We received a letter from a
6th grader asking,
"How do truck scales work?"A truck scale takes the
pressure (mechanical force) applied on load cells and turns that energy into an
electrical signal.
The truck scale consists of a scale frame that will support the
weight of a semi truck without major flexing or bowing, load
cells, junction boxes and an
indicator.
The sketch below is of a pitless electronic scale insides.
This scale is set in three sections. As the truck rolls on the scale, the pressure
from the wheels is registered by the sensors in the load cells. The load cells
'translate' the amount of pressure (or mechanical force) into an electronic signal.
The electronic signals from all of the load cells are sent out to
junction boxes. Junction boxes sum all of the signals into one signal so that the signal
can be read by an indicator. The indicator tells humans how much the truck weighs.
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