Motor vehicle testing apparatus

Abstract

Abstract For testing the dynamic characteristics of a motor vehicle, an endless movable road surface for supporting and moving with respect to motor vehicles. The motor vehicle is restrained from movement but its wheels are permitted to move in contact with the simulated road surface. The simulated road surface may be the periphery of a wheel whose circumference is relatively large compared to the wheel base of the automobile, or it may be a relatively flat run of an endless belt supported on multiple rollers. In either case, all the wheels of the motor vehicle are supported by the simulated road surface. Preferably the effective inertial load of the simulated road surface is adjusted to be approximately equal to the mass of the motor vehicle. One or more of a plurality of selectably attachable inertial masses may be coupled to the system to permit the inertial mass of the system to vary according to the inertial mass of the vehicle being tested. The road surface may be varied in texture and profile to permit a variety of road surface conditions to be simulated. The system may be coupled to a generator driving a selected load to simulate dynamic resistance such as wind resistance to the motion of the motor vehicle. The restraining device for the motor vehicle preventing longitudinal movement of same may be mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis and for lateral movement relative to the road surface simulator so as to permit steering of the motor vehicle relative to the simulated road surface.

Inventors

• 👤 Robert H. Barrigar

Bibliographic Details