A magneto-elastically-based active force sensor, used with a tow coupling between a towed and a towing vehicle, which outputs a signal useful for determining forces acting on the coupling. The outputted force information may be provided by processor-enabled embedded software algorithms that take inputs from the force sensor and other sensors, may be used by one or more vehicle systems during operating of the vehicle, such as engine, braking, stability, safety, and informational systems. The force sensor includes directionally-sensitive magnetic field sensing elements inside the sensor, and shielding may be used around the sensors to reduce the influence of external magnetic fields on the sensing elements. The force sensor may be used with different tow coupling devices installed on different types of automobile cars and trucks.

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.

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.

An apparatus measuring thrust of an aircraft gas turbine engine includes a core shaft connecting a turbine and compressor, a fan and gearbox with a sun gear driven by the core shaft, a plurality of planet gears, an annulus gear mounted in a static structure, and a planet carrier driven by the fan via fan shaft. The apparatus includes a sensor to measure force applied by the annulus gear on the static structure and first and second sensors to measure rotational speed of the core and fan shafts. A processor determines restoring torque on the annulus gear from measurement of force applied by the gear on the static structure, torque applied to the fan by the planet carrier using rotational speeds of core and fan shafts and restoring torque on the annulus gear, and thrust of the fan from torque applied to the fan and the fan's rotational speed.

Systems and methods for determining force direction and magnitude acting on a trailer hitch are disclosed. An example vehicle includes two magnetoelastic pins, having respective magnetic fields, configured to couple a trailer hitch receiver to a vehicle chassis. The vehicle also includes a plurality of sensors corresponding to the two magnetoelastic pins, configured to detect changes in the respective magnetic fields. And the vehicle further includes a processor configured to determine a magnitude and direction of a force acting on the trailer hitch receiver based on data from the plurality of sensors.

A magneto-elastically-based active force sensor, used with a tow coupling between a towed and a towing vehicle or a coupling between a vehicle body and a suspension of the vehicle, which outputs a signal useful for determining forces acting on the coupling. The outputted force information may be provided by processor-enabled embedded software algorithms that take inputs from the force sensor and other sensors, may be used by one or more vehicle systems during operating of the vehicle, such as engine, braking, stability, safety, and informational systems. The force sensor includes directionally-sensitive magnetic field sensing elements inside the sensor, and shielding may be used around the sensors to reduce the influence of external magnetic fields on the sensing elements. The force sensor may be used with different tow and vehicle weight sensing coupling devices installed on different types of automobile cars and trucks.

A load sensing pin disposed to receive a load applied in a direction substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the pin. A load sensor is substantially fixedly oriented with respect to the applied load or alternatively with respect to the pin which is rotationally restrained with respect to a support structure. The load sensor is disposed to generate a load signal corresponding to strain of the pin resulting from the applied load.

A vehicle system comprises a hitch mounted on a vehicle and at least one sensor in connection with the hitch. A controller is configured to identify a force applied to the hitch via the at least one sensor. In response to the force, the controller is further configured to approximate a direction of the force. Based on the direction, the controller generates instructions identifying a height adjustment of a coupler of a trailer.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to facilitate a single pin load sensor coupled to a hitch receiver, the sensor to measure one or more loads on the hitch receiver. An example apparatus includes a load sensing pin coupled to a hitch receiver of a vehicle, the load sensing pin disposed in a cavity of a crossbar that is to couple the hitch receiver to the vehicle, wherein the load sensing pin is to measure a load transferred from the hitch receiver to the crossbar.

One variation of a system includes a kingpin: arranged on a proximal end of the trailer; includes a sensor configured to output a signal representing lateral forces and longitudinal forces applied to the kingpin; and configured to couple to a tow vehicle. The system further includes an interface including a joystick and a kingpin interface configured to transfer forces, applied to the joystick, into the kingpin. The system also includes a controller configured to: access the signal from the sensor; based on the signal, calculate a magnitude of a force applied to the kingpin; calculate a first target speed of a first wheel of the trailer proportional to the magnitude; calculate a second target speed of a second wheel of the trailer proportional to the magnitude; and serve the first target speed and the second target speed to a drive system arranged on a distal end of the trailer.