Active resistance dynamometer for wheel testing

摘要

A wheel testing system and method are provided that simulates realistically conditions likely to be encountered during operation of vehicle wheels, especially powered drive wheels and wheel-connected structures. The system may include an integral support frame designed to adjustably mount wheels or wheel-connected structures to be tested, a load motor drivingly connected to an inertial load, and an adjustable mounting sled configured to adjustably mount a test wheel or a wheel-connected structure with an hydraulic system actuatable to adjust the location of the test wheel relative to the inertial load to vary or fix the load on the test wheel desired. Speed of the test wheel can be varied or fixed by controlling the speed of the load motor. System measurement and data collection electronics measure a range of selected wheel parameters and gather data for transmission to a processor or non-transitory storage medium for processing and evaluation.

主权项

1. An adjustable active resistance dynamometer system for testing selected functional and operational parameters of vehicle wheels and wheel-connected or wheel-related structures and functions comprising:
a. an adjustably positionable sled with adjustable linearly movable mounting structures supporting a vehicle wheel, a wheel-connected structure, or a wheel-related structure in a selected test position; b. a rotating variable load application element positioned to apply a fixed or variable load to said vehicle wheel, said wheel-connected structure, or said wheel-related structure in said selected test position; c. a variable drive load motor in fixed or variable speed driving relationship with said rotating variable load application element, wherein either or both of the rotating variable load application element and the variable drive load motor is actuatable to vary load and speed as required to test selected functional and operational parameters of said vehicle wheel, said wheel-connected structure, or said wheel-related structure; and d. a rectangular support frame positionable in a horizontal or a vertical orientation with a base member in contact with a supporting surface to operationally mount said adjustable positionable sled supporting said vehicle wheel, said wheel-connected structure, or said wheel-related structure, said rotating variable load application element, and said variable drive load motor within said support frame.