The Evolution of Truck Scale Technology

Trucks that carry various loads or products from one place to another often need to be weighed, either to determine the load weight (and valued) or the entire truck to ensure it's within designated weight limits.

This measurements is often derived using truck scales, which give an accurate value truck axle weight and/or weight of the load carried by the truck. Truck scales may not seem like a big deal but they are quite important for companies to increase their profits and streamline their plans. While some companies may only require to weigh 10 trucks per day, other business models may be required to weigh thousands of trucks in a day.

Advancements & Adaptation of Truck Scales

The truck scale systems of today need to be accurate along with being reliable for providing the most value and use to the business owners. Since truck scales are faced by harsh weather conditions and constant running over by heavy trucks they need to be very durable and also need to provide correct measure for weight under varying weather and environmental conditions.

While earlier trucks were weighed by keeping them on a ramp and then separately measuring them one by one, a number of advancements have made it very easy to measure the weight of trucks. Also, accurate machines give a precise amount of weight of the trucks. Some of the advancements which have propelled the truck scales to a new generation include some of the following features.

Weigh-in-Motion Truck Scales

Weigh-in-motion is a feature in new truck scales which are able to measure the weight of a truck while it passes over them. These scales do not require the truck to stop but only require it to be moving with regular speeds or sometimes with reduced speed in the old versions.

Weigh-in-motion scales measure the gross weight and the axle weight of the vehicle as it passes over them. Often integrated as portable axle weighing scales, these systems are used in a number of places such as designing of pavements and bridges, enforcing a size and weight limit on vehicles etc.

Dynamic Design & Impervious Construction

Design of truck scales has been improved so that they can measure sensitive data without being damaged or needing calibration. Truck scales are made using function dynamics and static design principles using various technologies.

Today's truck scales are also designed to bear a number of unexpected environmental variables or damages such as rain, lightning, sunlight, etc. The weighing scales have been improved and classified into various sizes depending on the size of trucks they would be used to measure.

Integrated Truck Scale Software

Software integration into the truck weight scales helps the users to record the data easily at all times. There are also an automatic feature in most of the truck scales which helps them to measure the weight of all the trucks which pass over them.

Software integration into the weighing scales makes them much easier to use without much expertise or hassle. The data can be clubbed easily and also computed using different procedures. The data can also be transferred with ease and sent to various authorities and people for inspection or review.

Overall, the truck scales have gone a massive revolution due to these features making them much better to use for various purposes.

Weigh-In-Motion Axle Scales: 3 Leading Systems Worth Every Penny

There are many different axle weighing solutions engineered to suit a plethora of vehicle weighing requirements. Some of these weighing solutions include single axle weighing through dual, tri, or even quad-axles. Each of these axle scale systems have been specially designed to capture and save weight data quickly and accurately.

Even more, there are several reasons why it's a good idea to ensure truck compliance to weight regulation. Weigh-in-motion technologies allow trucks and other transport vehicles to be weighed directly in the traffic flow, without any stoppages and disruption to operations. As overloaded trucks and transport vehicles pose serious threats to road transport operations, it can increase risks for road users and cause severe impacts on the durability of infrastructure and the vehicle itself.

Axle Scales: Vital Tools to Minimize Overloading

When it comes to monitoring road traffic loads, attention is now mainly focused not only on basic vehicle weight but also on axle and wheel load. That said, an overloaded truck is more likely to be involved in an accident and have more severe consequences than a properly loaded truck. The heavier the truck, the higher inertia, which may result in stronger forces and damage - to other vehicles or to the infrastructure.

Generally speaking, when the current load exceeds the maximum permitted limited of a vehicle, several consequences may occur.

In the first place, an overloaded truck is often less stable because of the increased height at the center of gravity and more inertia of the vehicle bodies. Additionally, the braking system of any vehicle is designed for the maximum allowable load indicated on the documents. Any weight in excess will reduce the braking capacity of your vehicle and may even damage the braking system.

An overloaded truck becomes underpowered, which results in lower speeds and longer overtaking, with a higher risk of tire blowouts. That said, overloads can even induce tire overheat. When flammable or hazardous goods are transported in a truck, overloads located in the truck increase both he risk and severity of a fire, due to accident and loss of control of a vehicle.

Weigh-in-Motion Axle Scale Systems

There are three primary types of weigh-in motion axle scale systems. These include, but are not limited to:

High-Speed Weigh-in-Motion Axle Scales

High speed weigh-in-motion axle scales are often used as a pre-selection system for low speed weighing stations. This in-motion truck scale system connects with the weight measurement sensors, loop detectors and control units located in a cabinet placed beside the road. This system enables weighing of the vehicles while they are enroute without hindering traffic system.

Low-Speed Weigh-in-Motion Axle Scales

Another weigh-in-motion axle scale system is a low speed system. This system is used in applications in which vehicle weights must be determined accurately such as road side control stations provided by legal authorities, vehicle inspection stations operated by public or private establishments. This system usually consists of weight indicator, computer and scale programs.

Portable Weigh-in-Motion Axle Scales

There is a third category of weigh-in-motion systems and it's a portable one. This category of portable truck axle scales provides accurate weights for large off-road vehicles. Compared to the first two solutions, the portable in-motion axle scale is actually ideal for weighing in off-road conditions - that said in bad weather and terrain conditions. The best example of a portable weighing system is AXW-Series Axle Scales. This system is built from a single piece of aluminium, providing lightweight portability and exceptional environmental protection.

The Science Behind Instrument Calibration Services

Instrument calibration services are a vital component in today's technology rich world. To learn more about what goes into the process behind an instrument calibration company, explore some of the enlightening information below.

What Exactly is Instrument "Calibration?"

Calibration is the comparison of measurements between a known scale system and another that's used to make the same measurement that is unknown. The device that shows the correct measurement is the standard device for measurement and any other device or instrument that, by opinion, is used to produce almost similar results under the circumstances is the test unit.

Calibration standards are different between countries depending on the industry standards set, or manufacturers, application of the device and the frequency of use of the calibration device. Calibration services are performed when: testing a new device, before taking critical measurements, when the results seem questionable, or in cases when equipment has been exposed to serious condition or shock waves. These instances can cause the device to have unreliable readings, making instrument calibration services vital.

How Calibration Works

The purpose of calibration is to evaluate and adjust the accuracy of a measuring instrument. Some times measuring instruments produce bias or exaggerated results due to errors in calibration. Calibration should be carried out once in a while depending on the instruments so as to ensure you get proper reliable data that can be used to make decisions.

In order to correct the error, you must have the standard reference with known values and get the measurements using the instrument in question and compare. You will notice the functional correlation between the figures that is normally least squares; you correct them by taking the inverse from the calibration curve.

Common Processes of Calibration Company

Calibration processes vary from one instrument to another; however, the general process among most is the same. The first step in calibration is taking the measurement of the test instrument. The instrument should be the correct size and measurement so as to fit in the calibration device. The results of the instruments are compared and a relationship is found. The calibrators, which are the known correct readings, are used to train the sample so that it can produce similar results.

Calibration uses at least a number of calibrators in order to check the accuracy of different points of the instruments. The best way to get the most desirable results is by using the calibrators from the manufacture. This will completely remove the errors. OQ International, a calibration services company in Illinois, offers a high level of expertise in a wide range of instrument calibration needs. In fact, OQ International as the set the standard among calibration companies throughout the world.

Instruments that Require Calibration

Calibration is used to correct the inaccuracies of pressure, temperature, electrical signals and many others. Digital thermometers require calibration when you begin to notice irregularities in the readings. For instance, if a thermometer has an error, three more other more thermometers used will reveal inconsistencies. In cases like these, the instrument should be taken to a lab for calibration and fixing.

Another instrument is the oscilloscope, this is a device used by engineering, science and medical industry to maintain special electrical equipment and lab work. They operate by observing electric signals and voltage over time that is displayed on a calibration graph.

Infrared pyrometers that is used to measure very high temperatures, are calibrated using the black box. The measurement of the pyrometer is noted and that of the black box and then the controls of the pyrometer is adjusted until the difference is zero.

If you like to learn more about instrument calibration services, visit OQInternational.com, a leading calibration service provider that offers both service and consulting programs.

An In-depth Look at Instrument Calibration

The calibration process starts at the design phase of the instrument that will at some point in the future need to be calibrated. The design of the instrument should be able to hold a calibration through its own calibration interval. Or in other words, the design should provide the proper measurements (which are within engineering tolerance when it is used) so that the instrument will provide an accurate reading.

Instrument calibration serves the following purposes.

1. It ensures that readings from a specific instrument are consistent with those of other measurements.

2. It determines the accuracy of the instrument`s readings.

3. It establishes instrument`s reliability.

In most cases of large scale manufacturing plants, instrument calibration is performed by companies that provide calibration services. Companies like OQ International of Illinois specialize in instrument calibration services for a wide range of industory and sector applications.

Tolerance and Calibration Intervals

The precise mechanisms used to assign tolerance values differ by country and also industry type. Instrument manufacturers generally assign the measurement tolerance, suggesting calibration interval and specifying environmental ranges of storage and use. Additionally, they are also responsible for the actual calibration interval. This is dependent on the likely level of usage of the particular measuring instrument.

Defining the Calibration Process

The next step is to the define calibration process. Selection of standards or a standard is one of the visible parts of the calibration process. The standard, ideally, has less than a quarter (1/4) of the measurement uncertainty of a particular device which is being calibrated. After this goal is achieved, accumulated measurement uncertainty of the entire standards involved is considered insignificant when the final measurement is also made with the 4:1 ratio.

It is difficult to maintain a 4:1 accuracy ration with modern equipment. Test equipment which is being calibrated can just be accurate like the working standard. In case accuracy ratio is below (less than) 4:1, calibration tolerance is made smaller to compensate. Only exact match between the device which is being calibrated and the standard is entirely correct calibration when 1:1 ratio is reached. Reducing the accuracy of the device which is being calibrated is another common way for dealing with the capability mismatch.

An Example of Instrument Calibration

Here is an example. A gage which has three percent (3%) manufacturer stated accuracy can actually be changed to four percent (4%) so that a one percent (1%) accuracy standard can be used at 4:1. In case the gage is used in an application which requires sixteen percent (16%) accuracy, reducing the accuracy of the gage to four percent (4%) will have no effects on the final measurements accuracy. This is known as limited calibration.

If the final measurements are requiring ten percent (10%) accuracy, then the three percent (3%) gage can never be better than 3.3:1. The better solution is to adjust the gage`s calibration tolerance. If calibration is done at one hundred (100) units, then one percent (1%) standard would be anywhere between ninety nine (99) and one hundred and one (101) units. Acceptable calibration values where the test equipment is at 4:1 accuracy ratio would be ninety six to one hundred and four (99 to 104) units, inclusive.

Changing acceptable range to ninety seven (97) to one hundred and three (103) units would actually remove potential contribution of the entire standards and preserve a 3.3:1 ratio. Further changes to the acceptable range to ninety eight (98) to one hundred and two (102) restores more than a 4:1 final ratio.

There can be precise connection techniques between the device which is being calibrated and the standard which may affect the calibration. An example is the electronic calibrations which involve analog phenomena. Impedance of cable connection can influence the results directly.

In conclusion, this is a general process of doing calibration on instruments together with 3 main purposes of instrument calibration.