truck body;
• a processor means for receiving said pressure data and detecting a change in said weight of said truck body and formulating data indicative of such condition in response to said pressure data and its change;
• and
• said processor means including (1) memory means for storing a predetermined tare weight of said truck body, (2) means responsive to a lowering of said truck body onto said pressure sensor assembly after a load carried by said body has been dumped for comparing said weight of said truck body with said tare weight in said memory, and (3) means for indicating said body is not fully empty when said weight of said body is greater than said tare weight of said body plus a predetermined constant.

An apparatus for determining a remaining weight of capacity of a body carried on a truck frame which is loaded with a material by a bucket of a loader and for indicating when a weight of said material in a full average bucket is more than said remaining weight capacity of said body, said apparatus comprising in combination:

• a truck frame including a hinge assembly;
• a truck body pivotally mounted to said truck frame at said hinge assembly, said truck body being pivotally movable on said frame between lowered and raised positions;
• a pressure sensor assembly mounted to said frame for supporting a weight of said body in its lowered position and providing pressure data representative of a weight of said truck body;
• a processor means for receiving said pressure data and determining said weight of said truck body, said processor means including;
• (1) memory means for storing data indicative of a predetermined maximum weight capacity for said truck body, (2) detection means responsive to incremental increases in said weight of said truck body for approximating a weight of said material added by said bucket, (3) comparison means responsive to said weight, said predetermined maximum weight capacity and said weight of said material added by said bucket for determining said remaining weight capacity of said truck body, and (4) display means responsive to said comparison means for indicating said remaining weight capacity of said truck body.

A system for minimizing a hauling time for each of a plurality of trucks between load and dump sites, said system comprising:

• a plurality of on-board weighing devices each mounted on one of said plurality of trucks for providing signals indicative of a truck's operation;
• a plurality of processor means each mounted to one of said plurality of trucks and each processor means responsive to a one of said plurality of on-board weighing devices for receiving said signals from said one of said plurality of on-board weighing devices and processing said signals to provide data indicative of a hauling status;
• a plurality of first transceiver means each mounted to one of said plurality of trucks for receiving said data indicative of a hauling status from said one of said plurality of processor means and transmitting said hauling status data in association with additional data that identifies said one of said plurality of trucks;
• and
• a remote processing center including second transceiver means for receiving said hauling status and truck identifying data from said one of said plurality of first transceiver means, said remote processing center generating a historical data base, containing said data indicative of a hauling status and indexed by said identifying data.

A method for detecting and recording a degree of road roughness for a truck having a body supported on a frame,said method comprising the steps of:

• periodically calculating a value of a force derived from a weight of said truck body on said truck frame;
• storing said value so as to accumulate a plurality of stored values;
• periodically comparing a selected one of said plurality of stored values with other of said plurality of stored values to determine if said one of said plurality of stored values is a spike wherein said spike is a stored value that is greater than said other of said plurality of stored values by a predetermined amount;
• accumulating said spikes and providing a total count of said spikes;
• and
• deriving from said total count of said spikes an indication of the degree of road roughness and displaying said indication.

A system for measuring a degree of tire use by a vehicle which hauls material in a dump body pivotally mounted to a frame of said vehicle, said apparatus comprising;

• distance means for measuring a distance traveled by said vehicle and providing distance data;
• an on-board weighing device responsible to a weight of a load of said material hauled by said vehicle for providing (1) weight data and (2) data indicative of a beginning and an ending of a haul cycle;
• storage means responsive to said distance means and said on-board weighing device for accumulating said distance and weight data;
• and
• processor means responsive to said weight and distance data for (1) time marking at least a portion of said distance and weight data so as to identify an elapsed time of said haul cycle, (2) determining a total distance and a weight of said material for said haul cycle, (3) multiplying said total distance and said weight of said material for said haul cycle to provide a sum, (4) dividing said sum by said elapsed time, and (5) displaying a value resulting from said multiplying means.

An apparatus for use in connection with an off-road, heavy-duty truck wherein said apparatus records vital statistics of said truck in connection with an identifier entered into said apparatus by a truck operator, said apparatus comprising:

• a processor means including memory means;
• means coupled to said processor means for entering said identifier and associating a first portion of said memory means with said identifier;
• measuring means for providing signals indicative of a hauling status of said truck to said processor means;
• said processor means responsive to said measuring means and said entering and associating means for (1) receiving said signals, (2) providing data indicative of truck performance in response to said signals and (3) routing said data to locations within said first portion of said memory means;
• detecting means responsive to a change of said identifier to cause said entering and associating means to associate a second portion of said memory means with a new identifier resulting from said change of said identifier;
• and
• said processor means responding to said associating of said second portion of said memory means with said new identifier by routing said data to locations within said second portion of said memory means.

A system for identifying an overload condition in an off-road, heavy-duty truck having a body mounted to a truck frame by a hinge assembly for movement between lowered and raised positions, said apparatus comprising, in combination:

• a sensor assembly mounted on said truck frame and supporting a predetermined portion of a weight of said truck body on said truck frame when said truck body is in said lowered position, said sensor assembly responding to said weight of said body to provide a signal indicative of said weight of said body;
• a means for transferring said signal to a remote, off-board processor means;
• said remote off-board processor means responsive to said signal and including memory means for storing a predetermined maximum weight capacity for said truck body;
• and
• said remote off-board processor means responsive to said signal from said sensor assembly indicative of said weight for comparing said weight with said predetermined maximum weight capacity, and for generating an output signal if said weight indicated by said signal is greater than said predetermined maximum weight capacity.

An apparatus for measuring and manipulating various hauling and loading parameters for an off-road, heavy duty truck having a body, a frame and front and rear axles, said apparatus comprising:

• a first weighing device on said truck for measuring a first force of said truck body on said truck frame and providing data representative of said first force;
• a second weighing device on said truck for measuring a second force of said truck body on said truck frame and providing data indicative of said second force;
• a processor means responsive to said first and second weighing devices for determining a fraction of a total weight of said truck body over said front axle and a fraction of said total weight of said truck body over said rear axle of said truck;
• and
• display means responsive to said processor means for displaying said fractions of said total weight supported by said front and rear axles.

An apparatus for measuring and manipulating various hauling and loading parameters for an off-road, heavy duty truck having a body, a frame and front and rear axles, said apparatus comprising in combination:

• hinge assemblies pivotally joining said truck frame and body;
• a sensor assembly mounted on said truck frame and including a plurality of sensor elements, said sensor assembly supporting a predetermined portion of a weight of said truck body when said truck body is in a lowered position on said truck frame;
• said sensor assembly providing an interface between said truck frame and body when said body is in said lowered position such that said plurality of sensor elements provides an indication of said weight of said truck body and an indication of fore-and-aft and side-to-side distribution of said weight of said truck body;
• and
• processor means responsive to said sensor assembly for detecting an imbalance of said weight carried by said truck body and signalling a truck operator in response thereto.

A stationary platform scale for placement on an approximately level ground surface, said scale comprising, in combination:

• a first planar plate;
• a plurality of flexible tubing laid on said first planar plate with each tubing having first and second ends;
• a second planar plate positioned to rest atop said plurality of flexible tubing, said second planar plate extending to fully cover said plurality of flexible tubing;
• a plurality of pressure sensors each secured to one of said first or second ends of each of said plurality of flexible tubing for providing pressure data indicative of a weight present on said second planar plate;
• said second planar plate having a lower surface for direct contact with each of said plurality of flexible tubing wherein said lower surface includes a calibration plate to ensure a known surface area of contact between said plurality of flexible tubing and said second planar plate;
• and
• means for gathering all the data from said plurality of pressure sensors and determining a weight present on said second planar plate.

In a system for controlling a routing of a fleet of vehicles composed of distinct groups to a plurality of possible locations, a method for monitoring and commanding vehicle movement comprising the steps of:

• sensing a weight and a change in said weight of a load carried by each vehicle and formulating data representative of said weight and said change in weight;
• transferring said data to a central location;
• cataloging at said central location said data from each vehicle;
• selecting one of said distinct groups of vehicles;
• combining said data from said one of said distinct groups of vehicles to provide collective data indicative of group performance;
• and
• analyzing said cataloged and collective data to provide commands for transfer to selected vehicles in said fleet of vehicles.

In a system for controlling a routing of a fleet of load-carrying vehicles composed of distinct groups to a plurality of possible locations, an apparatus for monitoring and commanding vehicle movement comprising, in combination:

• first means on-board each of said vehicles in said fleet of vehicles for sensing a change in a load carried by said vehicle and forming data representative of said change;
• second means on-board each of said vehicles for transmitting said data;
• a central computer for receiving said data from each of said vehicles in said fleet of vehicles and (1) cataloging said data to provide averages for each of said vehicles, (2) analyzing said averages from each of said vehicles and (3) forming control data in response to said analysis that includes identification data identifying at least one vehicle in said fleet of vehicles;
• and
• transmitting means coupled to said central computer for transmitting said control data to a vehicle identified by said identification data.

In a system for controlling a routing of a fleet of trucks composed of distinct groups to a plurality of possible locations and including a central computer for receiving data from said trucks and issuing commands to said trucks, said trucks having a dump body pivotally mounted to a frame, an apparatus on-board each of said trucks comprising, in combination:

• a pressure sensor assembly mounted to each truck in said fleet of trucks for providing pressure data indicative of a weight of said dump body;
• a processor means on-board each of said trucks for receiving said pressure data and detecting a change in a weight of said body, and providing output data indicative of a truck operating condition;
• and
• transmitter means on-board each of said trucks for receiving said output data from said processor means and transmitting said output data to said central computer for further processing.

An apparatus for measuring a weight of a load carried by a body of a truck, said apparatus comprising, in combination:

• a truck body and a truck frame;
• means for coupling said body to said frame to inhibit side-to-side or fore-to-aft movement of said body with respect to said frame but allowing limited non-rotating vertical movement;
• and
• a pressure sensor assembly supporting a predetermined portion of a weight of said body along an interface between said body and frame such that a weight of said body is transferred to said frame uniformly along said interface.

A system for automatically measuring a weight of a vehicle body and automatically transferring a measurement of said weight to a remote stationary site, said system comprising, in combination:

• a vehicle frame for supporting said body;
• a pressure sensor assembly mounted on said vehicle frame and positioned along an interface between said vehicle body and frame for supporting a predetermined portion of said weight of said vehicle body such that said assembly distributes said predetermined portion of said weight of said vehicle body in a substantially uniform manner along said interface, said assembly providing at least one output signal indicative of a pressure at said interface between said body and frame;
• means remote from said vehicle for receiving said at least one output signal and formulating an indication of said weight of said body;
• and
• coupling means joining said pressure sensor assembly and said remote means for automatically transferring said at least one output signal from said assembly to said remote site.

In a system utilizing pressurized tubing, an apparatus for terminating an end of said tubing and for insuring the termination is leak-proof under high pressures, said apparatus comprising, in combination:

• an end clamp located at said end of said tubing and comprising first, second and third portions;
• said third portion of said end clamp located inside said tubing while said first and second portions fit over an outside surface of said tubing and opose one another so as to sandwich said tubing and third portion between said first and second portions;
• means for joining said first, second and third portions of said clamp with said tubing so as to totally seal the end of said tubing;
• and
• a collar surrounding said tubing at an area proximate said end of said tubing but rearward of said end clamp, said collar having a central bore for receiving said tubing and restraining said tubing from changing its cross-sectional shape in an area of said tubing under and adjacent to said collar.

In a system for monitoring hauling parameters of a vehicle with a dump body that pivots between raised and lowered pivotal positions, an on-board apparatus comprising, in combination:

• a sensor mounted on said body and responsive to the pivoting of said body for providing an output signal indicative of said raised or lowered positions of said body, said sensor being totally encapsulated in a housing in order to prevent ambient conditions from reducing the responsiveness of said sensor;
• a processor for receiving said output signal from said sensor and responding to said output signals in a predetermined manner;
• and
• means communicating said output signal from said sensor to said processor wherein said means includes an output port in said housing which maintains said sensor in isolation from an ambient environment.

In a system for controlling a routing of each vehicle in a fleet of material-hauling vehicles to one of a plurality of possible load or dump locations, an apparatus for monitoring and commanding vehicle movement comprising, in combination:

• means on-board each of said vehicles for providing an indication of a beginning of a loading of material into said vehicle and a dumping of said material from said vehicle and, in response to said indication, forming data indicative of said loading or dumping;
• first transceiver means on-board each of said vehicles for transmitting said data;
• a central computer having a second transceiver means for receiving said data from each of said vehicles and having a processor and a memory for formulating from said data a data base from which control data is derived, said central computer including means for transmitting said control data to said vehicles, said control data including data identifying a particular vehicle and a particular one of said plurality of possible load or dump locations;
• and
• said first transceiver means receiving said control data and said on-board sensing means responding to said control data to visually indicate said particular one of said plurality of possible load or dump destinations on an on-board display means.

An apparatus on-board a vehicle, being one of a plurality of similar vehicles, for acquisitioning data indicative of vehicle operation and for accumulating said data, said apparatus comprising:

• first means mounted to said vehicle for providing data indicative of a loading of material into a dump body of said vehicle and a dumping of said material by said dump body;
• second means mounted to said vehicle for providing data indicative of a movement of said vehicle;
• a first processor means on-board said vehicle for acquiring said data from said first and second means and organizing said data to provide information regarding performance of said vehicle;
• and
• a storage means for receiving said data from said first processor means and storing said data as organized by said first processor means.