Method and apparatus for modeling coil springs using a force field generator
AssigneeNhk International Corporation
InventorsShinichi Nishizawa, Akihiko Kumagai
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Abstract
A method for modeling a coil spring on a suspension system in terms of derived torque and force characteristics of the spring comprising the steps of providing a force field generator for simulating the spring, securing the force field generator to the suspension system, activating the force field generator to produce forces for characterizing the spring, measuring the forces; and deriving a spring design based upon the measured forces.
Claims18
A method for modeling a coil spring on a suspension system in terms of derived torque and force characteristics of the coil spring, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a physical six degree of freedom force field generator for simulating the spring;
- securing the force field generator to the suspension system;
- activating the force field generator to produce forces for characterizing six degree of freedom spring reaction forces;
- measuring suspension characteristics;
- and
- deriving a coil spring design specification based upon the measured characteristics.
A method for modeling a coil spring in terms of torque and force characteristics to produce a spring design for an automobile suspension, said method comprising the steps of:
- assembling a physical six degree of freedom mechanism having spaced apart moveable platforms and a plurality of actuable links interconnecting the platforms at corresponding joints on opposite ends of each link;
- specifying a kinematics relationship between the platforms and the links;
- applying the mechanism to the automobile suspension;
- actuating the links to generate corresponding applied forces and torques at each joint;
- measuring the applied forces and torques;
- and
- deriving the force and torque characteristics of the coil spring to be designed based upon the kinematics relationship and the corresponding applied forces and torques at each joint.
A system for modeling a coil spring on a suspension system in terms of derived torque and force characteristics of the coil spring, said system comprising:
- a physical six degree of freedom force field generator for simulating the spring, wherein the force field generator is secured to the suspension system and is activated to produce forces for characterizing six degree of freedom spring reaction forces;
- at least one force sensor for measuring suspension characteristics;
- and
- a sub-system for deriving a coil spring design specification based upon the measured characteristics.
A system for modeling a coil spring in terms of torque and force characteristics to produce a spring design for an automobile suspension, said system comprising:
- a physical six degree of freedom mechanism having spaced apart moveable platforms and a plurality of actuable links interconnecting the platforms at corresponding joints on opposite ends of each link, wherein the platforms and the links include a kinematics relationship, wherein the mechanism being applied to the automobile suspension, and wherein the links are actuated to generate corresponding applied forces and torques at each joint;
- at least one force sensor for measuring the applied forces and torques;
- and
- a sub-system for deriving the force and torque characteristics of the coil spring to be designed based upon the kinematics relationship and the corresponding applied forces and torques at each joint.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.