Dexter Axle Company

Samuel Neil Lievore

Eric Joseph Schuh

Mark Nave

Ankit Awasthi

Markus Cloyd Carrison

Steven Ray Bollinger

Hubcap

A vehicle weight sensing system particularly useful for trailers. An axle tube is mounted to the vehicle or trailer through its suspension members that may be leaf springs. A mounting block is affixed to the axle tube for mounting a strain gauge. The mounting block is fixed to the axle tube between the suspension members connected to the axle tube. The mounting block has a mounting surface opposite to the mating surface and a notch extends from the mating surface toward the mounting surface. The notch terminates between the mating surface and the mounting surface. The notch separates rigidified sections of the mounting block and the rigidified sections straddle the notch. The stain gauge measures strain in the axle and thereby generates a signal proportional to the weight on the trailer. The signal can be used to properly proportion a brake system on the trailer.

Axle weight sensing device

A vehicle weight sensing system is particularly useful for trailers. An axle tube is mounted to the vehicle or trailer through its suspension members that may be leaf springs. A mounting block is affixed to the axle tube for mounting a strain gauge. The mounting block is fixed to the axle tube between the suspension members connected to the axle tube. The mounting block has a mounting surface opposite to the mating surface and a notch extends from the mating surface toward the mounting surface. The notch terminates between the mating surface and the mounting surface. The notch separates rigidified sections of the mounting block and the rigidified sections straddle the notch. The stain gauge measures strain in the axle and thereby generates a signal proportional to the weight on the trailer. The signal can be used to properly proportion a brake system on the trailer.

Axle sensor mounting

A drum braking system having a spindle and backing plate affixed thereto. The system includes a drum rotating on the spindle. The drum has an inside surface with integral notches that are machined or cast into the drum. When the brakes are applied, brake shoes are actuated to contact the inside surface to create drag between the drum and the spindle. A sensor is fixed with respect to the spindle or backing plate that detects the notches when the drum rotates about the spindle. A portion of the inside surface with the integral notches is shared with the brake shoes so that applying the brakes prevents buildup that could contact the sensor. The sensor is positioned radially to reduce the effect of drum endplay on detecting of the notches.

Wheel sensors within vehicular brake assemblies

Detectable indicia are provided on the interior circumferential rim of the brake hub-drum adjacent to, and spaced apart from, the backing plate of the brake. A sensor is mounted on the backing plate to detect wheel speed and/or other operating conditions detectable from the motion and/or relative location or condition of those indicia. The number of indicia used and the indicia spacing along the interior circumferential rim is selected as needed for a given type of sensor and/or a given application. In the case of a speed sensor, the indicia can be a series of notches in the rim along the entire interior circumferential rim, resembling a series of 'teeth' into that rim. The width of those teeth can be formed wide enough to accommodate movement of the hub-drum relative to the backing plate and/or the sensor, without loss of system functionality, according to the sensing tolerances of a given sensor being used in a given application.

Growing community of inventors

Elkhart, IN, United States of America

Samuel Neil Lievore