Grain Trailer Simple Weigh Loader Gauge on Hydraulic Tipping System?

[Grassman]

I made a similar weigher for the loader using a solenoid valve plumbed in to the main lift ram supply connected to a gauge about 4" across. Worked ok but difficult to see. I took various different sized bales to a weighbridge and then wrote down all the different pressure readings on a card to keep in the cab.
I would say that the gauge needs to be at least 8" across to be able to easily see the different readings.
I want to use it again but need to find a supplier of large pressure gauges. Any ideas?

 

[Cowcalf]

So would a simple pressure gauge do the same thing provided you ran a few loads over the weighbridge at different weights then made up a chart to show what the different pressures mean?

Thats all you require, a level load ( or all the same style) and a few recorded figures of weight and guage reading. Used the same thing on air bag pipes on logging truck worked well

 

[David.]

Bought a Weylode 2 yrs ago and it gives fairly accurate repeatable results. gauge is just a numbered scale and they laminate you some charts when you have supplied a tare and a full reading for your individual trailers. The chart is basically a linear projection worked out from a known reading, less the tare weight of the empty trailer. I just tipped a load down, having recorded the pressure gauge reading , then with the assistance of a patient lorry driver, loaded up every last grain and checked it with the new weigher on the artic trailer. the charts are worked up from this, ie reading 65 equated to 9650kg in a Marston 10 tonner, so each extra mark computes to 148-ish kg. Accuracy depends on raising the trailer body to a repeatable height against a chassis mounted marker, and doing the weigh on a level floor.

 

[Tristan]

This is what I used when I was working for @Michael S back in 2005 and 2006 worked well used to tip trailer so red bar was between the lines and then take the reading on gauge


RDS weighlog by tristanwebb1, on Flickr


IM000386 by tristanwebb1, on Flickr

Tristan

 

[JCfarmer]

We use a pressure gauge on the tipping pipe reading up to 3000 psi I think. Must be a bit more than your tractor max pressure. We take the reading when lifted just off chassis, I.e. about quarter of an inch up. This is where pressure is greatest.

To calibrate, we took full load to weigh bridge and weighed it, then read pressure. E.g. 10 tonnes was 1500 psi.
Next we read pressure with trailer empty and just off chassis rests. It was about 150 psi.

So scale factor = 10 / (1500 - 150)

From then on we could calculate the load in the trailer as

(Pressure - 150) x scale factor

Alternatively, it might be possible to get somebody like Budenberg to do you a scale on the gauge itself reading in tonnes if they know the empty PSI and the full weight and PSI.

The key to accuracy is always to load the trailer evenly and always take the pressure reading at the same height just up off the chassis.

I don't think you need isolator valve on tipping pipe as max pressure is when you measure, and it's not a shock load.

For health and safety get a gauge big enough to read through the cab back window. High pressure lines next to operator is not a good idea in case of a burst.

Evening DrW, I'm interested in making up something as I have a clamp full of maize silage to sell/move.
Do you still use yours 6 years on and you say you don't have a tap or valve by the gauge as theres no need?
I would definitely have the gauge large enough so to sit outside the cab.
Advice appreciated, thanks

 

[Mr Happy]

Evening DrW, I'm interested in making up something as I have a clamp full of maize silage to sell/move.
Do you still use yours 6 years on and you say you don't have a tap or valve by the gauge as theres no need?
I would definitely have the gauge large enough so to sit outside the cab.
Advice appreciated, thanks

I was asked to quote someone this pressure gauge. You just need to know the trailer cylinder size to get the correct gauge

 

[snipe]

If you don’t have easy access to a weigh bridge, just use fert bags to weight the trailer, then you know the weight You are adding

 

[Tim G]

If you don’t have easy access to a weigh bridge, just use fert bags to weight the trailer, then you know the weight You are adding

Mmmm. Not sure fert bags are very accurate.

 

[Andrew]

Mmmm. Not sure fert bags are very accurate.

Usually average 10 or 20kg light in my experience.
Also worth noting the load should be evenly distributed if you’re going down the hydraulic pressure route. 600kg on the hinge will be leas pressure than 600kg by the headboard.

 

[snipe]

That could be nearly 1t of fert short on a full load. Sounds a bit strange. Do you pay for the amount stamped on the bag or use a weigh bridge and pay for the exact weight. When we have been over a weigh bridge a 15t load is only a few kgs out.

 

[Lazy Sod]

What ever you put in the trailer for calibration purposes, it needs to be spread evenly over the bed, particularly from from front to back. I used to use bags of fertilizer.

My off field weigh gauge totals were not greatly different from the co-op grainstore weighbridge figures, no more than a few percentage points.

 

[Matt L]

Trailer needs to be filled the same every time. No point if you are going to try and weigh part loads I’m afraid. As above the same weight eg 6t will require different pressures depending if it is heaped at the headboard, the rear door or spread evenly.
If you are looking into it to use on part loads then you can get electric weighing units that use weighcells. Much more accurate.

 

[Lazy Sod]

A hydraulic guage is instantly moved between trailers, but weighcells would have to be fitted to each. In your case @Mr Happy, it might be better to fit a weigher to your loader.

 

[David.]

A hydraulic system is surprisingly good, as long as you load trailers consistently. Half load needs to be level loaded front to back.

 

[JCfarmer]

Local engineer made me one up to try, there is obviously the weight of the trailer body when empty which will put some pressure into the gauge so you would have to allow for this when working out weight either by psi or bar and calibrating on a weighbridge. If you have 2 trailers exactly the same then it can swap between with out calibration?
But if used on a different trailer it might not be the same as the rams could be in a different position to get the pressure when empty?

 

[David.]

I have got 4 AS 10 tonners of various ages, and they all behave differently, not by much, but if you are going to do it at all it may as well be right.
When you bought a Weylode the procedure was to take a tare pressure with the empty trailer, then another pressure reading with a full trailer of a known weight. These readings were sent to Weylode man who extrapolated them into a linear scale from about one ton, to a ton or so over the full load weight. They then printed the pressure readings and corresponding kilograms on a laminated chart unique to the trailer concerned.
It is not a bad system really.

 

[Lazy Sod]

It's not difficult to create a calibration chart.

 

[JCfarmer]

Yes I will create my own calibration chart easy enough.

 

[Mark Leyland154]

Does anyone know where I can get a weigh loader gauge to plumb in line with my grain trailer hydraulics? I have been told about them in the past but never seen one in the flesh but they can supposedly give a usefully reliable guide to the weight of the trailer's contents once calibrated. Does anyone use them / recommend them / know where I can get one? Thanks

Hi, I have one and it's for sale if you're interested, £120+P/P
Never used it seemed like a good idea at the time !!! Give me a ring tomorrow if like on 07974 860 178

 

[Will 1594]

RDS do a Weighlog 100 and 200. Has anyone used one? Are they any good?

Yes have one , and we have another coming ,11/1200 £
calibrate it right , and very good ,
old one will be 25 year old