Test apparatus for accelerated wheel and suspension component structural durability
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsDave Friske, Laurence Brown, John Gagern
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A test apparatus for testing a wheel for a vehicle, including a wheel test spindle and a road simulation drum that is rotated by a motor is disclosed. The wheel test spindle may be supported on suspension components. The road simulation drum includes a chuck hole recess that may be provided in a replaceable module comprising a portion of the outer surface of the drum. The motor rotates the drum causing the tire and wheel to rotate on the test spindle to roll against the outer surface of the drum and through the chuck hole recess.
Claims16
A test apparatus for testing a wheel for a vehicle, comprising:
- a wheel test spindle that supports the wheel and a tire mounted on the wheel for rotation;
- a road simulation drum having a outer surface that is engaged by the tire, the drum having a chuck hole recess formed in the outer surface;
- a motor rotating the drum and causing the tire and wheel to rotate on the test spindle and roll against the outer surface of the drum and through the chuck hole recess to simulate the tire and wheel rolling over a chuck hole in a road.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.