Onboard weighing systems improve vehicle stability

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team May 28, 2008

When an uneven load distribution occurs, the Vishay TipWatch system sounds an alarm and displays a warning on the 'in-cab' weighing system indicator.

Vishay PM Onboard is now offering tip stability functionality as a standard feature of its latest onboard weighing systems.

The tip stability warning system incorporated in the company's PM1155 and PM1300 weighing indicators improve safety and minimise downtime by alerting drivers of bulk tipping and refuse collection vehicles to potentially unsafe conditions, such as uneven ground or uneven body load.

Vishay PM Onboard has worked closely with trailer manufacturers in the development of the new tip stability warning systems and the products have been tested by independent automotive testing agencies in accordance with the Institute of Road Transport Engineers (IRTE) certification procedures.

IRTE provides a Category A certification for a tipping trailer based on the requirement for tractor and loaded trailer to achieve a 7.5 degree slope.

When an uneven load distribution occurs, the Vishay TipWatch system sounds an alarm and displays a warning on the 'in-cab' weighing system indicator.

An alarm is activated when the load is more than 40% off centre or when side-to-side slopes greater than 3 degrees are encountered.

During testing of the strength and durability of the Vishay PM Onboard systems at the company's Bradford-based headquarters, a tilting platform was used to tip a fully laden 44 tonne articulated tipping trailer to 8.5 degrees.

The Vishay PM Onboard alarm triggered when the tilt table was at 2 degrees, which gave an angle of 3deg on the chassis.

The angles displayed on the in-cab indicator matched the measurements on the chassis, giving the driver full control coupled with the benefits of the audible and visual alarms.

Commenting on the positive results of the testing, Sean Folkard, Vishay PM Onboard's Sales and Marketing Director says, "Two of the key criteria in health and safety executive guidelines for tipping safely are to ensure that the load is evenly distributed and that the vehicle is level, both of which are accurately measured through the Vishay PM Onboard systems".

"A stability system is a natural extension of our proven loadcell and onboard weighing technology and offers operators a range of benefits such as reduced risk of injury caused by a tipper rollover, less downtime and a significant reduction in the cost of vehicle recovery".