Description:Complete Specification:
The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

Field of the invention
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a detection of overloading condition in commercial vehicles and more specifically to a system and a method to detect an overloading condition of a vehicle.

[0002] Background of the invention

[0003] Light commercial vehicles have gained more popularity compared to CV due to its less cost and more load carrying capacity. However, Legal weight limits restrict the amount of cargo that may be carried by the relevant vehicle type. Overloading of the vehicle has legal and financial adverse consequences (loading regulations, warranty claims etc.). Further, overloading can also affect the performance of brakes, tyres, suspension and further increase the likelihood of oversteering at high speeds.

[0004] The prior art US20140000969A1 discloses A vehicle load sensing system, said system comprising: at least one load sensor located on a vehicle; display means located on the vehicle; wherein the at least one load sensor is capable of measuring and/or monitoring the load being carried in the vehicle and displaying the measured/monitored level on the display means. The display means may further be a standard mobile phone that has a suitable wireless connection. The information transmitted to the display means may also be transmitted to a further information point allowing a central control of a number of vehicles.

[0005] The present disclosure relates to a system and a method to detect an overloading condition of a vehicle where a potentiometer is used to detect the deflection of a leaf spring of the vehicle by means of a plunger mechanism. The value of the displacement of the plunger corresponds to a value of change in potential which in turn corresponds to a load value. A value of change in potential greater than a threshold value indicates an overloading condition.
[0006] The present disclosure indicates the drivers of an overloading condition, monitors the system during overloading condition and can be installed to existing vehicle systems

[0007] Brief description of the drawings
[0008] Figure 1 depicts a system to detect an overloading condition in a vehicle.
[0009] Figure 2 depicts the working of the system to detect an overloading condition in the vehicle.
[0010] Figure 3 depicts a flowchart for a method to detect an overloading condition in a vehicle.

[0011] Detailed description of the drawing

[0012] The present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to accompanying drawings. Throughout all the figures, same or corresponding elements may generally be indicated by same reference numerals. These depicted embodiments are to be understood as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting in any way. It should also be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In predetermined instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention, or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.

[0013] Referring to Figure 1, the same depicts a system to detect an overloading condition in a vehicle. The system (10) comprises a controller (1) in communication with an indicator module (9). In an example, the controller may include conventional processing apparatus known in the art, capable of executing pre-programmed instructions stored in an associated memory, all performing in accordance with the functionality described herein. That is, it is contemplated that the processes described herein will be programmed in a preferred embodiment, with the resulting Software code being stored in the associated memory. Implementation of the present disclosure, in view of the foregoing enabling description, would require no more than routine application of programming skills by one of ordinary skill in the art. Such a Control module may further be of the type having both ROM, RAM, a combination of non-volatile and volatile (modifiable) memory so that the software can be stored and yet allow storage and processing of dynamically produced data and/or signals.

[0014] Said controller can be a part of the ECU (engine control unit) of the vehicle or may be installed separately in the vehicle.
[0015] The controller comprises a plunger (2) in a circuited connection with a potentiometer(3). The potentiometer (3) measures a change in voltage (6) upon a displacement of the plunger from a reference position.

[0016] In an example, the plunger is mounted on a leaf spring (4), said leaf spring(4) is attached to a chassis of the vehicle. The controller (1) detects an overloading condition of the vehicle when the change in voltage measured by the potentiometer (3) with respect to a reference voltage(5) is above a pre-defined threshold. The controller(1) activates the indicator module (9) upon detection of the overloading condition.

[0017] In an example, the indicator module may be a part of the human machine interface (HMI) of the vehicle.

[0018] The plunger (2) is mounted on the leaf spring such that, upon loading of the vehicle, the plunger gets displaced from the reference position with the deflection of the leaf spring. The change in voltage is measured based on the change in resistance of the wire coiled around the plunger.

[0019] Referring to figure 2, disclosed is a plunger comprising an insulating core (21) and a sliding contact (23). The plunger is coiled with a resistance wire (22) (making it a solenoid). The sliding contact (23) is such that it moves along the resistive element. As the vehicle is loaded, the plunger moves downward along with the leaf spring such that the sliding contact (23) also moves downward, this records a change in the resistance across the coiled wire in the potentiometer. This change in resistance, thus can be used to detect the magnitude of displacement caused in the plunger. Since, this displacement will be proportional to the load of the vehicle, a threshold displacement can be set beyond which the load exceeds in the vehicle.

[0020] Figure 3 depicts a flowchart for method to detect an overloading condition of a vehicle comprising a controller in communication with an indicator module. In the method, a change in voltage upon a displacement of a plunger from a reference position by is measured by a potentiometer (100). The method comprises the step of mounting the plunger on a leaf spring, said leaf spring attached to a chassis of the vehicle (101) followed by detecting an overloading condition of the vehicle , by the controller, when the change in voltage measured by the potentiometer with respect to a reference voltage is above a pre-defined threshold (102) and then, activating the indicator module, by the controller, upon detection of the overloading condition (103). The mounting of the plunger on the leaf spring is such that, upon loading of the vehicle, the plunger mounted on said leaf spring is displaced from the reference position with the deflection of the leaf spring.
[0021] The Change in voltage is measured based on a change in resistance of a wire coiled around the plunger, said change in resistance due to the displacement of said plunger.
[0022] The present disclosure thus indicates the drivers of an overloading condition and monitors the system during overloading condition and can be installed to existing vehicle systems

, Claims:We Claim:

1. A controller (1) to detect an overloading condition of a vehicle, the controller in communication with an indicator module (9) , the controller comprising:
-a plunger (2) in a circuited connection with a potentiometer (3) , wherein , said potentiometer measures a change in voltage (6) upon a displacement of the plunger from a reference position;
characterized in the controller:

- the plunger (2) mounted on a leaf spring (4) , said leaf spring attached to a chassis of the vehicle;
-said controller (1) detects an overloading condition of the vehicle when the change in voltage measured by the potentiometer (3) with respect to a reference voltage is above a pre-defined threshold; and
-said controller activates the indicator module (9) upon detection of the overloading condition.

2. The controller (2) as Claimed in claim 1 wherein, upon loading of the vehicle, the plunger mounted on said leaf spring is displaced from the reference position with the deflection of the leaf spring (4).

3. The controller as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, the change in voltage is measured based on a change in resistance of a wire (23) coiled around the plunger, said change in resistance due to the displacement of said plunger.
4. The controller as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, the said controller is an ECU.

5. A method to detect an overloading condition of a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a controller in communication with an indicator module, the method comprising the steps of:
-measuring a change in voltage upon a displacement of a plunger from a reference position by a potentiometer (100)
characterized in the method the further steps of:
- mounting the plunger on a leaf spring, said leaf spring attached to a chassis of the vehicle (101);
-detecting an overloading condition of the vehicle , by the controller, when the change in voltage measured by the potentiometer with respect to a reference voltage is above a pre-defined threshold (102); and
-activating the indicator module, by the controller, upon detection of the overloading condition (103).

6. The method as claimed in Claim 5, wherein, mounting the plunger on the leaf spring, such that, upon loading of the vehicle, the plunger mounted on said leaf spring is displaced from the reference position with the deflection of the leaf spring.

7. The method as Claimed in Claim 5, wherein, measuring the change in voltage based on a change in resistance of a wire coiled around the plunger, said change in resistance due to the displacement of said plunger.