Measuring Motor-Truck 

 Loads Automatically 



A dial registers the readings from all 

 four wheels as the load is distributed 



OVERLOADING of motor trucks 

 would be entirely eliminated if all such 

 trucks were fit-ted with the novel load- 

 measuring device shown in the accompany- 

 ing illustrations. The apparatus makes use 

 of the relative motion between the axles and 

 springs of a vehicle as loads are applied. The 

 varying deflection of springs for loads of dif- 

 ferent weights is allowed for by calibrating 

 the dial scale on which the loads are read. 



The device differs from most others of its 

 kind in that the weight carried on each 

 wheel is recorded on the dial as the load is 

 distributed, and not only that on the rear 

 wheels. The proportions of weight over 

 the truck body must be the same as when 

 the device was calibrated or else the read- 

 ing will not be a true. one. This makes it 

 possible for the load to be properly dis- 

 tributed over each wheel. 



The readings are obtained 

 through the use of four verti- 

 cal racks, each carried rigidly 

 on a strap round each axle 

 near the ends, the rack re- 

 volving a spur gear mounted 

 on the frame and driving a 

 longitudinal shaft inside the 

 frame channel through a 



Detail, of the rack which 

 revolves the spur-gear 

 mounted on the frame 



r^n 



Overloading is one of the greatest dangers 

 which the motor-truck owner fears. It is 

 a question of correct weight distribution 



bevel-gear unit. The revolution of the 

 shaft is transmitted to the reading dial 

 placed on the dashboard of the truck in 

 sight of the driver by means of a flexible 

 shaft. 



As the load is put on the truck, that 

 portion supported by each wheel forces the 

 spring carrying that wheel down and causes 

 the spur gear on the frame to revolve about 

 the rack nearest that spring, simultaneously 

 turning the 'corresponding longitudinal 

 shaft and the flexible shaft registering the 

 relative motion between the 

 spring and the axle on the 

 reading dial. The weights 

 carried on the other three 

 wheels are registered in a 

 similar manner. 



The registering dial is a 

 clever piece of mechanism 

 which consists of a cylindri- 

 cal casing with a central 

 fixed stud carrying loosely 

 four gears of like diameter 



VERTICAL RACK 

 BEVEL GEAR. \ AXLE STRAP 



BEVEL GEAR 



LONGITUDINAL DIAL DRIVE SHAFT 



k 



FLEXIBLE SHAFT 

 1 



J-TT 



a 



LONGITUDINAL DIAL DRIVE SHAFT 

 ) BEVEL GEAR 



-^o^ 



6EVEL GEAR'' I AXLE STRAP 



VERTICAL RACK 



The readings are obtained through four vertical racks, each carried rigidly on a strap round 

 each axle near the ends and each revolving a spur gear driving a shaft through a bevel-gear unit 



36 



