Vehicle Load Sensing System Prevents Overload Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional motor vehicles lack effective mechanisms to prevent excessive wear on suspension components due to overloaded conditions, particularly in shared or autonomous vehicles where users may not recognize visual cues indicating overloading, leading to increased maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A load sensing and control system integrated with the vehicle's suspension system, comprising load sensors, a controller, and communication systems, which calculates a vehicle loading factor before movement and inhibits the prime mover if the load exceeds a threshold, while also adjusting for frame angles and self-calibrating to accommodate suspension changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If visual clues are used to indicate overloaded conditions, then drivers can recognize overloading, but drivers may not understand or care about visual clues in shared or autonomous vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual mechanical clues (springs hitting stops, shock absorber compression) with an electronic sensing and control system that uses load sensors to detect suspension compression and a controller to communicate overload conditions to occupants, ensuring reliable information transmission regardless of user understanding of visual cues
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by using load sensors to continuously monitor suspension component loading and communicating the detected overload conditions back to vehicle occupants through the controller, enabling informed decision-making about vehicle operation
2Productivity
If the vehicle allows movement when overloaded, then productivity is maintained, but excessive wear on suspension components occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of overload conditions before the vehicle moves by monitoring suspension component loading prior to movement, allowing preventive action to be taken before damage occurs, thus protecting suspension components while maintaining productivity when conditions are normal
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by detecting potential harmful overload conditions and preventing vehicle movement before excessive wear can occur on suspension components, thereby protecting the system from future damage while allowing normal operation when conditions are acceptable
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
The system effectively prevents excessive wear on suspension components by preventing vehicle movement when overloaded, reducing maintenance costs and extending the lifespan of suspension components, while also notifying occupants and remote stations of overloaded conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one load sensor detects an amount of compression of each of the at least two springs
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a frame, a body supported by the frame, a prime mover mounted to the frame, at least one axle connected to the frame, a suspension system connecting the at least one axle to the frame, and a load sensing and control system including at least one load sensor connected to the suspension system and a controller operatively connected to the at least one load sensor and the prime mover. The controller being operable to calculate a vehicle loading factor before the vehicle moves and to prevent operation of the prime mover if the vehicle loading factor that exceeds a selected load threshold.