Force measuring device
AssigneePfister GbmH
InventorHans W. Hafner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A novel force measuring device of simple design is provided with complementary stop surfaces protecting the device against over-loading. Alternatively, overloading is prevented by duplicating the force measuring device with two portions operating in opposite directions of force application. Such force measuring devices are advantageously incorporated in couplings between a motor driven vehicle and a further vehicle to be coupled thereto. Signals derived from these force measuring devices are used in a board computer for controlling the operation of the motor driven vehicle and the further vehicle coupled thereto.
Claims16
A trailer coupling having a force measuring device incorporated therein, comprising:
- a first body adapted to be operatively coupled with a tracting vehicle and having an essentially vertical cylindrical recess formed therein;
- a first piston member disposed in said vertical cylindrical recess and forming a small space between an end surface of said first piston member and an interior bottom wall of said vertical cylindrical recess and having projecting therefrom in an upward direction arresting means for engagement with a complementary coupling means of a trailer;
- a pressure sensor means protectedly arranged within said body for sensing pressure;
- and
- wherein a narrow cylindrical gap is formed between a peripheral surface of said piston member and a cylindrical interior surface of said vertical cylindrical recess, said gap and said small space being essentially completely filled with an essentially incompressible elastomeric material which is in contact with said pressure sensor and strongly adheres to said surfaces of said piston member and said recess.
A device for determining horizontal axial forces exerted by a trailing vehicle onto a trailer coupling between a tracting vehicle and said trailing vehicle, said device comprising:
- a housing having a cylindrical recess defined by an interior peripheral surface and a first essentially radial end surface and provided with mounting means for attaching said housing to said tracting vehicle;
- a piston member concentrically disposed in said recess and provided at one end thereof with arresting means for coupling with said trailing vehicle and having a peripheral surface opposing said interior peripheral surface of said recess and forming a first annular space therewith further defined by said essentially radial end surface of said recess and an end surface of a projecting means projecting from said peripheral surface of said piston member toward said interior peripheral surface of said recess;
- an essentially incompressible elastomeric material provided in said first annular space between said first end surface of said recess and a first end surface of said projecting means;
- and
- first pressure sensor means arranged within said housing and in contact with said elastomeric material for sensing said axial forces transmitted from said arresting means via said projecting means and said elastomeric material onto said pressure sensor means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.