Rice Lake Combination System - Precision Loads On-Board Weighing Systems - Manual (Page 26)

22 Precision Loads On-Board Weighing Installation & Service Manual
Welding
See section 6.3, “Welding Specifications,” on page 59 for Bearing Plates. Never weld directly to the load cell.
Load cell bearing plates and body angles should always be clamped in place first for positioning, then load cells
should be removed from the assembly before final welding. Do not allow weld current to pass through any load
cell. Disconnect all battery terminals before performing any welding. When welding bearing plates to the body
angles, do not overheat. Avoid any possible warpage of the bearing plates. Alternate weld process on sides and
ends. Clean and paint all brackets with a metal primer after drilling and welding. Observe all guidelines of the
American Welding Society and DOT regulations.
2 1/2 by 1/2
Weld 8 PL
Figure 4-18. Bearing Plate
Note
• Clean bearing plate before welding
• Remove load cell before final welding or use a dummy load cell.
• Avoid plate warpage. Do not overheat the bearing plate/alternate ends and sides.
• Clean any weld slag and spatter after welding and ensure bolt holes are clean and free of debris.
• Weld to be single/double or triple pass, minimum 1/2” total fillet size.
4.2.3 Stress Concentrations and Frame Reinforcing
Under loading conditions, all body and frame structures will experience deflection of some type. For example,
bending, flexing, twisting, or sagging. When load cells are installed underbody or in a suspension subframe, the
installer must take steps to ensure that loads supported at key points by load cells do not cause excessive stress
concentrations on body structural members that might result in deformation, cracking or other serious condition.
To help distribute areas of concentrated stress, added rigidity and stiffness of body and frame structures may be
required. In these cases, Rice Lake Weighing Systems recommends the use of:
• Extended length body angles which are adequately gusseted
• Frame gloving
• The addition of fishplate reinforcement
and/or
• Cross strapping between body frame rails
Note
Excessive bending, sagging or oil-canning of a structure not only creates a hazardous condition for the
strength of the structure, but may also affect the performance of the load cells and on-board weighing
systems.
The installer is solely responsible for determining if a body or frame requires stiffening or reinforcing. Due to the
wide variations in body types, there is no specific reinforcing technique that applies universally. However, some
general techniques are presented below for installers to consider as they assess any reinforcing that is required for a
particular installation of load cells. An initial inspection of a truck or trailer body, subframe and chassis should be
conducted prior to an installation to check for any signs of wear, corrosion, cracking, misalignment or areas of
weakness.