Hubometer
Encyclopedia
A hubometer or hubodometer or simply hubo, is a device mounted on the axle
of an automobile
or other vehicle
that measures distance
traveled.
The whole device rotates with the wheel except for an eccentrically mounted weight on an internal shaft. This remains pointing downwards and drives the counting mechanism as the body of the hubometer rotates round it.
s where they are the only means of measuring distance traveled over the lifetime of the trailer.
They are used on bus
wheels where the tires are supplied to the bus operator by an independent company on a contract of "price per thousand kilometers". The hubometer is installed by the tire company to give them their own measure.
Numerous attempts at electronic versions have been attempted including a stemco version patented in 1991 (pat #4,989,222), however;
The first hubodometer with no moving parts was made by Stemco and released in 2002 under the name DataTrac, patent number 6,940,940 granted in 2005. This part was then made programmable in 2006. In 2005 the first solid state hubodometer was made into a backscatter RF device later being converted to an active RF mileage data collection device in 2007 and named the Active TracBat hubodometer. This newest version can be read by satellite asset tracking systems or gate reader systems as well as with handheld readers. It also still included the visual display that had been used on the datatrac device.
In October of 2010 the third Generation of electronic hubodometers began shipping which included updates to the display and programming sequences and now can be used in off road applications with very high vibrations and intantaneous accelerations.
(pat app #2011/0066397) The new model now supports calibrations of 1 to 1999 revs per count/mile/km. The RF enabled TracBat line was also upgraded to include the new improvements. The display now stays on at low speeds so that the counting operations can be viewed in realtime. Reprogrammability for the first few miles was also supported.
Axle
An axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. On wheeled vehicles, the axle may be fixed to the wheels, rotating with them, or fixed to its surroundings, with the wheels rotating around the axle. In the former case, bearings or bushings are provided at the mounting points where the axle...
of an automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
or other vehicle
Vehicle
A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....
that measures distance
Distance
Distance is a numerical description of how far apart objects are. In physics or everyday discussion, distance may refer to a physical length, or an estimation based on other criteria . In mathematics, a distance function or metric is a generalization of the concept of physical distance...
traveled.
The whole device rotates with the wheel except for an eccentrically mounted weight on an internal shaft. This remains pointing downwards and drives the counting mechanism as the body of the hubometer rotates round it.
Typical uses
They are needed on semi-trailerSemi-trailer
A semi-trailer is a trailer without a front axle. A large proportion of its weight is supported by a road tractor, a detachable front axle assembly known as a dolly, or the tail of another trailer...
s where they are the only means of measuring distance traveled over the lifetime of the trailer.
They are used on bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
wheels where the tires are supplied to the bus operator by an independent company on a contract of "price per thousand kilometers". The hubometer is installed by the tire company to give them their own measure.
Historical data
One of the first hubodometers was designed by Engler in 1952 patent number 2,638,374, which was later bought by Stemco and sold under the brand of Stemco Engler Hubodometers finally ending with the Stemco Hubodometer in the early 80's.Numerous attempts at electronic versions have been attempted including a stemco version patented in 1991 (pat #4,989,222), however;
The first hubodometer with no moving parts was made by Stemco and released in 2002 under the name DataTrac, patent number 6,940,940 granted in 2005. This part was then made programmable in 2006. In 2005 the first solid state hubodometer was made into a backscatter RF device later being converted to an active RF mileage data collection device in 2007 and named the Active TracBat hubodometer. This newest version can be read by satellite asset tracking systems or gate reader systems as well as with handheld readers. It also still included the visual display that had been used on the datatrac device.
In October of 2010 the third Generation of electronic hubodometers began shipping which included updates to the display and programming sequences and now can be used in off road applications with very high vibrations and intantaneous accelerations.
(pat app #2011/0066397) The new model now supports calibrations of 1 to 1999 revs per count/mile/km. The RF enabled TracBat line was also upgraded to include the new improvements. The display now stays on at low speeds so that the counting operations can be viewed in realtime. Reprogrammability for the first few miles was also supported.