Suspension damper test apparatus, control system and method of controlling a suspension damper test apparatus

A method of controlling a suspension damper test apparatus, the method comprising:

• coupling a first end of a suspension damper to a first fixture of the suspension damper test apparatus, the first fixture including a force sensor, a first prying device, and a first torsion device;
• coupling a second end of the suspension damper to a second fixture of the suspension damper test apparatus, the second fixture including a second prying device, a second torsion device, and at least one of a displacement sensor and a speed sensor;
• tilting and rotating a first bushing inner tube relative to a first bushing outer tube at the first end of the suspension damper by the first prying device and the first torsion device;
• tilting and rotating a second bushing inner tube relative to a second bushing outer tube at the second end of the suspension damper by the second prying device and the second torsion device;
• moving by an actuator the suspension damper between an extended position and a compressed position in one of a sinusoidal wave form and a triangle wave form;
• receiving by a controller in signal communication with the force sensor and the at least one of the displacement sensor and the speed sensor, at least one signal from at least one of the force sensor and the at least one of the displacement sensor and the speed sensor;
• and
• characterizing by the controller at least one friction value of the suspension damper based, at least in part, on the at least one signal received by the controller.

A control system for a suspension damper test apparatus, the control system comprising:

• a suspension damper test apparatus including:
• a first fixture including a force sensor, a first prying device, and a first torsion device, operatively coupled to a first end of a suspension damper;
• a second fixture including a second prying device, a second torsion device, and at least one of a displacement sensor and a speed sensor, operatively coupled to a second end of the suspension damper;
• and
• an actuator that actuates the suspension damper between an extended position and a compressed position in one of a sinusoidal wave form and a triangle wave form;
• and
• a controller in signal communication with the suspension damper test apparatus, the controller configured to:
• record signals from one or more of the force sensor and the at least one of the displacement sensor and the speed sensor, representative of a friction of the suspension damper while the suspension damper is actuated along a longitudinal axis of the suspension damper.

A suspension damper test apparatus comprising:

• a first fixture including a force sensor and a prying device operatively coupled to a first end of a suspension damper;
• a second fixture including a torsion device and at least one of a displacement sensor and a speed sensor, operatively coupled to a second end of the suspension damper;
• and
• a controller in signal communication with the force sensor and the at least one of the displacement sensor and the speed sensor, the controller configured to record signals received from one or more of the force sensor and the at least one of the speed sensor and the displacement sensor, representative of a friction of the suspension damper while the suspension damper is actuated along a longitudinal axis of the suspension damper.