Patent Publication Number: US-2012046908-A1

Title: Portable load scale systems

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/402,100 entitled “Portable Load Scale Systems,” filed Aug. 23, 2010. Additionally, this application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) to Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2010903831 entitled “Portable Load Scale Systems,” filed Aug. 26, 2010. Finally, this application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) to New Zealand Provisional Patent Application No. 587596 entitled “Portable Load Scale Systems,” filed Aug. 26, 2010. The complete disclosures of the above applications are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Hauling freight and cargo by truck and tractor-trailer is a vital part of the commercial infrastructure of many nations. Operators of such vehicles need to efficiently and safely load their vehicles, while complying with weight regulations. While fixed-location commercial weigh stations are available, those stations provide information distant in time and space from where the truck was loaded, resulting in delays and potential citations if the vehicle does not conform to regulatory requirements. 
     Examples of weight measurement devices and/or load scale systems, including portable weight measurement devices and/or portable load scale systems, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,331,458; 4,588,038; 4,651,838; 4,789,033; 4,832,141; 5,016,200; 5,086,656; 5,119,895; 5,167,289; 5,478,974; 5,780,783; 6,803,530; 7,572,988; 7,612,303; 7,705,715; and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2001/0009206. The complete disclosures of the above patents and patent application publication are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure is directed to a portable load scale device for a vehicle. The vehicle may include a frame, a wheel axle assembly, a pressure source, and at least one air spring disposed between the frame and the wheel axle assembly and pressurized by the pressure source. The device may, in some examples, include a sensor assembly configured to detect pressure in the at least one air spring. The device may additionally include a solenoid valve assembly disposed between the sensor assembly and the at least one air spring and configured, when the sensor assembly is not detecting the pressure, to isolate the sensor assembly from the pressure in the at least one air spring while not isolating the at least one air spring from the pressure source. The device may further include a processor assembly configured to calculate a loaded weight of the vehicle based on the detected pressure, and a display assembly configured to display the calculated loaded weight. 
     The device may, in some examples, include a housing configured to be removably mounted to the frame, and a sensor assembly contained within the housing and configured to detect pressure in the at least one air spring. The device may additionally include a solenoid valve assembly contained within the housing and disposed between the sensor assembly and the at least one air spring, the solenoid valve assembly being configured, when the sensor assembly is not detecting the pressure, to isolate the sensor assembly from the pressure in the at least one air spring. The device may further include a processor assembly contained within the housing and configured to calculate a loaded weight of the vehicle based on the detected pressure, and a display assembly configured to display the calculated load weight. 
     The present disclosure is also directed to a method of measuring a loaded weight of a vehicle. The vehicle may include a frame, a wheel axle assembly, a pressure source, and at least one air spring disposed between the frame and the wheel axle assembly and pressurized by the pressure source. The method may, in some examples, include detecting pressure in the at least one air spring via a sensor assembly of a portable load scale device, and calculating loaded weight of the vehicle based on the detected pressure. The method may additionally include displaying the calculated loaded weight. The method may further include isolating the sensor assembly from the pressure in the at least one air spring when not detecting the pressure in the at least one air spring, while not isolating the at least one air spring from the pressure source. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a vehicle with an example of a portable load scale system connected to an air suspension system of a vehicle. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of an example of an air suspension system of the vehicle of  FIG. 1  with the portable load scale system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an example of the portable load scale device of the portable load scale system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an electrical schematic of an example of a power supply assembly of the portable load scale device of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an electrical schematic of an example of a display assembly of the portable load scale device of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is an electrical schematic of an example of a backlight assembly of the display assembly of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is an electrical schematic of an example of a sensor assembly of the portable load scale device of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 8  is an electrical schematic of an example of a system controller assembly of the portable load scale device of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 9  is an electrical schematic of an example of a solenoid control assembly of the portable load scale device of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 10  is an electrical schematic of another example of a power supply assembly of the portable load scale device of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 11  is an electrical schematic of another example of a solenoid control assembly of the portable load scale device of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of an example of a portable load scale device of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 13  is an isometric view of an example of a protective box for the portable load scale device of  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       FIGS. 1-2  show an example of a portable load scale system  20  for a vehicle  22 . Vehicle  22  may include a frame  24 , a wheel axle assembly  26 , and an air suspension system  28 . The air suspension system may include one or more air bags or air springs  30 , a pressure source  32 , an air spring manifold  34 , a source conduit  36 , and a height control valve  38 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The air springs may be disposed between the frame and wheel axle assembly and pressurized by the pressure source. The air spring manifold may fluidly connect air springs  30  together. Source conduit  36  may fluidly connect pressure source  32  with air spring manifold  34 . Height control valve  36  may be actuated by the vehicle&#39;s control system (not shown) or a user to control the amount of pressure in the air springs. Although vehicle  22  is shown to be a trailer, the vehicle may be any suitable powered and/or unpowered vehicles that include an air suspension system, such as trucks and/or other trailers. 
     Portable load scale system  20  may include any suitable structure configured to determine the loaded weight of vehicle  22 . For example, the portable load scale system may include a portable load scale device  38 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 . Additionally, portable load scale system  20  may include any suitable structure configured to fluidly connect portable load scale device  38  to air suspension system  28 . For example, the portable load scale system may include a t-fitting  40  (such as a street tee) and tubing  42 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The tubing may be received in tubing connector(s) (not shown) of the portable load scale device. Two or more t-fittings  40  and tubing  42  may be used to connect to different portions (or the same portion) of the air suspension system. For example, a first tubing  42  may be used to connect to a first sensor of the portable load scale device, while a second tubing  42  may be used to connect to a second sensor of the portable load scale device. The first and second tubing may be connected to first and second air spring(s)  30  (or first and second air spring manifolds  34 ) or the same air spring  30  or same air spring manifold  34 . Although portable load scale system  20  is shown to include t-fitting  40  and tubing  42 , the portable load scale system may include any suitable structure configured to connect the portable load scale device to the air suspension system of the vehicle. 
     Portable load scale device  38  may include any suitable structure configured to calculate and display the loaded weight of vehicle  22 . For example, portable load scale device may include a housing  43 , a sensor assembly  44 , a solenoid valve assembly  46 , a processor assembly  48 , a memory assembly  50 , an input assembly  52 , an output assembly  54 , and a power supply assembly  56 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     Housing  43  may be configured to be removably mounted to frame  24  and/or to at least partially contain one or more other components of the portable load scale device. For example, housing  43  may partially or fully contain sensor assembly  44 , solenoid valve assembly  46 , processor assembly  48 , memory assembly  50 , input assembly  52 , output assembly  54 , and/or power supply assembly  56 . Alternatively, one or more of the above assemblies may be partially or fully outside of the housing. For example, input assembly  52  and/or output assembly  54  may be located outside of housing  43 , such as on or inside the vehicle&#39;s dashboard or instrument panel. Housing  43  may be made of one or more hard plastic material(s) and may be any suitable color(s). 
     Sensor assembly  44  may include any suitable structure configured to detect pressure in air spring(s)  30 . For example, the sensor assembly may include at least one sensor  58  and a sensor processor  60 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Sensor assembly  44  may include any suitable number of sensors  58 , such as one, two, three, four, five, or more sensors, which may be connected to any suitable portions of the air suspension system(s) of vehicle  22 . For example, the sensor assembly may include a first sensor  61  and a second sensor  62 . The first sensor may be fluidly connected to a first air spring or first air spring manifold, while the second sensor may be fluidly connected to a second air spring or second air spring manifold different from the first air spring or first air spring manifold (such as separate air manifolds for a truck and/or trailer). The first and second sensors may alternatively be fluidly connected to the same air spring or same air spring manifold. Alternatively, the sensor assembly may include a single sensor  58 . 
     Sensor  58  may include one or more piezo-resistive, capacitive, electromagnetic, piezoelectric, optical, potentiometric, resonant, and/or thermal sensors. For example, sensor  58  may include at least one piezo-resistive sensor that may be configured to sense or detect the pressure in air spring(s)  30  and produce analog output voltage(s). Sensor processor  60  may be configured to convert the analog output voltage(s) from sensor  58  into digital value(s) for processor assembly  48 , such as sixteen-bit digital signals. 
     Solenoid valve assembly  46  may include any suitable structure disposed between sensor assembly  44  and air spring(s)  30  and/or configured to isolate sensor assembly  44  from pressure in the air spring(s). The solenoid valve assembly may isolate the sensor assembly at any suitable time(s) and/or operational step(s) of the portable load scale device. For example, solenoid valve assembly  46  may be configured to isolate sensor assembly  44  from pressure in air springs(s)  30  when the sensor assembly is not detecting the pressure in the air spring(s) and/or when the portable load scale device is not in operation or powered off, such as via input assembly  52 . In some embodiments, the solenoid valve assembly may isolate sensor assembly  44  from pressure in air spring(s)  30  while not isolating the air springs from pressure source  32 . 
     Solenoid valve assembly  46  may, for example, include at least one air valve  63  and at least one solenoid  64 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The air valve may be disposed between the sensor assembly and the air spring(s), such as in one or more conduit(s)  66  that fluidly connect the sensor assembly to tubing  42 , which may be fluidly connected to the air spring(s) or air spring manifold(s). Air valve  63  may be any suitable mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and/or other suitable valve that may be operated by solenoid  64 . Solenoid  64  may be operatively connected to the air valve to move the air valve among a plurality of positions, such as an open position in which the sensor assembly is in fluid communication (or is fluidly connected) with the air spring(s), and a closed position in which the sensor assembly is isolated from (or is fluidly disconnected) from the air spring(s). 
     In some embodiments, sensor assembly  44  may be fluidly connected to (or in fluid communication with) air spring(s)  30  and/or air spring manifold(s)  34  via conduit(s)  66  within housing  43  and tubing  42  that is external to housing  43 , as shown in  FIGS. 2-3 . Solenoid valve assembly  46  may be disposed between the sensor assembly and the air spring(s) and/or air spring manifold(s) within housing  43 . For example, the solenoid valve assembly may divide conduit(s)  66  into a first portion between the sensor assembly and the solenoid valve assembly, and a second portion between the solenoid valve assembly and tubing  42 . 
     Solenoid valve assembly  46  may include air valve(s)  63  disposed within the conduit(s) to regulate flow within the conduit(s). For example, when air valve(s)  63  is in the open position, air (or another gas or fluid) from the air spring(s) and/or air spring manifold(s) may flow through the solenoid valve assembly and into the sensor assembly to allow the sensor assembly to detect the pressure in the air spring(s) and/or air spring manifold(s). Alternatively, when air valve(s)  63  is in the closed position, air from the air spring(s) may flow only to the solenoid valve assembly and does not flow past the solenoid valve assembly and into the sensor assembly. In that position, the sensor assembly and/or portion of conduit(s)  66  between the solenoid valve assembly and the sensor assembly may isolated from the pressure in the air spring(s) and/or air spring manifold(s) because the air does not flow past the solenoid valve assembly and into the sensor assembly for the sensor assembly to detect that pressure. The portable load scale device may include one or more exhaust vents or systems (not shown) in any suitable portion(s) of the device to allow for pressure to be vented between pressure readings. 
     The solenoid valve assembly may include any suitable number of air valves  63  and solenoids  64 , such as one, two, three, four, or more air valves and solenoids. For example, solenoid valve assembly  46  may include a first air valve  68  and a first solenoid  70  operatively connected to the first air valve to move the first air valve between open and closed positions, and a second air valve  72  and a second solenoid  74  operatively connected to the second air valve to move the second air valve between open and closed positions. The first air valve may be disposed in conduit  66  and/or between sensor assembly  44  and a first air spring or first air spring manifold, while the second air valve may be disposed in conduit  66  and/or between the sensor assembly and a second air spring or second air spring manifold different from the first air spring or first air spring manifold. Alternatively, the first and second air valves may be disposed in conduit  66  and/or between the sensor assembly and the same air spring or air spring manifold. 
     Processor assembly  48  may include any suitable structure configured to calculate a loaded weight of vehicle  22  based on the detected pressure in air spring(s)  30  and/or air spring manifold  34 . For example, processor assembly  48  may calculate loaded weight of the vehicle based on detected pressure from a single sensor, first and second sensors, and/or any suitable combination of sensors. When sensor assembly  44  includes multiple sensors, the processor assembly may calculate loaded weight(s) based on pressure detected by each or one or more of the sensors and/or calculate an average loaded weight based on pressure detected by those sensors. For example, the processor assembly may be configured to calculate a first loaded weight based on the pressure detected by a first sensor, a second loaded weight based on the pressure detected by a second sensor, and/or an average loaded weight based on the first and second loaded weights. 
     Additionally, or alternatively, the processor assembly may control solenoid valve assembly  46 , store and/or read data from memory assembly  50 , receive input from input assembly  52 , and provide output to output assembly  54 . For example, processor assembly may control solenoid(s)  64  to move air valve(s)  63  between an open position, such as when the sensor assembly is detecting the pressure in the air spring(s) or when the portable load scale device is powered on, and a closed position, such as when the sensor assembly is not detecting the pressure in the air spring(s) or when the portable load scale device is powered off. 
     Memory assembly  50  may include any suitable structure configured to store any suitable data, such as calibration data, detected pressure data, pressure-to-weight data, and/or calculated load weight data. For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the memory assembly may include memory  76  and/or persistent storage  78 , which may be any suitable hardware configured to store information or data on a permanent and/or temporary basis. Memory  76  may, for example, include random access memory and/or any suitable volatile and/or non-volatile device. Persistent storage  78  may, for example, include a hard drive, flash memory, a rewritable optical disk, and/or rewritable magnetic disk. Although memory assembly  50  is shown to include both memory  76  and persistent storage  78 , the memory assembly may include only memory  76  or only persistent storage  78 . 
     Input assembly  52  may include any suitable structure configured to receive input from a user of the portable load scale device. For example, the input assembly may include a keypad  80 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, or additionally, input assembly  52  may include a mouse, a keyboard, a touch-sensitive screen, a microphone or voice control system, a camera or optical control system, and/or other suitable input devices. 
     Output assembly  54  may include any suitable structure configured to convey output to a user of the portable load scale device. For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the output assembly  54  may include a display  82 , such as an LED or LCD display. When output assembly  54  includes a display, the output assembly may sometimes be referred to as a “display assembly.” Alternatively, or additionally, output assembly  54  may include a graphical user interface, lights, and/or a speaker. 
     Power supply assembly  56  may include any suitable structure configured to receive power from a power source  84  and provide at least some of that power to one or more other components of the portable load scale device, such as solenoid valve assembly  46 , processor assembly  48 , and/or output assembly  54 . The power supply assembly may, for example provide power in a first voltage (such as about 12 or about 24 volts) to the solenoid valve assembly, and to provide power in a second voltage different from the first voltage (such as about 3.3 volts) to the processor assembly and/or the output assembly. The power supply assembly also may be configured to provide noise filtering, load dump protection, reverse power protections, and/or other suitable functions. The power source may be any suitable source of power, such as a battery  86  of vehicle  22 . For example, the power supply assembly may be electrically connected to the vehicle&#39;s electrical system. Alternatively, or additionally, power source  84  may include one or more other suitable batteries, solar power, wind power, and/or other suitable power sources. 
       FIGS. 4-9  show electrical schematics of an example of a portable load scale device  38 .  FIG. 4  shows an example of a power supply assembly  56 , which is generally indicated at  88 . Unless specifically excluded, power supply assembly  88  may include one or more components and/or functions of one or more other power supply assemblies described in this disclosure. Power supply assembly  88  may include, power input connectors  89 , a power supply processor  90 , filter capacitors  92 , and a voltage regulator  94 . The power supply processor may include a low dropout regulator that may be configured, for example, for noise filtering, load dump protection, and/or reverse power protection. Voltage regulator  94  may regulate received voltage to one or more other voltages. Power supply assembly  88  may provide any suitable combination of regulated and unregulated voltages, such as unregulated voltage line(s)  96  (which may have the voltage(s) received from power input connectors  89 ) and regulated voltage line  98  (which may have voltage(s) different from the voltage(s) received from the power input connectors). 
       FIGS. 5-6  show an example of an output assembly  54 , which is generally indicated at  100 . Unless specifically excluded, output assembly  100  may include one or more components and/or functions of one or more other output assemblies described in this disclosure. Output assembly  100  may include an LCD display  102 , a display controller  104 , and a backlight assembly  106  for the LCD display. Display controller  104  may be connected to an LCD display bus  107  that is connected to the processor assembly. The backlight assembly may include an on/off control  108 , at least one brightness resistor  110 , one or more LEDs  112 , and a backlight control bus  113 . Although backlight assembly  106  is shown to include four LEDs  112 , the backlight assembly may include more or less LEDs, such as one, two, three, five, six, or more LEDs. Additionally, although backlight assembly  106  is shown to include LEDs, the backlight assembly may include lamps, fluorescent tubes, electroluminescent devices, and/or other suitable devices. 
       FIG. 7  shows an example of a sensor assembly  44 , which is generally indicated at  114 . Unless specifically excluded, sensor assembly  114  may include one or more components and/or functions of one or more other sensory assemblies described in this disclosure. Sensor assembly  114  may include one or more sensors  116 , a sensor bus  118 , and a clock bus  120 . The sensors may be configured to detect pressure in the air spring(s) and/or air spring manifold(s). Sensor bus  118  and clock bus  120  may be connected to the processor assembly. 
       FIG. 8  shows an example of a processor assembly  48 , which is generally indicated at  122 . Unless specifically excluded, processor assembly  122  may include one or more components and/or functions of one or more other processor assemblies described in this disclosure. Processor assembly  122  may include a programming connector assembly  124 , a system controller  126 , and a keypad bus  127 . The programming connector assembly may allow application software to be loaded on to the system controller. The system controller may control one or more other components of the portable load scale device, as discussed above. System controller  126  may be connected to the power supply assembly at the arrows shown in  FIG. 8  and/or to the other components via various buses, such as LCD display bus  107 , backlight control bus  113 , sensor bus  118 , and sensor clock bus  120 . 
       FIG. 9  shows an example of a solenoid control assembly  126 , which may include any suitable structure configured to drive and/or control the solenoid(s) of the solenoid valve assembly. For example, the solenoid control assembly may include a solenoid driver  128 , a solenoid driver bus  129 , a control assembly  130 , an overvoltage protection diode  132 , and a power connector assembly  134 . The solenoid driver may be configured to drive and/or control the solenoid(s) and may be connected to the processor assembly via solenoid driver bus  129 . Solenoid driver  128  may be configured to connect the solenoid(s) to the power source for any suitable amount of time. Control assembly  130  may be configured to set the amount of power that the solenoid(s) will receive. Power connector assembly  134  may provide physical connections to the solenoid(s) and/or power from the power supply assembly. 
       FIG. 10  shows another example of a power supply assembly  56 , which is generally indicated at  136 . Unless specifically excluded, power supply assembly  136  may include one or more components and/or functions of one or more other power supply assemblies described in this disclosure. Power supply assembly  136  may include a power protector assembly  138 , an intermediate voltage regulator  140 , and a final voltage regulator  142 . The power protector assembly may, for example, be configured to provide load dump and reverse power protection. Intermediate voltage regulator  140  may receive voltage from power source  84  and regulate that voltage to an intermediate voltage, such as from about 12 volts to about 8 volts. Final voltage regulator  142  may receive the intermediate voltage and regulate that voltage to a final voltage suitable for one or more other components of the portable load scale device, such as about 3.3 volts to the processor assembly and/or display assembly. 
       FIG. 11  shows another example of a solenoid control assembly  126 , which is generally indicated at  144 . Unless specifically excluded, solenoid control assembly  126  may include one or more components and/or functions of one or more other solenoid control assemblies described in this disclosure. Solenoid control assembly  144  may include a switch assembly  146 , a switch bus  148 , and a power connector assembly  150 . Switch assembly  146  may drive and/or control the solenoid(s) of the solenoid valve assembly and may be connected to the processor assembly via switch bus  148 . Power connector assembly  150  may provide physical connections to the solenoid(s) and/or power from the power supply assembly. 
       FIG. 12  shows an example of a portable load scale device  38 , which is generally indicated at  152 . Unless specifically excluded, portable load scale device  152  may include one or more components and/or functions of one or more other portable load scale devices described in this disclosure. Portable load scale device  152  may include a housing  153 , an LCD display  154  and a keypad assembly  156 . The keypad assembly may include a plurality of keys, such as a power key  158 , a menu key  160 , calibration keys  162 , and toggle keys  164 . Although keypad assembly  156  is shown to include particular keys, the keypad assembly may include any suitable keys. Additionally, although portable load scale device  152  is shown to include keypad assembly  156 , the portable load scale device may include other suitable type(s) of input assemblies, such as a graphical user interface or voice activation system. 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , portable load scale system  20  may include a protective box  166 , which may include any suitable structure configured to receive portable load scale device  38 . For example, the protective box may include a base  168  and a door  170 . The base may be configured to receive the portable load scale device and may include a channel  172  for the cable(s) and/or tubing of the portable load scale device (such as the power cable and the tubing). Door  170  may be pivotably attached to base  168  and may include latches  174  to selectively attach to base  168 . The protective box may be removably attached to the frame of the vehicle, such as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 14  shows a method  200  of measuring a loaded weight of a vehicle, such as vehicle  22 . The method may include detecting pressure in at least one air spring via a sensor assembly of a portable load scale device, such as the sensor assemblies and portable load scale devices discussed above, at  202 . Additionally, the method may include calculating a loaded weight of the vehicle based on the detected pressure, at  204 . Moreover, the method may include displaying the calculated loaded weight, at  206 . Furthermore, the method may include isolating the sensor assembly from the pressure of the at least one air spring when not detecting the pressure in the at least one air spring, while not isolating the at least one air spring from its pressure source, at  208 . 
     Additionally, method  200  may include receiving power from a power source and providing power to the portable load scale device, such as providing power in a first voltage to at least a first component of portable load scale device and/or providing power in a second voltage different from the first voltage to at least a second component. Although  FIG. 14  shows an example of a method for measuring a loaded weight of a vehicle, other examples may omit, add to, and/or modify any of the steps shown in that figure. 
     Portable load scale system  20  also may include nontransitory computer readable storage media having embodied therein a plurality of machine-readable instructions, wherein, when a processor executes the instructions, the instructions provide for one or more steps of a method for measuring a loaded weight of a vehicle, such as one or more steps of method  200 . 
     In operation, portable load scale system  20  may be calibrated by any suitable method(s) that allow conversion of detected pressure to a corresponding loaded weight for a vehicle. For example, calibration may be accomplished by providing upper and lower pairs of air pressure-to-weight values. The processor assembly of the portable load scale device may then perform interpolation to obtain a weight corresponding to the current sensed air pressure value. 
     Interpolation may be accomplished by any suitable method(s). For example, if the lower calibration point consists of (1) a low calibration weight value and (2) a low calibration pressure value, while the upper calibration point consists of (3) a high calibration weight value and (4) a high calibration pressure value, the processor assembly may first calculate a slope of the line between the upper and lower calibration points by dividing the difference between the high and low calibration weights with the difference between the high and low calibration pressures. The processor assembly may then (1) multiply that slope with the difference between the current pressure and the pressure of the lower calibration point, and (2) add the value from (1) to the weight of the lower calibration point. An example of the formulas that may be used by the processor assembly in calculating a current weight (or calculated loaded weight) are provided below. 
       Slope=(HCW−LCW)/(HCP−LCP)
 
       CW=(Slope*(CP−LCP))+LCW
 
     Terms: 
     CP=current pressure of the air suspension (psi)
 
CW=current weight (lbs)
 
HCP=high pressure (psi)
 
HCW=high weight (lbs)
 
LCP=low pressure (psi)
 
LCW=low weight (lbs) The processor assembly may use the same formula described above when the current pressure is above the high calibration pressure or below the low calibration pressure. Alternatively, the processing unit may use one or more different formulas.
 
     It is believed that the disclosure set forth herein encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein. 
     Applicant reserves the right to submit claims directed to certain combinations and subcombinations that are directed to one of the disclosed inventions and are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in that or a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to a different invention or directed to the same invention, whether different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are also regarded as included within the subject matter of the inventions of the present disclosure. Where such claims recite “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.