Vehicle testing apparatus for measuring a propensity of a vehicle to roll over

• US 20040003655A1
• Filed: 05/02/2003
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Burke E Porter Machinery Company (The Burke Porter Group)
• Original Assignee: Burke E Porter Machinery Company (The Burke Porter Group)
• Inventors: Kemp, Kevin, Oral, Hamid Alper, Hoenke, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,058,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/118.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/007 Wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles G01M17/08 takes precedence

Abstract

The subject invention provides a vehicle testing apparatus (10, 110) for subjecting a vehicle (12) to a compound force. The vehicle testing apparatus (10, 110) includes a support (14) disposed in a plane for supporting the vehicle (12). The vehicle testing apparatus (10, 110) further includes a mechanism (34) coupled to the support (14) for moving the support (14) along and around at least one of three axes (X, Y, Z). The mechanism (34) subjects the vehicle (12) to the compound force that is the result of simultaneous movements along and around any combination of the axes (X, Y, Z) while controlling the reaction forces. The mechanism (34) includes a first platform (36) constrained for rectilinear movement along a first axis (X), and a second platform (38) constrained for rectilinear movement along a second axis (Y), with the support 14 being movable along a third axis (Z). The support (14) preferably includes actively or passively controlled contact surfaces (16) in all three axes with an optional trip mechanism (30). In addition, a first actuating device (56) is preferably coupled to the first platform (36) and a second actuating device (60) is preferably coupled to the second platform (38).

Claims

1. A vehicle testing apparatus for subjecting a vehicle (12) to a compound force, said apparatus comprising:

a support (14) disposed in a horizontal plane for supporting the vehicle (12);

a mechanism (34) coupled to said support (14) for moving said support (14) along three axes (X, Y, Z) perpendicular to one another for subjecting the vehicle (12) to the compound force that is a result of simultaneous movements along any combination of said axes (X, Y, Z);

said apparatus characterized by said mechanism (34) comprising a first member (36) constrained for rectilinear movement along a first axis (X) of said axes (X, Y, Z) and a second member (38) constrained for rectilinear movement along a second axis (Y) of said axes (X, Y, Z).

2. A vehicle testing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said first axis (X) and said second axis (Y) both being horizontally disposed with a third axis (Z) being a vertical axis.

3. A vehicle testing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said mechanism (34) further includes a first track (40) disposed between said first member (36) and said second member (38) for providing said rectilinear movement of said first member (36) along said first axis (X).

4. A vehicle testing apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said mechanism (34) further includes a second track (46) supporting said second member (38) for providing said rectilinear movement of said second member (38) along said second axis (Y).

5. A vehicle testing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said mechanism (34) includes at least one vertical actuator (52) extending vertically between said first member (36) and said support (14) for moving said support (14) along said third axis (Z) relative to said first member (36).

6. A vehicle testing apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said at least one vertical actuator (52) is at least two vertical actuators (52) for moving said support (14) along said third axis (Z) relative to said first member (36) and for moving said support (14) in at least one of a first pivotal direction (A) and a second pivotal direction (B) relative to said first member (36).

7. A vehicle testing apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said at least one vertical actuator (52) is further defined as at least four vertical actuators (52) for moving said support (14) along said third axis (Z) relative to said first member (36) and for moving said support (14) in a first (A) and a second (B) pivotal direction relative to said first member (36).

8. A vehicle testing apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first member (36) is further defined as a first platform (36) having a top surface (54) with said at least one vertical actuator (52) mounted to said top surface (54) of said first platform (36).

9. A vehicle testing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mechanism (34) includes a first actuating device (56) for moving said first member (36) along said first axis (X).

10. A vehicle testing apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said first actuating device (56) reacts between said first member (36) and said second member (38) for moving said first member (36) relative to said second member (38) along said first axis (X).

11. A vehicle testing apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said second member (38) includes a wall (58) extending upwardly therefrom with said first actuating device (56) mounted between said wall (58) and said first member (36).

12. A vehicle testing apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said first actuating device (56) includes at least one longitudinal actuators (56) for moving said first member (36) along said first axis (X).

13. A vehicle testing apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said mechanism (34) includes a second actuating device (60) for moving said second member (38) along said second axis (Y).

14. A vehicle testing apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said second actuating device (60) includes at least two lateral actuators (60) for moving said second member (38) along said second axis (Y) and for moving said second member (38) in a first rotational direction (C).

15. A vehicle testing apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said first member (36) and said second member (38) are further defined as a first platform (36) and a second platform (38), respectfully, with said first actuating device (56) coupled to said first platform (36) and said second actuating device (60) coupled to said second platform (38).

16. A vehicle testing apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said first actuating device (56) is coupled between said first platform (36) and said second platform (38).

17. A vehicle testing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support (14) includes a plurality of contact surfaces (16) for receiving wheels (20) of the vehicle (12).

18. A vehicle testing apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein each of said contact surfaces (16) includes a sensor (18) for measuring a weight of the vehicle (12) and a weight distribution of the vehicle (12) during movement of said support (14).

19. A vehicle testing apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein at least one of said plurality of contact surfaces (16) includes a tripping wall (30) extending vertically from said support (14) for engaging the wheels (20) during movement of said support (14).

20. A vehicle testing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including a plurality of measurement devices (24, 26, 28) for measuring movement of said support (14).