# US 5,708,215 A · Apparatus and method for testing vehicles

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 5,708,215 A
- Document ID: US5708215A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/633,370
- Filed: 1996-04-16
- Granted: 1998-01-13
- Earliest claimed: 1995-05-19
- Inventors: Percy Frederick Bull
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5708215A

## CPC

- G01L 5/13: for measuring the tractive or propulsive power of vehicles
- G01L 3/00: Measuring torque, work, mechanical power, or mechanical efficiency, in general
- G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G)

## Abstract

The invention relates to the measurement of the torque generated by the motor of a vehicle. According to the invention, the conventional rolling dynamometer or shaft-driven dynamometer is replaced with a load measuring means such as a strain gauge which is arranged to measure the torque reaction transmitted through the body of a motor when it is operated under load. Where the motor being tested is installed in a vehicle, strain gauges or other measuring means may be arranged to support the weight of the vehicle and measure changes in its weight distribution under the influence of the torque reaction of the motor. The apparatus may include computer means for calculating the torque and power output of the motor from the data supplied by the load measuring means.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of testing the motive force delivered by a vehicle motor comprising operating the motor under load and measuring changes in the weight distribution of the vehicle as those changes are induced by torque reaction of the motor.

### Claim 2

Apparatus for testing the motive force delivered by a vehicle motor comprising load-measuring means arranged and adapted to support the weight of the vehicle and to measure changes in the distribution of the weight of the vehicle which are induced by torque reaction of the motor under load, and means for preventing the vehicle from being propelled by the motor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the said load-measuring means comprises at least one strain gauge.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the strain gauge is connected to a computer to supply measurement of load applied to the strain gauge or gauges as data input to the computer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the said means for preventing the vehicle from being propelled by the motor comprises at least one support arranged and adapted to support driving wheels or tracks of the vehicle in a raised position relative to the ground.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

Apparatus according to claim 2 which includes computer means for calculating the torque and power output of the motor from data output thereto by the load measuring means.