Wheel-mounted vehicle shock absorber tester

Abstract

This invention is an improved low cost method for in situ quantitative testing of damping characteristics of vehicle suspension systems, the primary element of which is the shock absorber. The method includes [the following five steps]: [1.)] extending the suspension system [a predetermined amount] at one or two wheels by raising the vehicle body; [2.)] dropping the vehicle body in an unimpeded manner; [3.)] measuring and [4.)] recording the [car] vehicle body motion with respect to the top of the wheel(s); and [5.)] comparing and evaluating the measured performance against [the performance] that of the vehicle suspension system when it was operating properly. [An example of a car] A vehicle raiser/dropper is included comprising a scissors jack modified with a positive release split nut release mechanism. The vehicle body motion with respect to the top of the wheel is measured and recorded on a wheel mounted assembly which is coupled to the vehicle body by a motion coupling arm which in turn is attached to the body by a magnet or suction cup. [arrangement.] Two recording methods are described; [1.)] a wheel-mounted constant speed turntable with a unique pencil mounting which is coupled to the vehicle body by the motion coupling arm; and [2.)] a wheel-mounted angle sensor which produces an electrical signal which is then recorded on an external [prior art] recorder or computerized [electronic test] equipment. Comparison and evaluation of the recorded vehicle motion with respect to the top of the wheel is done by overlaying the same type of recorded information made by the equivalent equipment when the vehicle suspension system was operating properly [thereby] permitting detailed evaluation of the differences.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.