Field test Meteor XXL
 
Meteor XXL mobile axle load scale on the test stand



Are mobile weighing systems a genuine alternative to a static truck weighbridge?
The advantage of transportable and thus easily relocated axle load scales is, of course, plain to see, however how exact and reliable are they in comparison to a conventional scale in real field conditions?

Meteor XXL – the mobile wheel and axle load scale from Pfister Waagen Bilanciai GmbH – tested in severe conditions: Implementation not on a level road in a optimum state with „light passenger cars and trailers" but with heavy farmyard vehicle combinations.

Test objects: a tractor plus rear dump with double axle and a tractor plus two-axle trailer

In order to assure an exact weight comparison both test vehicle combinations will be weighed first on a calibrated static truck weighbridge.

Now the Meteor XXL is implemented. Without on-site preparation a pair of Meteor XXLs are mounted on a level surface with a firm foundation in the farmyard and then positioned correctly in relation to the tyre distance. One man can do this in a few minutes.

 
The individual Meteor XXL platform is 700 x 500 mm. Nevertheless the rugged steel construction has a tare weight of only 46 kg per weighing platform. An integrated handle and two castors make handling even more convenient.
 
The display device with printer is connected. These, too, may be easily transported in their aluminium case.

The entire weighing system may be set up in just 5 minutes .

The axle weight is recorded and instantaneously transferred to the display device via an electronic signal.

The weight value may be read off immediately on the clearly legible display and printed out.

Optionally, in addition to the axle weight the individual wheel weights of the axle may be recorded and printed out. PC connection via interface is also possible.
 
To achieve optimum weight recording, especially in the case of double axles, a pair of robust special hard rubber panels are laid under the second axle. This avoids any measurement deviations due to height differences between the weighed axle and the ground surface.
 
 
Meteor XXL effortlessly records axle loads up to 24 t (the smaller Meteor XL model up to 20 t) with an incremental step of 10 kg. In contrast to the fully steel construction of the Meteor XXL, the housing of the smaller Meteor XL (weighing platform 540 x 340 mm) consists of a special combination of aluminium and hard rubber whereby the tare weight per weighing platform amounts to only 27 kg. Both rugged systems can withstand overloading by 20 % per weighing unit. Even in rigorous outdoor use the axle load scales operate with a precision of +/- 1%. In ideal implementation conditions precision levels of even 0.2 % are achieved. The results of the field test lie well within the prescribed precision limit:
 
Test 1
with tractor plus rear dump with double axle
Comparison weight established on a calibrated, static truck weighbridge: 10,780 kg
 
Testruns with Meteor XXL Test results Average deviation in kg Average deviation in % Maximum difference
1 10,680 kg 100 0,9 60 kg
2 10,710 kg
3 10,650 kg
Source: top agrar  
 
Test 2
with tractor plus two-axle trailer
Comparison weight on calibrated, static truck weighbridge: 12,380 kg
 
Testruns with Meteor XXL Test results Average deviation in kg Average deviation in % Maximum difference
1 12,160 kg 103 0,8 220 kg
2 12,290 kg
3 12,380 kg
Source: top agrar
 
Verdict:
may be used everywhere and easy to transport, Meteor XL and Meteor XXL do exactly what they were designed for: precise and fast weight recording right where they are needed.

The reason for using a calibrated static truck weighbrigde in comparison to a mobile wheel/axle load scale depends on the application case:
- when weighing at different implementation sites, Meteor weighing systems are ideal for checking weight, establishing overloading or too heavy loading of individual axles. Setting up, dismantling and handling may be performed easily by just one person.
- a truck weighbridge calibrated to precision class III is recommended in the event of a permanent implementation site with many daily weighing jobs, also external weighing jobs with invoicing.
 
Photo and copy:
WVM-gd / Marketing / May 2002
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