GB2455073A

GB2455073A - Vehicle load monitor

Info

Publication number: GB2455073A
Application number: GB0722916A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Fraser Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-11-22
Filing date: 2007-11-22
Publication date: 2009-06-03
Also published as: GB0722916D0

Abstract

Disclosed Is a vehicle comprising a vehicle body and a plurality of axles, each of which Is attached to the vehicle body through at least one axle support 18 and at least one suspension assembly, each suspension assembly comprising a resilient compressible member, leaf spring 4, and having a distance transducer associated with the suspension assembly. The distance transducer comprises a coil spring 20 and is operable to provide a signal that is related to the distance between two locations on the vehicle, the distance between two locations being variable and dependent on the compression of the respective leaf spring, wherein the vehicle further comprises means for providing indications concerning the load bearing down on each of two or more of the plurality of axles responsive to the signals of distance transducers associated with suspension assemblies through which the two or more of the plurality of axles are attached to the vehicle body. There is also disclosed a vehicle comprising a vehicle body having a plurality of axles, load sensing means for sensing the load bearing down on each of two or more of the plurality of axles, and indicator means for providing an indication related to the load bearing down on two or more of the plurality of axles responsive to the loads sensed by the load sensing means.

Description

1 2455073 I Vehicle Load Monitor

3 Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of monitoring the load applied to a vehicle.

6 In particular, the invention relates to the monitoring of the load applied to individual 7 wheel-bearing axles on a vehicle.

*:* Background to the invention * *..

11 It is important to ensure that the load (i.e. weight) bearing down on the axles of a vehicle is not excessive. Goods vehicles, such as vans and trucks, are subject to *;..43 checks as to whether their gross weight (comprising the weight of the unloaded 14 vehicle and the weight of its load) exceeds a predetermined maximum capacity.

.15 Nevertheless, a vehicle might be loaded such that the load bearing down on some of 16 the axles of a vehicle is excessive, but that the overall gross weight of the vehicle 17 does not appear to be excessive.

19 The invention aims to measure the load bearing down on individual vehicle axles and to indicate to the driver of the vehicle, or to persons who are loading the vehicle, 21 whether the load bearing down on individual axles is excessive.

1 Summary of the invention

3 According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle 4 comprising a vehicle body and a plurality of axles, each of which is attached to the vehicle body through at least one axle support and at least one suspension 6 assembly, each suspension assembly comprising a resilient compressible member 7 and having a distance transducer associated with the suspension assembly, each 8 distance transducer being operable to provide a signal that is related to the distance 9 between two locations on the vehicle, the said distance between two locations being variable dependent on the compression of the respective resilient compressible 11 member, wherein the vehicle further comprises means for providing indications 12 concerning the load bearing down on each of two or more of the plurality of axles 13 responsive to the signals of distance transducers associated with suspension 14 assemblies through which the two or more of the plurality of axles are attached to the vehicle body.

17 An axle support supports an axle (to which ground engaging wheels are fitted in use) 18 while allowing it to rotate. A suspension assembly functions to resiliently attach an 19 axle support to a vehicle body, while the or each resilient compressible member flexes to absorb bumps in uneven ground.

22 Due to the load bearing down on a suspension assembly, the resilient compressible 23 members will almost always be in a state of compression. When a vehicle is *.:24 stationary, the compression will increase with increasing load. Thus, the distance *5 between two locations on the vehicle, the distance between which is variable S SS* 26 dependent on the compression of the respective resilient compressible member, can be used as a measure of the load bearing down on a specific suspension assembly and thus an axle attached to the vehicle body through the individual suspension 29 assembly. Preferably, the locations are selected such that the distance between :.o them varies monotonically with the compression of the respective resilient 31 compressible member. Typically, the locations will be selected such that a line 32 between them would at least partially span the respective resilient compressible 33 member.

Preferably, the plurality of axles constitutes each ground engaging wheel supporting 36 axle of the vehicle body which supports at least one ground engaging wheel.

1 Some or all of the distance transducers will generally be physically attached to the 2 two locations on the vehicle associated with the respective distance transducer. The 3 two locations may be located on either side of the respective resilient compressible 4 member. For example, one location may be on the vehicle body (e.g. the chassis) and the other location may be on the axle support.

7 Preferably, one or both of the said locations associated with some or all of the 8 distance transducers may be on the respective resilient compressible member. For 9 example, one location may be on the vehicle body (e.g. the chassis) and the other location may be on the respective resilient compressible member. One location may 11 be on the axle support and the other location may be on the respective resilient 12 compressible member. In these configurations, the change in the distance between 13 the locations with the compression of the respective resilient compressible member 14 will generally be less than the corresponding change in the distance between the axle support and the body of the vehicle. This may be beneficial when the distance 16 transducers work better or are designed to operate over a variation in distances 17 which is shorter than the typical variation in the compression of the respective 18 resilient compressible member. For example, some or all of the distance transducers 19 may comprise a spring which extends from the respective first location to the respective second location. If the spring is attached to a location within the 21 respective resilient compressible member, it will expand and contract by a lesser 22 amount in use than if the spring extended from the body of the vehicle to the 23 respective axle support. Thus, a spring with a lower yield strength (the maximum stress without which permanent deformation occurs) can be used than would be the case if the spring needed to vary in length by the same amount as the respective 26 resilient compressible member. Alternatively, the locations may both be on the *.27 respective resilient compressible member provided that the locations move apart or : 8 together as the compression of the respective resilient compressible member varies.

::o Typically, some or all of the resilient compressible members comprise an elongate 31 resiliently bendable unit, such as a leaf spring, both ends of which are attached to the 32 body (e.g. the chassis) of the vehicle, an intermediate portion of which is attached to 33 the axle support (and is thus generally below the ends of the resiliently bendable 34 unit). One of the two locations on the vehicle, the distance between which locations is variable depending on the compression of the respective resilient compressible 36 member, is typically part of the respective elongate resiliently bendable unit.

37 Typically, this location is part way between one end of the respective elongate 1 resiliently bendable unit and the respective intermediate portion. The other location 2 may also be on the respective elongate resiliently bendable unit or the axle support, 3 but preferably the other location is on the body of the vehicle.

Preferably, some or all of the distance transducers comprises an elastic member and 6 a strain gauge, which is attached to the elastic member, for measuring the strain in 7 the elastic member. Preferably, the said elastic members are elongate. Typically, 8 the said strain gauges are attached to one of the said locations associated with the 9 respective distance transducer, and the said elastic members are attached at one end to the other said location associated with the respective distance transducer and 11 at the other end to the respective strain gauge. The strain is a function (typically a 12 linear function) of the extension of the respective elastic member. Typically, some or 13 all of the distance transducers will produce an electrical signal (typically a voltage or a 14 digitally encoded number) which is indicative of the strain and thus the distance between the two said locations associated with the respective distance transducers, 16 and thus the toad bearing down on the respective individual suspension assemblies, 17 and thus the load bearing down on the respective axles through the respective 18 individual suspension assemblies.

Some or all of the elastic members may be a spring, such as a coil spring. Some or 21 all of the strain gauges may be a shear beam load cell attached to the respective 22 elongate resiliently bendable unit. Some or all of the elastic members could be in 23 compression and, in this case, the compression would typically decrease when the *:*::!4 respective axle is further from the vehicle body. However, some or all of the elastic members are preferably in tension. Typically, the tensile strain in the said some or all 26 of the elastic members increases when the respective axle is further from the vehicle *..27 body and the tensile strain decreases when the respective axle is closer to the :8 vehicle body as the compressible portion of the respective suspension apparatus is :.29 compressed. * *0

31 In a preferred embodiment, some or all of the suspension apparatuses comprise a 32 leaf spring and the distance transducer associated with each said suspension 33 apparatus comprises a coil spring (preferably in tension) which is attached at one end 34 to the body of the vehicle (typically the chassis) and at the other end to a shear beam load cell which is attached to the respective leaf spring (preferably part way between 36 the intermediate portion of the respective leaf spring and one end of the respective 37 load cell).

2 The signal from a single suspension assembly attached to an axle may be used when 3 providing an indication of the load bearing down on that axle. However, where two or 4 more suspension assemblies are attached to the same axle (e.g. where the axle extends substantially across the width of the vehicle and a suspension assembly is 6 attached to the axle towards either end of the axle) signals from two or more such 7 suspension assemblies may be combined (e.g. added or averaged), by adding or 8 averaging means, to give a combined signal which more accurately indicates the load 9 bearing down on the respective axle.

11 The indications may be audible. Preferably, the indications are visual. The 12 indications may be both audible and visual. The indications may be indications of the 13 load bearing down on each of the two or more of the plurality of axles, such as a 14 display showing the load bearing down on each of the two or more of the plurality of axles in appropriate units, but preferably the indications are indications that the load 16 bearing down on individual axles exceeds a predetermined value or is within a 17 predetermined range. Comparator means may be provided for comparing the signal 18 from a distance transducer or the sum or average of signals from one or more 19 distance transducers associated with suspension assemblies that are associated with an axle with a predetermined value.

22 The distance between the two locations may not be a linear function of the load 23 bearing down on the individual suspension apparatus, due to the properties of the *:*::4 respective resilient compressible members (i.e. it may be a non-linear function of the load bearing down). The or each signal may not be a linear function of the load S...

26 bearing down on the individual suspension apparatus (i e. it may be a non-linear 7 function of the load bearing down). However, this non-linearity can be allowed for. In :1'8 particular, in circumstances such as where the signals are compared with a 29 predetermined value, there is no need for the signal to be a linear function of the load bearing down on individual suspension apparatus.

32 In a preferred embodiment, the means for providing indications comprises a visible 33 display (for example within a cab of the vehicle) including a plurality of axle load 34 indicator means, each of which provides an indication concerning the load bearing down on a different axle. Preferably, each axle load indicator means is adapted to 36 provide a first indication when the load bearing down on the respective axle exceeds 37 a first load value. Each axle load indicator means may be adapted to provide a I second indication when the load bearing down on the respective axle is below the 2 first load value. Preferably, each axle load indicator means is adapted to provide a 3 first indication when the load bearing down on the respective axle is below the first 4 load value but above a second load value. In this case, each axle load indicator means is preferably adapted to provide a third indication when the load bearing down 6 on the respective axle is below the second load value. Each indicator means may 7 comprise a single indicator, such as a lamp which can display multiple colours, or a 8 visual display. However, each indicator means may comprise a plurality of indicators 9 for displaying the various indications, such as different coloured lamps, or a visual display with different indicator regions. Preferably, each indicator means comprises a 11 first lamp (e.g. a red lamp) which is lit to provide the first indication, a second lamp 12 (e.g. an amber lamp) which is lit to provide the second indication (in the case that the 13 second indication is that the load bearing down on the respective axle is below the 14 first load value but above the second load value) and a third lamp (e.g. a green lamp) which is lit to provide the third indication. Whether the load bearing down on an axle 16 is above or below a load value can be determined by comparing the signal from the 17 distance transducer associated with the relevant axle (or the sum or average of 18 signals from distance transducers associated with the relevant axle) with a 19 predetermined value.

21 The means for providing indications may be operable at all times, but preferably they 22 are activatable. Preferably, the means for providing indications provides indications 23 only when the vehicle is stationary. More preferably, the means for providing *:*::4 indications provides indications only when the vehicle hand brake is engaged.

*** 25 * *** 26 The vehicle may be a van. The vehicle may be a pick-up truck. The vehicle may be *..7 a truck or lorry. Where the vehicle is a truck or lorry comprising a cab and separable 8 trailer, the axles in respect of which indications are made are typically the axles of the 29 trailer and not the cab. ** ** * * * *

31 The means for providing indications may provide an indication that the gross weight 32 of the vehicle is excessive responsive to signals received from a plurality (typically all) 33 of the distance transducers.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit 36 comprising a plurality of distance transducers, each of which is for attachment 37 between two locations on a vehicle, the distance between which is variable I dependent on the compression of a respective resilient compressible member of a 2 suspension assembly through which an axle support and an axle are attached to a 3 vehicle body and which provides a signal which in use which is indicative of the 4 distance between the two locations, and means for providing indications concerning the load bearing on each of two or more of a piurality of said axles responsive to the 6 signals of said distance transducers.

8 Optional and preferred features of the distance transducers correspond to the 9 optional features of the distance transducers described in relation to the first aspect of the invention. Optional and preferred features of the means for providing 11 indications correspond to the optional features of the means for providing indications 12 described in relation to the first aspect of the invention. The kit may comprise adding 13 or averaging means and/or comparator means described in relation to the first aspect 14 of the invention. The kit may comprise activation means, such as means for receiving a signal indicative the hand brake of a vehicle is activated, for engageably activating 16 the means for providing indications.

18 According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle 19 comprising a vehicle body having a plurality of axles, load sensing means for sensing the load bearing down on each of two or more of the plurality of axles, and indicator 21 means for providing an indication related to the load bearing down on two or more of 22 the plurality of axles responsive to the loads sensed by the load sensing means.

*:*::4 The load sensing means may provide one or more signals which are related to the load bearing down on individual axles. S.55

.27 The indicator means may provide an audible indication. Preferably, the indicator means provides a visual indication. The indicator means may provide audible and 29 visual indications. The indicator means may comprise a display showing the load :.o bearing down on each of the two or more of the plurality of axles in appropriate units, 31 but preferably the indications are indications that the load bearing down on individual 32 axles exceeds a predetermined value or is within a predetermined range.

33 Comparator means may be provided for comparing the load sensed on an axle by 34 load sensing means or the sum or average of the load sensed on a plurality of axles with a predetermined value. Preferably, the indicator means comprise a visual 36 display (for example, within the cab of the vehicle) which comprises a plurality of axle I load indicator means, each of which provides a visual indication related to the load 2 bearing down on a different axle.

4 Preferably, each axle load indicator means is adapted to provide a first indication when the load bearing down on the respective axle exceeds a first load value. Each 6 axle load indicator means may be adapted to provide a second indication when the 7 load bearing down on the respective axle is below the first load value. Preferably, the 8 axle load indicator means is adapted to provide a first indication that the load bearing 9 down on the respective axle is below the first load value but above a second load value. In this case, the axle load indicator means is preferably adapted to provide a 11 third indication that the load bearing down on the respective axle is below the second 12 load value. Each indicator means may comprise a single indicator, such as a lamp 13 which can display multiple colours, or a visual display. However, each indicator 14 means may comprise a plurality of indicators for displaying the various indications, such as different coloured lamps, or a visual display with different indicator regions.

16 Preferably, each indicator means comprises a first lamp (e.g. a red lamp) which is lit 17 to provide the first indication, a second lamp (e.g. an amber lamp) which is lit to 18 provide the second indication (in the case the second indication is that the load 19 bearing down on the respective axle is below the first load value but above the second load value) and a third lamp (e.g. a green lamp) which is lit to provide the 21 third indication.

23 The indicator means may be operable at all times, but preferably they are activatable.

*:*::4 Preferably, the indicator means provides indications only when the vehicle is * 25 stationary. More preferably, the indicator means provides indications only when the * *** 26 vehicle hand brake is engaged.

:8 The vehicle may be a van. The vehicle may be a pick-up truck. The vehicle may be 29 a truck or lorry. Where the vehicle is a truck or lorry comprising a cab and separable r trailer, the axles in respect of which indications are made are typically the axles of the 31 trailer and typically not the cab.

33 The vehicle may be a vehicle according to the first aspect of the present invention 34 and the means to determine the load bearing down on two or more of the individual axles may comprise the or each distance transducer. Further preferred and optional 36 features correspond to the preferred and optional features of the first aspect of the 37 invention.

2 According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit 3 comprising load sensing means for sensing the load bearing down on each of two or 4 more of a plurality of axles of a vehicle to which the load sensing means are fitted, and indicator means for providing an indication related to the load bearing down on 6 two or more of the plurality of axles responsive to the loads sensed by the load 7 sensing means.

9 Preferably, the indicator means comprises a visible display including a plurality of axle load indicator means, each of which is operable to provide an indication 11 concerning the load bearing down on a different axle responsive to the load sensed 12 by the load sensing means.

14 Preferred and optional features correspond to the preferred and optional features of the third aspect of the invention.

17 Description of the DrawinQs

19 An example embodiment of the present invention will now be illustrated with reference to the following Figures in which: 22 Figure 1 is a side view of key components of a vehicle suspension assembly and 23 distance transducer; and *: * 25 Figure 2 is a plan view of a visible display. * *..

..27 Detailed Description of an Example Embodiment

29 Figure 1 is a side view of key components of a vehicle suspension assembly shown ** ** : generally as 1 and a distance transducer shown generally as 2. The suspension 31 assembly comprises a resilient compressible member in the form of a leaf spring 4, 32 generally referred to as the road spring. The road spring has a forward first end 6 33 which is pivotably attached by a pin 8 to the underside of a vehicle chassis 10 and a 34 rearward second end 12 which is attached to the underside of the vehicle chassis via a shackle 14 which is pivotably attached to both the vehicle chassis and the second 36 end of the road spring. An axle support 18, which supports one end of an axle and 37 allows it to rotate is attached to an intermediate location on the road spring. This I arrangement is commonplace in trucks and goods vehicles. The road spring flexes to 2 absorb shocks as the axle moves vertically when the truck is driven. The use of a 3 shackle allows the second end of the road spring to move rearwards when the road 4 spring is compressed.

6 The distance transducer comprises a coil spring 20 which is in tension and which is 7 attached at one end to a first location 22 on the chassis of the vehicle through a 8 bracket. The other end of the coil spring is attached to the beam of a shear beam 9 load cell 24 which is itself attached to a second location 26 on the road spring, part way between the axle support and the second end of the road spring. This distance 11 between the first and second locations decreases as the suspension assembly 12 becomes more compressed. Accordingly, the first and second locations function as 13 locations on the vehicle, the distance between which is variable dependent on the 14 compression of the respective resilient compressible member. The shear beam load cell is operable to provide a signal (in the form of a voltage) which is indicative of 16 (typically proportional to) the tensile strain within the spring. When the force bearing 17 down on the axle through the suspension assembly increases, the coil spring will be 18 shorter, the tensile strain will be reduced and the voltage produced by the shear 19 beam load cell will decrease.

21 Distance transducers are fitted to suspension assemblies on either end of at least two 22 axles. The voltages from the distance transducers fitted to suspension assemblies 23 on either end of an axle are combined by addition or averaging. The resulting signal relates to the load bearing down on an individual axle rather the load bearing down on an individual suspension assembly and is supplied to a visible display (which 26 functions as means for providing indications concerning the load bearing down on *..7 each of two or more of the plurality of axles) where a comparator compares the signal :Z8 with reference values. *. ..

: * *30 Figure 2 is a plan view of a visible display 28 which is fitted within the cab of the 31 vehicle and which includes separate axle load indicator means 30a, 30b and 30c 32 which relate to individual axles of the vehicle. Each axle load indicator means 33 includes a first lamp which provides a first indication by lighting up red when the 34 signal relating to the relevant axle exceeds a first threshold value. This provides a warning that the load bearing down on the axle has exceeded a maximum value, for 36 example the maximum load which is legally allowed. Each axle load indicator means 37 includes a second lamp which provides a second indication by lighting up amber I when the signal relating to the relevant axle is below the first threshold value but 2 above a second threshold value. This provides a warning that the load bearing down 3 on the axle is approaching the maximum value. For example, the second threshold 4 value may be selected such that the second indication is provided when the load bearing down on the relevant axle is within 50kg of the maximum value. A third lamp 6 provides a third indication that that the load bearing down on the relevant axis is 7 below the second threshold value by lighting up green.

9 Thus, in use, a person loading the vehicle can conveniently determine whether they have loaded the vehicle safely and can redistribute weight when the display indicates 11 that too much weight is bearing on a particular axle or axles.

13 The threshold values can readily be set to values which are appropriate for different 14 vehicles. They can be set after introducing various weights into a vehicle to which the apparatus has been fitted, allowing the system to be readily customised to individual 16 vehicles with different components.

18 Because the distance gauge is attached to the chassis and a portion of the road 19 spring between the axle and one end of the road spring, the coil spring can have a lower yield strength (the maximum stress without which permanent deformation 21 occurs) than would be the case if the distance gauge spanned the road spring. For 22 example, in a vehicle where the distance between the axle and the chassis varies by 23 75-80mm as the vehicle is loaded and used, a coil spring may be fitted to a location *:*::4 on the road spring such that the coil spring is typically 70mm long when the vehicle is unloaded and which shortens by up to 20mm as the vehicle is loaded, rather than the 26 full 75-80mm variation in the distance between the axle and the chassis. * . * * * *

:8 Further variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention 29 herein disclosed. ** ** * S S * *

Claims

I Claims 3 1. A vehicle comprising a vehicle body and a plurality of axles, each of which is 4 attached to the vehicle body through at least one axle support and at least one suspension assembly, each suspension assembly comprising a resilient 6 compressible member and having a distance transducer associated with the 7 suspension assembly, each distance transducer being operable to provide a 8 signal that is related to the distance between two locations on the vehicle, the 9 said distance between two locations being variable dependent on the compression of the respective resilient compressible member, wherein the 11 vehicle further comprises means for providing indications concerning the load 12 bearing down on each of two or more of the plurality of axles responsive to the 13 signals of distance transducers associated with suspension assemblies 14 through which the two or more of the plurality of axles are attached to the vehicle body.

17 2. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein one of the said two locations 18 associated with some or all of the said distance transducers is on the vehicle 19 body or the axle support and the other of the said locations associated with the some or all of the said distance transdcuers is on the respective resilient 21 compressible member.

23 3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein some of all of the distance transducers comprise an elastic member and a strain gauge, which is attached to the elastic member, for measuring the strain in the elastic member *S*.

26 and which produces an electrical signal which is indicative of the strain and . .27 thus the distance between the two said locations associated with the respective distance transducers, and thus the toad bearing down on the 29 individual suspension assembly associated with the respective transducers. *, .. * *iO

31 4. A vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the elastic member is a spring.

33 5. A vehicle according to any one preceding claim, wherein two or more 34 suspension assemblies are attached to the same axle and signals from two or more such suspension assemblies are combined to give a combined signal 36 which indicates the load bearing down on the axle and the means for 37 providing indications provides indications responsive to the combined signal.

2 6. A vehicle according to any one preceding claim, wherein the indications are 3 indications that the load bearing down on individual axles exceeds a 4 predetermined value or is within a predetermined range.

6 7. A vehicle according to any one preceding claim, wherein the change in the 7 distance between the said locations with the compression of the resilient 8 compressible member in use is less than the corresponding change in the 9 distance between the axle support and the body of the vehicle.

11 8. A vehicle according to any one preceding claim, wherein the means for 12 providing indications comprises a visible display including a plurality of axle 13 load indicator means, each of which provides an indication concerning the 14 load bearing down on a different axle.

16 9. A vehicle according to claim 8, wherein each axle load indicator means is 17 adapted to provide a first indication when the load bearing down on the 18 respective axle exceeds a first load value.

10. A vehicle according to claim 9, wherein each axle load indicator means is 21 adapted to provide a second indication when the load bearing down on the 22 respective axle is below the first load value but above a second load value.

**::4 11. A vehicle according to claim 10, wherein each axle load indicator means is adapted to provide a third indication when the load bearing down on the respective axle is below the second load value.

:"!28 12. A vehicle according to claim 11, wherein each indicator means comprises a 29 first lamp which is lit to provide the first indication, a second lamp which is lit to provide the second indication and a third lamp which is lit to provide the 31 third indication.

33 13. A vehicle according to any one preceding claim, wherein the means for 34 providing indications provides indications only when the vehicle is stationary.

36 14. A vehicle according to any one preceding claim which is a van, pick-up truck, 37 truck or lorry.

2 15. A kit comprising a plurality of distance transducers, each of which is for 3 attachment between two locations on a vehicle, the distance between which is 4 variable dependent on the compression of a respective resilient compressible member of a suspension assembly through which an axle support and an axle 6 are attached to a vehicle body and which provides a signal which in use which 7 is indicative of the distance between the two locations, and means for 8 providing indications concerning the load bearing on each of two or more of a 9 plurality of said axles responsive to the signals of said distance transducers.

11 16. A vehicle comprising a vehicle body having a plurality of axles, load sensing 12 means for sensing the load bearing down on each of two or more of the 13 plurality of axles, and indicator means for providing an indication related to the 14 load bearing down on two or more of the plurality of axles responsive to the loads sensed by the load sensing means.

17 17. A vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the indicator means provides 18 indications that the load bearing down on individual axles exceeds a 19 predetermined value or is within a predetermined range.

21 18. A vehicle according to claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the indicator means 22 comprise a visual display which comprises a plurality of axle load indicator 23 means, each of which provides a visual indication related to the load bearing down on a different axle.

*s* 25 * .1* 26 19. A vehicle according to claim 18, wherein each axle load indicator means is *..7 adapted to provide a first indication when the load bearing down on the *. .8 respective axle exceeds a first load value. S. *5

: * 20. A vehicle according to claim 19, wherein each axle load indicator means is 31 adapted to provide a second indication when the load bearing down on the 32 respective axle is below the first load value but above a second load value.

34 21. A vehicle according to claim 20, wherein each axle load indicator means is adapted to provide a third indication when the load bearing down on the 36 respective axle is below the second load value.

1 22. A vehicle according to claim 21, wherein each indicator means comprises a 2 first lamp which is lit to provide the first indication, a second lamp which is lit 3 to provide the second indication and a third lamp which is lit to provide the 4 third indication.

6 23. A vehicle according to any one of claims 16 to 22, wherein the means for 7 providing indications provides indications only when the vehicle is stationary.

9 24. A vehicle according to any one of claims 16 to 23 which is a van, pick-up truck, truck or lorry.

12 25. A vehicle according to any of claims 16 to 24 and any one claims ito 15.

14 26. A kit comprising load sensing means for sensing the load bearing down on each of two or more of a plurality of axles of a vehicle to which the load 16 sensing means are fitted, and indicator means for providing an indication 17 related to the load bearing down on two or more of the plurality of axles 18 responsive to the loads sensed by the load sensing means.

27. A kit according to claim 26, wherein the indicator means comprise a visible 21 display including a plurality of axle load indicator means, each of which is 22 operable to provide an indication concerning the load bearing down on a 23 different axle responsive to the load sensed by the load sensing means. * **

* * 24 * *.

*25 28. A vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the Figures. * **. ** * * S S * ** *

** *5 S.

I S I. ** * S S * S