Powertrain testing apparatus

• US 20050257606A1
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Tachiki, Tsunetoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,107,829 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/115.10
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/026 Test-benches of the mechanical closed-loop type, i.e. having a gear system constituting a closed-loop in combination with the object under test

Abstract

A powertrain testing apparatus for testing performance testing of a powertrain provided with an input shaft and an output shaft that are disposed on different axes. The testing apparatus includes an input motor that replicates rotation of a vehicle-drive engine, an output motor that replicates the load applied to the output shaft in actual service, an input side support having an input connection shaft for connection to the input shaft, an output side support having an output connection shaft for connection to the output shaft, and a vibration generator that replicates vibration transmitted from a road surface in actual service. Vertical and horizontal adjustment units enable inter-shaft distances D1 and D2 between the input connection shaft and the output connection shaft to be changed. Constant velocity joints respectively connect the input motor and the input connection shaft and the output motor and the output connection shaft, thus enabling eccentric positioning thereof.

Claims

1. A powertrain testing apparatus for testing performance of a vehicle powertrain provided with an input shaft oriented on a first axis and an output shaft oriented on a second axis offset from the first axis, the powertrain testing apparatus comprising:

an input motor that simulates and replicates rotation of a vehicle-drive engine;

an output motor that simulates and replicates load applied to the output shaft of the powertrain;

an input side support including an input connection shaft for connection to the input shaft of the powertrain, and an attachment device for attaching a housing of the powertrain;

an output side support including an output connection shaft for connection to the output shaft of the powertrain;

a vibration generator that simulates and replicates vibration transmitted to the powertrain from a road surface during vehicle travel;

a vertical adjustment unit for changing an inter-shaft vertical distance between the input connection shaft and the output connection shaft by relative movement between the input side support and the output side support; and

a horizontal adjustment unit for changing an inter-shaft horizontal distance between the input connection shaft and the output connection shaft by relative movement between the input side support and the output side support.

2. The powertrain testing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the input motor and the input connection shaft are connected by a first constant velocity joint that allows the input motor axis to be eccentric relative to the axis of the input connection shaft; and

the output motor and the output connection shaft are connected by a second constant velocity joint that allows the output motor axis to be eccentric relative to the output connection shaft.

3. The powertrain testing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the vibration generator includes a vibration output shaft having an initial position that can be changed, and

the vertical adjustment unit changes the inter-shaft vertical distance between the input connection shaft and the output connection shaft by changing the initial position of the vibration output shaft.

4. The powertrain testing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

an input side damper which is disposed between the input side support and the vibration generator and which enables the input side support to be vibrated; and

an output side damper that is disposed between the output side support and a fixed surface on which the output side support is positioned, the output side damper enabling the output side support to be vibrated.

5. The powertrain testing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the input side support includes an input side locking mechanism for holding the input side support to prevent vibration of the input side support and to thereby facilitate connection of the input connection shaft to the input shaft of the powertrain.

6. The powertrain testing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the output side support includes an output side locking mechanism for holding the output side support to prevent vibration of the output side support and to thereby facilitate connection of the output connection shaft to the output shaft of the powertrain.

7. The powertrain testing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the input motor is able to generate cyclical fluctuating torque in order to simulate and replicate vibration generated by the vehicle-drive engine.

8. The powertrain testing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output shaft of the powertrain is a pair of output shafts that are disposed on a single axis.

9. The powertrain testing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the vibration generator includes a vibration output shaft having an initial position that can be changed, and

the vertical adjustment unit changes the inter-shaft vertical distance between the input connection shaft and the output connection shaft by changing the initial position of the vibration output shaft.

10. The powertrain testing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

an input side damper which is disposed between the input side support and the vibration generator and which enables the input side support to be vibrated; and

an output side damper that is disposed between the output side support and a fixed surface on which the output side support is positioned, the output side damper enabling the output side support to be vibrated.

11. The powertrain testing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the input side support includes an input side locking mechanism for holding the input side support to prevent vibration of the input side support and to thereby facilitate connection of the input connection shaft to the input shaft of the powertrain.

12. The powertrain testing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the output side support includes an output side locking mechanism for holding the output side support to prevent vibration of the output side support and to thereby facilitate connection of the output connection shaft to the output shaft of the powertrain.

13. The powertrain testing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input side damper which is disposed between the input side support and the vibration generator and which enables the input side support to be vibrated; and

an output side damper that is disposed between the output side support and a fixed surface on which the output side support is positioned, the output side damper enabling the output side support to be vibrated.

14. The powertrain testing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the input side support includes an input side locking mechanism for holding the input side support to prevent vibration of the input side support and to thereby facilitate connection of the input connection shaft to the input shaft of the powertrain.

15. The powertrain testing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the output side support includes an output side locking mechanism for holding the output side support to prevent vibration of the output side support and to thereby facilitate connection of the output connection shaft to the output shaft of the powertrain.

16. The powertrain testing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the input motor is able to generate cyclical fluctuating torque in order to simulate and replicate vibration generated by the vehicle-drive engine.

17. The powertrain testing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the input motor is able to generate cyclical fluctuating torque in order to simulate and replicate vibration generated by the vehicle-drive engine.

18. The powertrain testing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the output side support includes an output side locking mechanism for holding the output side support to prevent vibration of the output side support and to thereby facilitate connection of the output connection shaft to the output shaft of the powertrain.

19. The powertrain testing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the input motor is able to generate cyclical fluctuating torque in order to simulate and replicate vibration generated by the vehicle-drive engine.

20. The powertrain testing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input motor is able to generate cyclical fluctuating torque in order to simulate and replicate vibration generated by the vehicle-drive engine.