DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The embodiments herein generally relate to load cell in vehicles and more particularly, but not exclusively to mounting arrangement of load cell in vehicles.

BACKGROUND
[002] Generally, vehicles such as tractors or other similar vehicles incorporate a load cell for controlling draft of an implement that is mounted to a hitch of the vehicle. The load cell in the vehicle senses the draft load acting on top links of the hitch and accordingly provides an output signal to an electro-hydraulic control unit of the vehicle based on which the draft of the implement is controlled. Conventionally the load cell is mounted in the vehicle using a separate bracket. Mounting of the load cell using the separate bracket results in frequent failure modes and is less accurate in sensing the draft load of the implement.
[003] Therefore, there exists a need for a load cell mounting arrangement in a vehicle, which obviates the aforementioned drawbacks.

OBJECTS
[004] The principal object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a lift housing assembly for a vehicle, which comprises a load sensor that has better life and high accuracy for sensing draft load of an implement connected to a vehicle hitch.
[005] These and other objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[006] The embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[007] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a lift housing assembly for a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[008] FIG. 2 depicts another perspective view of the lift housing assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein; and
[009] FIG. 3 depicts an exploded view of the lift housing assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0011] The embodiments herein achieve a lift housing assembly for a vehicle, which comprises a load sensor that has better life and high accuracy for sensing draft load of an implement connected to a vehicle hitch. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 through 3, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0012] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a lift housing assembly 100 for a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the vehicle (not shown) includes a lift housing assembly 100, a hydraulic cylinder (not shown), a control valve unit (not shown), a hitch (not shown) and a controller unit (not shown). In an embodiment, the lift housing assembly 100 (as shown in fig. 1, fig. 2 and fig. 3) includes a housing 102 (as shown in fig. 1, fig. 2 and fig. 3), a bell crank 104 (as shown in fig. 1, fig. 2 and fig. 3), a load sensor 106 (as shown in fig. 1 and fig. 3) and a locking pin 108 (shown in fig. 1 and fig. 3).
[0013] The housing 102 is mounted/connected to a transmission rear housing (not shown) of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the housing 102 is configured for mounting/supporting the bell crank 104, the load sensor 106 and the locking pin 108. In an embodiment, the housing 102 includes a portion 102a (as shown in fig. 2) having at least two arms 102b (as shown in fig. 2 and fig. 3). In an embodiment, the portion 102a of the housing 102 is in direct contact with at least a portion of the bell crank 104 and at least a portion of the load sensor 106. In an embodiment, each of the arms 102b is configured to extend outwards from the portion 102a of the housing 102 in same direction. Each of the arms 102b of the portion 102a is parallel to each other. In an embodiment, each of the arms 102b is used for receiving at least a portion of the bell crank 104 and at least a portion of the load sensor 106. In an embodiment, each of the arms 102b includes at least one opening 102c (as shown in fig. 3) and at least one locking pin opening 102d (as shown in fig. 3). In an embodiment, the opening 102c of at least one arm 102b is used to receive the load sensor 106 thereby the load sensor 106 is received by the bell crank 104. In an embodiment, the locking pin opening 102d of at least one arm 102b is used to receive the locking pin 108 thereby the locking pin 108 is received by the bell crank to facilitate locking/mounting of the bell crank 104 to the housing 102.
[0014] In an embodiment, the bell crank 104 is used for mounting/holding a top link (not shown) of the hitch (not shown) of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the bell crank 104 receives a draft load of an implement (not shown) through the top link (not shown) of the hitch (not shown) and transmits the draft load to the load sensor 106 to facilitate required draft for the implement. The bell crank 104 is pivoted to the housing 102 by using the locking pin 108. In an embodiment, the bell crank 104 includes a body 104a (as shown in fig. 2 and fig. 3) and a plurality of arms 104b (as shown in fig. 2). In an embodiment, the body 104a of the bell crank 104a includes at least one opening 104c (as shown in fig. 3) and at least one locking pin opening 104d (as shown in fig. 3). In an embodiment, the opening 104c of the body 104a of the bell crank 104 is used to receive the load sensor 106. In an embodiment, the locking pin opening 104d of the body 104a of the bell crank 104 is used to receive the locking pin 108 to facilitate mounting/locking of the bell crank 104 to the housing 102. In an embodiment, each of the arms 104b is configured to extend from the body 104a of the bell crank 104 in same direction. Each of the arms 104b of the housing 102 is parallel to each other. In an embodiment, each of the arms 102b of the housing 102 includes at least one top link opening 104e (as shown in fig. 2 and fig. 3). In an embodiment, the top link opening 104e of at least one arm 104b of the bell crank 104 is used to receive a locking element (not shown) to facilitate mounting/locking of the top link (not shown) of the hitch (not shown) of the vehicle.
[0015] In an embodiment, the load sensor 106 is used to sense/detect the draft load of the implement (not shown) adapted to be connected/mounted to the hitch (not shown) of the vehicle i.e., the load sensor 106 senses/detects the draft load of the implement (not shown) by receiving the draft load from the bell crank 104 and provides an output signal/information to the controller unit (not shown) to activate the control valve unit (not shown) to regulate the hydraulic cylinder (not shown) to lift or lower the hitch (not shown) to regulate the draft of the implement (not shown). In an embodiment, the load sensor 106 is a load cell. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide the lift housing assembly 100 with any other type of sensors for sensing the draft load of the implement (not shown) without otherwise deterring the intended function of the load sensor 106 as can be deduced from the description. In an embodiment, the load sensor 106 is received the body 104a of the bell crank 104 through the opening 102c of at least one arm 102b of the housing 102 i.e., the load sensor 106 is received by the opening 104c of the body 104a of the bell crank 104 through the opening 102c of at least one arm 102b of the portion 102a of the housing 102. The load sensor 106 is provided in communication with the controller unit (not shown) of the vehicle.
[0016] The locking pin 108 is used for locking/mounting the bell crank 104 to housing 102. The locking pin 108 is received by the body 104a of the bell crank 104 through the locking pin opening 102d of at least one arm 102b of the housing 102 i.e., the locking pin 108 is received by the locking pin opening 104d of the body 104a of the bell crank 104 through the locking pin opening 102d of at least one arm 102b of the portion 102a of the housing 102 to facilitate locking/mounting of the bell crank 104 to housing 102.
[0017] The hydraulic cylinder (not shown) is used for lifting and lowering the hitch (not shown) of the vehicle.
[0018] The control valve unit (not shown) is used to regulate the hydraulic cylinder (not shown) based on the signal from the controller unit (not shown).
[0019] The hitch (not shown) of the vehicle is used for mounting the implement (not shown) to the vehicle to facilitate agricultural field operations.
[0020] The controller unit (not shown) is used for activating/controlling the control valve unit (not shown) to regulate the hydraulic cylinder (not shown) to lift or lower the hitch (not shown) to control the draft of the implement (not shown) in accordance to the output signal/information from the load sensor 106.
[0021] The arrangement of load sensor 106 in the aforementioned lift housing assembly 100 provides better life for the load sensor 106 and enables the load sensor 106 to have high accuracy for sensing/detecting the draft load of the implement (not shown). Further, the aforementioned lift housing assembly 100 provides at least a portion of the bell crank 104 and at least a portion of the load sensor 106 is in direct contact with the portion 102a of said housing 102 such that the load sensor 106 is supported by the housing 102.
[0022] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
,CLAIMS:CLAIMS
We claim,
1. A lift housing assembly 100 for a vehicle, said lift housing assembly 100 comprising:
a housing 102 having a portion 102a; and
a bell crank 104 having a body 104a defining at least one opening 104c adapted to receive a load sensor 106,
wherein
at least a portion of said bell crank 104 and at least a portion of the load sensor 106 is in direct contact with the portion 102a of said housing 102.
2. The lift housing assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said bell crank 104 and at least a portion of the load sensor 106 is disposed between the portion 102a of said housing 102.
3. The lift housing assembly 100 as claimed in claim 2, wherein the portion 102a of said housing 102 includes at least two arms 102b adapted to receive at least a portion of said bell crank 104 and at least a portion of the load sensor 106.
4. The lift housing assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load sensor 106 is a load cell.
5. The lift housing assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a locking pin 108 adapted to mount said bell crank 104 to the portion 102a of said housing 102.
6. The lift housing assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1 is configured to be provided to a tractor.
7. A lift housing assembly 100 for a vehicle, said lift housing assembly 100 comprising:
a housing 102, said housing 102 comprising a portion 102a having at least two arms 102b extending from the portion 102a, each of the arms 102b defining at least one opening 102c; and
a bell crank 104 having a body 104a defining at least one opening 104c adapted to receive a load sensor 106,
wherein
the load sensor 106 is received by the body 104a of said bell crank 104 through the opening 102c of at least one arm 102b of said housing 102; and
at least a portion of said bell crank 104 and at least a portion of the load sensor 106 is in direct contact with each of the arms 102b of said housing 102.
8. The lift housing assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the arms 102b of said housing extends from the portion 102a in same direction.
9. The lift housing assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least portion of said bell crank 104 and at least a portion of the load sensor 106 is disposed between the each of the arms 102b of said housing 102.
10. The lift housing assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a locking pin 108 adapted to mount said bell crank 102 to each of the arms 102b of said housing 102.