Instrumented Wheel for the Measurement of Rear Axle Wheel Forces

Abstract

In the project “load spectra in the tractor chassis” (sponsored by Deut- sche Forschungsgemeinschaft), the loads which act on a tractor chassis are being investigated. In this respect, the forces at the driving wheels have great significance. The wheel load, for example, is often impossible or virtually impossible to measure by determining axle housing deforma- tion. An instrumented wheel provides more accurate results and additio- nally enables lateral and draft forces to be measured. The functional principle of an instrumented wheel for the tractor rear axle designed and built by the author of this article, as well as the particularities of constructive design and dynamic behaviour are presented. Contactless energy- and signal transmission, as well as the calibration technique are explained. Finally, the use of the instrumented wheel is described using the results of test rides.