VEHICULAR PERFORMANCE ANALYZER

• US 3,853,002 A
• Filed: 08/06/1973
• Issued: 12/10/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autotronic Controls Corporation (Valueact Holdings II LP)
• Original Assignee: Gordon H. Peck
• Inventors: Peck, Gordon H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Myracle, Jerry W.
• Application Number:
  US05/386,108
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 73/133R,116 324/162
• US Class Current: 73/862
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 3/24 Devices for determining the value of power, e.g. by measuring and simultaneously multiplying the values of torque and revolutions per unit of time, by multiplying the values of tractive or propulsive force and velocity
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/165 for measuring angular accelerations
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/4807 by using circuits for the detection of the pulses delivered by the ignition system of an internal combustion engine

Abstract

A performance analyzer for use in conjunction with prime movers and vehicles, wherein circuitry electrically connected to the vehicle produces a first electrical signal having a frequency proportional to the vehicle velocity, as for example, measurement of the rotational velocity of a member associated with the prime mover. Other circuitry is provided for producing an electrical signal proportional to the rate of change of the first signal. The two electrical signals are multiplied together electrically and connected to a measuring device to thereby ascertain the available power of the vehicle. The circuitry includes apparatus by which one of the signals can be used to measure the velocity of the vehicle or the rpm of the prime mover, while also enabling the acceleration of the prime mover to be measured by bypassing the multiplier. Hence the analyzer of the present invention measures the velocity, acceleration, and available power of the vehicle.

Claims

1. Performance analyzer for measurement of the performance characteristics of a vehicle comprising:

a tachometer circuit means connected to the vehicle which produces a first electrical output signal of a frequency which is proportional to the velocity of the vehicle;

said tachometer circuit means includes a signal conditioner and monostable multivibrator;

said signal conditioner being connected to provide said monostable multivibrator with trigger pulses of current;

a differentiator circuit means connected to said first output signal for providing a second output signal which is representative of the rate of change of said first output signal;

said differentiator circuit means includes a filter circuit, a differentiator, and an amplifier;

said filter circuit being connected to said monostable multivibrator which converts the last said signal to a direct current wherein the direct current is proportional to the frequency of said first signal;

said direct current being connected to said differentiator by a source follower means for improving the response rate of said filter and said differentiator;

a multiplying circuit means including a transistor which multiplies said first and second output signals together to provide a third output signal representative of the net horsepower of the vehicle;

said transistor having a base, an emitter, and a collector;

a single source of power, a means for mesuring;

said transistor having the base thereof connected to said first electrical signal, the emitter connected to said second electrical signal, and the collector connected to said means for measuring;

said means for measuring being connected to said single source of power, so that current flow occurs from said power source, through said means for measuring, and to the collector of the transistor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means fOr measuring is an ampmeter which is series connected to said source of power and to said collector so that the pulse signal spacing to said base and the differentiator output to said emitter provides an opposite voltage relative to said source of power which is proportional to the net horsepower of said vehicle.

3. A performance analyzer apparatus for determining the dynamic characteristics of a moving member comprising:

first means, including circuitry, connected to the member for producing a first electrical signal which is proportional to the velocity of the member;

second means, including circuitry, for producing a second electrical signal which is proportional to the rate of change of said first signal;

multiplier means, including circuitry, for multiplying said first and second signals together to produce a third electrical signal; and

means for measuring the value of said third signal to thereby determine said dynamic characteristics of the member;

said circuitry of said multiplier means includes a transistor having a collector, an emitter, and a base;

said second means is electrical circuitry which includes a differentiator; and

, further including a single fixed voltage source;

said means for measuring being series connected between said fixed voltage source and the collector of said transistor;

switch means by which the output of said differentiator is selectively connected to said means for measuring or to the emitter of said transistor;

switch means by which the base of said transistor is selectively connected to said first electrical signal or to ground so that a pulse signal spacing to the base and the differentiator output to either of the collector and emitter junctions of the transistor provides an opposite voltage at the means for measuring which is proportional to the net horsepower of the moving member.

4. The analyzer of claim 3 wherein said means for measuring is an ampmeter which is series connected to said source of power and to said collector so that the pulse signal spacing to said base and the differentiator output to said emitter provides an opposite voltage relative to said source of power which is proportional to the net horsepower of said vehicle.

5. The analyzer of claim 4 wherein said switch means are placed in one position to measure horsepower, another position to measure acceleration, and still another position to measure velocity.