Weighing device

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein said load sensing means comprise a plurality of stress sensing load cells, one end of each of said load cells being connected to said vehicle supporting means, the other end of each of said load cells being removably secured to said rails whereby said weigh device may be readily removed.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle supporting means comprises a pair of platform members each having weigh rails supported thereon, and connection means interconnecting said platform members.

Claim 5

The system of claim 3 wherein said connection means includes means pivotably interconnecting said platform members whereby one platform member may pivot relative to the other platform member.

Claim 6

The system of claim 1 and further including transition rail means bridging the space between the ends of said rail sections and said vehicle supporting means.

Claim 7

The system of claim 5 wherein said transition rail means includes means for permitting movement of said vehicle supporting means in a vertical direction without significant restraint by said transition rail means.

Claim 8

The system of claim 13 wherein said transition rail means each comprises rail means having a stiff mid-section and friction free joints on either side of said mid-section.

Claim 9

The system of claim 1 wherein said load sensing means comprise shear sensing load cells with the longitudinal axis of each of said cells extending generally parallel to the rails.

Claim 10

The system of claim 8 wherein each of said load cells is positioned on the neutral vertical axis of the rails.

Claim 11

The system of claim 8 wherein each of said load cells is offset from the neutral vertical axis of the rails.

Claim 12

The system of claim 8 wherein a single load cell is associated with each of said rails, said load cells providing a cantilevered support for said vehicle supporting means in the space between said rail sections.

Claim 13

The system of claim 1 wherein said load sensing means comprise shear sensing load cells with the longitudinal axis of each of said cells extending transverse to said rails.

Claim 14

The system of claim 12 wherein one end of each of said load cells is supported in openings in the web of said rails.

Claim 15

The system of claim 12 wherein a load cell is provided at the end of each of said rail sections, and tension means supporting each load cell from its adjacent rail section.

Claim 16

The system of claim 14 wherein said tension means provides a flexible support for said load cells in a horizontal plane.

Claim 19

The system of claim 16 wherein said load sensing means comprises a plurality of shear sensing load cells, and tension means supporting said load cells and the vehicle supporting means connected thereto on said means for shifting movement in a generally horizontal plane.

Claim 20

The system of claim 16 wherein said load sensing means comprise a plurality of shear sensing load cells, one end of each of said cells being connected to said vehicle supporting means, the other end of each of said cells being removably secured to said rails whereby said weigh device may be removed by detaching said load cells from said rails.

Claim 21

The system of claim 16 wherein said load sensing means comprises load cells supported by said ground supports with said vehicle supporting members being supported by said load cells.

Claim 22

The devices of claim 19 further including rigid support means adapted to rest oN the ground supports with said load cell being supported by said rigid support means.

Claim 23

A weighing system for weighing railway guided vehicles and including a pair of spaced apart rails along which the vehicle is adapted to travel and ground supports for the rails, each of said rails including longitudinally spaced apart first and second rail sections defining a space therebetween and a weigh device positioned in the space in each of said rails the improvement comprising: said weigh device including a pair of vehicle supporting means each positioned in the space between said first and second section of one of said rails and defining a generally coextensive vehicle supporting surface therewith, rigid support members supported by the ground supports adjacent the space in each of said rails, load sensing cells carried by said rigid support members with said load cells being operative to produce a signal corresponding to the magnitude of a load applied thereto, each of said vehicle supporting means being supported by said load sensing load cells.

Claim 24

A weighing system for weighing railway guided vehicles and including a pair of spaced apart rails along which the vehicle is adapted to travel and ground supports for the rails, each of said rails including longitudinally spaced apart first and second rail sections defining a space therebetween and a weigh device positioned in the space in each of said rails the improvement comprising: said weigh device including a pair of vehicle supporting means each positioned in the space between said first and second section of one of said rails and defining a generally coextensive vehicle supporting surface therewith, rigid support members supported by the ground supports adjacent the space in each of said rails, load sensing cells carried by said rigid support members with said load cells being operative to produce a signal corresponding to the magnitude of a load applied thereto, each of said vehicle supporting means being supported by said load sensing load cells.

Claim 25

The weighing system of claim 21 wherein said load cells are of the compression type and said vehicle supporting means are supported on the load application points of said load cells.