Shackle pin with internal signal conditioner

A load pin comprising, in combination:

• a load body having a connector end, a lubrication end and an external bearing surface disposed between the connector end and the lubrication end, the load body being intersected by a flint longitudinal bore, a second longitudinal bore that is offset with respect to the first longitudinal bore, and an annular lubrication groove formed in the bearing surface and connected in communication with the second longitudinal bore;
• a sensing circuit enclosed within the longitudinal bore;
• and
• a signal conditioner enclosed within the longitudinal bore and electrically coupled to the sensing circuit.

Apparatus for mechanically supporting and measuring the weight of a load on a vehicle comprising, in combination:

• a bracket including a bearing member;
• a shackle pin disposed in the bracket in engagement with the bearing member, the shackle pin including a load body having a connector end, a lubrication end and an external bearing surface disposed between the connector end and the lubrication end, the load body being intersected by a first longitudinal bore, a second longitudinal bore that is offset with respect to the first longitudinal bore, and a lubrication groove formed in the bearing surface and connected in communication with the second longitudinal bore;
• a sensing circuit enclosed within the first longitudinal bore;
• a signal conditioner enclosed within the first longitudinal bore and electrically coupled to the sensing circuit;
• a cable connector mounted on the shackle pin on the connector end of the load body, the cable connector being electrically connected to the signal conditioner;
• and
• a lubrication input fitting mounted on the shackle pin on the lubrication end of the load body, the lubrication input fitting being coupled in fluid communication with the second longitudinal bore.

A method for measuring a load imposed on a load pin of the type including a load body intersected by a main bore passage, comprising:

• providing a load sensing circuit having transducer for sensing a load condition and having an output for conducting a load signal developed by the transducer in response to the load condition;
• mounting the load sensing circuit internally within the main bore passage;
• sensing a load imposed on the load pin with the internally mounted sensing circuit;
• generating a load signal on the output of the sensing circuit in response to the load imposed on the pin;
• providing a signal conditioning circuit having a signal input and a signal output;
• mounting the signal conditioning circuit internally within the main bore passage;
• and
• conditioning the load signal with the internally mounted signal conditioner.

A method for measuring a load imposed on a load pin of the type including a metallic body intersected by a main bore passage, comprising the steps:

• sensing a load imposed on the load pin with a sensing circuit;
• conditioning the load signal with a signal conditioner;
• and
• shielding the sensing circuit and the signal conditioner with the metallic body of the load pin.

A method for measuring a load imposed on a load pin of the type including a metallic body, comprising the steps:

• sensing a load imposed on the load pin with a sensing circuit;
• conditioning the load signal with a signal conditioner;
• and
• enclosing the sensing circuit and the signal conditioner within a passage formed in the metallic body.

A method for measuring a load imposed on a shackle pin of the type including a body portion engaged by roller bearings within a support bracket, comprising the steps:

• sensing a load imposed on the shackle pin with a sensing circuit enclosed within a first longitudinal passage formed in the body portion;
• conditioning the load signal with a signal conditioner enclosed within the first longitudinal passage;
• supplying lubrication to the roller bearings through a second longitudinal passage formed in the load body;
• and
• separating the first longitudinal passage from the second longitudinal passage with the body portion.