GB2449548A

GB2449548A - Method and apparatus for weighing a load body of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2449548A
Application number: GB0809250A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Esa Myllari
Original assignee: Multilift Oy
Current assignee: Multilift Oy
Priority date: 2007-05-22
Filing date: 2008-05-21
Publication date: 2008-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 2028-05-21
Also published as: GB0809250D0; GB2449548B; FI20070401A0; FI119423B

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for weighing a load body 1 of a vehicle, the method comprising keeping the load body 1 on load body supports 3 or equivalent means in the transport position and support means 14 of weighing sensors 5 in the transport position; lifting the load body up from the load body supports; arranging the support means of the weighing sensors into the weighing position; lowering the load body into the weighing position so that the weight of the load body is directed to the support means of the weighing sensors; weighing the weight of the load body with the aid of the weighing sensors; lifting the load body up from the weighing position so that the directing of the weight of the load body on the support means of the weighing sensors ceases; arranging the support means of the weighing sensors from the weighing position into the transport position; and lowering the load body back onto the load body supports into the transport position. The load body is lifted and lowered between the weighing position and the transport position with the aid of a hook load body device 7. The invention relates to an apparatus for weighing the load body 1 of a vehicle, and a vehicle (13), in connection with which has been arranged an apparatus according to the invention shown in this application.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING A LOAD BODY AND A

VEHICLE

TECHNICAL FIELD RELATING TO THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for weighing a load body, and a vehicle in accordance with the preambles of the independent claims presented below.

PRIOR ART

Different solutions are known for weighing the load of a vehicle. The weighing apparatus can be arranged as a fixed part in connection with the frame and . axles of a vehicle or the chassis and cover structure for example the :. suspension of a truck. In these solutions the load is continuously on the * : weighing apparatus, which may over time damage the apparatus or weaken the S..

endurance of its precision. ** * S * SS.

Said problem is solved with an apparatus, where the load body of the vehicle is lifted or lowered with the aid of separate cylinders, so that the weight of the load body settles on the weighing sensors for the duration of the weighing. The cylinders in question are needless with regards to the other functions of the vehicle. The cylinders still cost quite much, require a suitable space and installation work in connection with the frame of the vehicle, as well as service in order to function. They also require their own actuators.

PURPOSE AND DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to reduce or even completely eliminate the above-mentioned weaknesses appearing in the prior art.

It is especially an object of this invention to reduce the costs of the apparatus meant for weighing the load body, which is in connection with the vehicle.

It is an object of this invention to reduce the investment, installation and service costs for the devices needed for weighing a load body in connection with a vehicle and for lifting the load body in connection with the weighing and the lack of space in connection with the vehicle frame. It is further an object to eliminate the constant load directed onto the sensors and thereby improve their accuracy.

In order to realise for instance the above-mentioned objects, the method and apparatus for weighing a load body and the vehicle according to the invention are characterised by what is presented in the characterising parts of the enclosed independent claims. * ** * S * * *5

*::* The embodiment examples mentioned in this text relate, where applicable, to both the method and apparatus for weighing a load body and the vehicle * according to the invention, even if this is not always specifically mentioned. *S. * 15

It has now surprisingly been discovered that by using a hook load body device and advantageously especially the main cylinder of a hook load body device for lifting and lowering the load body to be weighed, separate cylinders or other equivalent devices are not needed for lifting and lowering the load body in connection with the weighing.

In a typical method according to the invention for weighing a load body of a vehicle, -the load body is kept on load body supports or equivalent means in the transport position and support means of weighing sensors in the transport position, -the load body is lifted up from the load body supports, -the support means of the weighing sensors are arranged into the weighing position, -the load body is lowered into the weighing position so that the weight of the load body is directed to the support means of the weighing sensors, -the weight of the load body is weighed with the aid of the weighing sensors, -the load body is lifted up from the weighing position so that the directing of the weight of the load body on the support means of the weighing sensors ceases, -the support means of the weighing sensors are arranged from the weighing position into the transport position, and -the load body is lowered back onto the load body supports into the transport position, In the method the load body is lifted and lowered between the weighing position * and the transport position with the aid of a hook load body device. * * S...

A typical apparatus according to the invention for weighing a load body of a * : vehicle comprises

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* 15 -a frame which can be arranged in connection with a vehicle, :. -load body supports or equivalent means in connection with the frame, on which supports the load body can be arranged in order to be held in the transport position, -weighing sensors in connection with the frame for weighing the load body, -support means in connection with the weighing sensors, which support means can be arranged into the weighing position and the transport position, and to which the weight of the load body is directed in the weighing position, and -means for lifting and lowering the load body, The means for lifting and lowering the load body between the weighing position and the transport position is a hook load body device arranged in connection with the frame.

According to an embodiment of the invention the load body is lifted and lowered between the weighing position and the transport position with the motion of at least one main cylinder of the hook load body device.

In connection with a typical vehicle according to the invention has been arranged an apparatus as presented in the independent claims of this application for weighing the load body of a vehicle.

By vehicle is in this application meant for example a truck, in connection to which a load body can be arranged. The load body may for example be an open load body, a closed container or a tank with a hatch, such as a trash pallet. The load body to be weighed may of course be empty or there may be a load in it.

The load body is in this application also called just a load body. * I. * * * * S. **.*

By load body supports are meant means, whereon the load body is supposed to be held and onto which the main part of the weight of the load body is supposed * to be directed in the transport position. Normally the rail of the load body in the *..

* 15 bottom part of the load.body is arranged in the transport position on the load body supports. *

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* By transport position is meant the position, wherein among others the load body and the support means of the weighing sensors are meant to be held otherwise than during weighing, for example during driving and also otherwise most of the time. In the transport position the weight of the load body is placed mainly on the load body supports or equivalent means and then no weight of the load body is directed to the weighing sensors. By weighing position is meant the position, wherein among others the load body and the support means of the weighing sensors are meant to be held when the load body is weighed. When the support means of the weighing sensors are in the weighing position, the load body can be lowered into the weighing position. In the weighing position the upper surfaces of the support means are advantageously higher than the upper surfaces of the load body supports, whereby the weight of the load body settles completely on the support means and thus is not directed to the load body supports at all.

As weighing sensors can be used for example various prior art weighing sensors, which are suitable for the purpose. There can be e.g. four weighing sensors, e.g. so that two can be arranged under the left rail of the load body and two under the right one. Of the sensors, two may be e.g. in the front part of the frame and two in the rear part. The weighing sensors may be e.g. beside the load body supports. In connection with each weighing sensor there is a support means, which can be for example a roll, or another means onto which the weight of the load body can be directed so that the force caused by the weight is conveyed to the weighing sensor, with the aid of which the weight is measured. * ** * S S * S*

* In a method according to an embodiment of the invention the support means of :. the weighing sensors are arranged into the weighing position and transport * position by moving the support means mechanically in relation to the frame. The S..

* 15 apparatus preferably comprises means for performing this movement. *. * S

Advantageously the support means are arranged under the rail of the load body in the weighing position. In the transport position the support means are moved away from under the rail of the load body so that the weight of the load body is not directed to the support means, which lessens the stress directed to the sensors and thus improves their operation and the endurance of their precision, especially over a longer time.

In an embodiment the support means of the weighing sensor can be moved essentially in a horizontal direction between the weighing position and the transport position, for example so that the support means is moved along a horizontal conductor with the aid of a cylinder. The conductor may for example be a rail or a bar, in connection with which the support means is arranged so that the support means can be moved along the conductor.

The device can be made very simple with regards to its structure, if only the support means can be moved while the weighing sensor stays in its place. The above-mentioned means for moving the support means may be e.g. a hydraulic, pneumatic or electric cylinder.

By lifting and lowering of the load body is meant that the load body is moved vertically at least partially. The load body may thus also for example be lifted or lowered only at its one end so that the load body is tilted in its longitudinal direction in relation to the horizontal plane and for example the frame of the vehicle. The load body can be lifted for example so that it tilts in its longitudinal direction with about 5 degrees or for example 1-9 degrees, so that the front end of the load body is higher than the back end. * .* ** * * **

By a hook load body device is meant a device according to prior art meant for handling a load body or similar of a vehicle, with the help of which device the * :" load body can be e.g. tipped or lifted from the ground onto the vehicle and *** * 15 lowered back to the ground. Generally the hook load body device comprises at least an auxiliary frame and one main cylinder. Instead of an auxiliary frame, the hook load body device may also be integrated into the frame of the vehicle.

Generally the hook load body device comprises an intermediate frame, which is moveable with the aid of the main cylinder, and a hook frame, which functions as a telescope-like or pivoted extension of the intermediate frame, and furthermore a rear frame. The hook load body device is meant to be arranged in connection with the frame of the vehicle. According to the invention the load body is lifted and lowered for the weighing generally by moving the intermediate frame and the hook frame with the aid of a main cylinder. Also the rear frame may be moved at the same time.

According to an embodiment of the invention the movements of the hook load body device and the weighing sensors or their parts are programmed in connection with the apparatus according to the invention as shown in this application so that the apparatus automatically performs the stages of the method according to the invention.

The frame, which can be arranged in connection with the vehicle, may be e.g. the auxiliary frame of a load body device or the frame of a vehicle.

The advantage of the invention, as defined in the independent claims, is that when the load body is lifted and lowered with the hook load body device, and advantageously especially with the movement of the main cylinder of the hook load body device, no separate cylinders are needed for lifting and lowering the load body when weighing the load body. The solution saves investment, installation and service costs and space in connection with the frame of the vehicle. Separate steering devices are also not needed, wherefore the use of the solution according to the invention is easier than known solutions. S... * S S...

:. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

* The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the enclosed 15 schematic drawing, in which :. Figure 1 shows an apparatus for weighing the load body of a vehicle according * to the first embodiment of the invention in connection with a vehicle, *SSS.* * Figure 2 shows an apparatus according to the second embodiment of the invention, and Figures 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b show a part of the apparatus for weighing the load body of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLES OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 shows an apparatus for weighing the load body 1 of a vehicle according to the first embodiment of the invention in connection with a vehicle 13. The figure shows the frame 9 of the apparatus, which in this example is the auxiliary frame of a hook load body device. Furthermore, the figure shows among others the hook frame 7 of the hook load body device. In connection with the auxiliary frame 9 there are load body supports 3, whereon the load body 1 is arranged in the transport position. In connection with the auxiliary frame 9 there are also weighing sensors 5 for weighing the weight of the load body 1.

Figure 2 shows an apparatus according to the second embodiment of the invention. The load body 1 has been lifted up from the load body supports 3 by using the main cylinder 2 of the hook load body device so that the rear frame 8 of the hook load body device and with it the intermediate frame 4 and the hook frame 7 are turned in relation to the tipping hinge 10. In the situation in the figure the weight of the load body 1 is not directed to the load body supports 3 or onto the support means of the weighing sensors 5, but to the hook frame 7 and the rear roller 6. When the load body 1 has been lifted, the support means of the weighing sensors 5 can be arranged into the weighing position, ** whereafter the load body can be lowered into the weighing position. The *::::* weighing position is otherwise similar to the transport position according to :. figure 1, but in the weighing position the weight of the load body 1 is directed to * the support means of the weighing sensors 5, when it is in the transport position 15 directed to the load body supports 3. In the situation in figure 2 the load body 1 :. is for the sake of the clarity of the example lifted so that it is tilted by about 10 degrees, but in reality a smaller lift, e.g. about 5 degrees is usually well sufficient.

Figures 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b show in a perspective view a part of the apparatus for weighing the load body I of a vehicle 13 according to an embodiment of the invention. In the figures is seen a part of the auxiliary frame 9 and in connection with it the load body support 3 and the weighing sensor 5, the support means 14 of which is in figures 3a and 3b arranged in the transport position and in figures 4a and 4b in the weighing position. In the transport position in figures 3a and 3b the support means 14 of the weighing sensor 5 is arranged away from the line marked by the broken line, where the bottom of the load body I to be weighed or the rail of the load body in connection with the bottom is meant to be arranged. In the situation in figures 3a and 3b the rail of the load body would set on the load body supports 3, as in the normal transport position. In the weighing position in figures 4a and 4b the support means 14 is moved along the essentially horizontal conductor 16 to the line marked by the broken line 20, whereby the bottom of the load body to be weighed or the rail of the load body in connection with the bottom settles on the support means 14, since the upper surface 14a of the support means is higher than the upper surface 3a of the load body support. The moving of the support means 14 takes place with the aid of a transfer device 15, which in this case is a pneumatic cylinder, which is connected to the support means 14 via the shaft 15a of the cylinder.

The invention is not meant to be limited to the embodiments shown as examples above but, on the contrary, the aim is to interpret it extensively within the scope of protection defined in the claims below. * S. * * S * ** *.** * . S... S. * S * SS* S..

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Claims

1. A method for weighing a load body (1) of a vehicle, the method comprising -keeping the load body (1) on load body supports (3) or equivalent means in the transport position and support means (14) of weighing sensors (5) in the transport position, -lifting the load body up from the load body supports, -arranging the support means of the weighing sensors into the weighing position, -lowering the load body into the weighing position so that the weight of the load body is directed to the SUPPOrt means of the weighing sensors, -weighing the weight of the load body with the aid of the weighing sensors, -lifting the load body up from the weighing position so that the directing of : 15 the weight of the load body on the support means of the weighing sensors ceases, ::.::; -arranging the support means of the weighing sensors from the weighing position into the transport position, and -lowering the load body back onto the load body supports into the transport position, characterised in that the load body is lifted and lowered between the weighing position and the transport position with the aid of a hook load body device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that the load body (1) is lifted and lowered with the motion of at least one main cylinder (2) of the hook load body device.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the support means (14) of the weighing sensors (5) are arranged in the weighing position and transport position by moving the support means mechanically in relation to a frame (9).

4. An apparatus for weighing a load body (I) of a vehicle, which apparatus comprises -a frame (9) which can be arranged in connection with a vehicle (13), -load body supports (3) or equivalent means in connection with the frame, on which supports the load body (1) can be arranged in order to be held in the transport position, -weighing sensors (5) in connection with the frame for weighing the load body, -support means (14) in connection with the weighing sensors, which support means can be arranged into the weighing position and the transport position, and to which the weight of the load body is directed in the weighing position, and -means for lifting and lowering the load body, characterised in that the means for lifting and lowering the load body between 15 the weighing position and the transport position is a hook load body device arranged in connection with the frame.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that the means for lifting and lowering the load body (1) between the weighing position and the transport position is at least one main cylinder (2) of the hook load body device.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that it comprises means (15) for moving the support means (14) of the weighing sensors (5) in relation to the frame (9) mechanically into the weighing position and the transport position.

7. The apparatus according to any of the claims 4-6, characterised in that said frame (9) is the auxiliary frame of a hook load body device.

8. The apparatus according to any of the claims 4-7, characterised in that the support means (14) of the weighing sensors (5) can be moved substantially in a horizontal direction between the weighing position and transport position.

9. A vehicle (13), in connection with which an apparatus according to any of the claims 4-8 has been arranged. * . * . S * **

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