US5465615A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Loading assembly for a vehicle spindle test fixture
Assignee: MTS Systems Corp
•
Filing: 1994-04-28
•
Granted: 1995-11-14
•
Expires: 2014-04-28
Abstract
Abstract A loading assembly that permits a lateral force to be applied parallel to an axis of a vehicle spindle includes a support frame and a wheel adapter housing mounted to the vehicle spindle. A loading member is pivotally joined to the support frame at a position spaced apart from the wheel adapter housing on the axis of the spindle. A plurality of spaced apart struts connects the loading member to the wheel adapter housing. An actuator applies a selected force to the loading member, which is transferred as a lateral force to the vehicle spindle. In a first embodiment, an adjustable coupling is provided between the actuator and the loading member to emulate a rolling radius of a tire assembly mounted to the vehicle spindle. In a second embodiment, a second loading member is operably connected to the first-mentioned loading member. A second actuator applies a force to the second loading member to apply a selected moment to the vehicle spindle.
Inventors
- 👤 Niel R. Petersen
- 👤 Paul S. Petersen
- 👤 Joseph W. Daley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:49
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M13/00; G01M13/02; G01M13/027
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A loading assembly used in a vehicle spindle test fixture to apply a lateral force parallel to an axis of a vehicle spindle, the loading assembly comprising: a support frame; a wheel adapter housing mountable to the vehicle spindle; a loading member pivotally joined to the support frame and spaced apart from the wheel adapter housing along the axis of the spindle; a plurality of spaced apart struts connecting the loading member to the wheel adapter housing; an actuator for applying a selected force; and connecting means for forming a pivot connection between the actuator and the loading member that is securable in one of a plurality of positions to emulate a selected rolling radius of a tire assembly mounted to the spindle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A loading assembly used in a vehicle spindle test fixture to apply a lateral force parallel to an axis of a vehicle spindle, the loading assembly comprising: a support frame; a wheel adapter housing mountable to the vehicle spindle; a loading member pivotally joined to the support frame and spaced apart from the wheel adapter housing along the axis of the spindle; a plurality of spaced apart struts connecting the loading member to the wheel adapter housing; an actuator for applying a selected force; and connecting means for forming a pivot connection between the actuator and the loading member that is securable in one of a plurality of positions to emulate a selected rolling radius of a tire assembly mounted to the spindle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The loading assembly of claim 1 and further comprising: a second loading member pivotally joined to the support frame and operably joined to the first-mentioned loading member; and a second actuator joined to the second loading member, the second actuator displacing the second loading member so as to displace at least two struts of the plurality of struts in opposed directions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The loading assembly of claim 2 and further comprising a pivot shaft joined to the support frame, the first-mentioned loading member and the second loading member pivoting on the pivot shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The loading assembly of claim 2 and further comprising a third actuator joined to the second loading member, the third actuator displacing the second loading member so as to displace one of the struts of the plurality of struts relative to another strut of the plurality of struts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The loading assembly of claim 4 wherein the plurality of struts equals three.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The loading assembly of claim 1 and further comprising: a pivot shaft joined to the support frame, the loading member pivoting on the pivot shaft; and means for pivotally connecting the support frame to a fixed base.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The loading assembly of claim 6 wherein the support frame comprises at least two support struts and the means for pivotally connecting the support frame comprises a pivot connection formed on an end of each support strut opposite the pivot shaft wherein each pivot connection pivotally connects the corresponding support strut to the fixed base.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
The loading assembly of claim 7 and wherein means for pivotally connecting the support frame further includes a third pivot connection disposed between the first-mentioned and second-mentioned pivot connections; and wherein the assembly further comprises a third and fourth strut joined together at the third pivot connection, the third strut being joined to a first end of the pivot shaft and the fourth strut being joined to a second end of the pivot shaft; and wherein the first mentioned loading frame is pivotally displaceable between the third and fourth struts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The loading assembly of claim 8 and further comprising: a fifth strut joined to the third pivot connection; and a second actuator joined to the fifth strut, the second actuator displacing the fifth strut so as to displace at least two struts of the plurality of struts in opposed directions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
107 words
The loading assembly of claim 9 and further comprising: a sixth strut having a first end and a second end, the first end being joined to the fifth strut at an end opposite the third pivot connection and the second end being joined to the first end of the pivot shaft; a seventh strut having a first end and a second end, the first end being joined to the fifth strut at the end opposite the third pivot connection and the second end being joined to the second end of the pivot shaft; and wherein the first-mentioned loading assembly is displaceable between the sixth and seventh struts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
212 words
A loading assembly used in a vehicle spindle test fixture to apply a lateral force parallel to an axis of a vehicle spindle and a steer moment to the vehicle spindle about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the vehicle spindle and substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the loading assembly comprising: a support frame; a wheel adapter housing mountable to the vehicle spindle; a first loading member pivotally joined to the support frame and spaced apart from the wheel adapter housing along the axis of the spindle; a plurality of spaced apart struts connecting the first loading member to the wheel adapter housing; a first actuator joined to the first loading member to displace the plurality of struts in a direction parallel to the spindle axis so as to apply a lateral force to the vehicle spindle; a second loading member pivotally joined to the support frame and operably joined to the first loading member; and a second actuator joined to the second loading member, the second actuator displacing the second loading member so as to displace at least two struts of the plurality of struts connected to the first loading member in opposed directions so as to apply a steer moment to the vehicle spindle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
212 words
A loading assembly used in a vehicle spindle test fixture to apply a lateral force parallel to an axis of a vehicle spindle and a steer moment to the vehicle spindle about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the vehicle spindle and substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the loading assembly comprising: a support frame; a wheel adapter housing mountable to the vehicle spindle; a first loading member pivotally joined to the support frame and spaced apart from the wheel adapter housing along the axis of the spindle; a plurality of spaced apart struts connecting the first loading member to the wheel adapter housing; a first actuator joined to the first loading member to displace the plurality of struts in a direction parallel to the spindle axis so as to apply a lateral force to the vehicle spindle; a second loading member pivotally joined to the support frame and operably joined to the first loading member; and a second actuator joined to the second loading member, the second actuator displacing the second loading member so as to displace at least two struts of the plurality of struts connected to the first loading member in opposed directions so as to apply a steer moment to the vehicle spindle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The loading assembly of claim 11 and further comprising a pivot shaft joined to the support frame, the first loading member and the second loading member pivoting on the pivot shaft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The loading assembly of claim 12 and further comprising: means for pivotally connecting the support frame to a fixed base.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
The loading assembly of claim 13 wherein the support frame comprises two support struts and the means for pivotally connecting the support frame comprises a pivot connection formed on an end of each support strut opposite the pivot shaft wherein each pivot connection pivotally connects the corresponding support strut to the fixed base.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
91 words
The loading assembly of claim 14 and wherein the means for pivotally connecting the support frame further includes a third pivot connection disposed between the first-mentioned and second-mentioned pivot connections; and wherein the second loading member comprises a first and second strut joined together at the third pivot connection, the first strut being joined to a first end of the pivot shaft and the second strut being joined to a second end of the pivot shaft; and wherein the first loading frame is pivotally displaceable between the first and second struts.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
The loading assembly of claim 15 wherein the second loading assembly further comprises: a third strut joined to the third pivot connection; and wherein the second actuator is joined to the third strut, the second actuator displacing the third strut so as to displace at least two struts of the plurality of struts in opposed directions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
111 words
The loading assembly of claim 16 wherein the second loading member further comprises: a fourth strut having a first end and a second end, the first end being joined to the third strut at an end opposite the third pivot connection and the second end being joined to the first end of the pivot shaft; a fifth strut having a first end and a second end, the first end being joined to the third strut at the end opposite the third pivot connection and the second end being joined to the second end of the pivot shaft; and wherein the first loading assembly is displaceable between the forth and fifth struts.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The loading assembly of claim 12 and further comprising a deflectable plate mounted to a fixed base and a pivot connection joining the second loading member to the deflectable plate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
66 words
The loading assembly of claim 18 wherein the support frame comprises two support struts and a strut pivot connection formed on an end of each support strut opposite the pivot shaft wherein each strut pivot connection pivotally connects the corresponding support strut to the fixed base, the assembly further comprising a stiffening plate connected to each of the strut pivot connections and the first-mentioned pivot connection.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
The loading assembly of claim 11 and further comprising: connecting means for forming a pivot connection between the actuator and the loading member that is securable in one of a plurality of positions to emulate a selected rolling radius of a tire assembly mounted to the spindle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
72 words
The loading assembly of claim 11 and further comprising a third actuator joined to the second loading member, the third actuator displacing the second loading member so as to displace one of the struts of the plurality of struts relative to another strut of the plurality of struts so as to apply a camber moment to the vehicle spindle about an axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The loading assembly of claim 21 wherein the plurality of struts equals three.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3028761A
Cited
US3713330A
Cited
US4016754A
Cited
US4133201A
Cited
US4263809A
Cited
US4567782A
Cited
US4501139A
Cited
US4658656A
Cited
US4733558A
Cited
US4977791A
Cited
US5088320A
Cited
US5131267A
Cited
US5083453A
Cited
US4981034A
Cited
US5241856A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-11-13 | 1999-05-15 | 1999-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-11-13 | 2003-05-15 | 2003-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-11-13 | 2007-05-15 | 2007-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |