Vehicle Suspension Load Weighing for Real-Time Weight Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the weight of loads on vehicles, such as those used in the forest industry, lack accuracy and real-time monitoring capabilities, which can lead to equipment failure and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle arrangement featuring ground support assemblies with suspension devices and sensors that continuously measure load on movable arms, forwarding information to a control unit for precise weight calculation, including hydraulic or electrical operation of arms and pressure sensors for accurate weight determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If weight determination is performed using gripping means, then weight measurement is possible, but measurement precision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The weight measurement function is extracted from the gripping means and relocated to the suspension device. Sensors are installed on the movable arms of the suspension device to directly measure the weight of the load on the vehicle body, separating the measurement function from the log handling function and enabling more accurate measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension device acts as an intermediary between the load and the vehicle body. By placing sensors on the movable arms of the suspension device, the system indirectly measures the load weight through the suspension mechanism, providing more accurate and reliable weight determination.
2Productivity
If weight measurement is performed discontinuously, then equipment complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases due to lack of real-time monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension device serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical suspension for the ground support assemblies and simultaneously acts as a weight measurement platform through integrated sensors. This multi-functionality enables continuous real-time weight monitoring without adding separate dedicated weighing equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension device's movable arms naturally move and adjust as the vehicle operates on uneven terrain, and the sensors continuously capture weight information during these natural movements. The system leverages the inherent operational movements of the suspension to perform continuous measurement without requiring additional active components or complex control mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables continuous, accurate, and reliable weight measurement of loads on vehicles, improving safety and preventing equipment failure by providing real-time data and higher precision than previous systems.
Implementation Method 1
said sensors are pressure sensors arranged to measure the hydraulic pressure in the cylinders to determine the total weight of the load on the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
the sensors are sensors arranged to measure the tension in the front and rear arm to determine the total weight of the load on the vehicle
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4a
AI summary
The present invention relates to a vehicle (10) comprising an arrangement for determining the weight of load on the vehicle, said vehicle (10) comprising: a vehicle body (11, 12); at least two ground support assemblies (30; 130; 230) arranged to support said vehicle body (11, 12), each ground support assembly comprises a support beam (31; 131; 231) arranged to support at least two wheels (132; 232), or track road wheels (32), at least one sprocket (33) and an endless track (34) arranged around the track road wheels (32) and the sprocket (33); a suspension device (40; 140; 240) for suspension of each of said ground support assemblies (30; 130; 230) to said vehicle body (11, 12), said suspension device (40; 140; 240) is arranged to allow a movement of the ground support assembly (30; 130; 230) relative to the vehicle body (11, 12) in a substantially vertical plane extending in the longitudinal direction of said ground support assembly (30; 130; 230); and a control unit (70), wherein said suspension device (40; 140; 240) comprises sensors arranged to measure the loads on the respective ground support assembly (30; 130; 230))and forward the information to the control unit (70) where the weight of the vehicle load is determined based on the information from the sensors.