# US 9,752,961 B2 · Dual-purpose dynamometer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,752,961 B2 - Document ID: US9752961B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/730,689 - Filed: 2015-06-04 - Published: 2015-12-24 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-19 - Assignees: Avl Test Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Avl Test Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Kenneth Cooper Barnes; Stephen Gibson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752961B2 ## CPC - G01M 17/0072: {the wheels of the vehicle co-operating with rotatable rolls (G01M17/022, G01M17/045, G01M17/065 take precedence)} - G01M 13/025: Test-benches with rotational drive means and loading means; Load or drive simulation - G01M 17/0074: {Details, e.g. roller construction, vehicle restraining devices} - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly is disclosed including a dynamometer motor, a chassis dynamometer roll that can be driven by a vehicle wheel, and a powertrain dynamometer shaft that can be driven by a vehicle powertrain. A gearbox is disposed between and rotatably couples the dynamometer motor with the chassis dynamometer roll and the powertrain dynamometer shaft. At least one chamber wall defining a test chamber is disposed between the dynamometer motor on one side and the chassis dynamometer roll and the powertrain dynamometer shaft on the other side such that the dynamometer motor is disposed outside of the test chamber. There is at least one aperture penetrating the chamber wall through which the dynamometer motor is connected to the chassis dynamometer roll and the powertrain dynamometer shaft. Accordingly, the dynamometer motor is isolated from extreme temperatures within the test chamber. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly for testing a vehicle having at least one of a wheel and at least one powertrain component, said dual-purpose dynamometer assembly comprising: a chassis dynamometer roll configured to engage and be driven by the at least one wheel of the vehicle during testing; a powertrain dynamometer shaft configured to mate with and be driven by the at least one powertrain component of the vehicle during testing, said powertrain dynamometer shaft being spaced from said chassis dynamometer roll; and a dynamometer motor that is rotatably coupled to said chassis dynamometer roll and said powertrain dynamometer shaft by a gearbox, wherein said gearbox is disposed between said dynamometer motor, said chassis dynamometer roll, and said powertrain dynamometer shaft. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: a test chamber defined by at least one chamber wall, wherein the vehicle is disposed within said test chamber during testing, and wherein said at least one chamber wall is disposed between said dynamometer motor on one side and said chassis dynamometer roll and said powertrain dynamometer shaft on another side such that said dynamometer motor is disposed outside of said test chamber and is isolated from temperatures within said test chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 2 further comprising: at least one aperture penetrating said at least one chamber wall through which said dynamometer motor is connected to said chassis dynamometer roll and said powertrain dynamometer shaft. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 3 further comprising: a gearbox frame that supports said gearbox; and at least one gearbox pivot actuator connected to said gearbox and said gearbox frame that supports and pivots said gearbox relative to said gearbox frame such that said powertrain dynamometer shaft can be aligned with powertrain components of vehicles with different wheelbases. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 3 further comprising: a chassis dynamometer frame supporting said chassis dynamometer roll; a dynamometer motor frame supporting said dynamometer motor; and a gearbox frame rigidly supporting said gearbox, said gearbox frame connecting to said dynamometer motor frame; said chassis dynamometer frame, said dynamometer motor frame, and said gearbox frame being mounted on at least one sliding track that permits linear movement of said chassis dynamometer roll, said dynamometer motor, and said gearbox with respect to said at least one chamber wall such that at least one of: (i) said powertrain dynamometer shaft can be aligned with powertrain components of vehicles with different wheelbases, and (ii) said chassis dynamometer roll can be aligned with the wheels of vehicles with different wheelbases. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said at least one chamber wall of said test chamber is disposed between said dynamometer motor on one side and said gearbox on another side such that said dynamometer motor is disposed outside said test chamber and said gearbox is disposed inside said test chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said gearbox includes a housing that is thermally insulated and filled with a fluid that has been thermally conditioned. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 7 further comprising: a chassis dynamometer axle supporting and being rotatably coupled with said chassis dynamometer roll and wherein said dynamometer motor includes a motor shaft that is rotatably coupled to said chassis dynamometer axle through said gearbox. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said at least one aperture penetrating said at least one chamber wall is a motor shaft aperture that receives said motor shaft such that said dynamometer motor is connected to said gearbox through said motor shaft aperture. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 9 further comprising: a pair of rotary shaft seals disposed on opposite sides of said at least one chamber wall adjacent said motor shaft aperture that circumscribe said motor shaft to seal off said dynamometer motor from said test chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 10 further comprising: a first gearbox shaft extending linearly through said housing of said gearbox to rotatably couple said chassis dynamometer axle and said motor shaft; and a second gearbox shaft spaced from said first gearbox shaft that extends linearly through said housing of said gearbox to align with said powertrain dynamometer shaft, said second gearbox shaft being rotatably coupled with said gearbox. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 11 further comprising: a chassis dynamometer jackshaft extending between said first gearbox shaft and said chassis dynamometer axle to rotatably coupled said motor shaft of said dynamometer motor with said chassis dynamometer axle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 12 further comprising: a first gearbox coupler disposed between said chassis dynamometer jackshaft and said first gearbox shaft including an annular portion extending axially from said chassis dynamometer jackshaft that mates with said first gearbox shaft and a flange extending radially from and circumferentially about said annular portion of said first gearbox coupler that mates with said chassis dynamometer jackshaft to rotatably couple said first gearbox shaft with said chassis dynamometer jackshaft; and a second gearbox coupler disposed between said powertrain dynamometer shaft and said second gearbox shaft including an annular portion extending axially from said powertrain dynamometer shaft that mates with said second gearbox shaft and a flange extending radially from and circumferentially about said annular portion of said second gearbox coupler that mates with said powertrain dynamometer shaft to rotatably couple said second gearbox shaft with said powertrain dynamometer shaft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 13 further comprising: a first torque flange having a disc-like shape circumscribing said annular portion of said first gearbox coupler; said gearbox including a first torque flange enclosure projecting from said housing of said gearbox to enclose said first torque flange and portions of said first gearbox shaft and said first gearbox coupler that is filled with warm dry air to isolate said first torque flange from the extreme temperatures within said test chamber; and a second torque flange having a disc-like shape circumscribing said annular portion of said second gearbox coupler; said gearbox including a second torque flange enclosure projecting from said housing of said gearbox to enclose said second torque flange and portions of said second gearbox shaft and said second gearbox coupler that is filled with warm dry air to isolate said second torque flange from the extreme temperatures within said test chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 14 further comprising: a first brush seal disposed between said first torque flange and said first torque flange enclosure that circumscribes said annular portion of said first gearbox coupler to seal off said first torque flange enclosure from said test chamber; and a second brush seal disposed between said second torque flange and said second torque flange enclosure that circumscribes said annular portion of said second gearbox coupler to seal off said second torque flange enclosure from said test chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 3) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said at least one chamber wall of said test chamber is disposed between said gearbox on one side and said chassis dynamometer roll on another side such that said dynamometer motor and said gearbox are disposed outside said test chamber and are isolated from extreme temperatures within said test chamber. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 16 further comprising: a chassis dynamometer jackshaft extending between said gearbox and said chassis dynamometer roll that rotatably couples with said chassis dynamometer roll; and a powertrain dynamometer jackshaft extending between said gearbox and said powertrain dynamometer shaft that rotatably couples with said powertrain dynamometer shaft. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said at least one aperture includes a first aperture that receives said chassis dynamometer jackshaft such that said chassis dynamometer jackshaft is connected to said gearbox through said first aperture and a second aperture that is spaced from said first aperture and that receives said powertrain dynamometer jackshaft such that said powertrain dynamometer jackshaft is connected to said gearbox through said second aperture. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 18 further comprising: a gearbox frame that supports said gearbox; and at least one gearbox pivot actuator connected to said gearbox and said gearbox frame that supports and pivots said gearbox about said chassis dynamometer jackshaft such that said powertrain dynamometer shaft can be aligned with the at least one powertrain component of the vehicle, and wherein said second aperture in said at least one chamber wall has an arctuate slot-like shape to accommodate movement of said powertrain dynamometer jackshaft as said gearbox pivots about said chassis dynamometer jackshaft. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 18 further comprising: at least one sliding door seal disposed adjacent said at least one chamber wall that covers said first aperture and said second aperture and that includes a first hole in alignment with said first aperture and a second hole in alignment with said second aperture wherein said first hole receives said chassis dynamometer jackshaft and said second hole receives said powertrain dynamometer jackshaft. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 20 further comprising: a first rotary shaft seal disposed within said first aperture of said at least one chamber wall that circumscribes said chassis dynamometer jackshaft to seal off said dynamometer motor and said gearbox from said test chamber; and a second rotary shaft seal disposed within said second aperture of said at least one chamber wall that circumscribes said powertrain dynamometer jackshaft to seal off said dynamometer motor and said gearbox from said test chamber. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 21 further comprising: a wall mount bearing assembly including an annular portion and a flange extending radially from and circumferentially about said annular portion of said wall mount bearing assembly wherein said flange of said wall mount bearing assembly is mounted to said at least one sliding door seal to support said powertrain dynamometer shaft while permitting free rotation of said powertrain dynamometer shaft. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 22 further comprising: a chassis dynamometer frame supporting said chassis dynamometer roll; a dynamometer motor frame supporting said dynamometer motor; and a gearbox frame rigidly supporting said gearbox, said gearbox frame connecting to said dynamometer motor frame; said chassis dynamometer frame, said dynamometer motor frame, and said gearbox frame being mounted on at least one sliding track that permits linear movement of said chassis dynamometer roll, said dynamometer motor, and said gearbox with respect to said at least one chamber wall such that at least one of: (i) said powertrain dynamometer shaft can be aligned with the at least one powertrain component of the vehicle, and (ii) said chassis dynamometer roll can be aligned with the at least one wheel of the vehicle. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 23 further comprising: a plurality of sliding door support brackets mounted to said at least one chamber wall and being disposed above and below said at least one sliding door seal to support said at least one sliding door seal on said at least one chamber wall while permitting linear movement of said at least one sliding door seal in response to linear movement of said chassis dynamometer jackshaft and said powertrain dynamometer jackshaft. ### Claim 25 A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly comprising: a chassis dynamometer roll for engaging at least one wheel of a vehicle; a chassis dynamometer axle supporting and being rotatably coupled with said chassis dynamometer roll; a powertrain dynamometer shaft spaced from said chassis dynamometer axle, said powertrain dynamometer shaft including an input flange for coupling with at least one powertrain component of the vehicle; a dynamometer motor including a motor shaft; a gearbox disposed between and rotatably coupling said dynamometer motor with at least one of said chassis dynamometer axle and said powertrain dynamometer shaft; and at least one gearbox pivot actuator connected to said gearbox that supports and pivots said gearbox about said motor shaft of said dynamometer motor such that said powertrain dynamometer shaft can be aligned with the at least one powertrain component of the vehicle. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 25 wherein said dual-purpose dynamometer assembly is a first dual-purpose dynamometer assembly. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 26 wherein all elements of said first dual-purpose dynamometer assembly are duplicated to provide a second dual-purpose dynamometer assembly opposite said first dual-purpose dynamometer assembly. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 27 wherein all elements of said first dual-purpose dynamometer assembly and said second dual-purpose dynamometer assembly are duplicated to provide a third dual-purpose dynamometer assembly and a fourth dual-purpose dynamometer assembly with said third dual-purpose dynamometer assembly being arranged adjacent to said first dual-purpose dynamometer assembly and said fourth dual-purpose dynamometer assembly being arranged adjacent to said second dynamometer assembly and opposite said third dual-purpose dynamometer assembly. ### Claim 29 A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly comprising: a chassis dynamometer roll for engaging at least one wheel of a vehicle; a chassis dynamometer axle supporting and being rotatably coupled with said chassis dynamometer roll; a powertrain dynamometer shaft spaced from said chassis dynamometer axle, said powertrain dynamometer shaft including an input flange for coupling with at least one powertrain component of the vehicle; a dynamometer motor including a motor shaft that is rotatably coupled to at least one of said chassis dynamometer axle and said powertrain dynamometer shaft; a gearbox disposed between and rotatably coupling said dynamometer motor with said chassis dynamometer axle and said powertrain dynamometer shaft; and said chassis dynamometer roll, said dynamometer motor, and said gearbox being supported on at least one sliding track that permits linear movement of said chassis dynamometer roll, said dynamometer motor, and said gearbox and with respect to the vehicle such that at least one of: (i) said powertrain dynamometer shaft can be aligned with the at least one powertrain component of the vehicle, and (ii) said chassis dynamometer roll can be aligned with the at least one wheel of the vehicle. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 29 wherein said dual-purpose dynamometer assembly is a first dual-purpose dynamometer assembly. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 30 wherein all elements of said first dual-purpose dynamometer assembly are duplicated to provide a second dual-purpose dynamometer assembly opposite said first dual-purpose dynamometer assembly. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) A dual-purpose dynamometer assembly as set forth in claim 31 wherein all elements of said first dual-purpose dynamometer assembly and said second dual-purpose dynamometer assembly are duplicated to provide a third dual-purpose dynamometer assembly and a fourth dual-purpose dynamometer assembly with said third dual-purpose dynamometer assembly being arranged adjacent to said first dual-purpose dynamometer assembly and said fourth dual-purpose dynamometer assembly being arranged adjacent to said second dynamometer assembly and opposite said third dual-purpose dynamometer assembly.