Vehicle comprising load detection arrangement

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle (100) comprising a load detection arrangement comprising at least one load sensor (10), the load sensor (10) being associated with at least one axle (20) of the vehicle according to a first embodiment wherein the at least one load sensor (10) is housed within the at least one axle (20); the at least one load sensor (10) is arranged on an end of the at least one axle (20) in a region supporting at least one respective wheel (30) of the vehicle; according to a second embodiment, the load sensor is associated with at least one structural longitudinal rail (50) of the vehicle (100); the invention also envisages a combination of two embodiments.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to transport vehicles and, more particularly, to vehicles including a load sensing arrangement. Background Art

[0002] In order to prevent traffic accidents, such as rollovers due to overloading, and to avoid deterioration of the vehicle itself and, for example, the roads, streets and highways on which it travels, measuring the load (or in other words, weight) of the vehicle is mainly implemented on large vehicles such as trucks, semi-trailers and trailers.

[0003] For example, in Brazil, weighing platforms installed along the edges of highways are very common. However, as such conventional load measurements require a large installation space, the costs involved are very high.

[0004] In order to avoid this drawback, the prior art has provided some solutions that embed the load measurement in the vehicle itself.

[0005] For example, documents US5681998, CN208751691, US4728922, DE3711175, US5811738, US5410109, and JP9133571 disclose different load detection arrangements for integration into vehicles, each with its own particularities, wherein the groups or sensor elements are directly associated with the leaf springs of the vehicle suspension. This type of arrangement has significant disadvantages, as the leaf spring beam exhibits non-uniform behavior due to construction differences (e.g., geometry) or even mechanical properties (e.g., different thermal treatments) between each spring, or even due to friction between them.

[0006] In other words, still in the context of dynamic weighing, when the spring beam is loaded, the springs assume a certain state, and therefore, their associated load cells result in a first measurement error. When the spring beam is unloaded, due to the aforementioned factors, there is a high probability that the spring beam will not return to its initial state, which results in residual errors in the load cells and, therefore, measurement uncertainty. In this sense, even the acceleration and braking of the vehicle can lead to these measurement errors.

[0007] On the other hand, other patent documents now considered more relevant, such as EP0307634, US2005081649, EP3795959, US2021008940 and US6084183, have proposed arrangements for detaching the load sensors from the leaf springs. More specifically, the solutions in these documents envisage associating these sensors with the axles of the vehicle in their respective ways.

[0008] However, the solutions of documents EP0307634, US2005081649, EP3795959, US2021008940 and US6084183 provide for placing the sensor on the outside of the shaft, which entails some risks related to protecting it from mechanical damage and / or adverse weather conditions such as temperature, water, wind, dust.

[0009] Furthermore, with the exception of document US2021008940, documents EP0307634, US2005081649, EP3795959 and US6084183 do not provide an arrangement of the sensors that would allow a possible retrofitting of previously designed vehicle axles.

[0010] Therefore, while the above solutions are effective for the purposes they may serve, it is noted that there remains a gap in the art in providing load sensing arrangements for vehicles with solutions that are sufficiently robust, durable, efficient, easy to assemble, reliable, and allow for retrofitting of previously designed vehicle axles.

[0011] It is based on this situation that the present invention is proposed.

[0012] Purpose of the present invention

[0013] It is therefore a basic object of the present invention to disclose a vehicle comprising a load detection arrangement;

[0014] More specifically, the object of the present invention is to describe a solution for a load detection arrangement in a vehicle that is sufficiently robust, durable, easy to assemble and protected against mechanical damage and / or weathering;

[0015] Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a load detection arrangement which provides a more reliable and efficient measurement depending on the specific arrangement of the sensors. Summary of the Invention

[0016] According to a first embodiment, the above object is achieved by a vehicle comprising a load detection arrangement of the type comprising at least one load sensor, wherein: the at least one load sensor is accommodated in the at least one axle; the at least one load sensor is arranged at the end of the at least one axle in the region supporting at least one respective wheel of the vehicle.

[0017] Alternatively, according to a second embodiment, the above object is achieved by a vehicle comprising a load detection arrangement of the type comprising at least one load sensor, wherein said arrangement comprises at least one load sensor associated with at least one structural longitudinal rail of the vehicle.

[0018] Preferably, the at least one load sensor is housed within a respective envelope capable of being attached to the at least one axle so as to be integrated therewith.

[0019] Also preferably, the envelope is attachable coaxially to the respective axle at the end of the respective axle so as to define the extension of the respective axle. Also preferably, the envelope includes a shape substantially similar to the shape of the hub of the respective wheel so as to enable a fit therebetween.

[0020] It is further preferred that the arrangement includes at least one load sensor associated with each of the wheels. Additionally, magnetic load sensors are preferably used.

[0021] Optionally, according to a first embodiment of the invention, the arrangement further includes at least one other load sensor associated with at least one structural longitudinal track of the vehicle.

[0022] Finally, it should be noted that the invention is applicable to both motor vehicles and electric vehicles. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The invention discussed will now be explained in detail based on the explanatory drawings listed below:

[0024] Figure 1 A rear perspective view of a type of vehicle is shown, in which a load detection arrangement according to the invention can be applied;

[0025] Figure 2 A view of Figure 1 detail A according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown, in which the respective wheel is omitted for better visualization of the components;

[0026] Figure 3 A view is shown of Figure 2 the same, but with a transparent envelope for better visualization of the interior;

[0027] Figure 4 An exploded view of an envelope and a load sensing pair according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown.

[0028] Figure 5 A view of Figure 1 detail B according to a second embodiment of the invention and / or an alternative version according to the first embodiment is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Thus, with a view to achieving the above object, in a first possible embodiment, the invention relates to a vehicle 100 including a load detection arrangement of the type including at least one load sensor 10 associated with at least one axle 20 of the vehicle, the at least one load sensor 10 being housed within the at least one axle 20.

[0030] The main reason for this regulation is to measure the load of the suspension (leaf spring) removed from the vehicle 100 and perform it adjacent to the part of the vehicle 100 where dynamic weighing is allowed to reflect higher accuracy / confidence. Another reason for this arrangement is to protect the load sensor itself 10 from mechanical damage and / or adverse weather such as rain, thermal oscillation, wind, dust, etc.

[0031] It should be noted here that when referring to the load sensor 10, the entire sensor group should be understood, including, as the case may be, the sensitive element 11, its envelope and / or the final wireless module or other elements, except for any wires 12 that obviously need to extend outside this area for electrical connection reasons.

[0032] In addition, in the area where the at least one load sensor 10 cooperates with at least one corresponding wheel 30 of the vehicle, the at least one load sensor 10 is arranged at the end of the at least one axle 20. In this sense, it should be noted that in order to perform personalized measurements on each wheel 30 and thus be more accurate, load sensors 10 associated with each corresponding wheel of the vehicle 30 can be provided.

[0033] This means that the load sensor 10 is circumferentially surrounded by the wheel 30 of the vehicle. More specifically, this area of the axle 20 supports the hub that rotatably carries the corresponding wheel 30 of the vehicle.

[0034] Preferably, the at least one load sensor 10 is housed in a corresponding envelope 40, which can be attached (preferably, welded) to the corresponding end of the main part 21 of the at least one axle 20 to be integrated therein. In this case, it should be understood that the combination between the envelope 40 and the main part 21 as a whole defines the axle 20. According to this embodiment, the envelope 40 rotatably supports / carries the hub 30. In other words, the envelope 40 is the axle end 20.

[0035] In this case, preferably, the envelope 40 can be coaxially attached to the corresponding axle 20 as its extension, more specifically, as an extension of the main part 21.

[0036] In other words, the axle 20 can be integral and house the load sensor 10 in at least one of its distal parts, or, alternatively, the axle 20 can be in two parts (or for example three parts) formed by the main part 21 and an envelope 40 associated with the distal part of the main part 21, and, in this case, as described above, the respective load sensors 10 are housed in the corresponding envelopes 40.

[0037] As Figure 2As shown, the envelope body 40 defines a hollow region 42, which can preferably receive and accommodate the load sensor 10 in a juxtaposed manner. In other words, preferably, the part related to the sensing element 11 of the load sensor 10 is in close fit with at least a part of the hollow region 42, so as to facilitate the transfer of mechanical force from one body to another, and thus the load can be measured in an accurate manner. The load sensor 10 can still be screwed next to the hollow region 42 of the envelope body 40.

[0038] In addition, according to this first embodiment, the envelope body 40 includes a form that mates with the wheel hub 30 of the vehicle, and an assembly component 41 for ensuring sufficient coupling with the wheel hub 30.

[0039] For example, as shown in the figure, such a shape can be a generally conical trunk or two cylinders joined by a conical trunk. In short, the shape of the envelope body 40 must be substantially similar to the shape of the wheel hub 30 to achieve the fit between the two.

[0040] This preferred arrangement is particularly advantageous because it allows the envelope body 40 to be coupled to a pre-designed shaft 20 (or fixed part 21), thus enabling its retrofit.

[0041] Also according to this first embodiment proposed, the present invention discussed can even accurately monitor the control of forces on the shaft 20 (as a whole, i.e., the envelope body 40 and the main part 21), and the loss of connection / electrical signal between the sensing element 11 and the module (processing / control, not shown) connected thereto can be interpreted as the breakage of the wire 12, and thus as the separation / breakage of the envelope body 40 relative to the main part 21 of the shaft 20. That is, the load sensor 10 can also be used as an integrity sensor for the shaft 20 and / or the envelope body 40.

[0042] Optionally, the load detection arrangement can also include at least one other load sensor 10 associated with at least one structural longitudinal rail 50 of the vehicle 100. The inherent advantages of this optional configuration are related to the possibility of obtaining a larger amount of measurement data and comparing data from different load sensors 10. In addition, it is convenient to install the load sensor 10 next to the corresponding structural longitudinal rail 50 on a pre-designed vehicle 100 without major layout changes to the vehicle 100 discussed, such as allowing retrofit.

[0043] In the second embodiment of the present invention, the load detection arrangement can include at least one load sensor 10 associated with at least one structural longitudinal rail 50 of the vehicle 100, regardless of the load sensor 10 being arranged next to the wheel 30 of the vehicle 100.

[0044] As in the first embodiment, the main reason for this second embodiment is to remove the suspension load measurement (leaf spring) from the vehicle 100 and perform it close to the part of the vehicle 100, which reflects higher precision / confidence. On the other hand, different from the disclosed first embodiment, this second embodiment does not have as many advantages as protecting the load sensor 10 from mechanical damage and / or adverse weather such as rain, thermal oscillation, wind, dust, etc.

[0045] For this purpose, the load sensor 10 is accommodated within an envelope 40, which in turn is coupled and fixed to the structural longitudinal rail 100 of the vehicle. It should be noted that this second embodiment also enables retrofitting.

[0046] As in the first embodiment, in this second embodiment, the envelope 40 also defines a hollow region 42, which can preferably receive and accommodate the load sensor 10 in a juxtaposed manner. In other words, preferably, the part related to the sensing element 11 of the load sensor 10 closely fits with at least a part of the hollow region 42, so as to facilitate the transfer of mechanical force from one body to another, and thus be able to measure the load in an accurate manner.

[0047] The load sensor 10 can still be screwed into the hollow region 42 of the envelope 40.

[0048] According to this second embodiment, the external shape of the envelope 40 is not particularly important, but only to mention one possibility, this shape can be a parallelepiped.

[0049] In any of the above arrangements, preferably, such a load sensor 10 is of the magnetic type. This allows the load sensor 10 to be mounted adjacent to the shaft 20 and / or the structural longitudinal rail 50 or adjacent to the envelope 40 in any orientation, which makes the present proposed arrangement feasible and also beneficial to the manufacture of the set.

[0050] Furthermore, in any of the above two embodiments, preferably, the design and dimensions of the envelope 40 are such that it can only elastically (rather than plastically) deform when subjected to mechanical stress, so that when unloaded, it does not retain any residual load that may be transmitted to the load sensor 10 and ultimately cause measurement errors.

[0051] Therefore, according to the proposed provisions and the type of the load sensor 10 being of the magnetic type, a more accurate measurement of the vehicle load 100 is achieved. This is because the magnetic sensor detects the displacement of the load in all directions, different from the load cell which detects the load in only one direction, for example.

[0052] It should be noted that in any of the above embodiments, the above load detection arrangement can be respectively applied to a motor vehicle or an electric vehicle, such as a truck or a trailer.

[0053] It is important to emphasize that the sole purpose of the foregoing description is to describe specific embodiments of the invention under discussion by way of example. Thus, it is clear that modifications, variations, and constructive combinations of elements that perform the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same result are within the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising a load detection arrangement of the type comprising at least one load sensor (10), the arrangement being characterized in that: The at least one load sensor (10) is housed within the at least one shaft (20), The at least one load sensor (10) is arranged at the end of the at least one shaft (20) in the region of supporting at least one respective wheel (30) of the vehicle.

2. A vehicle comprising a load detection arrangement of the type comprising at least one load sensor (10), the arrangement being characterized in that it comprises at least one load sensor (10) associated with at least one structural longitudinal rail (50) of the vehicle (100).

3. A vehicle comprising a load detection arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that The at least one load sensor (10) is housed within a corresponding envelope (40) attachable to the at least one shaft (20) so as to be integrated with the envelope (40).

4. The vehicle comprising a load detection arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that, The envelope (40) is coaxially attachable to the respective shaft (20) at the end of the respective shaft (20) to define the extension of the respective shaft (20).

5. The vehicle comprising a load detection arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that, The envelope (40) comprises a shape substantially similar to that of a hub of a corresponding wheel (30) to achieve fit therebetween.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1, comprising a load detection arrangement, characterized in that, It comprises at least one load sensor (10) associated with each of the wheels (30).

7. The vehicle comprising a load detection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that, The arrangement further comprises at least one other load sensor (10) associated with at least one structural longitudinal rail (50) of the vehicle (100).

8. The vehicle comprising a load detection arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The load sensor (10) is magnetic.

9. A vehicle comprising a load detection arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that The vehicle is of engine type.

10. The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a load detection arrangement, characterized in that, The vehicle is of electric type.

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