WEIGHT MEASURING DEVICE AND THE MEASURING METHOD

Abstract

A weight measuring device, especially a device to measure weight from which further parameters of passing vehicles such as speed, acceleration, deceleration, turning to the right and to the left, direction of movement, number and type of axles, condition of individual tires, containing at least two measuring elements (1,2) which contains at least one group (3) of measuring elements (1,2) arranged in a body (4) which is part of the road surface (11), of which at least one is a (body (4) deformation) load measuring element (1) and at least one another measuring element is arranged in the body (4) in such a manner that it is a measuring element (2) with a zero deformation load or with a deformation load different from that of the load measuring element (1). The measuring method, especially the method of measuring various parameters of passing vehicles according to which at least one (body (4) deformation) load measuring element (1) and at least one another measuring element (2) with a zero deformation load or with a deformation load different from that of the load measuring element (1) arranged in at least one group (3) transmit continuously, when the vehicle passes over, parameters of light passage for further processing in/by at least one evaluation unit where the difference of these parameters is determined.

Claims

1. A weight measuring device, especially a device to measure weight from which further parameters of passing vehicles such as speed, acceleration, deceleration, turning to the right and to the left, direction of movement, number and type of axles, condition of individual tires, containing at least two measuring elements, the weight measuring device comprising: at least one group of measuring elements arranged in a body configured to form a part of a road surface, at least one group of measuring elements including a body load deformation measuring element and another measuring element arranged in the body in such a manner that the another measuring element has a zero deformation load or a deformation load different from that of the body load deformation measuring element.

2. The weight measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the body load deformation measuring element is arranged in such a point in the body where the load-induced deformation of the body is the highest and the another measuring element is arranged in such a point in the body where the load-induced deformation of the body is zero or different from that in the point in the body where the body load deformation measuring element is arranged.

3. The weight measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the body load deformation measuring element is in direct contact with the body in the point at its bottom and in the point of an inner protrusion thereof.

4. The weight measuring device according to claim 1, comprising at least two said groups of measuring elements arranged lengthways of the body.

5. The weight measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring elements are arranged for measurement of the vertical component of the load.

6. The weight measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the width of the body is smaller than the length of a track of the vehicle.

7. The weight measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the body is made as a closed beam.

8. The weight measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the body is configured for placement in a bed in the road surface.

9. The weight measuring device according to claim 8, wherein the body is fixed in the bed with at least one strap connected with the bed using at least one fastening means.

10. The weight measuring device according to claim 8, wherein the bed contains at least one cable duct.

11. The weight measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring elements contain at least one optical fibre.

12. The weight measuring device according to claim 11, wherein the optical fibres of the measuring elements are connected with an evaluation unit.

13. The weight measuring device according to claim 12, wherein the evaluation unit contains an opto-electrical converter with a high sampling rate.

14. A measuring method, especially the method of measuring various parameters of passing vehicles carried out by the measuring device according to claim 1, wherein at least one body load deformation measuring element and at least one another measuring element with a zero deformation load or with a load different from that of the load measuring element arranged in at least one group continuously transmit, when the vehicle passes over, parameters of light passage for further processing to at least one evaluation unit where the difference of these parameters is determined.

15. The measuring method according to claim 14, wherein the evaluation unit then determines, from the time-based form of the differences, at least one parameter of the passing vehicle.

Description

OVERVIEW OF THE FIGURES

[0026] The invention will be explained in more detail in drawings where FIG. 1 shows (in cross-section) the arrangement of the body with the (body deformation) load measuring element and with the element with a zero deformation load, where FIG. 2 shows (in cross-section) the arrangement of the body in the bed, where FIG. 3 shows (in cross-section) the arrangement of the body with the (body deformation) load measuring element and with the element having a different load in comparison with the (body deformation) load measuring element, where FIG. 4 shows a 3D view of one section of the body in which individual groups of measuring elements are placed, and where FIG. 5 shows the track of a vehicle running over the body of the measuring device.

EXAMPLES OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE INVENTION

[0027] The weight measuring device and (at the same time) the device able to determine further parameters of passing vehicles from the weight measured (such as speed, acceleration, deceleration, turning to the right and to the left, direction of movement, number and kind of axles, condition of individual tires) consists of a body 4 (FIG. 4) in which more groups 3 of measuring elements 1, 2, are arranged regularly along its whole length. The body 4 (FIG. 1, FIG. 3) which is part of the road surface 11 of the carriageway contains an abrasive layer 18 exactly level with the road surface 11. The body 4 is arranged in the road surface 11 in such a manner that it is deformed when being passed over by a vehicle due to the load of its wheels.

[0028] According to the first variant (FIG. 1), each group 3 includes one (body 4 deformation) load measuring element 1 and one measuring element 2 with a zero deformation load for compensation arranged in a casing (not shown) of a foam material. The (body deformation) load measuring element 1 is arranged in such a point 5 of the body 4 where the deformation is the highest. The measuring element 2 with a zero load is arranged in such a point of the body 4 where the load-induced deformation of the body 4 is zero. In this variant, the (body deformation) load measuring element 1 is in direct contact with the body 4 in the point 7 of its bottom 8 and in the point 5 of its inner protrusion 9. The measuring element 2 with a zero load touches the body 4 only in the point 6 of its bottom 8.

[0029] According to the second variant (FIG. 3), each group 3 includes one (body 4 deformation) load measuring element 1 and one measuring element 2 with a deformation load different from the load measuring element 1 for compensation. Both measuring elements 1, 2 are arranged in a casing (not shown) of a foam material. The (body deformation) load measuring element 1 is arranged in such a point 5 of the body 4 where the deformation is the highest. The measuring element 2 with a load different from the load measuring element 1 is arranged in such a point of the body 4 where the load-induced deformation of the body 4 is different as compared with the point of the body 4 where the load measuring element 1 is arranged. Also in this variant, the (body deformation) load measuring element 1 is in direct contact with the body 4 in the point 7 of its bottom 8 and in the point 5 of its inner protrusion 9. The measuring element 2 with a load different than that of the load measuring element 1 touches the body 4 only in the point 6 of its bottom 8 and, in addition to that, it leans against a flange 15 arranged in the side wall 14 of the body 4.

[0030] The body 4 is made as a closed beam.

[0031] The body 4 with the groups 3 of measuring elements 1, 2 according to both the aforementioned variants can be arranged (embedded) directly in the road surface 11 by laying it in a pre-prepared gap and then filling it up with a material which, after hardening, anchors the body firmly in the road surface 11.

[0032] The measuring elements 1, 2 to measure the vertical component of the load are arranged vertically to the road surface 11. There is, however, a possibility of arranging them obliquely to the road surface 11 but the value of the vertical component of the load must then additionally be calculated.

[0033] The width 19 of the body 4 (FIG. 5) is smaller than the length 20 of the track 21 of the vehicle.

[0034] According to another, more advantageous variant (FIG. 2), the body 4 is placed in the bed 10 which is arranged (embedded) in the road surface 11 and anchored in a similar manner. The body 4 is fixed in the bed 10 using a pair of straps 12 connected with the bed 10 with fastening means 13 (fastening bolts). The bed contains four cable ducts 17.

[0035] Each of the measuring elements 1, 2 contains one optical fibre (not shown).

[0036] The optical fibres of the measuring elements 1, 2 are connected with the evaluation unit (not shown) using an optical cable 16. The evaluation unit includes an opto-electrical converter with a high sampling rate and a central processing unit.

[0037] The whole carriageway width is usually covered by a set of more individual bodies 4 with groups 3 of measuring elements 1, 2 placed in one bed or in more beds 10 which, at the same time, serve for leading optical cables 16 from individual groups 3 of measuring elements 1, 2. Optical connection between groups 3 of measuring elements 1, 2 in one body is usually carried out by one optical cable 16.

[0038] The measuring device works as follows: The (body 4 deformation) load measuring element 1 and the measuring element 2 with a zero deformation load or with a load different from that of the load measuring element 1 arranged in one group 3 continuously transmit, when the vehicle passes over, parameters of light passage for further processing to be carried out by at least one evaluation unit where the difference between these parameters is determined. The difference is then converted into a digital or analogue signal and the central processor unit can determine (from the time-based form of individual differences) parameters of the passing vehicle, e.g. its weight.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

[0039] The Weight Measuring Device and the Measuring Method according to the invention can be utilized for measuring various parameters of passing vehicles, especially for determination of their weight.

LIST OF REFERENCE MARKS

[0040] 1 Measuring Element I

[0041] 2 Measuring Element II

[0042] 3 Group

[0043] 4 Body

[0044] 5 Point I

[0045] 6 Point II

[0046] 7 Point III

[0047] 8 Bottom

[0048] 9 Inner Protrusion

[0049] 10 Bed

[0050] 11 Road Surface

[0051] 12 Strap

[0052] 13 Fastening Means

[0053] 14 Side Wall

[0054] 15 Flange

[0055] 16 Optical Cable

[0056] 17 Cable Duct

[0057] 18 Abrasive Layer

[0058] 19 Width

[0059] 20 Length of the Track of the Vehicle

[0060] 21 Track of the Vehicle