Axle scales EVEREST 20t (0.6*0.9)D – history of creation

We want to share the story of when, why and how our first EVEREST truck axle scales appeared – how we started and how it turned out.

Around 2010, we sold several truck scales for axle weighing. These scales consisted of two aluminum platforms (weighing platforms) with rubber ramps, a weight controller with an ADC and a laptop with software. Today, such scales are very popular and are actively sold around the world. Each weighing platform is a monolithic load cell of small height. The manufacturers of these weighing platforms emphasized (and continue to do so now) that these scales do not require a specially prepared place and, due to their low height, small ramps are enough for them. Many problems were found during operation.

1. The platforms need to be fixed very well on a completely flat and hard surface. This means that you cannot do without preparing the place of operation of the scales.

2. The cables between the platforms and the weight controller must be protected and hidden from car wheels or any other accidental mechanical damage. This means that simply fixing the platforms is not enough, it is also necessary to reliably protect the cable from possible damage.

3. Since the scales are a few centimeters above the level of the roadway, this greatly increases the weighing error. It is difficult to drive on the platforms and not miss because the platforms are small. This means that the repeatability of the weighing results is very poor and the accuracy of these scales is so low that it makes no sense to use them. It is necessary to install bumpers (guides) and level the surface of the scales with the roadway – either deepen the platforms or raise the roadway to the level of the platforms.

4. Maintainability of scales is equal to “zero”. If you accidentally damage the cable near the base of the platform, you will have to change the platform. And this is about half the cost of scales.

After gaining this experience, we decided that we could not continue to sell such scales. But the idea of axle weighing did not leave us. We had to develop axial scales based on our experience. The result is a sturdy, repairable scale with a platform size of 90 by 60 cm. The scales are mounted in special mounting frames that come with the scales. The weight controller also had to be developed specifically for these scales. It took us a while to develop the right algorithm for processing the signal coming from the load cells. But in the end, we managed to achieve very good accuracy. The error of the scales usually does not exceed 0.5%. This is despite the fact that the car passes through the scales without stopping.

The first EVEREST axle scales were manufactured and sold in 2012 to a sand quarry. These scales still continue to accurately weigh sand-laden vehicles.

Since then, the design of the scale has been modernized several times. Each time, we have increased the strength with the same construction weight. Today we are really proud of the result.