Weight Measuring System

Abstract

A weight measuring system for weighing an object, the weight measuring system comprising at least one weighing mechanism having a deformable fluid filled chamber, the at least one weighing mechanism operable to receive at least a portion of an object; a sensor unit operable to determine at least one measurable criteria of the fluid filled chamber and provide output sensor data indicative of the measurable criteria, and a processor operable to act upon the output sensor data and, when an object is received by the system, operable to provide weight data indicative of the weight of at least a portion of the object.

Claims

1. A weight measuring system for weighing an object, the weight measuring system comprising at least one weighing mechanism having a deformable fluid filled chamber, the at least one weighing mechanism operable to receive at least a portion of an object; a sensor unit operable to determine at least one measurable criteria of the fluid filled chamber and provide output sensor data indicative of the measurable criteria, and a processor operable to act upon the output sensor data and, when an object is received by the system, operable to provide weight data indicative of the weight of at least a portion of the object.

2. A weight measuring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the weighing mechanism houses the sensor unit.

3. A weight measuring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the user interface unit receives data from the processor unit for output to a user.

4. A weight measuring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the user interface unit communicates wirelessly with the processor unit.

5. A weight measuring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the user interface is connected to the processor unit by cables.

6. A weight measuring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the weighing mechanism houses the processor.

7. A weight measuring system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the sensor unit and processor are integrated circuitry within the weighing mechanism.

8. A weight measuring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the processor is housed remotely from the weighing mechanism.

9. A weight measuring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sensor is connected to the processor by cabled connection.

10. A weight measuring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sensor unit may be operable to communicate with the processor by wireless data transfer.

11. A weight measuring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one measurable criteria is pressure.

12. A weight measuring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one measurable criteria is flow rate.

13. A weight measuring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the chamber is defined in a flexible pad.

14. A weight measuring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the chamber is defined in a solid housing provided with an actuator which, upon receiving an object, acts upon the chamber to change the measurable criteria.

15. A weight measuring system as claimed in claim 1 comprising a plurality of weight mechanisms.

16. A weight measuring system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the processor acts upon and aggregates the data from each sensor unit to provide an overall weight indication for an object.

17. A weight measuring system as claimed in claim 1 which is a portable system.

18. A weighing mechanism having a deformable fluid filled chamber, the at least one weighing mechanism operable to receive at least a portion of an object; a sensor unit operable to determine a measurable criteria of the fluid filled chamber and provide output sensor data indicative of the measurable criteria, and a processor operable to act upon the output sensor data and, when an object is received by the system, operable to provide weight data indicative of the weight of at least a portion of the object.

Description

[0025] The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a side view cross section of weighing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a plan view cross section of a weighing mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a weight measuring system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of weighing system according to another embodiment of the present invention, and

[0030] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a weighing system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] With reference to FIG. 1 there is shown a weighing mechanism 10 comprising a pad 12, generally a pad formed of a flexible material such as rubber or similar. The pad 12 has an outer wall 14 with a lower surface 14a for placing the pad on a stable surface such as a floor or the ground and an upper surface 14b suitable for receiving at least one vehicle wheel 16. Side surface 14c has a sloped surface to enable easy movement of the wheel 16 onto the pad 12. Within pad 12, a chamber 18 is defined as a void which is filled with a fluid 20. The fluid may be any suitable fluid, for example, but not limited to water, hydraulic fluid, oil, or similar. At a first end 18a of chamber 18, there is disposed a sensor unit 22 which, in this case is provided with a pressure sensor. The sensor unit 22 is connected to a processor 24 which is protected by reinforced housing 26. In this embodiment, the processor is then connected to a graphic user interface 28 which is visible through pad wall 14d.

[0032] In use, the pad 12 is disposed on a surface, an object 16, in this case a vehicle, is driven such that a wheel is received on pad surface 14d. The weight of the vehicle, experienced through the application of weight from the vehicle through the vehicle wheel 16 caused the fluid 20 in the chamber 18 to become pressurised. The sensor unit 22 is able to determine the level of pressurisation of the fluid 20 and senses this change in criteria and provides the sensed data to processor 24. The processor 24 acts upon the sensed data and is able to output data indicating the sensed weight of the vehicle applied through the wheel 16.

[0033] With reference to FIG. 2, there is shown another embodiment of a weighing mechanism 10 with like components indicated by the equivalent reference numerals in FIG. 1. The weight measurements system 10 comprises a pad 12, which in this embodiment comprises a flexible pipe loop 13 which defines a hollow chamber 18. The chamber 18 is defined as a void which is filled with a fluid 20. The fluid may be any suitable fluid, for example, but not limited to water, hydraulic fluid, oil, or similar. At a first end 18a of chamber 18, there is disposed a sensor unit 22 which, in this case is provided with a pressure sensor. The sensor unit 22 is connected to a processor 24 which is protected by reinforced housing 26. In this embodiment, the processor is then connected to a visible graphic user interface 28.

[0034] In use, the pad 12 is disposed on a surface, an object 16, in this case a vehicle, is driven such that a wheel is received onto the flexible pipe loop 13. The weight of the vehicle, experienced through the application of weight from the vehicle through the vehicle wheel 16 caused the fluid 20 in the chamber 18 to become pressurised. The sensor unit 22 is able to determine the level of pressurisation of the fluid 20 and senses this change in criteria and provides the sensed data to processor 24. The processor 24 acts upon the sensed data and is able to output data indicating the sensed weight of the vehicle applied through the wheel 16.

[0035] With reference to FIG. 3, weighing system 30 is provided with a first elongate weighing mechanism 10a and a second elongate weighing mechanism 10b. It will be appreciated that the weighing mechanisms 10a, 10b may be of the form detailed above with reference to the weighing mechanisms 10 of embodiments of FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 2 or any other suitable weighing mechanism. In this embodiment, the weighing mechanisms 10a and 10b, are connected to a user interface 32 by cabled connections 34. The elongate weighing mechanisms are each able to simultaneously receive two wheels of a vehicle. In this embodiment, the processor 24 is housed in user interface 32 which is also provided with display 28. As the processor 24 and display 28 are housed in user interface 32, the pads 12a, 12b do not need to include a protective housing 26. In view of this the elongate weighing mechanisms 10a, 10b are suitably flexible that they may be rolled up for ease of storage.

[0036] In use, as each elongate weighing mechanism can receive two wheels of a vehicle, data sensed from each pad is able to provide a local weight indication as well being aggregated to provide an overall weight indication. This can be useful in determining whether a vehicle is loaded in an imbalanced manner. For example, if the front wheels of a vehicle are loaded onto the pad 12a and the rear wheels of a vehicle are loaded onto the pad 12b, it can be determined if there is too much weight on the front axle relative to the rear axle, or vice versa as well as giving an indication if the overall weight exceeds legal limits. Similarly, if the right wheels of a vehicle are loaded onto the pad 12a and the left wheels of a vehicle are loaded onto the pad 12b, it can be determined if there is too much weight in the left of the vehicle to the right of the vehicle, or vice versa, as well as giving an indication if the overall weight exceeds legal limits.

[0037] With reference to FIG. 4, weighing system 40 is provided with a first weighing mechanism 10a, a second weighing mechanism 10b, a third weighing mechanism 10c and a fourth weighing mechanism 10d. It will be appreciated that the weighing mechanisms 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d may be of the form detailed above with reference to the weighing mechanisms 10 of embodiments of FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 2 or any other suitable weighing mechanism. In this embodiment, the processors 24 of weighing mechanisms 10a, b, c and d, are connected to a user interface 32 wirelessly. The weighing mechanisms 10a, b, c, d are each able to receive a wheel of a vehicle. In this embodiment, a processor 24 and display 28 is housed in protective housing in each pad 12a, b, c, d. A user interface 32 which is also provided with display 28e and a processor 24e.

[0038] In use, as each weighing mechanism 10 can be disposed to form an array which corresponds to the layout of the wheels of a vehicle. Each weighing mechanisms can thus receive a wheel of a vehicle. Data sensed from each pad is able to provide a local weight indication which can be output at display on mechanism 10a, b, c, d respectively. In addition, this data can be provided to user interface 32 and displayed as a pad specific reading as well as being aggregated to provide an overall weight indication. This can be useful in determining whether a vehicle is loaded in an imbalanced manner. For example, if the front right wheel of a vehicle, received by the pad 12a is provided with too much weight relative to the other wheels, this can be identified as an indication of whether the overall weight of the vehicle exceeds legal limits.

[0039] With reference to FIG. 5, there is shown a weight measuring system 50 for weighing objects, in this case luggage 52. The weight measuring system 50 comprises a weighing mechanism 10. It will be appreciated that the weighing mechanisms 10, 10 may be of the form detailed above with reference to the weighing mechanisms 10 of embodiments of FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 2 or any other suitable weighing mechanism. The luggage can be placed upon the weighing mechanism 10.

[0040] In use, the weighing mechanism 10 is disposed on a surface, an object 16, in this case a luggage, is received on the weighing mechanism 10. The weight of the luggage, experienced through the application of force from the luggage 52 causes the fluid 20 in the chamber 18 to become pressurised. The sensor unit 22 is able to determine the level of pressurisation of the fluid 20 and senses this change in criteria and provides the sensed data to processor 24. The processor 24 acts upon the sensed data and is able to output data indicating the sensed weight of the vehicle applied through the wheel 16. This enables, for example, aircraft baggage handlers to receive and on-the-spot determination of the weight of the luggage 52 via hand held user interface 32. Thus the baggage handler can determine whether the luggage is of a suitable weight. Furthermore, the processor 24 of the user interface may be operable to add the cumulative weight of successive pieces of luggage such that an overall weight determination of the luggage being loaded onboard can be obtained. This overall weight value can be used to ensure an aircraft is not overloaded.

[0041] It will be appreciated that various improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention herein. For example, although the embodiment detailed in FIG. 5 illustrates the weighing of a suitcase 52, it will be appreciated that the same arrangement, with allowance for scale, could be used to determine the weight of small object, for example food cans, or could be used to determine the weight of large object, for example shipping containers. It will be further appreciated that although FIG. 5 describes an embodiment with reference to an aircraft, the weighing system 50 could similarly be used for consignment or luggage being loaded onto a ship. Furthermore, the vehicle weighing arrangement could be used, for example, in weighing vehicles prior to them boarding a car/passenger ferry or other boat. Similarly, the weigh measuring system and weighing mechanisms could be applied to any use where need of a portable, re-usable weighing system is required.