Patent US3603418A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3603418A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Vehicle load measuring apparatus
Assignee: GENERAL TRAILER CO Inc
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Filing: 1969-10-17
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1989-10-17
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for use in a vehicle for measuring a load supported thereon including a deformable member which deforms in relation to the weight of the load, a DC voltage transmitter connected to the member for transmitting a voltage related to the deformation of the member, with a given DC voltage supplied to the transmitter, and an indicator connected to the voltage transmitter for producing an indication related to such voltage. The indicator and voltage transmitter are connected through a coupling which enables selective disconnection of the two. The indicator has a sufficiently high input impedance, whereby any resistance produced in the coupling due to the collection therein of dirt or other foreign matter has a negligible effect on the voltage indicated by the indicator.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth J Schmidt
- 👤 James A Lacock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G19/00; G01G19/08; G01G19/12; G01G3/00; G01G3/12; G01G3/14; G01G3/1402; G01G3/1406; G01G3/142
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
Load-measuring apparatus for use in a vehicle having at least two disconnectable sections with at least one of such sections including a load support, said apparatus comprising a deformable member which is operatively cOnnected to the load support on the one vehicle section and is constructed to deform in a manner related to the weight of a load on the support, a DC voltage transmitter operatively connected to and responsive to deformation in said member, said transmitter having input terminals adapted to be connected to a source of DC voltage, and output terminals, and being constructed, with a given DC voltage applied to said input terminals, to transmit to said output terminals a DC voltage having a value related to the amount of deformation in said member, electrical indicator means on the other section of said vehicle remote from said output terminals, and conductor means, including a disconnectable coupling operatively interconnecting said output terminals and said indicator means, permitting disconnection of said vehicle sections with the deformable member and transmitter remaining connected to the one vehicle section and the indicator means remaining on the other vehicle section, said indicator means including a input circuit supplied voltage by said conductor means, said input circuit having a sufficiently high input impedance whereby, under substantially all circumstances, with said coupling connected, the value of the voltage supplied said indicator means is substantially the same as the value of the voltage transmitted to said output terminals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
242 words
Load-measuring apparatus for use in a vehicle having at least two disconnectable sections with at least one of such sections including a load support, said apparatus comprising a deformable member which is operatively cOnnected to the load support on the one vehicle section and is constructed to deform in a manner related to the weight of a load on the support, a DC voltage transmitter operatively connected to and responsive to deformation in said member, said transmitter having input terminals adapted to be connected to a source of DC voltage, and output terminals, and being constructed, with a given DC voltage applied to said input terminals, to transmit to said output terminals a DC voltage having a value related to the amount of deformation in said member, electrical indicator means on the other section of said vehicle remote from said output terminals, and conductor means, including a disconnectable coupling operatively interconnecting said output terminals and said indicator means, permitting disconnection of said vehicle sections with the deformable member and transmitter remaining connected to the one vehicle section and the indicator means remaining on the other vehicle section, said indicator means including a input circuit supplied voltage by said conductor means, said input circuit having a sufficiently high input impedance whereby, under substantially all circumstances, with said coupling connected, the value of the voltage supplied said indicator means is substantially the same as the value of the voltage transmitted to said output terminals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said voltage transmitter comprises a bridge circuit including an electrical resistance strain gauge mounted on said member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input circuit comprises a field-effect transistor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said input circuit includes a pair of input terminals and said transistor has a source element operatively connected to one of said input terminals and a gate element operatively connected to the other input terminal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
216 words
Load-measuring apparatus for use in a vehicle having a load support comprising a deformable member operatively connected to said support constructed to deform in a manner related to the weight of a load on the support, said member comprising an upper portion connected to the load support, a lower portion spaced below said upper portion and connected to a lower frame in the vehicle and end portions extending between said upper and lower portions to maintain them in their spaced positions, said end portions having arcuate configurations and being subjected to bending about their axes of curvature when a load is placed on the load support, each of said end portions varying in thickness, having its greatest thickness in the region subjected to the greatest bending stress, a DC voltage transmitter operatively connected to and responsive to deformation in said member, said transmitter having input terminals adapted to be connected to a source of DC voltage, and output terminals, and being constructed, with a given DC voltage applied to said input terminals, to transmit to said output terminals a DC voltage having a value related to the amount of deformation in said member, electrical indicator means in the vehicle remote from said output terminals, and conductor means operatively interconnecting said output terminals and said indicator means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
216 words
Load-measuring apparatus for use in a vehicle having a load support comprising a deformable member operatively connected to said support constructed to deform in a manner related to the weight of a load on the support, said member comprising an upper portion connected to the load support, a lower portion spaced below said upper portion and connected to a lower frame in the vehicle and end portions extending between said upper and lower portions to maintain them in their spaced positions, said end portions having arcuate configurations and being subjected to bending about their axes of curvature when a load is placed on the load support, each of said end portions varying in thickness, having its greatest thickness in the region subjected to the greatest bending stress, a DC voltage transmitter operatively connected to and responsive to deformation in said member, said transmitter having input terminals adapted to be connected to a source of DC voltage, and output terminals, and being constructed, with a given DC voltage applied to said input terminals, to transmit to said output terminals a DC voltage having a value related to the amount of deformation in said member, electrical indicator means in the vehicle remote from said output terminals, and conductor means operatively interconnecting said output terminals and said indicator means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said voltage transmitter comprises an electrical resistance strain gauge secured to one of said end portions in the deformable member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said deformable member further comprises limit means interposed and acting between said upper and lower portions operable to limit the movement of said portions toward each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said limit means is adjustable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |