When scheduling and planning installation for a typical three-module, 70′ Rice Lake Survivor OTR truck scale, plan for a minimum two-hour crane rental to place the modules into position. A two-man crew, aided by a crane operator, can usually unload modules from the freight truck and place them into position in approximately 1 hour.  Mount and load cell installation will require approximately 3 – 4 hours.  Electrical wiring is run through conduit and can be done in approximately 2 – 3 hours. » Continue reading “Typical Installation Time for a OTR Survivor”

As we continue to look at service of truck scales, this month we look at checking devices.  Some vehicle scales utilize suspension systems that don’t require checking devices, eliminating a time-consuming step in your service protocol.  If your scale has checking devices, make sure they are working properly.  Inspect check rods to make sure the attachment points are solid.  Check for binding.  If there is a problem, weight readings will be inconsistent from section to section.  Inspect hardware to ensure jam nuts are tight, rods are level and free of foreign material, and washers are not rusted or distorted.  Even if they are working properly, replace corroded hardware components so they don’t fail in the future when you least expect. » Continue reading “Checking Devices”

Closed-bottom weighbridge designs with both top and bottom plates, typically using lighter weight components, create cavities that tend to hold moisture causing rusting of internal components. Rice Lake’s SURVIVOR® steel deck truck scales feature an open-bottom design providing unrestricted airflow eliminating rust causing moisture buildup which accelerates rusting of internal steel and imminent scale failure. For more truck scale information, contact Central Carolina Scale for a quote today.

Concentrated Load Capacity, or CLC, is an industry recognized rating of a vehicle or axle load scale. The rating defines the maximum load for which the weighbridge is designed as applied by a group of two axles with a center line spaced 4 feet apart and an axle width 8 feet apart. When a CLC load is applied to the weighbridge during a National Type Evaluation Program test, the NTEP tester records the displayed weight. If the scale falls within accepted testing tolerances, the scale has that CLC weight value recorded as the CLC on the Certificate of Conformance.

The CLC rating is not a measure of weighbridge strength or rigidity, because weighbridge deflection is not measured in the NTEP test. It is irrelevant if the load weighbridge sags 1/10th of an inch, or 10 inches, as long as the scale weighs within the accepted tolerance. The scale’s CLC weight rating passes in either case. A high CLC rating could be given to an extremely flexible deck sitting on load cell mounts which are capable of accurately handling the side loading resulting from a severely sagging weighbridge.

The Rice Lake SURVIVOR® truck scale line boasts a 45 ton (90,000 pounds) CLC rating. With most legal highway weight limits being a fraction of Rice Lake’s rating, owners of a SURVIVOR scale can expect a long lifespan through » Continue reading “What is concentrated load capacity and ntep?”

Truck Scale Indicator

Cardinal’s 225 Navigator features transflective technology which allows the 225’s display to be viewed under any lighting conditions from direct sunlight to total darkness. One-inch-high (25 mm) weight characters make viewing easy. View up to 3 scales with total weight simultaneously with the optional dual scale input board; no special software is needed with Cardinal 225 Navigator digital weight indicator.

Entering, viewing, and storing truck names is easy with the 225 Navigator’s convenient Truck ID menu.  Complete alphanumeric descriptions for truck and material prompts make storing and recalling tare weight values quick and simple.

The heavy capacity series of compression load cells are ideal for multiple load cell compression applications such as motor truck scales, railroad track scales and heavy duty tank weighing systems. These compression load cells are available in 50K-SCA 22680kg, 100K-SCA 45360 kg and 120K-SCA 54430 kg.

Cardinal SCA Truck Scale Load cells are fabricated from stainless steel to provide the ultimate in protection when caustic, corrosive or wet environments are encountered. Load cells are hermetically sealed for absolute water protection (IP68). Each load cell is furnished with stainless steel load buttons on each end, and a 9m integral multiconductor cable secured by a strain relief seal.

The structural integrity of the truck scale weighbridge is the single most important consideration in the purchase of any truck scale. A failing weighbridge results in continuous problems that can only be solved with replacement. Rice Lake Weighing Systems standard model truck scales are comprised of beams spaced no further than 12 inches from center line or 8 inches from the edge of one flange to the next. This design ensures that a truck tire is on an I-beam at all times and never between.

Concrete Deck
While a concrete deck needs approximately 21 to 28 days to cure, it offers greater resistance to rust and corrosion from road salt and generally requires less maintenance than steel decks, helping to extend the life of the scale. A concrete surface also yields better traction with rain and snow. Because of their design, concrete decks distribute the load over a wider area than steel decks.  Rice Lake SURVIVOR® Series concrete deck truck scales are poured at the job site and typically have cure strength of 4,000 PSI at 28 days. The concrete is reinforced with steel rods and a minimum of two wide-flange main beams and seven wide-flange beams below. The Rice » Continue reading “Steel or Concrete Weighbridge for Truck Scales?”