US 5,393,936 A · On board weighing system for a vehicle

Abstract

An on-board weigh scale for a vehicle is disclosed. The weigh scale has a transport configuration wherein the weigh scale is substantially protected from damage during transport, and a weighing configuration wherein the weigh scale is in an operative condition for measuring the weight of a material. The weigh scale includes a support-frame capable of being mounted on a frame of a vehicle; a weight-frame mounted above the support-frame, and capable of supporting a quantity of a material. Structural supports are mounted on the support-frame for securely supporting the weigh-frame in the transport configuration. Hydraulic jacks are used to lift the weigh-frame off of the structural supports when said weigh scale is in transition between the transport and the weighing configurations. The weight of material is detected by load cells, via load transfer elements which are installed when the weigh scale is in the weighing configuration. The load transfer elements are removed in the transport configuration, in which condition, the load cells are not subject to any of the weight of the material. Finally angle sensors are used to detecting the angle of orientation of weigh scale with respect to vertical. The detected angle is used to determine a calibration signal, thus allowing for compensation of an error in the weight detected by the load cells resulting from an out-of level condition of the weigh scale, thereby facilitating accurate weight measurements.

Claims27

Dependent claims

An on-board weigh scale for a vehicle, said weigh scale having a transport configuration wherein the weigh scale is substantially protected from damage during transport, and a weighing configuration wherein the weigh scale is in an operative condition for measuring the weight of a material, said weigh scale comprising:

a support-frame capable of being mounted on a frame of a vehicle;
a weigh-frame operatively disposed above said support-frame, and capable of supporting a quantity of a material;
support means disposed on said support-frame and capable of securely supporting said weigh-frame in the transport configuration;
lifting means capable of lifting said weigh-frame off of said support means when said weigh scale is in transition between the transport and the weighing configurations;
a plurality of load cells, each load cell being capable of supporting a load and generating a signal proportional to the magnitude of said load;
respective load transfer means for transferring a portion of the weight of said weigh-frame onto each said load cell when said weigh scale is in the weighing configuration, said load transfer means being removable in the transport configuration;
angle sensing means capable of detecting an angle of orientation of said weigh scale, and generating a signal proportional to the detected angle;
and
processing means capable of determining the weight of a material on said weigh-frame on the basis of signals received from each said load cell, and said angle sensing means.

6 more elements

A nurse truck for transporting and dispensing a quantity of a material, said nurse truck comprising:

storage means capable of containing therein a quantity of a material;
dispensing means capable of controllably dispensing the material from said storage means;
weight measuring means adapted to measure the weight of the material in said storage means, said weight measuring means having a transport configuration wherein the weight measuring means is substantially protected from damage during transport, and a weighing configuration wherein the weight measuring means is in an operative condition for measuring the weight of the material;
and
angle compensating means for detecting an angle of said weight measuring means with respect to vertical, and adjusting a calibration of said weight measuring means on the basis of said detected angle.

2 more elements

a support-frame for mounting on a frame of a vehicle;
a weigh-frame operatively disposed above said support-frame, for supporting a quantity of material;
support means disposed on said support-frame for securely supporting said weigh-frame in the transport configuration;
lifting means for lifting said weigh-frame off of said support means in the weighing configuration;
load cell means mounted on said vehicle for supporting a load and generating a signal proportional to the magnitude of said load;
load transfer means for transferring the weight of said weigh-frame onto said load cell means in the weighing configuration, said load transfer means being removable in the transport configuration;
and
processing means for determining the weight of the material on said weigh-frame based on signals received from said load cell means.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

On board weighing system for a vehicle

Life of this patent

On board weighing system for a vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27