Method of dynamically measuring stiffness of a wheel and tire assembly
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsKurt K. Schleif, Jochen E. Scheuing, David M. Russell, William J. Fox, Elton R. Eaton, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A test machine and method for dynamically testing a tire/wheel assembly. A first laser measurement gage is directed to an inboard rim flange of the wheel to measure radial deflection of the tire/wheel assembly. A second laser measurement gage is directed to the inboard rim flange to measure axial deflection of the tire/wheel assembly. Displacement data and loading data are correlated to provide values for lateral stiffness, radial stiffness and ride stiffness.
Claims16
A test machine for testing a tire/wheel assembly comprising:
- a driven endless belt;
- a wheel retention structure to which the tire/wheel assembly is attached with the tire rotating on the endless belt;
- a first laser measurement gage is directed to an inboard rim flange of the wheel to measure radial deflection of the tire/wheel assembly;
- and
- a second laser measurement gage is directed to the inboard rim flange to measure axial deflection of the tire/wheel assembly.
A method of testing a wheel/tire assembly on a test machine having a driven endless belt, a wheel retention structure to which the tire/wheel assembly is attached with the tire rotating on the endless belt, the wheel retention structure having a vertical load application system and a steering input system, a first laser measurement gage is directed to an inboard rim flange of the wheel, and a second laser measurement gage is directed to the inboard rim flange, the method comprising:
- measuring the radial deflection of the tire/wheel assembly to develop a plurality of radial deflection values;
- measuring the axial deflection of the tire/wheel assembly to develop a plurality of axial load deflection values;
- specifying a plurality of vertical loads applied by the vertical load application system;
- specifying a plurality of lateral loads applied by the lateral load application system;
- preparing correlations of the radial deflection values, lateral deflection values, vertical loads and lateral loads;
- and
- providing a value for radial stiffness and lateral stiffness based upon the correlations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.