US3782486A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Measuring transient loads
Assignee: South African Inventions Development Corp
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Filing: 1971-05-12
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Granted: 1974-01-01
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Expires: 1991-05-12
Abstract
Abstract A device for sensing and measuring a transient load, such as a load imposed by at least one wheel on an axle of a passing vehicle, comprising a flexible and resilient mat formed of a dielectric and elastomeric material and adapted to be engaged by the load, and at least two vertically spaced capacitor electrodes embedded in and extending over substantially the entire operative area of the mat. The electrodes are connected to a device for detecting variations in the electrode spacing owing to transient loads. Void areas are located in the body of the mat to provide for mat deformation that is linearly proportional to the magnitude of the applied load. Preferably, the void areas are uniformly distributed in the mat and extend substantially from one of the electrodes to the other electrode.
Inventors
- 👤 S Kuhn
- 👤 J Basson
- 👤 C Freeme
- 👤 R Beulink
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 14:05
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/22; G08B13/26; G01; G01G; G01G7/00; G01G7/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A device For sensing and measuring a transient load imposed by at least one wheel on an axle of a passing vehicle, comprising: a resiliently flexible mat formed of a dielectric and elastomeric material and adapted to be engaged by the wheel, at least two vertically spaced capacitor electrodes embedded in and extending over substantially the entire operative area of the mat, means for connecting the electrodes to a device for detecting variations in the electrode spacing due to transient loads, and void areas located in the body of the mat to provide for mat deformation that is linearly proportional to the magnitude of an applied load, said void areas being uniformly distributed in the mat and extending at least substantially from one of said electrodes to the other.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A device For sensing and measuring a transient load imposed by at least one wheel on an axle of a passing vehicle, comprising: a resiliently flexible mat formed of a dielectric and elastomeric material and adapted to be engaged by the wheel, at least two vertically spaced capacitor electrodes embedded in and extending over substantially the entire operative area of the mat, means for connecting the electrodes to a device for detecting variations in the electrode spacing due to transient loads, and void areas located in the body of the mat to provide for mat deformation that is linearly proportional to the magnitude of an applied load, said void areas being uniformly distributed in the mat and extending at least substantially from one of said electrodes to the other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said void areas are substantially parallel spaced passages passing through the mat with their principal axes in parallelism with an underlying road surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device claimed in claim 2 wherein said passages are substantially straight ducts passing through the mat in a substantially lengthwise direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrodes include a base electrode, a central electrode and an overlying electrode, said electrodes being disposed in vertically spaced relationship relative to each other, and the base and overlying electrodes being coupled and adapted for earth connection, thereby to shield the central electrode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device claimed in claim 4 wherein the overlying electrode includes an element of conducting material having a resiliently flexible character.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device claimed in claim 1 including switch means operable by a load to trigger the device into operation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The device claimed in claim 6 wherein said switch means comprises two plates disposed within said mat, said plates normally being separated when there is no load on said mat, one of said plates being movable into contact with the other plate in response to a load on the mat.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2649579A
Cited
US2614416A
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US2939059A
Cited
FR1177159A
Cited
US2965877A
Cited
US3177967A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-31 | 1977-07-02 | 1978-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-31 | 1981-07-02 | 1982-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-31 | 1985-07-02 | 1986-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |