# US 7,410,183 B2 · Weight redistribution in freight trucks

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- Number: US 7,410,183 B2
- Document ID: US7410183B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/305,078
- Filed: 2005-12-16
- Published: 2006-08-17
- Granted: 2008-08-12
- Earliest claimed: 2004-12-16
- Assignees: Alcoa Inc.
- Inventors: Zachary John Stowell; David Stephen Musso; Charles Bartlett Stewart; Evan James English; Christopher Matthew D'Eramo; Adam Thomas Clavelle; Shandor Glenn Dektor; Jayeon Kim; Jennifer Crystal Perreira; Charles Michael Sanford Shaw; Allan Freas Velzy
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7410183B2

## CPC

- B62D 53/068: {having devices to equalise or modify the load between the fifth wheel and the rear wheels (adjustable couping saddles per se B62D53/0807; load transfer devices to permit coupling or uncoupling B62D53/0857; anti jack-knifing devices B62D53/0871)}
- B60Y 2200/14: Trucks; Load vehicles, Busses
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY

## Abstract

The present invention provides a weight redistribution system including an axle carrier slideably engaged along a length of a trailer frame, wherein the axle carrier including a threaded fixture and the trailer frame includes parallel longitudinal beams having a plurality of equally spaced openings; an axle carrier positioning means including a motor means and a threaded shaft mounted to the trailer frame being in rotational engagement with the threaded fixture of the axle carrier; a weight monitoring system integrated into the axle carrier; an axle carrier locking means including at least one extendable pin mounted on the axle carrier for locking engagement into one of the equally spaced openings in the longitudinal beams; and a control interface for displaying data from the weight monitoring system, actuating the axle carrier positioning means, and actuating the axle carrier locking means.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A weight redistribution apparatus comprising:
an axle carrier slideably engaged along a length of a trailer frame, wherein said axle carrier comprises a threaded fixture; and
an axle carrier positioning apparatus comprising a motor fixeably mounted at a first end of said trailer frame and a bearing mounted at an opposing end of said trailer frame, said motor and said bearing being connected by a shaft in threaded engagement with said threaded fixture, wherein rotating said shaft in a first directed traverses said axle carrier along a first longitudinal direction of said trailer frame and rotating said shaft in a second direction traverses said axle carrier along a second longitudinal direction of said trailer frame.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The weight redistribution apparatus of claim 1 wherein said axle carrier comprises aluminum.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The weight redistribution apparatus of claim 1 wherein said axle carrier comprises at least two axles.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The weight redistribution apparatus of claim 1 wherein said trailer frame comprises longitudinal beams and a plurality of cross beams, wherein each of said motor and said bearing are mounted to one of said plurality of cross beams.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The weight redistribution apparatus of claim 1 wherein said axle carrier slideably engaged to said trailer frame is guided along said length of said trailer frame by guide rails.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The weight redistribution apparatus of claim 1 wherein said axle carrier further comprises rollers positioned at the contract surfaces between said trailer frame and said axle carrier.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The weight redistribution apparatus of claim 1 wherein said motor is electrically powered.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The weight redistribution apparatus of claim 1 wherein said threaded shaft comprises aluminum.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The weight redistribution apparatus of claim 1 wherein said axle carrier positioning apparatus is protectively encased from operator contact.

### Claim 10

A weight redistribution system comprising:
an axle carrier slideably engaged along a length of a trailer frame, wherein said axle carrier comprises a threaded fixture and said trailer frame comprises a plurality of axle carrier lock sites;
an axle carrier positioning apparatus comprising a motor and a threaded shaft mounted to said trailer frame, said threaded shaft being in rotational engagement with said threaded fixture of said axle carrier;
a weight monitoring system integrated in said axle carrier, said weight monitoring system comprising at least one sensor mounted in said tandem carrier to correspond to each axle;
an axle carrier locking apparatus comprising at least one extendable pin mounted on said axle carrier, wherein said at least one extendable pin when in an extended position engages one of said plurality of lock sites in said trailer frame; and
a control interface for displaying data from said at least one sensor of said weight monitoring system, actuating said axle carrier positioning apparatus, and actuating said axle carrier locking apparatus.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10 wherein said axle carrier comprises aluminum.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10 wherein said at least one extendable pin is pneumatically actuated.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11 wherein pneumatic actuation is provided by an air system incorporated with a trucks brake or suspension system.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10 wherein at least one extendable pin comprises a plurality of extendable pins, wherein each of said plurality of extendable pins is separately pneumatically actuated.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14 wherein said at least one extendable pins are naturally engaged and pneumatic actuation disengages said at least one extendable pin.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14 wherein said plurality of lock sites comprises a plurality of openings in longitudinal beams of said trailer frame or a plurality of openings in guide rails on which said carrier axle is slideably traversed along said length of said trailer frame.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10 wherein said sensor is a strain gauge comprising wire or metallic foil arranged in a grid pattern, wherein change in electrical resistance of said wire or said metallic foil corresponds to weight.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10 wherein said weight monitoring system further comprises at least one weight monitoring sensor corresponding to at least one truck axle in a truck in communication with said trailer frame.

### Claim 19 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10 wherein said control interface is mounted in a cab of a truck or is mounted to a trailer body mounted on said trailer frame.

### Claim 20 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10 wherein said control interface provides wireless communication to said weight monitoring system, said axle carrier positioning apparatus, and said axle carrier locking apparatus.