Method and test platform for developing a motor vehicle with several powered axles

• US 20120006108A1
• Filed: 07/07/2011
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AVL List GmbH (List Privatstiftung)
• Original Assignee: AVL List GmbH (List Privatstiftung)
• Inventors: Pfister, Felix
• Granted Patent: US 8,631,692 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/115.07
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/007 Wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles G01M17/08 takes precedence

Abstract

To simplify the development of a hybrid vehicle the invention envisions simulating the hybrid vehicle by using a test vehicle 1 comprising a first axle 5 that is powered by a combustion engine and a second passive, non-powered axle 6, and wherein the axle that is present in the real hybrid vehicle and powered by an electric motor is simulated on the test vehicle 1 by an active secondary vehicle 2 that is hooked up to the test vehicle 1 and that is equipped with its own drive 3 and additionally to the combustion engine brakes and/or pushes the test vehicle 1, and wherein the secondary vehicle 2 is connected with a control device 7 of the test vehicle 1.

Claims

1. A method for developing a motor vehicle having several powered axles wherein a test vehicle (1) is used for the development of the vehicle comprising a first powered axle (5) and a second passive, non-powered axle (6), and wherein the second powered axle that is present in the real vehicle is simulated in the test vehicle (1) by an active secondary vehicle (2) that is hooked up to the test vehicle (1), and wherein the secondary vehicle (2) comprises its own drive (3) and by which the test vehicle (1) is braked and/or pushed additionally with regard to the first powered axle (5) and wherein the secondary vehicle (2) is connected with a control device (7) of the test vehicle (1).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the secondary vehicle (2) is connected to a vehicle bus (13) of the test vehicle (1).

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one wheel on each side of the secondary vehicle (2) is accelerated or decelerated in an individualized manner per wheel.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the secondary vehicle (2) is hooked up to the test vehicle (1) by a four-bar linkage (10) and a coupling point (A, B, C, D) of the four-bar linkage (10) and/or the length of a linkage between two associated coupling points (A-D, B-C) is adjusted.

5. A test platform for developing a motor vehicle with several powered axles wherein a test vehicle (1) is provided with a first powered axle (5) and an active secondary vehicle (2) is hooked up to the front or the rear of the test vehicle (1) comprising its own drive (3) by which the test vehicle (1) can be braked and/or pushed additionally to being powered by the first axle (5) and wherein a secondary-vehicle control unit (11) is provided on the secondary vehicle (2) to which the control unit (7) of the test vehicle (1) is connected.

6. The test platform according to claim 5, wherein a vehicle bus (13) is provided in the test vehicle (1) and the control unit of the secondary vehicle (11) is connected to the control unit (7) of the test vehicle (1) via the vehicle bus (13).

7. The test platform according to claim 5, wherein the secondary vehicle (2) is hooked up to the test vehicle (1) by way of a ball and socket trailer hitch, a bolt-type trailer hitch, fifth wheel coupling or a four-bar linkage (10).

8. The test platform according to claim 7, wherein the instantaneous center of rotation (M) of the four-bar linkage (10) is located in the center of gravity or in the area of the center of gravity or front axle of the test vehicle (1).

9. The platform according to claim 7, wherein a coupling point (A, S, C, D) of the four-bar linkage (10) and/or the length of the linkage is adjustable between two associated coupling points (A-D, S-C).

10. The test platform according to claim 5, wherein an independent drive (8, 9) is provided at least on one wheel of each side of the secondary vehicle (2).

11. The test platform according to claim 5, wherein one axle of the secondary vehicles (2) is steerable.