Patent ID: 7285735
Filing Date: 2007-10-23
Classification: B60G,G01G

Abstract:
1. A method of measuring the weight of bulk liquid material within a container of a trailer of a tractor-trailer, the container being supported by a pneumatic suspension system of the trailer supplied with compressed air by a compressor powered by an internal combustion engine of the tractor, said method comprising: turning off the internal combustion engine so that the compressed air is not being replenished to the pneumatic suspension system from the tractor; releasing trailer brakes of the trailer to allow the trailer to freely flex; introducing supplemental pressurized air into a pneumatic circuit of the pneumatic suspension system at a pressure above a required pressure to support the container at a ride-height after having been filled with a predetermined load of the bulk liquid material; measuring air bag pressure of air bags within the pneumatic suspension system, the air bags being connected to the pneumatic circuit to receive the supplemental pressurized air; and correlating the air bag pressure with the weight of the bulk liquid material located within the container.