Abstract: A system is provided for weighing freight cars coupled in motion during loading. An upstream weigh bridge is provided and is mechanically separated from a downstream weigh bridge, with a loading chute overlying one of the weigh bridges for dispensing material to the freight cars. The upstream weigh bridge has a length that is less than the distance between the rear axle of one car to be loaded and the front axle of the succeeding car.The position of the freight car under consideration is sensed and the chute is opened to load the freight car. The full draft weight of the freight car during loading is detected, taking the weight on the upstream weigh bridge into consideration. The chute is closed when the weight reaches a predetermined amount. The weight of the loaded freight car is determined after the freight car has left the upstream weigh bridge and only the weight on the downstream weigh bridge is taken into consideration.

Abstract: A track working or transport vehicle comprises a frame and two undercarriages supporting the frame. Springs are mounted between the side frames of the undercarriages and the vehicle frame, the springs having a stroke whose length is proportional to variable loads distributed to a respective undercarriage wheel from the vehicle frame. A displacement pickup is connected to each group of springs and arranged to measure the stroke thereof, the pickup generating an electrical output signal proportional to the measured stroke. An arrangement for continuously monitoring and indicating the loads distributed to the respective wheels includes a summation circuit having a first input receiving the output signals from the pickups, a second input received fixed electrical signals proportional to the weight of non-yieldingly mounted parts of the undercarriages, and an output transmitting electrical output signals proportional to the wheel loads derived from the inputs.

Abstract: A track scale weighs a load on a track. The scale comprises a live rail for supporting the load to be weighed. A pair of load cells spaced longitudinally of the live rail support the live rail. The load cells have sensing means for sensing shear stresses and providing a signal indicative of the load supported by said load cells. Each of the load cells have a projecting portion extending transverse to the live rail and supporting the live rail. A bearing is interposed between the projecting portion of each load cell and said live rail. The bearing is constructed to allow for movement of the live rail relative to the load cells.

Abstract: A dynamic weighing system for vehicles in motion which is specially adapted for weighing a plurality of coupled railroad cars of varying length randomly interspersed in a continuous coupled train. The system is adapted to automatically weigh and record each individual car in the train without the necessity of special grade slopes, special decoupling devices, mechanical switches, special positioning measurements, special axle measurements and counting and systems to screen out unwanted noises from irregular car movement. The inventive system in a preferred embodiment will not register locomotives and cabooses. The preferred system utilizes preselected photocell sensor units in an arrangement keyed to the cross section bulk of each car. The shape of the cars interrupts photocell signals at predetermined points on a weigh bridge, thereby actuating means at the precise point when each car is at the optimum weighing position on a scale.

Abstract: Apparatus for weighing fowl hanging from shackles of a continuously moving overhead conveyor, having a plurality of balance arms extending radially outwards from the vertical central axis of the apparatus and being pivotably supported by slide blocks mounted on vertical guide bars rotating about the central axis and driven by the overhead conveyor. The outer ends of the balance arms are adapted, while moving along with the conveyor at the same speed, to catch and lift the shackles so that they are no longer connected with the conveyor, by moving the slide blocks upwards, and the inner ends of the balance arms are adapted to come to bear on a load cell located in the central axis when released by a locking member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for weighing railroad cars coupled together and in motion is disclosed which eliminates the necessity for special scales and, in particular, can be retrofitted and used in conjunction with most existing weigh bridges regardless of the length of the weight bridge, without any modification of the physical construction thereof, and with most existing weigh mechanisms.Generally, the apparatus provides two types of weighing, summation of axle weights and full draft. In addition, combinations of each are possible. During weighing by the summation of axle weights, as each axle enters the weigh bridge, a weight measurement is made and stored in memory. Cars with up to a maximum of nine axles (this is limited by the requirement rather than the electronics) are weighed by adding the axle weights, when the last car axle has entered the weigh bridge. A printer provides a hard copy record of car weights.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the weight of a railway supported vehicle. A pair of spaced apart rails which are engageable with wheels of the vehicle are supported by a longitudinally extending sleeper or tie member which extends transversely to the rails and which is disposed beneath the rails and extends outwardly of both sides of the rails. The longitudinal end portions of the sleeper member which are disposed outwardly of the pair of spaced apart rails are supported in a manner which allows deflection of the sleeper member in response to forces applied thereto by the rails. A means is provided for providing a signal which varies as a function of the strain in the sleeper, which means preferably measures either the shear strain or the bending strain in the sleeper. The signal is then processed to provide an indication of the weight of the vehicle supported on the rails.

Abstract: A system for bidirectional in-motion weighing of freight cars of a train includes a weighbridge, first and second sets of load cells, three wheel sensing devices, a control device, a device initiated by the control device for weighing operations, and a printer for the total car weight. The sets of load cells are mounted to receive the load from opposite ends of the weighbridge. Each set has a rapid change of output voltage when an axle enters or leaves the associated weighbridge end. The weighbridge is located between two spaced, aligned tracks and has a third track. The three tracks provide a path of train travel. Each wheel sensing device has a component to provide a signal when a wheel passes. Two components are mounted beside the first two tracks a predetermined distance from opposite ends of the third track. The third component is located beside one of the three tracks a predetermined distance from one end of the third track.

Abstract: A system is provided for weighing railroad cars coupled in motion by providing a first scale and a second scale located forward of the first scale. The railroad cars are moved over the first and second scales, the rear trucks of the railroad cars are weighed on the first scale and the weight is stored. While the rear truck of a railroad car under consideration is on the first scale, the front truck of the railroad car under consideration plus the rear truck of the just preceding railroad car are weighed on the second scale. The weights on the first and second scales are totaled and the stored weight of the rear truck of the just preceding railroad car is subtracted to obtain the full draft weight of the railroad car under consideration.The railroad car under consideration may be loaded while it is being weighed and in motion.

Abstract: The invention covers an improved rail scale having a live rail and at least two weight measuring means adapted to be mounted and secured onto the fixed railsupport system. The improvement comprises the use of a single unitary U-shaped rail hanger having a length that is substantially co-extensive with the length of the live rail. Another improvement comprises the use of load cells as the weight measuring means wherein the load cells are mounted with their cylindrical axis at right angles to the lateral axis of the live rail.

Abstract: The scale rail of a weighing mechanism is interposed in axial alignment with the spaced adjacent ends of an elevated fixed trolley rail, and means are provided for advancing a wheeled trolley onto the scale rail after which the initial trolley-advancing means is physically disengaged from the trolley thereby permitting it to stop on the scale rail where it remains until the trolley is next engaged by second trolley advancing means which advance it along and off of the scale rail onto an adjacent section of the trolley rail. Means are provided for selectively disposing the second trolley advancing means in operative or in inoperative relationship relative to a trolley.

Abstract: A weighing system for weighing a vehicle such as a torpedo car containing a body of molten metal where the center of gravity of the body of molten metal may shift in an uncontrollable manner within the vehicle and which vehicle has a first group of axles at the forward end thereof and a second group of axles at the rearward end thereof with each axle having at least two wheels thereon and wherein the axles of each group are symmetrically spaced about a center through which the load is applied to the axle group. The weighing system includes first and second weighing devices. The weighing devices are located so that the first weighing device engages the wheels of a fraction of the axles of the first group of axles and the second weighing device engages the wheels of a fraction of the axles of the second group of axles.

Abstract: The load of a railroad car is measured by placing the base of a measuring device upon the flange of a track along which the railroad car is displaceable. The lower leg of a U-shaped member is lifted to bring the upper leg of this member into engagement with the vehicle wheel. A lever is fulcrumed on the lower leg and has one side biased by the free upper arm while the other side acts upon a meter displaying the load.

Abstract: A scale system including a vertically displaceable crown supported by a longitudinally displaceable center section. A sensing means disposed above-ground is actuated by the center section in response to a weight applied to the crown. The sensing means sends a signal to an interpreting means. Inclined, mating surfaces interconnect the crown and the center section so that the crown is displaceable substantially vertically only and the center section is displaceable substantially longitudinally only. Alternative embodiments of the invention include a friction-reducing material for the inclined surfaces to render the coefficient of friction therebetween substantially a constant; a sealing means for the inclined surfaces to prevent deterioration thereof; restraining means for the center section to impede the displacement of the center section and prevent overload of the sensing means; and a locking means to prevent removal of the crown from the center section.