Short scale for weighing railway vehicles

Claim 2

A weighing apparatus for weighing a load moveable along an elongate track rail, said elongate track rail including a first elongate track rail section and a second elongate track rail section longitudinally spaced therefrom and in longitudinal alignment therewith, said weighing apparatus comprising: a weigh rail interposable in said space in longitudinal alignment between said first and said second track rail sections; first means for supporting a first end of said weigh rail said first supporting means being supported by the end of the first track rail section adjacent to said first end of the weigh rail; second means for supporting the other end of said weigh rail said second supporting means supported by the end of the second track rail section adjacent to said other end of the weigh rail, said weigh rail being supported by said first and second support means in the space between said track rail sections; means for retaining said weigh rail in longitudinal alignment with said track rail sections; and at least one weight responsive means responsive to the weight of the load on said weigh rail for providing a signal that is representative of the weight of the load on said weigh rail, said weight responsive means being supported by one of said first and second supporting means.

Claim 3

A weighing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said retaining means is comprised of an elongate splice bar of a length longer than said weigh rail, said splice bar having two elongate sections of equal length, one section located on each side abutting said weigh rail in parallel longitudinal alignment therewith such that portions of said sections extend beyond each end of said weigh rail, said sections rigidly secured to said first and second elongate track rail sections at the portions extending beyond said weigh rail.

Claim 4

A weighing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second supporting means each comprises an elongate member secured to and extending outwardly from, respectively, an end of said weigh rail, said elongate member being supported at its outer ends from the end of the track rail section adjacent thereto.

Claim 5

A weighting apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said weight responsive means comprises first and second strain gauge load cells actuated by said elongate members.

Claim 6

A weighing apparatus according to clAim 1 wherein the length of said weigh rail is less than the spacing between wheels of a load moving along said elongate track rail thereby restricting said weighing apparatus to the weighing of individual wheel loads.

Claim 7

A weighing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said weighing apparatus is for weighing a load moveable along a laterally spaced pair of parallel elongate track rails, said weighing apparatus comprising a pair of said weigh rails, each said weigh rail associated with corresponding said first and second support means, said retaining means, and said weight responsive means, said spaces between said first and said second track rail sections of each elongate track rail being in transversely corresponding relation, whereby wheels on a common axle supporting a load moving along said track rails simultaneously transverse said pair of weigh rails.

Claim 8

A weighing apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said weighing apparatus is for weighing a load moveable along a laterally spaced pair of parallel elongate track rails, and further including: a scale table interposable in the space between the first and second elongate track rail sections of said pair of track rails and having secured thereon said pair of weigh rails in a mutually parallel longitudinal arrangement wherein said weigh rails are spaced laterally an amount equal to the lateral track rail spacing, said scale table being positioned in vertical relationship to the pair of parallel elongate track rails by said first and second support means such that the load-supporting surfaces of said weigh rails and said parallel elongate track rails are substantially at the same height.

Claim 9

A weighing apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said weight responsive means comprises four strain gauge load cells, each said strain gauge load cell being respectively supported by one of said supporting means.

Claim 10

In a weighing apparatus for weighing a load moveable along an elongate track rail, the combination comprising: a weigh rail interposed in a gap in said elongate track rail; means for retaining said weigh rail in longitudinal alignment with the elongate track rail comprising an elongate splice bar of a length longer than said weigh rail, said splice bar having two elongate sections of equal length, one section located on each side abutting said weigh rail in parallel longitudinal alignment therewith such that portions of said sections extend beyond each end of said weigh rail, said sections rigidly secured to said first and said second elongate track rail sections at the portions extending beyond said weigh rail; first means for supporting a first end of said weigh rail from the adjacent end of the elongate track rail; second means for supporting the other end of said weigh rail from the adjacent end of the elongate track rail; said weigh rail being supported by said first and second support means in the gap in the elongate track rail such that said weigh rail is free from any additional supporting means along the length between said first supporting means and said second supporting means; and at least one weight responsive means responsive to the weight of the load on said weigh rail for providing a signal that is representative of the weight of the load on said weigh rail, said weight responsive means being supported by one of said supporting means.

Claim 11

In a weighing apparatus for weighing a load moveable along an elongate track rail, the combination comprising: a weigh rail interposed in a gap in said elongate track rail; means for retaining said weigh rail in longitudinal alignment with the elongate track rail comprising an elongate splice bar of a length longer than said weigh rail, said splice bar having two elongate sections of equal length, one section located on each side abutting said weigh rail in parallel longitudinal alignment therewith such that portions of said sections extend beyond each end of said weigh rail, said sections rigidly secured to said first and said second elongate track rail sections at the portions extending beyond said weigh rail; first means for supporting a first end of said weigh rail from the adjacent end of the elongate track rail; second means for supporting the other end of said weigh rail from the adjacent end of the elongate track rail; said weigh rail being supported by said first and second support means in the gap in the elongate track rail such that said weigh rail is free from any additional supporting means along the length between said first supporting means and said second supporting means; and at least one weight responsive means responsive to the weight of the load on said weigh rail for providing a signal that is representative of the weight of the load on said weigh rail, said weight responsive means being supported by one of said supporting means.

Claim 12

In a weighing apparatus for weighing a load moveable along an elongate track rail, the combination comprising: a weigh rail interposed in a gap in said elongate track rail; means for retaining said weigh rail in longitudinal alignment with the elongate track rail; first means for supporting a first end of said weigh rail from the adjacent end of the elongate track rail; second means for supporting the other end of said weigh rail from the adjacent end of the elongate track rail; said weigh rail being supported by said first and second support means in the gap in the elongate track rail such that said weigh rAil is free from any additional supporting means along the length between said first supporting means and said second supporting means; at least one weight responsive means responsive to the weight of the load on said weigh rail for providing a signal that is representative of the weight of the load on said weigh rail, said weight responsive means being supported by one of said supporting means; said first and second supporting means each comprising an elongate member secured to and extending outwardly from, respectively, an end of said weigh rail, said elongate member being supported at its outer ends from the end of the track rail section adjacent thereto.

Claim 13

In a weighing apparatus for weighing a load moveable along an elongate track rail, the combination comprising: a weigh rail interposed in a gap in said elongate track rail; means for retaining said weigh rail in longitudinal alignment with the elongate track rail; first means for supporting a first end of said weigh rail from the adjacent end of the elongate track rail; second means for supporting the other end of said weigh rail from the adjacent end of the elongate track rail; said weigh rail being supported by said first and second support means in the gap in the elongate track rail such that said weigh rAil is free from any additional supporting means along the length between said first supporting means and said second supporting means; at least one weight responsive means responsive to the weight of the load on said weigh rail for providing a signal that is representative of the weight of the load on said weigh rail, said weight responsive means being supported by one of said supporting means; said first and second supporting means each comprising an elongate member secured to and extending outwardly from, respectively, an end of said weigh rail, said elongate member being supported at its outer ends from the end of the track rail section adjacent thereto.

Claim 14

A weighing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said weight responsive means comprises first and second strain gauge load cells actuated by said elongate members.