The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 14, 2004
Filed:
Feb. 14, 2003
Wolfgang Weyand, Overath, DE;
Wolfgang Wickler, Bruehl, DE;
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
The invention relates to a weight monitoring system for a motor vehicle ( ) which can, if appropriate, be connected to a trailer ( ). The system uses weight sensors to determine the weights (F , F ) acting on the axles of the motor vehicle, in order to calculate from them the overall weight of the vehicle, and the axle loads. In addition, a tractive force sensor may be provided in the trailer hitch so that the mass of the trailer ( ) can be determined by means of the tractive force (F ) and the acceleration of the vehicle. The weight monitoring system calculates various weight variables from the measured values and monitors to determine whether they remain within defined limits. In this context, it is possible, in particular, to take into account a planned route in such a way that the limiting values of the charge are adapted with respect to the maximum altitude (H ) above sea level and/or the maximum gradient (s ) of the route. In addition, the system can be configured in such a way that it provides the driver with proposals for a different distribution of the payload which leads to a permissible axle load.