US 11,926,301 B2
Axle weight sensing device
Samuel N. Lievore, Elkhart, IN (US)
Assigned to Dexter Axle Company LLC, Elkhart, IN (US)
Filed by Dexter Axle Company LLC, Elkhart, IN (US)
Filed on Sep. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/448,377.
Application 17/448,377 is a continuation of application No. 16/353,341, filed on Mar. 14, 2019, granted, now 11,130,479.
Prior Publication US 2022/0017050 A1, Jan. 20, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B60T 8/18 (2006.01); B60B 35/04 (2006.01); B60G 11/04 (2006.01); B60G 11/113 (2006.01); G01G 3/08 (2006.01); G01G 19/12 (2006.01)
CPC B60T 8/1837 (2013.01) [B60B 35/04 (2013.01); B60G 11/04 (2013.01); B60G 11/113 (2013.01); G01G 3/08 (2013.01); G01G 19/12 (2013.01); B60G 2202/112 (2013.01); B60T 2250/00 (2013.01); B60Y 2200/147 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for controlling a braking force applied to a trailer, said system comprising:
said trailer having trailer brakes located on an axle, said axle having a hollow axle tube supporting said trailer and connected thereto through mounting portions, said trailer towable by a vehicle having a controller with a proportional braking signal, said proportional braking signal moveable between a signal representing no braking force from said vehicle and a signal representing full braking force from said vehicle;
a unitary mounting block with a mounting surface affixed on top of said axle tube between said mounting portions, said unitary mounting block having a notch facing said axle tube and interrupting said mounting surface and said notch located opposite a continuous mating surface, said continuous mating surface facing away from said axle tube;
a strain gauge assembly affixed to said continuous mating surface of said unitary mounting block and straddling said notch;
a computer in electrical communication with said proportional braking signal from said vehicle and a weight signal from said strain gauge assembly, said computer having a gain determined by said weight signal from said strain gauge assembly, said computer configured to:
receive said proportional braking signal;
calculate a weight of said trailer with said weight signal when said trailer is unloaded;
establish said gain with said unloaded weight and control said trailer brakes with said gain when said vehicle provides said proportional braking signal; and
increase said gain when said weight signal indicates said weight of said trailer has increased; and
control said trailer brakes with said increased gain when said vehicle provides said proportional brake signal.