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A LOADMETER FOR CHECKING OVERLOADING.

30th September 1924
Page 17
Page 17, 30th September 1924 — A LOADMETER FOR CHECKING OVERLOADING.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

A New Instrument by Means of which Axle Weights can be Quickly Ascertained.

THB overloading of commercial vehicles is harmful in two ways. It is detrimental to the interests of the owner by reason of the deleterious effect which overloading has upon the chassis, with the consequent increase in the repair bill, and it is detrimental also to read authorities, especially where the heavier load class of vehicles are concerned, in that it imposes ,too great a stress upon the road surfaces.

The importance of this latter point is recognized by the authorities in the load regulations, and, as most owners of heavy vehicles are aware, they are liable to fines if their wagons are found to be carrying more.than their load capacity as painted on the bodies. Hitherto, the ascertainment of correct loading has been difficult, both to owner and authority, unless a weighbridge has been handy. The owner, of course, can prevent overloading by calculation of the weights of the packages put on the vehicles, but that takes time, and the weights of some packages are not always known, whilst, when the authorities have suspected overloading, it has been necessary to require the driver to take the machine to a weighing machine, which causes inconvenience, loss of time and expense.

Both owners and local authorities, therefore, will be interested in a new portable instrument which has just been introduced for the purpose or correct load ascertainment. The Loadoineter consists of an oil-operated scale, contained in a fiat case with sloped ends and a dial at one side of it, with a finger indicating the weight. These instruments are used. in pairs, which are simply placed on the ground in front of each pair of wheels in succession, the wheels being driven up on to them by the power 'Of the wagon. The actual

gross weight on each wheel is then Shown on the dial. The record is taken and the operation repeated with the other pair of wheels.

In order that, the record should not be affected by the impact when driving the wagon on to the meters, the mechanism is under the control of a lever, which is 'placed in the. " off " position until the wagon is in position on the meters, when the lever is moved into the "on " position and the register is taken. As the weight of each meter is only 40 lb., the meter can be taken to the trucks instead of the trucks having to go to the meter, as has hitherto been theCcase, and, although portable meters have been available in which it has been,necessary, in order to obtain the weight,

to jack up the wheels in turn, it will be seen that, in the new [form of meter, this work is avoided and the records can be taken with the absolute minimum of either time or physical effort.

Owing to the use of a closed oil system there is nothing to get out of adjustment, and it. is claimed that the life of

the meters should be a long one, provided reasonable care is taken of them_ The registering capacity of each instrument is 15,000 lb., so that a load-testing capacity per vehicle up to.about25 tuns is obtainable.

The Loadometer is an American production and we are not aware that it is yet marketed in this country.

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