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EP0220794A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Multiple axis test machine reproducing road excited vehicle vibration

Assignee: MTS Systems Corp
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Filing: 1986-06-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-06-27
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Abstract

Abstract A testing machine (10) reproduces road excited vibrations for the purposes of testing vehicle wheel support specimens (35), for example McPherson strut assemblies used in front wheel drive vehicles, the system permits force inputs of horizontal (62,64), steering (43), vertical (60), and wheel hop loads (215,216), as well as, optionally, simulating braking loads (66). The loading fixture (42) is compact, and substantially eliminates cross coupling of horizontal loading due to steering motion of the device, even though the steering motions p rovide for large steering excursions. The loading is tire coupled (155) to simulate actual conditions, including wheel hop that occurs during road travel, and further provides for inherent cross coupling compensation to permit easy instrumentation and very close simulation of road induced vehicle vibrations during the testing process. The entire steering linkage (22) can be tested, including tie rods, tie rod ends, and wheel suspension mechanism.

Inventors

  • 👤 Steven R. Haeg

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 10:09
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M17/00; G01M17/007; G01M13/00; G01M13/02; G01M13/027; G01M17/04

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 152 words
A road simulator test stand comprising: a support frame, said support frame mounting a specimen mounted for substantial vertical movement through a spring mounting; a specimen adapter coupled to load said specimen, said specimen adapter having means for r eceiving vertical loading in direction simulating vertical loading of the specimen; means for applying a vertical load to said specimen adapter across a substantial distance; means for applying a lateral load to said specimen adapter in direction substantially perpendicular to the vertical load; means for applying a longitudinal load at substantially right angles to lateral load; said means for applying said lateral load and said longitudinal load having loading axes generally in a plane at a desired level on the specimen; and a turntable mounted for movement about a vertical axis with respect to said support frame and said turntable mounting said means for applying vertical load, longitudinal load, and lateral load respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 152 words
A road simulator test stand comprising: a support frame, said support frame mounting a specimen mounted for substantial vertical movement through a spring mounting; a specimen adapter coupled to load said specimen, said specimen adapter having means for r eceiving vertical loading in direction simulating vertical loading of the specimen; means for applying a vertical load to said specimen adapter across a substantial distance; means for applying a lateral load to said specimen adapter in direction substantially perpendicular to the vertical load; means for applying a longitudinal load at substantially right angles to lateral load; said means for applying said lateral load and said longitudinal load having loading axes generally in a plane at a desired level on the specimen; and a turntable mounted for movement about a vertical axis with respect to said support frame and said turntable mounting said means for applying vertical load, longitudinal load, and lateral load respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus of Claim 1 and means for applying steering signals for moving said turntable about the vertical axis to simulate steering loads on the specimen adapter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus as specified in Claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said means for applying a vertical load comprises a pneumatic tire loaded against said specimen adapter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus as specified in Claim 3 wherein said pneumatic tire is restrained from rotation about a rolling axis during loading.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 116 words
The apparatus as specified in Claim 4 wherein said specimen comprises a front wheel mounting assembly for a vehicle having a wheel notably mounted thereon during use, means for applying vertical load comprises an arm member mounting a wheel and pneumatic tire, a plurality of rollers having generally parallel axes and said parallel axes being generally parallel to the rolling axis of the pneumatic tire means to support said rollers at a level simulating a tire patch radius for a wheel used with the specimen being tested when in actual use, said pneumatic tire engaging said rollers and being loaded in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane defined by said lateral and longitudinal loading means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus as specified in Claim 5, and means to resist rotation of said specimen adapter about the axis of an axle being tested.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 78 words
The apparatus as specified in Claim 6 wherein said means to resist rotation comprises a torque tube mounted on said turntable, a pair of spaced links coupled to the specimen adapter on force lines spaced from and on opposite sides of the axis of an axle to be tested, said spaced links also being connected to opposite ends of said torque tube to resist movement of the specimen adapter about the axis of an axle to be tested.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 48 words
The apparatus of any of Claim 5 to 7 including means to pivotally mount the arm member with respect to the turntable, including a pivot shaft, and mounting supports for said pivot shaft adjustably mounted on said turntable permitting adjustment of said pivot shaft in mutually perpendicular planes.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 96 words
The apparatus as specified in any of Claims 3 to 8 wherein said means for applying a longitudinal load comprises a strut capable of being loaded in tension and compression, and a lever having a lever axis at substantially right angles to said strut, said lever being pivotally coupled to said speciment adapter and having an opposite end pivotally mounted with respect to the turntable, said lever being attached to said speciment adapter through a coupling that permits pivoting movement about mutually perpendicular axes defining a plane perpendicular to the axis of an axle being tested.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 32 words
A road simulator test stand comprising a support frame, said support frame mounting a specimen having an axle to be tested, which axle is mounted for vertical movement through a spring mounting;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 32 words
A road simulator test stand comprising a support frame, said support frame mounting a specimen having an axle to be tested, which axle is mounted for vertical movement through a spring mounting;
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 186 words
The apparatus as specified in Claim 10 a specimen adapter coupled to load said axle, said specimen adapter having means for receiving vertical loading in direction simulating vertical loading of a wheel mounted on said axle; means for applying a vertical load to said specimen adapte r; means for applying a lateral load to said specimen adapter in direction substantially parallel to the axis of the axle; means for applying a longitudinal load to the specimen adapter at substantially right angles to the direction of application of said lateral load; said means for applying said lateral load and said longitudinal load having loading axes generally in a plane at a level which corresponds to the tire patch radius of a wheel mounted on such axle to be tested; a turntable mounted for movement about a steering axis with respect to said support frame, said turntable mounting said means for applying vertical load, said means for applying longitudinal load means for applying lateral load respectively; and means for applying steering signals for moving said turntable about the steering axis to simulate steering loads on the specimen adapter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 23 words
The apparatus as specified in Claim 10 wherein said means for applying vertical load comprises a pneumatic tire loaded against said specimen adapter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 57 words
The apparatus as specified in Claim 11, wherein said means for applying a vertical load comprises an arm member pivotally mounted at a position spaced from the specimen to be tested, and an actuator coupled to said arm member to load said arm member in a direction to move the pneumatic tire toward the specimen being tested.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 20 words
The apparatus as specified in Claim 11 or Claim 12 wherein said pneumatic tire is restrained from rotation during loading.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 36 words
The apparatus as specified in any of Claims 10 to 13 wherein said specimen adapter comprises a member having substantially the same mass as the mass supported by the axle to be tested during actual operation.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 110 words
The apparatus as specified in any of Claims 10 to 14 wherein said means for applying vertical load comprises an arm member mounting a wheel and pneumatic tire, said specimen adapter including means supporting a roller housing, a plurality of rollers having generally parallel axes which are generally parallel to the axis of an axle to be tested, rotatably mounted on said roller housing, said being supported at a level simulating a tire patch radius for a wheel used with a specimen when in actual use, said pneumatic tire engaging said rollers being loaded in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane defined by said lateral and longitudinal loading means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 161 words
A road simulator test stand comprising: a support frame, said support frame mounting a specimen having an axle to be tested, which axle is mounted for vertical movement through a spring mounting; first means for applying a first load to said specimen along a first direction of movement prependicular to the axis of the axle; second means for applying a second load to the specimen at substantially right angles to the direction of application of said first load and at right angles to the axis of the axle; a turntable mounted for movement about a steering axis with respect to said support frame, said turntable mounting said means for applying said first and second loads; third means for applying steering signals for moving said specimen about a steering axis; and fourth means for rotating the turntable about its axis to carry the first and second means in an arc related to the steering motion to simulate steering loads on the specimen.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 161 words
A road simulator test stand comprising: a support frame, said support frame mounting a specimen having an axle to be tested, which axle is mounted for vertical movement through a spring mounting; first means for applying a first load to said specimen along a first direction of movement prependicular to the axis of the axle; second means for applying a second load to the specimen at substantially right angles to the direction of application of said first load and at right angles to the axis of the axle; a turntable mounted for movement about a steering axis with respect to said support frame, said turntable mounting said means for applying said first and second loads; third means for applying steering signals for moving said specimen about a steering axis; and fourth means for rotating the turntable about its axis to carry the first and second means in an arc related to the steering motion to simulate steering loads on the specimen.

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