Apparatus for weighing and identifying characteristics of a moving vehicle
Abstract
Apparatus for weighing a vehicle in motion is provided by employing a plurality of elongated fiber-optic sensors defined by an optical fiber embedded in an encasement of elastomeric material and disposed parallel to each other on the roadway in the path of moving vehicles. Each fiber-optic sensor is provided with contact grid means which can be selectively altered to provide the fiber-optic sensors with sensitivities to vehicular weight different from each other for weighing vehicles in an extended weight range. Switch means are used in conjunction with the fiber-optic sensors to provide signals indicative of the speed of the moving vehicle, the number of axles on the vehicle, weight distribution, tire position, and the wheelbase of the vehicle. The use of a generally N-shaped configuration of switch means also provides a determination of the number of tires on each axle and the tire footprint. When switch means in this configuration are formed of optical fibers, the extent of light transmission through the fibers during contact with the tires of the vehicle is indicative of the vehicle weight.
- Inventors:
-
- Clinton, TN
- Oak Ridge, TN
- (Harriman, TN)
- Knoxville, TN
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 869004
- Patent Number(s):
- 5260520
- Assignee:
- Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc. (Oak Ridge, TN)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01G - WEIGHING
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- apparatus; weighing; identifying; characteristics; moving; vehicle; motion; provided; employing; plurality; elongated; fiber-optic; sensors; defined; optical; fiber; embedded; encasement; elastomeric; material; disposed; parallel; roadway; path; vehicles; sensor; contact; grid; means; selectively; altered; provide; sensitivities; vehicular; weight; extended; range; switch; conjunction; signals; indicative; speed; axles; distribution; tire; position; wheelbase; n-shaped; configuration; provides; determination; tires; axle; footprint; formed; fibers; extent; light; transmission; signals indicative; light transmission; disposed parallel; optical fibers; optical fiber; elastomeric material; optic sensor; provide signals; identifying characteristics; fiber-optic sensors; optic sensors; fiber-optic sensor; /177/
Citation Formats
Muhs, Jeffrey D, Jordan, John K, Tobin, Jr., Kenneth W., and LaForge, John V. Apparatus for weighing and identifying characteristics of a moving vehicle. United States: N. p., 1993.
Web.
Muhs, Jeffrey D, Jordan, John K, Tobin, Jr., Kenneth W., & LaForge, John V. Apparatus for weighing and identifying characteristics of a moving vehicle. United States.
Muhs, Jeffrey D, Jordan, John K, Tobin, Jr., Kenneth W., and LaForge, John V. Fri .
"Apparatus for weighing and identifying characteristics of a moving vehicle". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/869004.
@article{osti_869004,
title = {Apparatus for weighing and identifying characteristics of a moving vehicle},
author = {Muhs, Jeffrey D and Jordan, John K and Tobin, Jr., Kenneth W. and LaForge, John V},
abstractNote = {Apparatus for weighing a vehicle in motion is provided by employing a plurality of elongated fiber-optic sensors defined by an optical fiber embedded in an encasement of elastomeric material and disposed parallel to each other on the roadway in the path of moving vehicles. Each fiber-optic sensor is provided with contact grid means which can be selectively altered to provide the fiber-optic sensors with sensitivities to vehicular weight different from each other for weighing vehicles in an extended weight range. Switch means are used in conjunction with the fiber-optic sensors to provide signals indicative of the speed of the moving vehicle, the number of axles on the vehicle, weight distribution, tire position, and the wheelbase of the vehicle. The use of a generally N-shaped configuration of switch means also provides a determination of the number of tires on each axle and the tire footprint. When switch means in this configuration are formed of optical fibers, the extent of light transmission through the fibers during contact with the tires of the vehicle is indicative of the vehicle weight.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993}
}