A tire load estimation system includes at least one tire supporting a vehicle, in which the at least one tire includes a pair of sidewalls extending to a circumferential tread. A sensor is mounted to the at least one tire. A footprint is formed by the tread and includes a centerline with a footprint centerline length. The footprint centerline length is measured by the sensor. A tire load estimator receives a precalibrated sensitivity, the footprint centerline length during straight-line driving conditions, a reference footprint value, and a reference load value as inputs. The tire load estimator determines an estimation of tire load and outputs the estimation to at least one of a vehicle control system and a vehicle electronic control unit. A method for estimating the load of a tire is also provided.

A modular wireless scale system comprising microscales comprises a master scale that may be configured to be used with one or more slave scales. The master scale includes a heavy load cell and a light load cell disposed on opposite sides of a cuboid master housing. The master scale housing encloses a master computer-based microcontroller, a wireless transceiver, an accelerometer, and a power source, and may optionally include a display. The master scale may be used as a stand-alone scale for weights up to the maximum weight supported by the heavy load cell and the scale housing. Each of the slave scales includes a heavy load cell supported by a cuboid housing that encloses a slave computer-based microcontroller, a wireless transceiver, and a power source.

There is provided a load detector including: first and second beam-type load cells which are supported on first and second support bases, respectively, in a cantilever manner; a placement part on which a rolling body is to be placed, and which includes first and second connection parts connected to the first and second beam-type load cells, respectively, and a pair of walls, the placement part being disposed between the first and second beam-type load cells; and a restriction member which is detachably attached to at least one of the pair of walls, and which is configured to restrict a posture of the rolling body on the placement part. The first connection part is connected to the first beam-type load cell on a side of the free end and the second connection part is connected to the second beam-type load cell on a side of the free end.

A compact, self-contained, portable, electronic weigh scale for use for commercial vehicle weight enforcement. The scale has a base, a set of load cells, and a platform. The base is rigid, metallic, and generally rectangular, and has a central recessed area. The load cells are elongated, rectangular, and are coupled to the base in the central recessed area. The load cells are arranged parallel to each other. Each load celli has a long axis and a short axis, each load cell being fixedly coupled to the base at two side-by-side lateral points at a first longitudinal position relative to a bottom side of the load ceil and fixedly coupled to the base at two side-by-side lateral points at at least one other longitudinal position relative to the bottom side of the load ceil. The platform is rigid, metallic, rectangular. The platform is coupled to each load cell, the load cells being fixedly coupled at a second longitudinal position relative to a top side of the load cell and fixedly coupled to the platform at at least one other longitudinal position relative to the top side of the load cells.

A weight-measurement system for inclusion or use with a waste container includes scale devices in communication with a remote computer via a communications module. In some embodiments, the scale devices are mounted to a wheeled base frame that is integral with and supports the waste container. In other embodiments, the scale devices are mounted to a stationary base frame upon which a conventional waste container is retrofittingly positioned and supported during use. The scale devices can be provided by load cells, for example load-pin load cells used as axles for wheels of the integral base frame or as axles for rollers of the retrofit stationary base frame. The remote computer can be programmed to receive weight data from the scale devices, via the communications module, determine the actual weight of the waste contained in the waste container, and provide pre-defined weight-based notifications.

There is provided a load detector including: first and second beam-type load cells which are supported on first and second support bases, respectively, in a cantilever manner; a placement part on which a rolling body is to be placed, and which includes first and second connection parts connected to the first and second beam-type load cells, respectively, and a pair of walls, the placement part being disposed between the first and second beam-type load cells; and a restriction member which is detachably attached to at least one of the pair of walls, and which is configured to restrict a posture of the rolling body on the placement part. The first connection part is connected to the first beam-type load cell on a side of the free end and the second connection part is connected to the second beam-type load cell on a side of the free end.

Provided is a wheel load estimation device configured to acquire wheel speed information of each wheel included in a vehicle from a wheel speed sensor provided in the vehicle; to calculate a front-rear load ratio and a left-right load ratio based on the wheel speed information; and to calculate a wheel load ratio expressing a relative wheel load between the wheels included in the vehicle, with respect to at least one wheel of the vehicle, based on the front-rear load ratio and the left-right load ratio. The front-rear load ratio is a ratio between a load applied to a front wheel of the vehicle and a load applied to a rear wheel of the vehicle, and the left-right load ratio is a ratio between a load applied to a left wheel of the vehicle and a load applied to a right wheel of the vehicle.

Electromagnetic sensors which will enhance the recorded axle weight measurement data of a portable smart scale are: an incline meter and a laser distance measuring device. These sensors are added to the claims of the previous patent pending with filing No.: 14/806584. The incline meter will aid in accounting for weight measurements made on a flat surface which is inclined. Due to the limited displacement brought about by the linearity requirement enforced on sensor system material; an accurate displacement measuring device will enhance small relative motion detection.

A force sensor device (200) for detecting a weight of a vehicle. The force sensor device (200) includes an elongated sensor mount (2) with a plurality of hollow sections (3) arranged at least partially overlappingly in the elongated sensor mount (2). A force strip sensor (1) is arranged in each hollow section (3).

A method is for determining a tire characteristic influencing variable and includes: a) detecting an acceleration of a measurement point on a tire inner side of a vehicle tire, wherein a deviation, caused by contact of the vehicle tire with a roadway, of the acceleration of the measurement point within an observation window is detected, b) deriving at least one analytical characteristic variable which is characteristic of the detected acceleration, wherein the at least one analytical characteristic variable characterizes the non-periodic profile of the detected acceleration within one tire rotation, c) determining at least one tire characteristic influencing variable in a manner dependent on the at least one analytical characteristic variable, wherein a mathematical mapping yields the dependency between the analytical characteristic variable and the tire characteristic influencing variable, wherein the mathematical mapping assigns at least one tire characteristic influencing variable to the at least one derived analytical characteristic variable.