For irradiating a layer a radiation beam is directed and focussed to a spot on the layer, relative movement of the layer relative to the lens is caused so that, successively, different portions of the layer are irradiated and an interspace between a surface of the lens nearest to the layer is maintained. Furthermore, at least a portion of the interspace through which the radiation irradiates the spot on the layer is maintained filled with a liquid, the liquid being supplied via a supply conduit. At least a portion of the liquid fills up a recess through which the radiation irradiates the spot.

A ball mount for measuring tongue weight of a trailer is disclosed. The ball mount can include a ball portion having a hitch ball configured to couple with a tongue of a trailer. The ball mount can also include a hitch portion for interfacing with a hitch receiver associated with a vehicle. In addition, the ball mount can include a load measurement device associated with the ball portion to determine a magnitude of a downward force on the hitch ball. The load measurement device can include a reservoir having a fluid and a piston disposed therein, and a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the reservoir. The hitch ball can be configured to exert a force on the piston, thereby affecting a pressure of the fluid in response to the downward force on the hitch ball.

A scale for mounting on a semi-trailer having an air bag in the suspension and an air line connected to the air bag includes a pressure transducer for connecting to the air line and measuring the pressure in the air bag, and to send a signal correlated to the sensed pressure, a process module in electric communication with the pressure transducer and configured to receive the signal therefrom wherein the process module is configured to correlate the signal from the pressure transducer to a weight of a load on the trailer, and a display module configured to receive a signal from the process module indicating the sensed weight and display the sensed weight of the load on the semi-trailer. A method for monitoring weight includes converting pressure in the air line to a weight of the semi-trailer, which can be monitored in real-time.

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. The retention opening can be configured to facilitate slidable movement of the hitch ball within the hitch ball opening sufficient to determine the magnitude of the force acting on the hitch ball.

A ball mount for measuring tongue weight of a trailer is disclosed. The ball mount can include a ball portion having a hitch ball configured to couple with a tongue of a trailer. The ball mount can also include a hitch portion for interfacing with a hitch receiver associated with a vehicle. In addition, the ball mount can include a load measurement device associated with the ball portion to determine a magnitude of a downward force on the hitch ball. The load measurement device can include a reservoir having a fluid and a piston disposed therein, and a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the reservoir. The hitch ball can be configured to exert a force on the piston, thereby affecting a pressure of the fluid in response to the downward force on the hitch ball.

A weight measurement device comprises: a housing cover to receive weight of a measurement target; a plurality of load cells to support the housing cover and detect the weight; a housing base comprising, for each of the plurality of load cells, a recessed and projected shape part comprising: a recessed part open upward to at least partially contain each load cell and fix the load cell; and a projected part projected downward corresponding to the recessed part; and an adjustment leg which at least partially contains the recessed and projected shape part, and comprises an adjustment mechanism part for height position adjustment at a position opposed to a side part of the recessed and projected shape part.

A ship weighing system and a weighing method thereof include a collection module, a computing server, a wireless router, a display control terminal, and a network switch, which are installed in the ship. The collection module synchronously collects water level data of a stern and trim angle data of a front portion, a middle portion, and a rear portion of the ship. The computing server respectively calculates, based on the water level data collected by the collection module, an accumulated volume of the ship below a slice section parallel to a bottom plane of the ship corresponding to the water level data and a volume of a trim wedge formed by the slice section and an actual horizontal plane. The computing server combines results and corrects a volume of a vertical arch wedge in the middle portion of the ship to obtain a displacement volume of the ship.

A ship weighing system and a weighing method thereof include a collection module, a computing server, a wireless router, a display control terminal, and a network switch, which are installed in the ship. The collection module synchronously collects water level data of a stern and trim angle data of a front portion, a middle portion, and a rear portion of the ship. The computing server respectively calculates, based on the water level data collected by the collection module, an accumulated volume of the ship below a slice section parallel to a bottom plane of the ship corresponding to the water level data and a volume of a trim wedge formed by the slice section and an actual horizontal plane. The computing server combines results and corrects a volume of a vertical arch wedge in the middle portion of the ship to obtain a displacement volume of the ship.