A dual platform, electronic weigh scale is disclosed. The scale is compact and self-contained. The scale is useful for commercial vehicle weight enforcement. The scale has a base, a set of load cells, and two (2) platforms. 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 set of load cells are arranged such that half are in communicative contact with one platform and the other half are in communicative contact with the other platform.

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.

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.

A weight measuring apparatus for vehicles includes a measuring plate on which an object to be measured is placed; a plurality of entry members installed on the measuring plate; and a load cell having one side fixed to the entry member and the other side fixed to the measuring plate, wherein the entry members are installed apart from each other at the edge of the measuring plate. A weight measuring apparatus for vehicles with which a vehicle is easy to enter thereby measuring the weight of the vehicle conveniently, of which structure is simple and light thereby improving the usability and handling thereof, of which cost for manufacturing can be reduced, of which supporting structure is stable and reinforced with structural strength thereby improving durability and safety, and that can measure load weight accurately.

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 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.

A wheel chock system comprising at least one wheel chock for supporting a vehicle, detecting a load imparted by the vehicle, and displaying information indicative of the load imparted by the vehicle is described herein. In some embodiments, the wheel chock detects a load imparted by a vehicle with a load sensor and displays the load. The wheel chock may be in communication with other wheel chocks supporting the vehicle. The wheel chocks may display the loads detected by all wheel chocks and may determine and display a load distribution across all wheel chocks.

A weight measuring apparatus for vehicles includes a measuring plate on which an object to be measured is placed; a plurality of entry members installed on the measuring plate; and a load cell having one side fixed to the entry member and the other side fixed to the measuring plate, wherein the entry members are installed apart from each other at the edge of the measuring plate. A weight measuring apparatus for vehicles with which a vehicle is easy to enter thereby measuring the weight of the vehicle conveniently, of which structure is simple and light thereby improving the usability and handling thereof, of which cost for manufacturing can be reduced, of which supporting structure is stable and reinforced with structural strength thereby improving durability and safety, and that can measure load weight accurately.

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.

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.