Patent US3855841A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3855841A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of testing vehicle shock absorbers and apparatus therefor
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-02-23
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Granted: 1974-12-24
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Expires: 1993-02-23
Abstract
Abstract A method of testing vehicle shock absorbers, one at a time or in pairs, while on the vehicle by causing the vehicle to be jounced at least through the critical frequency of the suspension system and displaying the maximum down load exerted by the vehicle on its supporting structure to obtain a visual concept of the dynamic response of the shock absorbers. The method is practiced by apparatus in which the support for the vehicle wheels is oscillated at a constant amplitude and through a linearly increasing speed cycle to gradually carry the suspension system through its critical frequency where the down load of the vehicle on the support reaches a maximum, and in which electrical means is incorporated to obtain and display that maximum down load reading in terms of the dynamic response of the shock absorbers.
Inventors
- 👤 L Hunter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 03:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M17/00; G01M17/007; G01M17/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
Apparatus for testing shock absorbers in place in the wheel suspension systems for vehicles, consisting of a support plate the boundary of which defines an area sufficiently large for at least a first wheel of a vehicle having front and rear wheels, the vehicle being horizontally positioned with a first wheel on said support plate and other wheels spaced there from, a frame carrying said support plate, vehicle wheel load responsive transducer means between said frame and plate, said transducer means being positioned symmetrically around the boundary of said support plate to respond to the load of said first wheel and generate a signal proportional to the first wheel load imposed on said plate at any location of the first wheel on said plate, signal display means connected to said transducer means to display the load imposed on said support plate, and drive means to oscillate said support plate in a vertical direction along a linear path to oscillate said first wheel through its critical frequency and gyrate the vehicle about said other wheels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
Apparatus for testing shock absorbers in place in the wheel suspension systems for vehicles, consisting of a support plate the boundary of which defines an area sufficiently large for at least a first wheel of a vehicle having front and rear wheels, the vehicle being horizontally positioned with a first wheel on said support plate and other wheels spaced there from, a frame carrying said support plate, vehicle wheel load responsive transducer means between said frame and plate, said transducer means being positioned symmetrically around the boundary of said support plate to respond to the load of said first wheel and generate a signal proportional to the first wheel load imposed on said plate at any location of the first wheel on said plate, signal display means connected to said transducer means to display the load imposed on said support plate, and drive means to oscillate said support plate in a vertical direction along a linear path to oscillate said first wheel through its critical frequency and gyrate the vehicle about said other wheels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said drive means exerts a vertical oscillation of a predetermined amount on said supporting plate, and in which control means connected to said drive means regulates said oscillation to an ever increasing rate through the critical frequency of the suspension system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
164 words
Apparatus for testing shock absorbers in place in vehicle wheel suspension assemblies To determine whether the shock absorbers are performing within acceptable tolerances, the apparatus comprising, movable wheel support plates the boundaries of which define areas sufficiently large for the first vehicle wheels with the vehicle standing in a generally horizontal position and free to gyrate about second wheels spaced from said support plates, motor means operably connected to said support plates and moving said first vehicle wheels thereon in a generally vertical up and down direction with the vehicle gyrating the said second wheels spaced therefrom, a plurality of load responsive sensor means symmetrically spaced apart under the boundaries of said support plates so as to generate signals proportional to the load exerted by the first vehicle wheels at any places on said support plates, and meter means connected to said sensor means to display the average of said signals in terms of the first vehicle wheel loads imposed on said support plates.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
164 words
Apparatus for testing shock absorbers in place in vehicle wheel suspension assemblies To determine whether the shock absorbers are performing within acceptable tolerances, the apparatus comprising, movable wheel support plates the boundaries of which define areas sufficiently large for the first vehicle wheels with the vehicle standing in a generally horizontal position and free to gyrate about second wheels spaced from said support plates, motor means operably connected to said support plates and moving said first vehicle wheels thereon in a generally vertical up and down direction with the vehicle gyrating the said second wheels spaced therefrom, a plurality of load responsive sensor means symmetrically spaced apart under the boundaries of said support plates so as to generate signals proportional to the load exerted by the first vehicle wheels at any places on said support plates, and meter means connected to said sensor means to display the average of said signals in terms of the first vehicle wheel loads imposed on said support plates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 3 in which the load responsive sensor means are associated with each of a pair of first vehicle wheels, and said display meter means are individual to the sensor means for each of the first pair of vehicle wheels, whereby the performance of each shock absorber in a first pair of vehicle wheel suspension assemblies is observable at said display meter means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
152 words
Apparatus for testing shock absorbers for vehicles consisting of a vertically oscillatible member, means to confine the oscillatory movement of said member to a linear path, a vehicle wheel support operably carried on said member for movement relative to said member said support having a boundary defining an area to receive the vehicle wheel, a plurality of load responsive transducer means arranged symmetrically in spaced relation along the boundary of said support and between said support and member to generate a signal that is the result of the load exerted on said support by the vehicle wheel for any location of the vehicle wheel within the defined area on said support, motor means connected to said member to impart said oscillating movement thereto to jounce the vehicle wheel through a predetermined up-and-down stroke, control means connected to said motor means to operate said motor means, and means to display said generated signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
152 words
Apparatus for testing shock absorbers for vehicles consisting of a vertically oscillatible member, means to confine the oscillatory movement of said member to a linear path, a vehicle wheel support operably carried on said member for movement relative to said member said support having a boundary defining an area to receive the vehicle wheel, a plurality of load responsive transducer means arranged symmetrically in spaced relation along the boundary of said support and between said support and member to generate a signal that is the result of the load exerted on said support by the vehicle wheel for any location of the vehicle wheel within the defined area on said support, motor means connected to said member to impart said oscillating movement thereto to jounce the vehicle wheel through a predetermined up-and-down stroke, control means connected to said motor means to operate said motor means, and means to display said generated signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 5 wherein said transducer means is engaged by said wheel support means and includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements, said spacing of said elements places them ahead of and behind the vehicle wheel, and said elements are interconnected to generate a signal that is proportional to the load exerted on said wheel support by the vehicle wheel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus set forth in claim 5 and including means to protect said oscillatible member against being loaded beyond its intended capacity comprising rigid strike out means spaced along said oscillatible member to absorb over loads.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-23 | 1978-06-24 | 1978-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-23 | 1982-06-24 | 1982-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-23 | 1986-06-24 | 1986-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |