Amalgamated Consulting Engineers of SA (ACESA) ACESA is a Consulting, Project Management, Design and Engineering Company which in addition to good engineering / management practice and knowledge developed a unique technologies for prevention of industrial and military catastrophes, financial losses, legal prosecution of innocent as well as unique measuring systems. |
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Existing SA weighbridges cannot be used for prosecution. The paper, which explained influence of ambient forces, was delivered by author at the annual CSIR conference on 21 of August. Existing weighbridges are highly unreliable. The maximum penalty for overloading is: six years imprisonment or R120 000 fine, or both. Electronic weighbridges have been used for track mass measurements for many years, but it is not generally understood that these instruments are influenced by a number of ambient factors. It is known that electromagnetic field can influence operation of electronic equipment. A radio transmitter, such as a cell phone, may influence the operation of a TV, telephone or radio. Interference lines are seen on a TV screen, strong noise from a radio or a telephone will indicate that a cell phone will start ringing. There are different standards prescribing at which electromagnetic field strength and frequencies specific equipment must be tested and operated. At present, nobody monitors electromagnetic interference during mass measurement of the vehicle. The phenomenon of the spontaneous electrical currents induced by ambient factors, such as the Sun eruptions, is well known since 1849.
The temperature has an influence on the weighbridge sensors (Load Cells). The Load Cells’ material elasticity changes with temperature. Higher temperature causes the material to soften and the weighbridge indicator will show a higher mass. At the same time electrical resistance of the electrical components also changes and influences the mass readings. Expansion of the Load Cell material, due to temperature increase, also influences the weighbridge readings. The sailing surface of a truck, view from the top, may be as big as 57 m2. Even a light wind may create a substantial force on the truck, which may be added to the mass readings. In addition, traffic authorities are interested not only in the total mass of the vehicle, but also in the distribution of the mass between axles. The wind effect on the sailing surface of the back or side of a truck will severely distort the axle weight measurement either negatively or positively depending on wind direction. There is no information available to the weighbridge operator about the value of the distortion created at the time of the measurement on existing traffic weighbridges. In the process of the weighbridge calibration most of ambient influences are not measured. Errors introduced by ambient factors will influence mass measuring results until the next calibration. The operator may accept weighbridge readings as correct even if they are strongly distorted. For example, operator doesn’t know how many kilograms were added to or subtracted from a mass measurement result
The total value of all this errors added to the mass of the vehicle, or part of the vehicle, may create situation when innocent persons and organisations may be prosecuted for overloading. Usually the state is giving 5% “Grace” from the legal limits. However, if mass readings are exceeding the “Grace”, than penalties are calculated from the legal limit. The weighbridge operator, as well as the accused, must have definite information regarding the value of mass measurement distortion at the time of mass measurement and at the time of calibration, in Kilograms. Northern Cape province recently purchased portable weighing equipment made in Australia at cost if R1.8 million. This weighing equipment is absolutely not suitable for prosecution. This equipment is not only unreliable, but also inaccurate. We can prove this in court without any doubt. An innocent people may be prosecuted and punished for a crime, which they did not commit. Pr. Eng. David Lechtman
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