VEHICLE ROLLOVER TEST FIXTURE
First Claim
1. A test fixture for rollover crash testing of a test vehicle onto a moving surface said fixture comprising:
- a cradle to support and rotate a test vehicle;
a structure to position and releasably hold the cradle;
a sled having a contact surface and carried by bearings on a guide extending beneath the structure and the cradle;
means for rotating the cradle;
means for releasing the cradle and test vehicle from the structure responsive to a sensing means for contact within a drop impact zone on the contact surface of the sled; and
means for arresting vertical motion of the cradle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A test fixture for rollover crash testing of a test vehicle onto a moving surface employs a cradle to support and rotate the test vehicle. A vertical support structure to position and releasably holds the cradle. A moving sled having a contact surface and is carried by a guide extending beneath the structure and the cradle fixture. The cradle is rotated and released from the structure responsive to a sensor for contact within a drop impact zone on the contact surface of the moving sled. Vertical motion of the cradle is then arrested to prevent further damage to the test vehicle or the test structure.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A test fixture for rollover crash testing of a test vehicle onto a moving surface said fixture comprising:
-
a cradle to support and rotate a test vehicle; a structure to position and releasably hold the cradle; a sled having a contact surface and carried by bearings on a guide extending beneath the structure and the cradle; means for rotating the cradle; means for releasing the cradle and test vehicle from the structure responsive to a sensing means for contact within a drop impact zone on the contact surface of the sled; and means for arresting vertical motion of the cradle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method for crash testing of a test vehicle or representation thereof onto a moving surface comprising the steps of:
-
providing a structure to support and position a test vehicle component above a sled path; providing a sled on the path onto which the test vehicle is dropped in synchronous coordination with simulated roadway obstacles within an impact zone; rotating the support structure to establish a predetermined angular momentum and position the test vehicle for impact onto the impact zone on the sled; triggering the drop of the test vehicle at a specific time with respect to an angular position of the test vehicle; and
, isolating the test vehicle from additional impacts after the desired impact or impacts. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification