Trailer dumping and weighing system

Claim 2

In combination: a supporting base adapted to support the weight of a loaded vehicle; a lift positioned above said base, adapted to support a loaded vehicle and to tilt the loaded vehicle from a generally horizontal position to a tilted position; a first lift supporting member positioned on said base below said lift, adapted to support either tensional loads or compressional loads thereon, and including load sensing means adapted for sensing either tensional loads or compressional loads thereon; a hinge means operatively connecting said first lift support member to said lift; a second lift supporting member positioned on said base below said lift, adapted to support compressional loads thereon, and including load sensing means adapted for sensing compressional loads thereon; extensible means operatively connected between said lift and said second lift supporting member; means for effecting extension of said extensible means to extend the same, thereby to pivot the lift about said hinge means to tilt said vehicle; and means for measuring loads on said first load supporting member and said second load supporting member from the load sensing means thereof and calculating the Weight of said vehicle on said lift from the measurements.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 further comprising a third lift support member positioned on said base below said lift, adapted for supporting said lift when said lift is in said generally horizontal position, said lift being freely movable horizontally with respect to the third lift support member.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1 wherein said first lift supporting member is a tension-compression load sensing electronic load cell.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 wherein said second lift supporting member is a compression load sensing electronic load cell.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 1 wherein said extensible means comprises a piston and cylinder means, a pin on the lower end of said piston and cylinder means, and a trunnion mounted upon said second supporting member, whereby said piston and cylinder means is operatively connected with said second supporting member.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 5 further comprising check stay means rigidly connected to said trunnion, whereby said lift and said second support member are horizontally fixed.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 1 wherein said hinge means comprises: a pin attached to said lift; and a trunnion fixed to said first load sensing means.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 7 further comprising check stay means rigidly connected to said trunnion, whereby said lift and said first supporting member are horizontally fixed.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 7 wherein said trunnion has an opening of substantially the same size as the diameter of said pin, whereby said pin is fitted snugly and rotatably into the opening of said trunnion.

Claim 11

In combination: a supporting base adapted to support the weight of a loaded vehicle; a weighbridge positioned above said base; a first weighbridge supporting member adapted to support either tensional loads or compressional loads thereon, the bottom thereof being attached to said base and the top thereof being attached to a first end of said weighbridge, including load sensing means adapted for sensing either tensional loads or compressional loads thereon; a second weighbridge supporting member adapted to support compressional loads thereon, the bottom thereof being positioned on said base and the top thereof being attached to a second end of said weighbridge, including load sensing means adapted for sensing compressional loads thereon; a lift positioned above said weighbridge, adapted to support a loaded vehicle and to tilt the loaded vehicle from a generally horizontal position to a tilted position; a hinge means operatively connecting said first end of said weighbridge with said lift; an extensible means operatively connected between said second end of said weighbridge and said lift operable to extend and thereby to pivot said lift about said hinge means and tilt said vehicle; and means for measuring loads on said first weighbridge supporting member and said second weighbridge supporting member from the load sensing means thereof and calculating the weight of said vehicle on said lift from the measurements.

Claim 12

In combination: a supporting base adapted to support the weight of a loaded vehicle; a weighbridge positioned above said base; a first weighbridge supporting member adapted to support either tensional loads or compressional loads thereon, the bottom thereof being attached to said base and the top thereof being attached to a first end of said weighbridge, including load sensing means adapted for sensing either tensional loads or compressional loads thereon; a second weighbridge supporting member adapted to support compressional loads thereon, the bottom thereof being positioned on said base and the top thereof being attached to a second end of said weighbridge, including load sensing means adapted for sensing compressional loads thereon; a lift positioned above said weighbridge, adapted to support a loaded vehicle and to tilt the loaded vehicle from a generally horizontal position to a tilted position; a hinge means operatively connecting said first end of said weighbridge with said lift; an extensible means operatively connected between said second end of said weighbridge and said lift operable to extend and thereby to pivot said lift about said hinge means and tilt said vehicle; and means for measuring loads on said first weighbridge supporting member and said second weighbridge supporting member from the load sensing means thereof and calculating the weight of said vehicle on said lift from the measurements.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 10 further comprising a lift support member mounted on said base below said lift for supporting said lift when said lift is in said generally horizontal position, said lift being freely movable horizontally with respect to said lift support member to accommodate changes in the length of said lift.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 10 further comprising a first bracket mounted on the first end of said weighbridge whereby said first weighbridge supporting member is pivotally attached to said first end of said weighbridge.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 10 further comprising a second bracket mounted on said base below said first weighbridge supporting member, whereby said first weighbridge supporting member is pivotally attached to said base.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 10 wherein said extensible means comprises Cylinder and piston means, a pin on the lower end of said cylinder and piston means and a trunnion mounted on said weighbridge below said cylinder and piston means, whereby said cylinder and piston means is pivotally connected with said weighbridge.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 10 further comprising check stay means rigidly connected to said weighbridge, whereby said weighbridge and said lift are horizontally fixed.

Claim 18

The combination of claim 10 wherein said first weighbridge supporting member is a tension-compression load sensing electronic load cell.

Claim 19

The combination of claim 10 wherein said second weighbridge supporting member is a compression load sensing electronic load cell.

Claim 20

The combination of claim 10 wherein said hinge means comprises: a pin attached to said lift; and a trunnion mounted on said first end of said weighbridge.

Claim 21

The combination of claim 18 wherein said trunnion has an opening of substantially the same size as the diameter of said pin, whereby said pin is fitted snugly and rotatably into the opening of said trunnion.