Patent Application
20170023397
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The following description relates to a portable or stationary smart scale that is capable of electronically measuring, recording, and formatting static axle load data for transmitting a formatted certified document to a communication device, email, printer, or any other wire or wireless capable destination known to those of ordinary skill in the art using embedded programming technology. Along with the axle load data, a local time and date stamp when the axle loads were measured, and GPS coordinates where the axle loads were measured may also be transmitted. In addition, electro-mechanical variations of this capability may be configured to yield a real time axle load collection and monitoring system for the purpose of real time load optimization during the loading process of a semi-tractor trailer, large vehicle, truck, box, or any other shipping container known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
Under some circumstances, the weight of each axle of a tractor-trailer, truck, heavy vehicle, or other transportation container, may need to be substantially determined before the vehicle exits the dock subsequent to the loading process. For example, after the loading of a trailer at a loading dock, the trailer may not have been loaded such that the loaded cargo is distributed among all axles optimally. Moreover, the distribution of the loaded cargo may be such that the limit load per axle is exceeded. In these situations, the driver most likely is unaware that this condition exists when exiting the dock. As a reassurance, the driver may desire to weigh each axle of the loaded vehicle substantially to ensure that the axles are not over loaded, and that the gross weight of the vehicle is within the allowable limit—before leaving the dock. Similarly, this same sort of load checking may be applied to other vehicles, trucks, heavy vehicles, transportation containers, containment structures, or any other means of transporting or containing goods in a manner known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
The axle load measurement data, made by the proposed il-Scale, may be recorded, stored, and sent electronically to a remote telecommunication device or other recording devices in the form of a certified secured electronic formatted output substantially. The measurement device and overall measurement system may be calibrated for accuracy in a manner that is traceable to certified national standards for weights and measures. For example, date and local time when the axle loads were measured substantially, the GPS location data where the axle loads were recorded substantially, the magnitude of each axle load, and the gross vehicle weight may be recorded electronically for the purpose of outputting certified weight measurements with time and location data as substantial legal documentation in an acceptable format as known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
If a trailer is not loaded properly—and one or more axle loads of the trailer are over the design limit—the trailer must return to the dock that it launched from to have the trailer reloaded such that each axle load is under the design limit. The truck driver, the trucking company, and the dock experience a substantial added cost involved due to the event of overloaded axles. In addition to the fine that the driver is faced with from the state highway patrol, or other authority, the return trip back to the dock, comes with costs. The obvious costs are: fuel, time, wear and tear on the vehicle; other higher order costs such as opportunity costs involved with accidents, driver fatigue, and other substantial costs known to those with ordinary skill in the industry also haunt the return trip back to the dock. Sometimes, the axle overload is not discovered for several hundred miles into the leg of the trip from the dock to the cargo destination. The greater the distance—the more amplified these cost are. Of course, the time penalty appears in many ways. The trip back to the dock and back to the point of turnaround, the time spent waiting to start the reload, the time to reload become substantial. The possible opportunity costs are enormous and are too cumbersome -to mention here; however, the phrase “doing that—while one should have been doing something else” attempts to describe the essence qualitatively. From a quantitative vantage point, the different outcome for each overload is negative, mainly. The associated penalty, relative to the dock, is the time to schedule a reload, the time to reload, and any schedule deviations required to accommodate the reloading of the overloaded trailer. Other costs not mentioned here and that are common knowledge to those of ordinary skill in the art are also part of the penalty. Hence, the need for a device, or set of devices, which minimizes substantially the event of an overloaded axle, overloaded axles, or overloaded gross vehicle weight.
Numerous patents exist which provide technology for determining axle loads of heavy vehicles; however, none were found to combine the recorded measurement data via embedded programming into a substantial formatted electronic certified document that contains the date, time and location of when and where the axle loads where recorded.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,122,600 (Sonderegger) uses a shear crystal to measure the shear force of an overrunning wheel in reference to verifying the functional efficiency of braking and ABS systems. The patent does not reference any wireless forms of communication to relay measurements to printers, cell phones or smart phones.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,995,888 (Hagenbuch) present an onboard apparatus for processing data from the weight of a load carried by a haulage vehicle, that combined with additional data provides a historical data base of vehicle operations. A wireless data transfer link is used with the device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,742,914 (Hagenbuch) refers to an onboard pressure transducer for determining axle weight. A wireless data transfer link is sited in the patent.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,650,930 (Hagenbuch) refers to an onboard sensing apparatus and method for monitoring dynamically a load of material by means of an inclinometer or sensor which monitors the drive train. The data is time and date stamped for historic retrieval purposes. Downloading the time and date stamped weight data to a remote site via wireless data transfer link is also noted.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,650,928 (Hagenbuch) refers to 3 sensors for determining the amount of work a vehicle performs. Transmitters are used to communicate data to the onboard processor from the sensors onboard. The sensors detect: inclination, weight, and travel distance and vehicle location. The collected data may be used to dispatch vehicles and a means for material tracking, weight detection, and haulage condition.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,489 (Hagenbuch) reports the usage of a sensor—mounted to a vehicle—that detects a machine readable code for material identification. The vehicle includes a weighing device for determining material weight.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,835 (Hagenbuch) refers to an apparatus that retrieves a container code in conjunction with a loading event and senses the load increment then generates data indicative thereof. The recorded data is then further processed. A wireless data transfer link is also used.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,832 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,499 (Hagenbuch) report an onboard apparatus that processes weight load data carried by a haulage vehicle. A sensor processer unit detects load level changes for further manipulation. A wireless data transfer link is also used.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,499 (Hagenbuch) an apparatus for identifying containers. The apparatus includes an onboard weighing device for sensing the weight added to the vehicle and generating weight data for load history storage. A wireless data transfer link is also used.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,347 (Hagenbuch) discloses an apparatus that detects a change in load of a haulage vehicle. Data is received from a pressure transducer to establish a load history and further manipulation of the data. A wireless data transfer link is used also.
None of the references above disclose a device that measures and records the axle load data via embedded programming and creating a formatted electronic document that contains the time and location of when and where the axle loads where substantially measured, and recorded with the data outputted as a certified weight measurement
The present invention is a device that determines the axle loads substantially of a semi-tractor trailer or heavy duty vehicle while the vehicle is in close proximity of the loading dock. The device system records substantially the steering axle load, drive axle load, and tandem axle load, retrieves substantially the local time and date just after the axle loads are measured, obtains substantially the GPS coordinates of the location where the axle loads were measured, formats substantially the data into a certified electronic document, then passes this information on to a communication device, laptop, notepad, or printer using wireless or wired technology via embedded programming techniques. An auxiliary indicator light set, that receives wireless or wired signals from the scale, may provide visual or audio indicators to the driver as a means to indicate the position of the axle relative to the sensing element substantially; and, is also a part of the proposed invention. To use the subject invention: in the preferred embodiment the driver places the portable scale just forward of the port and starboard tires attached to an axle that needs to be measured for static load. The driver sets the indicator light next to the portside scale such that the light display is visible to the driver from the cab of the tractor. After turning the scale on, the driver proceeds to slowly drive the wheels of the axle on top the scale substantially. The induced load imparted from the axle to the scale causes the vertical stiffening plate to contact the sensor element, which in turn, activates substantially the indicator lights to turn amber, then red. Once the red light is lit, the driver stops to allow the il-Scale to complete the load measurement; as, the sensor is activated and the axle load measurement is taken and recorded substantially. Once the measurement is complete, the green light on the indicator light strip becomes lit signalling the driver that he is now free to slowly move the tractor—trailer axle off of the scale. This process is repeated as many times that it takes to record all axle loads.
The il-Scale is retractable using a guide and slider arm. This mechanism—not shown—has several pin locations, along the forward and aft direction, for spacing the platforms depending on the service requirement. The guide may be a C-channel, square tubing, or any other section shape capable of allowing the translational degree of freedom along aft to forward while zeroing out the other translational and rotational degrees of freedom substantially.
Analysis shows that the linear strain field in a material body induced by any loading system is governed by the principal of superposition. This implies that the strain gage 004 sensors may be strategically placed onto the interior of the sensor element 003 such that the axle load and an over loaded axle may be monitored while strain gages remain within the recommended strain range.
Once the trailer is loaded with contents, the measured axle load data may be formatted into a document and sent wirelessly or in a wired manner to a cell phone, notepad, facsimile, printer, or other electronic message or other storage system know to those with ordinary skill in the art. The document may be of a certified, tamper proof, form detailing: the time and date that the measurement was made and the certified message was sent, the weight of the steering wheels, the weight of the drive axles, the weight of the tandem axles, and the GPS location that the measurement was taken. The signal from the analog output of the load sensors is converted to digital using an A/D circuit embedded in the device. The digitized output is marshaled and transmitted to the device destination via the embedded Bluetooth module. The cell phone application stores and processes the data, and using the built-in GPS sensor places the location and time of the sample into the database. The operator then has the option of printing or saving the scale values. The operator also has the ability to encrypt the data on the cell phone if desired. In an alternative embodiment the digitized output is processed within a wired, dedicated central processing unit, using an application that stores and processes the data and using a built in GPS sensor places the location and time of the measurements into memory for future access. The operator would have the option of printing or saving the data to a remote storage device or site.
The scale may be constructed from any metal alloy, synthetic, or composite material, or hybrid combinations thereof. Those versed in the state of the art would recognize that different shapes/configurations may be employed for minimizing material usage while maximizing the durability of the scale. At least two scales are needed to measure the weight of each set of wheels on the port side and starboard side of the trailer.
The scale may house some or all of the following: electronic hardware, the rechargeable battery pack and auxiliary electrical power port, the ON/OFF switch, a motherboard, a central processing unit, data storage and program memory, communications port, GPS unit, wireless communication module, various associated discrete components and the electronic wiring harness required for building the smart scale system. The housing, electronic hardware both remote and on board, application software both remote and onboard and scale support will compose an integrated configuration of the product.
The subject invention, associated features, usage, and enhancement of both tandem and steering axle weight may be better understood by referencing drawings 1 through 9.
