US3867990A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Weighing apparatus for truck and vehicle loads
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-05-23
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Granted: 1975-02-25
•
Expires: 1994-05-23
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for providing an indication of the weight of a load on a vehicle or on any part of the vehicle comprising a sensing means operable between a moving part and a stationary part of the vehicle and sensing the distance between the stationary part and the moving part, a transducer unit converting any alteration of the said distance detected by the sensing means into a proportional electric property and an electrical gauge receiving the output from said transducer unit characterised in that the transducer unit includes a spindle associated with a light beam, a shutter for the light beam and a photoelectric cell receiving the light beam the arrangement being such that alteration of the said distance detected by the sensing means is followed by proportional rotation of the spindle which causes the light beam to be proportionately modified by the shutter in a manner which is detectable by the photoelectric cell and converted into a proportional electric property.
Inventors
- 👤 Malcolm Anthony Askew
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:46
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G19/00; G01G19/08; G01G19/12; G01G23/00; G01G23/18; G01G23/36; G01G23/361; B; B60; B60G; B60G2200/00; B60G2200/30; B60G2204/00; B60G2204/10; B60G2204/11; B60G2204/40; B60G2204/421; B60G2204/422; B60G2400/00; B60G2400/25; B60G2400/252; B60G2400/60; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S177/00; Y10S177/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for providing an indication of the weight of a load on a vehicle or on any part of the vehicle comprising a sensing means operable between a moving part and a stationary part of the vehicle and sensing the distance between the stationary part and the moving part, a transducer unit converting any alteration of the said distance detected by the sensing means into a proportional electric property and an electrical gauge receiving the output from said transducer unit characterised in that the transducer unit includes a spindle associated with a light beam, a shutter for the light beam and a photoelectric cell receiving the light beam, the arrangement being such that alteration of the said distance detected by the sensing means is followed by proportional rotation of the spindle which causes the light beam to be proportionately modified by the shutter in a manner which is detectable by the photoelectric cell and converted into a proportional electric property.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for providing an indication of the weight of a load on a vehicle or on any part of the vehicle comprising a sensing means operable between a moving part and a stationary part of the vehicle and sensing the distance between the stationary part and the moving part, a transducer unit converting any alteration of the said distance detected by the sensing means into a proportional electric property and an electrical gauge receiving the output from said transducer unit characterised in that the transducer unit includes a spindle associated with a light beam, a shutter for the light beam and a photoelectric cell receiving the light beam, the arrangement being such that alteration of the said distance detected by the sensing means is followed by proportional rotation of the spindle which causes the light beam to be proportionately modified by the shutter in a manner which is detectable by the photoelectric cell and converted into a proportional electric property.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the potential across the photoelectric cell is controlled by a voltage control means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein on rotation of the spindle, the shutter moves across the light beam to proportionately alter the quantity of incident light falling on the active surface area of the photoelectric cell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the shutter is rigidly mounted on the spindle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the shutter is an eccentrically mounted circular plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the light beam is produced from a light source shining through a narrow rectangular aperture, and wherein the eccentrically mounted circular plate is located in front of the aperture such that on rotation of the spindle the plate exposes more light in the lightbeam to the photoelectric cell.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sensing means includes a sensor arm having two rigid end portions joined by a spring in a turnbuckle effect, with the rigid end portions being adapted to be connected between the moving part and the stationary part of the vehicle in such a manner as to detect any change in the alteration of the aforesaid distance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
93 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein one of the rigid end portions of the sensor arm is connected through a toggle arm to a spindle in the transducer means, with the other rigid arm portion pivotably connected to one part of the vehicle being either the moving part or stationary part and the transducer means connected to the other part such that alteration of the distance between the stationary and moveable part of the vehicle is converted by the sensor arm through the toggle arm into rotational movement of the spindle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the pivotal attachments are elbow joints.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein one end of the toggle arm is pivotally attached to the rigid end portion of the sensor arm with the other end of the toggle arm being rigidly attached to the spindle rotateably mounted in the transducer means and where a buffering means is provided to prevent the toggle arm rotating more than a desired angle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the spring joining the rigid end portions is an expansion spring.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
An apparatus aS claimed in claim 11 wherein the rigid end portion attached to the toggle arm is curved in a rigid manner towards the spindle such that the direction of the force on the sensor arm when the toggle arm strikes the buffering means assists the spring joining the rigid end portions to buckle in a resilient manner.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3409097A
Cited
US3661221A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-24 | 1978-08-26 | 1979-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-24 | 1982-08-26 | 1983-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-24 | 1986-08-26 | 1987-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |