Weight Sensing System for Trailed Vehicle Axle and Hitch Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a system that effectively monitors and displays the loaded weight of trailed vehicles, including recreational and utility trailers, to prevent overloading and ensure safe towing, as existing solutions lack comprehensive weight monitoring and alert systems.
Innovation Solution
A weight sensing system integrated with trailed vehicles, comprising weight sensing components, a processing module, and a user interface, which determines and displays axle-specific, hitch-specific, and total vehicle weights, as well as available cargo weight, triggering alerts for excessive loads and providing visual overlays and alerts for safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If comprehensive weight monitoring and alert systems are implemented in trailed vehicles, then safety and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The weight monitoring system is segmented into multiple independent sensing components, each responsible for measuring weight at specific locations (axle, hitch, cargo area). This modular approach allows comprehensive monitoring while keeping individual components simple and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The weight processing module serves multiple functions: it processes data from various sensing components, calculates different weight metrics (axle weight, hitch weight, total weight), generates alerts for multiple conditions, and provides user interface management. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems for each task.
2Measurement precision
If multiple weight sensing components are installed at different locations, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing system is divided into distinct sensing components positioned at critical weight-bearing locations (axle, hitch, cargo area). Each sensor provides localized measurements, and the processing module integrates these into comprehensive weight data, achieving precise multi-point monitoring without requiring a single complex sensing system.
Solution Approach 2:
The weight processing module acts as an intermediary that receives raw data from multiple simple sensing components, processes and integrates this information, and produces accurate comprehensive weight measurements. This intermediary approach allows multiple sensors to work together seamlessly without direct complex interconnections between them.
3Reliability
If real-time weight monitoring and multiple alert types are implemented, then reliability is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic weight monitoring and alert generation rather than continuous high-power operation. The processing module periodically updates weight calculations and checks alert conditions, reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective safety monitoring through regular assessments.
Solution Approach 2:
The weight processing module automatically manages the monitoring operations, including periodic data collection, weight calculation, alert condition checking, and alert generation. This self-service approach minimizes the need for external control and continuous energy input, allowing the system to operate efficiently with periodic autonomous assessments.
Data Source
AI summary
A trailed vehicle comprises a cargo area, a wheeled axle assembly supporting the cargo area, a hitch assembly configured to secure the trailed vehicle to a tow vehicle, and a weight sensing system comprising a weight processing module and a user interface. The weight processing module comprises a processor and non-transitory computer readable storage comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the weight processing module to execute an axle-specific vehicle weight determination, an axle-specific vehicle weight display presented at the user interface, a hitch-specific vehicle weight determination, a hitch-specific vehicle weight display presented at the user interface, a hitch-specific weight percentage determination, a hitch-specific weight percentage display presented at the user interface, a total weight determination, a total weight display presented at the user interface, an available cargo weight determination, and an available cargo weight display presented at the user interface. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.