Vehicle Patents (Class 177/136)
  • Patent number: 12256659
    Abstract: A method for spring ploughing and land preparation in saline-sodic paddy fields with thawed water puddling and an application thereof are provided, relating to the technical field of spring ploughing and land preparation in saline-sodic paddy fields. The method includes the following steps: harvesting rice with low stubble left; removing straws from the paddy fields: removing straws after harvesting from fields; ploughing; fertilizing; irrigating for thawing; and drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Hongyuan Liu, Ding Wang, Qingquan Xu, Yanhong Zhou, Xintong Liu
  • Patent number: 12247864
    Abstract: A system for monitoring payload of a vehicle includes at least one wireless transmitter comprising a piezo-resistive pressure sensor, a transceiver and a battery unit, encapsulated in an insulating casing, the at least one wireless transmitter being configured to be attached to an axle beam of the vehicle and to emit a wireless signal in response to a mechanical strain of the axle beam, a wireless receiver configured to receive the wireless signal from the at least one wireless transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: M Arvind, K S Madhuchandra
  • Patent number: 12241774
    Abstract: A method for facilitating calibration of a yield monitor, including receiving, via a controller of a yield monitor calibration system, a first signal indicative of a first weight value from a scale of the yield monitor calibration system, wherein the scale is configured to monitor weight of harvested crops in a mobile storage compartment configured to receive the harvested crops from a harvester during an unloading operation. The method also includes receiving, via the controller, a second signal indicative of a second weight value from the scale in response to receiving a third signal indicative of the harvester completing the unloading operation, comparing, via the controller, the first weight value to the second weight value to determine a difference value, as well as outputting, via the controller, the difference value to the yield monitor to enable the yield monitor to perform a calibration process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Inventor: Brett McClelland
  • Patent number: 12208919
    Abstract: The invention relates to a payload monitoring system of an aircraft, wherein the system comprises at least one storage area (26, 28, 30, 32, 36, 38, 42) for a payload and at least one pressure sensor (10), wherein the at least one sensor (10) is configured to detect a weight force and its center of gravity of payload resting on the storage area (26, 28, 30, 32, 36, 38, 42). Furthermore, the invention relates to an aircraft and a method for operating an aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Aircraft Cabin Modification GmbH
    Inventor: Arash Hagh Shenas Noshari
  • Patent number: 12204337
    Abstract: An approach for moving materials from one location to another is disclosed. The approach includes a mobility platform comprising of a lower construct comprising of mechanism for locomotion, a platform dispose on top of and adjacent to the lower construct and an upper construct dispose and adjacent to the platform, wherein the upper construct comprising of a mechanism for securing materials. Furthermore, the approach includes loading one or more materials onto the mobility platform from a first location, moving the mobility platform from the first location to a second location and unloading the one or more materials from the mobility platform at the second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Atul Mene, Tushar Agrawal, Jeremy R. Fox, Sarbajit K. Rakshit
  • Patent number: 12203800
    Abstract: A system of detecting loading and unloading of mobile containers such as grain carts utilizes two low pass filters to determine whether the contents of the container are changing by subtracting one filter signal from the other, and using the sign of the difference. Weighing performance is improved by utilizing accelerometers to compensate for measurement dynamics and non-level orientation. Failure and degradation of weight sensors is detected by testing sensor half bridges. Loading and unloading weights can be tied to specific vehicles by utilizing RF beacons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Bitstrata Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Robert Meier, Michael David Lockerbie
  • Patent number: 12181335
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to calibrate a weight estimation are disclosed herein. An example apparatus comprises memory including stored instructions, and a processor to execute the instructions to determine, via a first sensor, a first load estimation of a vehicle corresponding to when the vehicle under a load condition, determine, via a second sensor, a second load estimation corresponding to when the vehicle is moving and under the load condition, and calibrate, based on a difference between the second load estimation and the first load estimation, an error of the first load estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Rani Kiwan
  • Patent number: 12178163
    Abstract: A baler comprises: a frame, including a forming chamber, configured to receive crops and to form a bale; a feeding assembly, configured to collect the crops from the ground and to feed the crops into the forming chamber; a tailgate, movable between a closed position, wherein the forming chamber is closed, and an open position, wherein the forming chamber is open to an external environment for discharging the bale; a control unit; a ramp, configured to lay down the bale on the ground and movable between a raised position and a discharge position, for allowing a release of the bale; a ramp sensor, responsive to a change of position of the ramp from the raised position to the discharge position and vice versa. The control unit is connected to the ramp sensor for assessing a release of the bale, responsive to a change of the ramp position from the raised position to the discharge position and, in succession, from the discharge position to the raised position. The control unit comprises a timer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: KVERNELAND GROUP RAVENNA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Valerio Casadei, Cosimo Frascella
  • Patent number: 12158369
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a new and improved system and method for determining a weight rating for a surface road transporter by using a computing system and digital camera to identify various attributes of the transporter and then, based on those attributes, to determine a maximum allowable load limit for that transporter in a given jurisdiction. In addition, embodiments of the present invention may include a digital optical device and related software configured to scan and decipher a QR code printed on an “overweight” permit issued by a local jurisdiction, where the overweight permit authorizes a specific transporter to carry a load that exceeds its normal gross allowable weight by a specified amount or percentage. Embodiments of the present invention may incorporate the specified overage amount or percentage in its determination of the gross allowable weight rating for that transporter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Cistant, LLC
    Inventors: Jay Henderson, Rob Lipop, Ryan Carney, David Daugherty
  • Patent number: 12151525
    Abstract: A load measuring hitch assembly is described. The assembly can include a body portion operable to facilitate coupling the load measuring hitch assembly to a tow vehicle. Additionally, the assembly can include a hitch ball coupled to the body portion. The hitch ball can include a ball operable to facilitate coupling the load measuring hitch assembly to a trailer. The hitch ball can also include a lower portion coupled to the body portion in a fixed relationship. The hitch ball can further include an instrument portion free to deflect due to at least one of a vertical or a horizontal force acting on the ball. In addition, the hitch ball can include one or more force sensors operably coupled to the instrument portion to measure a force on the instrument portion in at least one measurement axis, thereby facilitating determining a magnitude of the at least one of the vertical or the horizontal force acting on the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Weigh Safe, LLC
    Inventor: Morgan McAllister
  • Patent number: 12130168
    Abstract: A method for generating a calibration function of a WIM sensor that is arranged in a roadway and measures a wheel force exerted on the surface of the roadway includes recording the roadway's road profile. A wheel force is determined by a simulation. The simulation is used to determine the dependency of the wheel force on the road profile for at least one position of the road profile that has been recorded in the first step. The dependency is used to minimize the influence of the road profile on the measured wheel force of the WIM sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Kistler Holding AG
    Inventor: Biruk Hailesilassie
  • Patent number: 12103826
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of engineering machinery, and discloses a method and an apparatus for judging the safety of an operation which may be performed by a boom and an engineering machinery, the method including: acquiring parameters for each arm in the boom, wherein the parameters comprise an inclination angle, an arm length, and mass; determining, based on the acquired parameters, a position of the full center of mass of the boom and a position of the combined center of mass from an operating arm to a terminal arm; determining a safety judging basis direction vector based on the position of the full center of mass and the position of the combined center of mass; and judging the safety of an operation which may be performed on the operating arm based on the safety judging basis direction vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: ZOOMLION HEAVY INDUSTRY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhongwei Zeng, Yibiao Nie, Xinyu Fu, Qiyang Li
  • Patent number: 12098945
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a real-time vehicle overload detection method based on a convolutional neural network (CNN). The present disclosure detects a road driving vehicle in real time with a CNN method and a you only look once (YOLO)-V3 detection algorithm, detects the number of wheels to obtain the number of axles, detects a relative wheelbase, compares the number of axles and the relative wheelbase with a national vehicle load standard to obtain a maximum load of the vehicle, and compares the maximum load with an actual load measured by a piezoelectric sensor under the vehicle, thereby implementing real-time vehicle overload detection. The present disclosure has desirable real-time detection, can implement no-parking vehicle overload detection on the road, and avoids potential traffic congestions and road traffic accidents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignees: Dibi (Chongqing) Intelligent Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd, Star Institute of Intelligent Systems
    Inventors: Yongduan Song, Yujuan Wang, Gonglin Lu, Shilei Tan, Yating Yang, Chunxu Ren, Mingyang Liu
  • Patent number: 12083840
    Abstract: A weight measuring hitch ball assembly is described. The assembly can include a hitch ball having a ball and a lower portion. The assembly can also include a body portion defining a hitch ball opening that slidably receives the lower portion of the hitch ball. The assembly can further include a load measurement device operably associated with the body portion and the hitch ball to determine a magnitude of a force acting on the hitch ball. Additionally, the assembly can include a retention coupling operable with the hitch ball and the body portion to secure the hitch ball to the body portion. The retention coupling can have a retention protrusion and a retention wall defining at least a portion of a retention opening operable to receive at least a portion of the retention protrusion therein. With the retention protrusion extending into the retention opening, the retention wall can provide a mechanical barrier to the retention protrusion that prevents removal of the hitch ball from the hitch ball opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Weigh Safe, LLC
    Inventors: Bryce Doman, Brandon Doman, Morgan McAllister
  • Patent number: 12066316
    Abstract: The technology provides a method for monitoring a load carrier vehicle (10: 12: 22: 154), comprising measuring at least one sensor value indicating a force and determining a mass based on the at least one sensor value. Furthermore, monitoring devices (156) used in the method and load carrier vehicles (10: 12: 22: 154) are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: SENSATA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Zwijze, Frank Sienkiewicz, Jonas Bautista, Sietse Hendriks, Dennis Kamphuis, Andrew Forti, John Greer, Matthew Via
  • Patent number: 12059938
    Abstract: A vehicle comprising a first leaf spring connected to a chassis so as to, while deflecting, allow relative vertical movement between the chassis and a wheel axle and thereby also between the chassis and wheels, and a control circuitry configured to: compare the signal indicative of the actual path followed by the wind-up center with a representation of a reference path that the wind-up center of the first leaf spring should follow when the first leaf spring is well-functioning and deflects as intended; determine whether a difference between the actual path and the reference path is greater than a threshold value; and, in response to the determined difference greater than the threshold, generate an alarm signal indicative of a detected or possibly detected leaf spring failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Dinkar Nalawade, Mehul Shah, Anish Sivankutty
  • Patent number: 12030747
    Abstract: A work machine includes a lower traveling structure, an upper swing structure mounted on the lower traveling structure via a swing mechanism, an attachment attached to the upper swing structure, a lifting magnet attached to the attachment, a hardware processor configured to calculate the weight of an object lifted by the lifting magnet, and a display device configured to display the weight of the object calculated by the hardware processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: SUMITOMO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Yuzawa, Tsutomu Miyakawa, Minoru Okuyama
  • Patent number: 12024012
    Abstract: A vehicle (100, 200, 300, 400) includes a chassis (110, 210, 310, 410), a gas storage tank (120, 220, 320, 420) for a gas, and a gas storage tank (120, 220, 320, 420) arranged between the chassis (110, 210, 310, 410) and the gas storage tank (120, 220, 320, 420) and connected to the chassis (110, 210, 310, 410) and the gas storage tank (120, 220, 320, 420), the first weighing device (140, 240, 340, 440) being arranged to measure a force exerted by the gas storage tank (120, 220, 320, 420) on the first weighing device (140, 240, 340, 440).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Bundesrepublik Deutschland, vertreten durch die Bundesministerin für Wirtschaft und Energie
    Inventors: Georg W. Mair, André Schoppa, Mariusz Szczepaniak
  • Patent number: 12018976
    Abstract: A method determines a vehicle mass of a self-driving vehicle, wherein an internal force can be exerted on the self-driving vehicle by the automated control of an electronic drive system and/or an electronic braking system. The method includes determining whether a trigger event is present indicating a change in vehicle mass is likely, and activating a learning operating mode in the presence of a trigger event wherein the self-driving vehicle is operated alternately in a first and a second phase. In the first phase, an internal force is exerted on the self-driving vehicle, and in the second phase, an internal force is exerted on the self-driving vehicle. A disturbing force acting in the phases is determined. The vehicle mass is determined depending on the vehicle acceleration and the internal force present in each phase, as well as depending on the determined disturbing force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: ZF CV Systems Global GmbH
    Inventor: Julian van Thiel
  • Patent number: 12006169
    Abstract: A conveyor system comprising a conveyor and a conveyor weighing apparatus. The conveyor weighing apparatus has a load determination device for determining the load exerted the conveyor on a conveyor support. The conveyor weighing apparatus may have measurement devices for measuring the angle and speed of the conveyor. The load determination device determines the load exerted by the at least section of conveyor in both laden and unladen states, and the results are combined with the speed and angle measurements, and with known system constants, to calculate the weight of material being conveyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: TEREX GB LIMITED
    Inventors: Richard Byrne, Lee Johnston, Barry McMenamin, David Gibson
  • Patent number: 12008195
    Abstract: An apparatus for sensing includes a computer. The apparatus includes one or more individual sensing tiles in communication with the computer that form a sensor surface that detects force applied to the surface and provides a signal corresponding to the force to the computer which produces from the signal a time varying continuous image of force applied to the surface, where the surface is contiguous, and detected force can be sensed in a manner that is geometrically continuous and seamless on a surface. A method for determining locations of tiles of a sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignees: New York University, Tactonic Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Perlin, Charles Hendee, Alex Grau, Gerald Seidman
  • Patent number: 11964532
    Abstract: A chassis component (1) for a wheel suspension having at least two pivot points (3, 4), at least one connecting structure (7) which interconnects the pivot points (3, 4) with one another, and at least one sensor (9). The at least one sensor (9) is embodied as a piezoresistive thin film (19) arranged on a section of a surface (8) of the connecting structure (7). A thin film interconnects contact points (15, 16), of at least two conductive sections (13, 14) which are integrated in the connecting structure (7), to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Jonas Meier Zu Farwig, Alexander Lundberg, Michael Klank
  • Patent number: 11945604
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a control computer, load determining unit, first central inertial measurement device and a second inertial measurement device. The load determining unit is coupled to the first inertial measurement device and the second inertial measurement device. The load determining unit can receive instantaneous first accelerations detected by the first inertial measurement device and instantaneous second accelerations detected by the at least one second inertial measurement device and from this to determine instantaneous loads acting on the aircraft and to store them in a memory unit and/or to transmit them to an external unit. The load determining unit can determine expected maneuver accelerations. The load determining unit can subtract the expected maneuver accelerations from detected first accelerations and second accelerations and determine externally induced dynamic accelerations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Cyrille Vidy, Christoph Meisner, Christian Stolz, Holger Hickethier
  • Patent number: 11926494
    Abstract: A vehicle cargo loading system may include a cargo loading portion for loading cargo therein, wherein the cargo loading portion is divided into predetermined zones, a loading state sensor for sensing a loading state of the cargo for each zone, a loading state display for outputting different colors for the zones based on the loading state of the loaded cargo, a user interface for displaying a loading location or the loading state of the cargo, wherein the user interface is installed on an external door glass of the vehicle, and a cargo loading controller that determines whether the cargo loaded in the zone satisfies a preset reference loading state condition, and outputs a wanting signal when the cargo does not satisfy the reference loading state condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Byung Moon Kim
  • Patent number: 11913825
    Abstract: The invention relates to a storage system (1) for a loading space of a commercial motor vehicle. In order to make commercial motor vehicles available that can be utilized more productively and more effectively, the storage system (1) exhibits at least one weighing machine with counting scale (5), capable of being fixed in the loading space, and at least one indicating unit (7), assigned to the weighing machine with counting scale (5), for indicating a piece number of bulk commodity located on the weighing machine with counting scale (5) and/or for indicating a volume of a liquid commodity located on the weighing machine with counting scale (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Detlef Kuck, Marcel Grein, Alexandra Holz, Moritz Martinius, Ramola Rege
  • Patent number: 11874157
    Abstract: A method for determining an axle load and a suspension system are configured for a vehicle having at least one leaf spring connected at its ends in spring holders of a vehicle body and connected in its central region to a chassis of the vehicle. The following steps are performed: measuring a measurement distance of the vehicle body relative to the chassis; determining whether there is currently a loading or unloading process of the vehicle, determining a relevant hysteresis curve of a pre-stored hysteresis field depending on the determination of a loading or unloading process, and determining a current axle load projection value from the measurement distance and the relevant hysteresis curve. A loading process criterion and an unloading process criterion may be considered. The determined axle load projection value thus serves as a projected or estimated axle load. Furthermore, the hysteresis field can be updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BV
    Inventors: Tristan Krueger, Thomas Wolf
  • Patent number: 11835379
    Abstract: A method at a computing device, the method including obtaining sensor data for a vehicle providing vibration frequency and magnitude; calculating an energy for each of a low frequency passband and a high frequency passband of a bandpass filter pair; finding an energy ratio based on the energy for the low frequency passband and the energy for the high frequency passband; applying weighting constants to each of the energy for the low frequency passband, the energy for the high frequency passband and the energy ratio to calculate a decision variable; and finding that the vehicle is unloaded if the decision variable is below a threshold and finding that the vehicle is loaded if the decision variable is above a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Shouxing Qu, Gaëlle Christine Martin-Cocher, Suresh Periyalwar, Yu Gao, Sameh Ayoub
  • Patent number: 11821163
    Abstract: A shovel includes an attachment attached to an upper turning body and a processor configured to calculate a weight of a load carried in the attachment in accordance with a mode selected from a plurality of modes with respect to timing of detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Yusuke Sano
  • Patent number: 11752815
    Abstract: A height adjustable hitch receiver is disclosed and described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Weigh Safe, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin McAllister
  • Patent number: 11719568
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for use with an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) scale associated with a grain cart. The apparatus includes a real-time telemetry weight device operatively connected with the OEM scale. The apparatus is configured to allow for a parallel mode of operation which provides for simultaneous operation of the real-time telemetry weight device and the OEM scale without interference while using a same set of load cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Farmers Edge Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Lind, Ronald W. Osborne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11685518
    Abstract: Systems, computer-implemented methods and/or computer program products that facilitate measuring weight and balance and optimizing center of gravity are provided. In one embodiment, a system 100 utilizes a processor 106 that executes computer implemented components stored in a memory 104. A compression component 108 calculates compression of landing gear struts based on height above ground of an aircraft. A gravity component 110 determines center of gravity based on differential compression of the landing gear struts. An optimization component 112 automatically optimizes the center of gravity to a rear limit of a center of gravity margin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Edward Parker, Stefan Alexander Schwindt
  • Patent number: 11625026
    Abstract: A production system, the production system comprising the following: a loading zone for loading and/or unloading at least one collection carrier, a locating system for locating a collection carrier in the loading zone, the locating system being designed to determine the location of a mobile unit arranged on the collection carrier and/or to capture identification information stored on the mobile unit, an image-capturing unit, which is designed to capture image information of the loading zone, an image evaluation unit, which is designed to determine the position of the collection carrier and/or a state of the collection carrier by the image information. A production control method for controlling a production system. The production system and the production control method enable improved order processing. Preparatory and/or follow-up tasks can be automated in a simpler and easier manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Manuel Kiefer, Benjamin Schwarz, Dennis Specht, Eberhard Wahl
  • Patent number: 11554621
    Abstract: A weight sensor can be located either on the trailer side or the vehicle side. An electric actuator slide moves forward to raise a load sensor sandwiched between an actuator block and a contact block, through an opening in the bottom of a tube and into contact with a force transfer bar, to load the sensor for determining the weight loaded on it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Inventor: R. Douglas Fredrickson
  • Patent number: 11554622
    Abstract: A tow hitch assembly includes a draw bar and a hitch ball mount pivotally supported by the draw bar. A compression spring is disposed longitudinally between the draw bar and the hitch ball mount. The compression spring exerts a force that opposes a downward pivoting motion of the hitch ball mount when weight is placed on the hitch ball mount. The compression spring cooperates with an indicator configured to indicate to a user whether the weight placed on the hitch ball mount is within a predetermined weight range. The compression spring is removable and replaceable with a second compression spring that has a different spring constant. The second compression spring cooperates with the indicator to indicate to a user whether the weight placed on the hitch ball mount is within a second, different predetermined weight range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: U-HAUL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Marco Garcia
  • Patent number: 11551486
    Abstract: A data logging device tracks the operation of a vehicle or driver actions. The device includes a storage device, which may be removable or portable, having a first memory portion that may be read from and may be written to in a vehicle and a second memory portion that may be read from and may be written to in the vehicle. The second memory portion may retain data attributes associated with the data stored in the first removable storage device. A processor reads data from an automotive bus that transfers data from vehicle sensors to other automotive components. The processor writes data to the first memory portion and the second memory portion that reflect a level of risk or safety. A communication device links the storage device to a network of computers. The communication device may be accessible through software that allows a user to access files related to a level of risk or safety and other software that may be related to those files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: PROGRESSIVE CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: William Curtis Everett, Richard Ashton Hutchinson, Wilbert John Steigerwald, III, William Andrew Say, Patrick Lawrence O'Malley, Dane Allen Shrallow, Raymond Scott Ling, Robert John McMillan
  • Patent number: 11524543
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a sprung mass including a cabin coupled to a chassis, tractive assemblies each including at least one tractive element, springs coupling the tractive elements to the sprung mass, each spring imparting an upward force on the sprung mass, load sensors each configured to provide a signal indicative of the force imparted by one of the springs, and a controller operatively coupled to the load sensors. The controller is configured to determine a weight of the sprung mass using the signals from the load sensors and monitor at least one operational condition of the vehicle. The controller is configured to determine whether or not to disable determination of the weight based on the at least one operational condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Deepak Shukla, Ron Zhang, David Hansen
  • Patent number: 11499862
    Abstract: A truck assembly for a rail vehicle includes at least one side frame including at least one lightener hole. At least one strain gage is disposed within the lightener hole(s). The strain gage(s) is configured to detect forces exerted into or onto the truck assembly. A method of detecting forces exerted into or onto a truck assembly of a rail vehicle includes disposing at least one strain gage within at least one lightener hole of at least one side frame of a truck assembly of the rail vehicle, and detecting the forces by the strain gage(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Amsted Rail Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Steven Wike
  • Patent number: 11479347
    Abstract: A method for pressurizing and depressurizing a shock absorber of an aircraft. More specifically, it relates to a method in which an aircraft weight and ambient temperature are used to calculate a required pressurization level of a shock absorber. As such, the shock absorber may be pressurized to the correct level without applying an iterative approach, greatly reducing initialization time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Inventors: Yann Simonneaux, Jon Smith
  • Patent number: 11473965
    Abstract: A device for moving a load comprises a mobile, in particular rolling chassis (10) from which a lifting device (20) extends with at least one lifting member (30). The lifting device is intended and configured to receive the load (5) thereon. The lifting member comprises a substantially L-shaped base (31) with a lying leg (311) and an upright leg (312) mutually connected by a bend (313). The lifting member further comprises a shoe (33) which extends over the base (31) with interposing of at least one weight sensor (32) of electronic weighing means. The shoe (33) is likewise substantially L-shaped with a lying leg (331) and an upright leg (332), wherein the upright leg (332) of the shoe (33) maintains an intermediate space in relation to the upright leg (312) of the base (31). A base unit (40) of the weighing means is received at least substantially wholly in the intermediate space between the two legs (31,33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: RAVAS EUROPE B.V.
    Inventor: Niels Van Den Berg
  • Patent number: 11447373
    Abstract: A lift machine includes a machine chassis, a boom extending from the machine chassis, and a connector extending from the boom for coupling to a load. The machine further includes a control system that determines a lift capacity of the machine based on a skew of the connector caused by the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis J. Caldwell, Timothy E. Camacho, Aaron J. Gnagey
  • Patent number: 11402256
    Abstract: A weigh-in-motion system includes a base, a load cell assembly supporting a leading edge of a platform structure movable with respect to the base, and a load cell assembly supporting a trailing edge of the platform. A processor is configured to execute program instructions in a memory to obtain load profile data generated by the load cells and to determine a weight associated with a vehicle using the load profile data. The processor is further configured to execute the program instructions to generate an output based upon the determined weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Inventor: Darren J. Pearson
  • Patent number: 11391617
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a weight-bearing measurement device and method and weight-bearing equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: GOERTEK INC.
    Inventors: Jian Zhu, Xiangdong Zhang, Zhenyu Yu, Zhiping Luo, Dong Yan
  • Patent number: 11365104
    Abstract: Attachment assemblies for industrial material handling equipment are shown and disclosed. In some embodiments, the attachment assembly includes a carriage assembly having a carriage, wherein the carriage is mountable to industrial material handling equipment. The attachment assembly additionally includes a frame assembly connected to the carriage. The attachment assembly further includes a faceplate assembly fixedly attached to the frame assembly. The faceplate assembly is configured to receive one or more support members for supporting a load. The faceplate assembly includes one or more load cells configured to measure horizontal and vertical forces applied to the one or more support members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Cascade Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher M. Walthers, Brent G. Running, Pat S. McKernan, Glenn Steven Prentice, Tamara S. Dib
  • Patent number: 11359959
    Abstract: A wireless scale assembly for weighing an object in any location includes a plurality of load cells that is each positionable beneath an object to be weighed. In this way each of the load cells can measure the weight of the object. A processing unit is in electrical communication with each of the load cells thereby facilitating the processing unit receive weight data from each of the load cells. The processing unit is in wireless communication with an extrinsic electronic device thereby facilitating the extrinsic electronic device to store the weight data. In this way the extrinsic electronic device facilitates a user to read the weight recorded by each of the load cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Inventor: Lauren Brame
  • Patent number: 11295102
    Abstract: A refuse vehicle system includes a refuse vehicle, a tag, and a user device. The refuse vehicle includes a chassis and a body. The chassis includes a first subcomponent. The body includes a second subcomponent, supported by the chassis, and defines a receptacle. The tag is attached to at least one of the first subcomponent and the second subcomponent. The tag includes an identifier that encodes tag data. The user device includes a sensor configured to interface with the identifier and a user interface including a display. The tag data corresponds to at least one of the first subcomponent and the second subcomponent to which the tag is attached such that, in response to the sensor interfacing with the identifier, the user device is provided with material that is specific to the at least one of the first subcomponent and the second subcomponent to which the tag is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Jerrod Kappers, Jeff Koga
  • Patent number: 11257014
    Abstract: A system and method is presented for gathering data concerning harvests. Data tickets are generated at a point of origination (i.e., the field), local storage, processing, or a customer location. Data tickets may also be generated for supplies delivered to the field. Implements attached to a vehicle in the field (e.g., a tractor) may provide sensor data over a vehicle communication bus about how a field processing task was performed. A computing device on the vehicle periodically reads the sensor data and records the data along with the current time and GPS position of the vehicle as a data point. A plurality of data points are transmitted to a remote server as a data trail. Data trails from a plurality of vehicles are compared to find points of intersection. Sensor data in the data trails for the points of intersection are examined to determine data related to the transfer of goods between vehicles during the time of intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Conservis Corp.
    Inventors: Patrick P. Christie, Paul Larson, Matthew Shilts, Chuck Faison, Michael Borman, Joe Tevis
  • Patent number: 11247697
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a processing module and associated method for calibrating an object-detection system for a vehicle comprising a plurality of object-detection sensors. The method comprises receiving, from each of a plurality of the object-detection sensors, a value associated with the detection of a marker; and determining a position of each of the object-detection sensors with respect to the vehicle based on the received values associated with the detection of the marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Lucas Pieter Lodewijk Van Dijk, Cornelis Gehrels
  • Patent number: 11192598
    Abstract: A fifth wheel mounting bracket includes a mounting bracket including a coupling portion configured to pivotally couple to a fifth wheel hitch plate, the mounting bracket including an innermost surface and an outermost surface defining a mounting bracket thickness, at least one isolation area having isolation area thickness that is less than the mounting bracket thickness, and at least one strain gauge positioned within the at least one isolation area and configured to measure a strain of the fifth wheel mounting bracket arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: SAF-HOLLAND, Inc.
    Inventor: Randy Schutt
  • Patent number: 11174618
    Abstract: A payload detection system for automated payload tip-off of a loading operation includes a tip-off controller. The tip-off controller is configured to receive a signal of a remaining payload target; receive a signal of a material weight within an implement and a signal of an angle of the implement; and determine a tip-off threshold based on the material weight and the remaining payload target. The tipoff controller initiates a bulk dump sequence if a difference between the material weight and the remaining payload target is greater than the tip-off threshold and initiates a slow dump sequence if the difference is below the tip-off threshold. The bulk dump sequence includes a single implement actuation to induce material spill until the tip-off threshold is met and the material is staged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Shaun Currier
  • Patent number: 11169018
    Abstract: A controller (18) calculates, based on a target loading weight (P) that is a target value of a total weight of working objects to be loaded into a hauling vehicle, a set loading time number indicative of a loading time number required for the construction machine before the target loading weight (P) is reached and bucket shape information indicative of a shape of a bucket (7), an appropriate loading weight (Wa) that is an appropriate value of the weight of the working objects to be loaded into the hauling vehicle by a single time loading work by the construction machine, creates an appropriate amount illustration (30) that is an illustration of a state at which the working objects of the appropriate loading weight (Wa) are loaded into the bucket and that illustrates the state of the working objects, based on the appropriate loading weight (Wa) and the bucket shape information, and controls a display device (19) to display an illustration (29) of the bucket (7) and the appropriate amount illustration (30) in a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunori Hoshino, Kunitsugu Tomita, Satoshi Nakamura, Yousuke Yamanobe, Youhei Toriyama