Tetraxial vehicle test fixture
AssigneeMTS Systems Corporation
InventorsNiel R. Petersen, John E. Hart
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A test system for testing axles and wheel spindles directly in place on vehicles such as automobiles, which simplifies the loading to obtain the necessary information for testing axles and spindles using two sets of actuators, each set comprising a pair of actuators each operating to control loads on the spindle along two different orthogonal components of normal movement of the vehicle. The actuator arrangement saves space, permits testing without removing automotive sheet metal and simplifies the compensation factors necessary for controlling such systems.
Claims14
A device for loading a work member which is cantilevered from a support and has an elongated axis under test loads in two orthogonal directions defining a first loading plane and wherein the work member as mounted has shielding components obstructing direct line loading in at least one of the orthogonal directions, comprising a first test fixture having a pair of links with loading axes positioned generally parallel to said first loading plane and at selected angles relative to each other and to the orthogonal directions, fixture means mounted to said member, said links being coupled to said fixture means, means to apply tension and compression loads selectively to each of said links at positions clearing said shielding components comprising a pair of bell crank members, and a pair of loading actuators mounted on the test fixture for controlling said bell crank members.
A device for loading an axle of a vehicle under test loads to simulate the loads encountered by the vehicle during use comprising a first test fixture having a pair of first links generally perpendicular to the axis of said axle, fixture means mounted to said axle, said first links being coupled to said fixture means and extending at other than perpendicular to a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the axle, means to apply tension and compression loads selectively to each of said first links, a second fixture having a pair of second links which lie in a first plane generally perpendicular to a plane perpendicular to the axis of said axle, means coupling said second links to said fixture means at a location spaced from the axis of the axle, and said second links each being other than parallel to said axis of the axle, and means to selectively load said second links of said second fixture in tension and compression.
A device for loading an axle of a vehicle under test loads to simulate loads encountered by the automobile during use in two orthogonal directions comprising a first test fixture having a pair of first elongated tension and compression carrying links having longitudinal axes generally perpendicular to the axis of said axle, fixture means mounted to said axle, said first links being coupled to said fixture means and the axes of both links extending at acute angles relative to the orthogonal directions, and means to apply tension and compression loads selectively to each of said first links including control means to control movements of the links to achieve the desired loading in the orthogonal directions.
A device for loading an axle of a vehicle under test loads to simulate loads encountered by the automobile during use in two orthogonal directions wherein the axle has substantial movement in one of the directions when loaded comprising a first test fixture having a pair of first tension and compression carrying links having loading axes lying in a plane at a known angular relationship to the axis of said axle, means to couple said first links to said axle with the axis of each of said links extending at an acute angle relative to the orthogonal directions, and means to apply tension and compression loads selectively to each of said first links including control means to sense and control the movements and loads on the links to achieve the desired loading and movements in the orthogonal directions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.