A trailer force measurement system includes a tow hitch, a hitch mount connected to the tow hitch and a spring bar connected to the hitch mount. The trailer force measurement system also includes a trailer having a frame, where the spring bar is connected to the trailer frame via a bracket. A hitch coupler is then connected to the trailer frame and configured to releasably couple the trailer frame to the hitch mount. A force measurement device is then disposed on the bracket and configured to measure force exerted on the bracket by the spring bar.

Tractor Draft Control Testing Device has the capability of testing the draft control of hydraulic system of all types of tractors on the production line and final control of tractor-manufacturing companies.

Systems and methods for magnetoelastic hitch receiver force detection are disclosed. An example vehicle includes a chassis, a trailer hitch receiver configured to receive a trailer hitch arm along an axis, a first pin having a first magnetic field, the first pin disposed above and perpendicular to the axis, a second pin, the first pin and the second pin coupling the trailer hitch receiver to the chassis and a first sensor configured to detect changes in the first magnetic field.

The present disclosure relates to a measuring device (42, 43) for measuring forces and/or torques between a motorized vehicle (1) and a trailer or attachment which is towed or pushed thereby, wherein the measuring device (42, 43) has at least three sensor elements (22, 34) which are arranged on a carrier (20, 31), transversely with respect to a virtual longitudinal axis of the motorized vehicle (1) and spaced apart from one another, wherein the measuring device (42, 43) is arranged in a coupling region between the motorized vehicle (1) and the pulled or pushed trailer or attachment, and wherein, in order to transmit their measured values, the sensor elements (22, 34) are connected to an evaluation device (40), which is configured to convert these measured values into signals for force displays and/or torque displays according to magnitude and direction.

A measuring device (60) is configured for measuring forces or torques between a motorized vehicle (1) and a trailer or attachment which is towed or pushed thereby. The measuring device (60) has at least three sensor elements (79, 80) arranged on a carrier (71), transversely with respect to a virtual longitudinal axis of the motorized vehicle (1) and spaced apart from one another. The measuring device (60) is arranged in a coupling region between the motorized vehicle (1) and the pulled or pushed trailer or attachment. In order to transmit their measured values, the sensor elements (79, 80) are connected to an evaluation device (40), which is configured to convert these measured values into signals for force displays and/or torque displays according to magnitude and direction.

A trailer hitch system may include a scale ball mount for supporting a hitch ball as part of a trailer hitch system, and for measuring the tongue weight of a trailer. The scale ball mount may comprise a trailer hitch ball mount. In an embodiment, the scale ball mount may include a biasing component disposed below a hitch ball and a gauge for displaying downward force applied at the hitch ball. The biasing component may be a urethane spring. An indicator may be disposed between the biasing component and the hitch ball, and the indicator may be viewable through an opening in the gauge.

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.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for payload estimation and fault detection using hitch integrated sensors. An example apparatus includes a pin orientation determiner to determine a first orientation of a first pin and a second orientation of a second pin, the first pin and the second pin disposed within a hitch and calculate a relative orientation of the first pin and the second pin based on the first orientation and the second orientation. The example apparatus further includes a hitch condition detector to determine if a physical change has occurred in the hitch by comparing the relative orientation to an installation orientation of the first pin and the second pin.

A hitch force monitoring system includes a hitch ball having a stem downward mountable to a vehicle drawbar. Two or more sensors are attached to the stem to respectively measure longitudinal and lateral forces on the hitch ball. A controller is communicatively coupled to the two or more sensors to receive the measured longitudinal and lateral forces and the user interface. The controller is communicatively coupled to a user interface device to indicate the measured longitudinal and lateral forces on the hitch ball that represent push, pull and sway forces of a trailer load attached to the hitch ball.

A ball assembly for attachment to a ball mount is described. The ball assembly can include a ball post that is securable to a ball mount. A hitch ball is slidably coupled to the ball post at a ball end of the ball post. A load gauge is disposed at the gauge end of the ball post. A load transfer element is operably associated with both the hitch ball and the load gauge so as to cause a load measurement to display on the load gauge based upon a load applied to the hitch ball.