AXLE LOAD DETECTION SYSTEM, AXLE SYSTEM AND COMMERCIAL VEHICLE WITH AN AXLE LOAD DETECTION SYSTEM

Abstract

Axle load detection system for a commercial vehicle includes a force transmission element and a sensor unit, wherein the sensor unit includes at least one sensor, wherein the force transmission element includes a first assembly area and a second assembly area, wherein the first assembly area is fixed or can be fixed indirectly and/or directly to a vehicle frame of a vehicle of a commercial vehicle, wherein an air spring and/or a control arm is arranged and/or configured to be arranged on the second assembly area, wherein the sensor unit is configured to determine and/or detect a force transmitted via the force transmission element between the first assembly area and the second assembly area in a supporting direction.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A commercial vehicle axle system, comprising: a control arm comprising a trailing arm; an air spring; and at least one axle load detection system for a commercial vehicle that comprises a force transmission element and a sensor unit; wherein the force transmission element comprises a holding mount; wherein the sensor unit includes at least one sensor; wherein the force transmission element includes a first assembly area and a second assembly area; wherein the first assembly area is fixed or configured to be fixed indirectly and/or directly to a vehicle frame of the commercial vehicle; wherein the sensor unit is configured to determine and/or detect a force transmitted via the force transmission element between the first assembly area and the second assembly area in a support direction; and wherein the control arm is arranged indirectly and/or directly at the second assembly area of the force transmission element.

17. The axle system according to claim 16, wherein the at least one sensor includes a plurality of sensors.

18. The axle system according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of sensors are arranged on the force transmission element and lie in a plane or are intersected by a plane having a normal which is at least substantially parallel to the support direction.

19. The axle system according to claim 16, wherein at least one sensor is fixed to and/or in the force transmission element.

20. The axle system according to claim 16, wherein the force transmission element is one of a plurality of force transmission elements, and wherein the at least one sensor is arranged on each force transmission element.

21. The axle system according to claim 16, wherein the at least one sensor of the sensor unit comprises a static or passive sensor.

22. The axle system according to claim 21, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a strain gauge.

23. The axle system according to claim 16, wherein the force transmission element comprises metal and/or is configured to apply a force of at least 10 kN between the first assembly area and the second assembly area.

24. The axle system according to claim 23, wherein the force is at least 50 kN.

25. The axle system according to claim 24, wherein the force is at least 100 kN.

26. The axle system according to claim 16, wherein the first assembly area has a flat first mounting surface and wherein the first mounting surface has a normal in the support direction, and/or wherein the second assembly area has a flat second mounting surface and wherein the second mounting surface has a normal in the support direction.

27. The axle system according to claim 16, wherein at least one force transmission element includes a plate-shaped intermediate element configured to mount between the air spring and the vehicle frame.

28. The axle system according to claim 16, wherein the holding mount has two side walls and an end wall, and wherein the side walls are connected to each other by the end wall.

29. The axle system according to claim 16, wherein the axle load detection system further comprises an evaluation unit that is configured to receive measurement data from at least one sensor and to convert the measurement data from the at least one sensor into an axle load using a calibration table.

30. The axle system according to claim 16, wherein the force transmission element is one of a pair of force transmission elements including a first force transmission element and a second force transmission element, wherein the air spring is arranged indirectly and/or directly on the second assembly area of the first force transmission element, and wherein the control arm is arranged indirectly and/or directly on the second assembly area of the second force transmission element.

31. The axle system according to claim 16, wherein the axle system is configured such that a ratio of the force transmitted by the first force transmission element in the supporting direction to the force transmitted by the second force transmission element in the supporting direction is in a range of 0.3 to 0.65.

32. A commercial vehicle trailer that includes the axle system according to claim 16.

33. An axle system, comprising: a trailing arm; and an air spring configured to be positioned between the trailing arm and a frame member of a vehicle; and at least one axle load detection system, comprising: a force transmission element that includes a holding mount; and a sensor unit that includes at least one sensor; wherein the force transmission element includes a first assembly area configured to be fixed to the vehicle frame and a second assembly area configured to be fixed to the air spring; and wherein the sensor unit is configured to detect a force transmitted via the force transmission element between the first assembly area and the second assembly area; and wherein the trailing arm is arranged at the second assembly area of the force transmission element.

34. The axle system according to claim 33, wherein the force is in a direction and wherein the at least one sensor is arranged on the force transmission element lies in a plane or is intersected by a plane having a normal which is at least substantially parallel to the support direction.

35. The axle system according to claim 33, is configured to apply a force of at least 10 kN between the first assembly area and the second assembly area.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Further advantages and features will be apparent from the following description concerning preferred embodiments of the subject according to the invention with reference to the accompanying figures. Showing:

[0022] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an axle system with an axle load detection system; and

[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a force transmission element in the form of an intermediate element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] FIG. 1 shows an axle system 100 which is used to support an axle, in particular in the support direction AR. The axle system 100 has an axle load detection system 1. The axle load detection system 1 has two force transmission elements 2, wherein one of these force transmission elements 2 is designed as a holding mount 6 and the other force transmission element 2 is designed as an intermediate element 4. The force transmission elements 2 each have a first assembly area 10 and a second assembly area 20. Advantageously, a first mounting surface 12 is arranged or formed in the first assembly area 10 and a second mounting surface 22 is arranged or formed in the second assembly area 20. The force transmission element 2, which is formed as an intermediate element 4, has a first mounting surface 12 in the first assembly area 10 and a second mounting surface 22 in the second assembly area 20, wherein the normals of the planar first mounting surface 12 and of the second mounting surface 22 are formed parallel to the support direction AR. The intermediate element 4 has a first sensor 42 and an evaluation unit 30 on an outer surface. The sensor 42 of the sensor unit 40 is used in this case to determine or detect the forces transmitted, in particular in the support direction AR, by the intermediate element 4 between the first assembly area 10 and the second assembly area 20 between the vehicle frame 52 and the air spring 120. The air spring 120 supports the control arm 110 relative to the vehicle frame 52, in particular in the support direction AR. In the embodiment shown, the control arm 110 is a trailing arm, which can surround the axle to be supported as shown. The control arm 110 is supported on the force transmission element 2, which is designed as a holding mount 6, via its second assembly area 20. The holding mount 6 has two side walls 32, which are connected to each other via the end wall 34. Therefore, each of the side walls 32 has a second assembly area 20. The first assembly area 10 of the force transmission element 2, which is designed as a holding mount 6, supports the holding mount 6 with respect to the vehicle frame 52. The side walls 32 and the end wall 34 each have at least one sensor 42 of the sensor unit 40 of the axle load detection system 1.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of a force transmission element 2, which is designed as an intermediate element 4. The intermediate element 4 is supported by the first mounting surface 12 of the first assembly area 10 in an installed state relative to a vehicle frame 52. The second assembly area 20, on the other hand, serves in this case to be connected to an air spring 120 or a holding mount 6 in order to absorb forces from the holding mount 6 or the air spring 120. A sensor 42, which can in particular be a strain gauge, is arranged on an outer surface between the first assembly area 10 and the second assembly area 20.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0026] 1axle load detection system [0027] 2force transmission element [0028] 4intermediate element [0029] 6holding mount [0030] 10first assembly area [0031] 12first mounting surface [0032] 20second assembly area [0033] 22second mounting surface [0034] 30evaluation unit [0035] 32side wall [0036] 34end wall [0037] 40sensor unit [0038] 42sensor [0039] 52vehicle frame [0040] 100axle system [0041] 110control arm [0042] 120air spring [0043] ARsupport direction