Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-23
2001-03-20
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
C280S407100, C280S438100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203045
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to a system for automatically distributing weight within a heavy duty vehicle among the various axles of the vehicle.
There are a variety of heavy duty vehicles available that are typically used to transport large loads. Although heavy duty vehicles vary in form, a common element in most of them is a “fifth wheel” that facilitates connecting a trailer portion to a cab portion of the truck. The position of the fifth wheel relative to the cab portion typically controls the spacing between the cab portion and the trailer portion of the truck.
Experienced vehicle operators understand that the position of the trailer portion relative to the cab portion is important for achieving satisfactory weight distribution of the load carried in the trailer portion. The problem is that only experienced drivers are capable of adequately adjusting the position of the trailer portion relative to the cab portion. Moreover, any such adjustments currently must be accomplished manually. Typically, a vehicle operator will have the trailer in a position and back the cab portion up into the trailer to jar the fifth wheel into a position where the desired spacing between the trailer portion and the cab portion is achieved. Moreover, this rather crude procedure virtually never provides an exact positioning of the trailer portion relative to the cab portion, but rather only provides approximate accuracy.
An additional difficulty is encountered while a vehicle is in route. Because of driving conditions, for example, the load within a trailer portion may shift while in transit. With currently available vehicles, there is no ability for a vehicle operator to readjust the position of the trailer portion relative to the cab portion while the vehicle is in motion. As noted above, a rudimentary, manual procedure is required to make any such adjustments. The conventional procedure requires that the trailer be fixed in a single position and, that obviously cannot be achieved while the vehicle is in motion.
There are a variety of reasons for maintaining a desired weight distribution among the axles of the vehicle including complying with state weight regulations and maintaining safe control over the vehicle while driving. For example, a total load within a vehicle may be within legal limits, however, the way that load is distributed among the axles may result in an infraction. Most states have weight limits at each axle and a poorly distributed weight may result in a ticket for a vehicle operator even though the total load within the vehicle is not excessive.
This invention provides an automated system for making adjustments in the position of the trailer portion relative to the cab portion for effectively redistributing the weight of a load among the various axles of the vehicle. This invention provides a unique and highly advantageous solution to the issues and difficulties described above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In general terms, this invention is a system for automatically controlling weight distribution in a heavy duty vehicle. Most heavy duty vehicles have a plurality of wheel axles and an adjustable wheel that is used for connecting a cab portion to a trailer portion. The system designed according to this invention includes a plurality of sensors that provide information indicative of weight at each of the axles, respectively. An electronic controller is in communication with the sensors and determines the amount of weight at each of the axles. The controller also determines whether the weight at any one of the axles is outside of a preselected range. The controller then communicates with an automated moving device to automatically adjust the adjustable wheel and thereby redistribute the weight among the axles. The automatic adjustments according to the determinations made by the controller can effectively redistribute the weight among the wheel axles such that the weight at each axle is within the preselected range under most circumstances.
In the preferred embodiment, the system designed according to this invention includes a vehicle operator interface having a display that is controlled by the electronic controller. The operator has a visual indication of the proposed adjustments that the controller would make to redistribute the weight among the wheel axles. The vehicle operator is provided with at least one switch for authorizing the controller to instigate the proposed changes.
The preferred embodiment of this invention also includes at least one wheel axle on the trailer portion that is adjustable. The electronic controller determines when it would be useful to adjust the position of the adjustable trailer axle (alone or in combination with adjusting the position of the adjustable wheel) to assist in redistributing the weight among the wheel axles.
The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiments. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3006660 (1961-10-01), Merz
patent: 3494632 (1970-02-01), Bostrom
patent: 3729214 (1973-04-01), Mulcahy et al.
patent: 4429892 (1984-02-01), Frampton et al.
patent: 5378007 (1995-01-01), Joyce
patent: 5610372 (1997-03-01), Phillips et al.
patent: 5863057 (1999-01-01), Wessels
Goodwin Dean
Kyrtsos Christos
Carlson & Gaskey & Olds
Cuff Michael
Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems LLC
Swann J. J.
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