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US 10,502,656 B1Granted
Servo apparatus supporting self-propelled vehicle
OwnerGarth L Mageeinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A servo-controlled vehicle-supporting apparatus maintaining an unrestrained and freely self-propelled vehicle longitudinally stationary thereon. When employed inside a wind tunnel, the power transferred through groundward contact with the vehicle wheels can be directly measured, thereby indicating the propulsive power required to overcome total drag forces on a vehicle as if driving on a roadway.
Claims30
An apparatus for maintaining a wheeled vehicle longitudinally stationary when the vehicle is disposed substantially unrestrained for free longitudinal movement thereof upon the apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
- a single moveable surface consisting of a running belt configured to be in groundward contact with all wheels of the vehicle when said vehicle is disposed upon the apparatus;
- a structure supporting the moveable surface;
- the moveable surface arranged for movement thereof in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, said longitudinal direction being aligned from a front to a rear of the vehicle;
- a controllable motor configured to move the moveable surface;
- a sensor configured to detect the longitudinal position of the vehicle relative to the supporting structure;
- a controller configured to respond to a position signal from the sensor, said position signal indicating the longitudinal position of the vehicle;
- and
- the controller configured to direct motion of the motor in response to the position signal to maintain the vehicle longitudinally stationary relative to the supporting structure while said vehicle is freely self-propelled upon the apparatus,
- whereby the apparatus is configured such that a combination of the apparatus and the vehicle disposed substantially unrestrained upon the apparatus would comprise a closed-loop servo control system for maintaining the disposed vehicle longitudinally stationary while said vehicle is operated in a freely self-propelled manner.
6 more elements
An apparatus for maintaining a wheeled vehicle longitudinally stationary when the vehicle is disposed substantially unrestrained for free longitudinal movement thereof upon the apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
- at least one moveable surface with each said moveable surface configured to be in groundward contact with a respective wheel of the vehicle when said vehicle is disposed upon the apparatus;
- a structure supporting the at least one moveable surface;
- the one or more moveable surfaces each disposed for synchronous motion thereof in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, said longitudinal direction being aligned from a front to a rear of the vehicle;
- a controllable motor configured to move the at least one moveable surface;
- a sensor configured to detect the longitudinal position of the vehicle relative to the supporting structure;
- a controller with electronic compensation configured to respond to a position signal from the sensor, said position signal indicating the longitudinal position of the vehicle;
- and
- the controller configured to direct motion of the motor in response to the position signal to maintain the vehicle longitudinally stationary relative to the supporting structure while said vehicle is freely self-propelled upon the apparatus;
- whereby the apparatus is configured such that a combination of the apparatus and the vehicle disposed substantially unrestrained upon the apparatus would comprise a closed-loop servo control system for maintaining the disposed vehicle longitudinally stationary while said vehicle is operated in a freely self-propelled manner.
6 more elements
A method for maintaining a wheeled vehicle longitudinally stationary while the vehicle is disposed substantially unrestrained for free longitudinal movement thereof upon a supporting apparatus, said method comprising:
- arranging the vehicle substantially unrestrained upon the supporting apparatus for free movement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, wherein said longitudinal direction is aligned from a front to a rear of the vehicle, and wherein said supporting apparatus comprises:
- a single moveable surface consisting of a running belt configured to be in groundward contact with all wheels of the vehicle;
- a structure supporting the moveable surface;
- the moveable surface arranged for movement thereof in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle;
- a controllable motor configured to move the moveable surface;
- a sensor configured to detect the longitudinal position of the vehicle relative to the supporting structure;
- a controller configured to respond to a position signal from the sensor, said position signal indicating the longitudinal position of the vehicle;
- and
- the controller configured to direct motion of the motor in response to the position signal to maintain the vehicle longitudinally stationary relative to the supporting structure while said vehicle is freely self-propelled upon the apparatus;
- operating the vehicle in a self-propelled manner;
- powering the motor to move the moveable surface;
- and
- controlling the motor to maintain the disposed vehicle longitudinally stationary relative to the supporting structure.
10 more elements
A method for maintaining a wheeled vehicle longitudinally stationary while the vehicle is disposed substantially unrestrained for free longitudinal movement thereof upon a supporting apparatus, said method comprising:
- arranging the vehicle substantially unrestrained upon the supporting apparatus for free movement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, wherein said longitudinal direction is aligned from a front to a rear of the vehicle, and wherein said supporting apparatus comprises:
- at least one moveable surface with each said moveable surface configured to be in groundward contact with a respective wheel of the vehicle;
- a structure supporting the one or more moveable surfaces;
- the one or more moveable surfaces each disposed for synchronous motion thereof in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle;
- a controllable motor configured to move the one or more moveable surfaces;
- a sensor configured to detect the longitudinal position of the vehicle relative to the supporting structure;
- a controller with electronic compensation configured to respond to a position signal from the sensor, said position signal indicating the longitudinal position of the vehicle;
- and
- the controller configured to direct motion of the motor in response to the position signal to maintain the vehicle longitudinally stationary relative to the supporting structure while said vehicle is freely self-propelled upon the apparatus;
- operating the vehicle in a self-propelled manner;
- powering the motor to move the moveable surface;
- and
- controlling the motor to maintain the vehicle longitudinally stationary relative to the supporting structure.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.