Axle spindle load and torque sensing apparatus and method for sensing load and torque

A vehicle load sensor apparatus for measuring the load on one or more spindles of a vehicle axle which comprises:

• (a) first and second axle spindles at opposite ends of an axle;
• (b) vibratable string means having one end attached to said first axle spindle and an opposite end attached to said second spindle;
• and
• (c) means for determining the total load on said axle by measuring the change of tension in said vibratable string means comprising:
• (1) means for inducting a vibration in said vibratable string means;
• and
• (2) means for sensing the frequency of said vibration induced in said vibratable string means.

A vehicle load and torque sensor apparatus for measuring the load and torque on one or more ends of a vehicle axle which comprises:

• (a) an axle spindle;
• (b) first vibratable string means attached at one end to a position on said spindle horizontally spaced forward of the axis of said spindle and attached at an opposite end to said axle at a point spaced from said axle spindle;
• (c) second vibratable string means attached at one end to a position on said axle horizontally spaced to the rear of said axis of said spindle and attached at an opposite end to said axle at a point spaced from said axle spindle;
• (d) means for measuring the change of tension in said first vibratable string means;
• (e) means for measuring the change of tension in said second vibratable string means;
• and
• (f) means for determining the load and torque on said spindle using the respective changes in tension in said first and second vibratable string means.

A method for measuring the load on one or more spindles of a vehicle axle which comprises:

• (a) providing an axle spindle;
• (b) attaching one end of vibratable string means to said axle spindle;
• (c) attaching an opposite end of said vibratable string means to said axle at a point spaced from said axle spindle;
• and
• (d) determining the load on said spindle by measuring the change of tension in said vibratable string means by:
• (1) inducing a vibration in said vibratable string means;
• and
• (2) sensing the frequency of said vibration of said vibratable string means.

A method for measuring the load and torque on one or more ends of an axle having one or more spindles which comprises:

• (a) attaching one end of a string to a spindle at a point horizontally spaced forward of the axis of said spindle and an opposite end of said string to said axle at a position spaced from said axle spindle;
• (b) attaching a second string to said spindle at a point horizontally spaced to the rear of said axis of said spindle and an opposite end of said second string to said axle at a position spaced from said axle spindle;
• (c) measuring the tension in said first string under load or torque;
• (d) measuring the tension in said second string under load or torque;
• (e) determining the change of tension in said first and second strings from said measurements together with the corresponding measurements made in a no-load state;
• (f) determining the load on said spindle from the sum of said measured changes of tension in said first and second strings;
• and
• (g) determining the torque on said end of said axle from the difference in said measured changes of tension in said first and second strings.

A method for measuring the total load on an axle of an vehicle which comprises:

• (a) providing first and second axle spindles at opposite ends of an axle;
• (b) attaching one end of vibratable string means to said first axle spindle and the opposite end of said vibratable string means to said second spindle;
• and
• (c) determining the load on said axle by measuring the change of tension in said vibratable string means by:
• (1) inducing a vibration in said vibratable string means;
• (2) measuring the resonant frequency of said vibration of said vibratable string means;
• (3) determining the tension in said vibratable string means from said resonant frequency;
• and
• (4) comparing said measured tension and a previously measured tension corresponding to a no-load condition on said axle to determine the load on said axle.

A method for measuring the load on one or more spindles of a vehicle which comprises:

• (a) providing an axle spindle;
• (b) attaching one end of vibratable string means to said axle spindle;
• (c) attaching an opposite end of said vibratable string means to a fixed point spaced from said spindle to permit independent measurement of the load on said spindle;
• and
• (d) determining the load on said spindle by measuring the change of tension in said vibratable string means by:
• (1) inducing a vibration in said vibratable string means;
• (2) measuring the resonant frequency of said vibration of said vibratable string means;
• (3) determining the tension in said vibratable string means from said resonant frequency;
• and
• (4) comparing said measured tension and a previously measured tension corresponding to a no-load condition on said spindle to determine the load on said spindle.