Flat belt tire tester
First Claim
1. A tire testing machine of the flat belt type comprising a first frame assembly, a pair of rotatable drum members mounted on said frame assembly, an endless belt mounted over said drum members and having one length extending between said drum members generally in a plane, a second tire support frame, means to mount the second frame to said first frame assembly about a camber axis which lies substantially along the surface of the one length of the belt and which is generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said drum members, means on the second tire support frame to rotatably mount a tire to be tested in position to be moved to engage said one length, and means to control the angular position of said second tire support frame about said camber axis.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The flat belt tire tester which permits mounting a wheel and tire to be tested about an axis positioned above a flat belt, and has framework and controls for lowering the tire into contact with the belt under desired loads, using desired adjustments for camber and steering. The belt is powered, and can thus be used for testing the tire under simulated road conditions. The mounting framework and belt mounting construction of the present invention provides substantial rigidity through having the mounting frame geometry properly oriented in relation to the contact surface of the belt and also by providing a stiff frame for the belt mounting drums or pulleys.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A tire testing machine of the flat belt type comprising a first frame assembly, a pair of rotatable drum members mounted on said frame assembly, an endless belt mounted over said drum members and having one length extending between said drum members generally in a plane, a second tire support frame, means to mount the second frame to said first frame assembly about a camber axis which lies substantially along the surface of the one length of the belt and which is generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said drum members, means on the second tire support frame to rotatably mount a tire to be tested in position to be moved to engage said one length, and means to control the angular position of said second tire support frame about said camber axis.
-
2. A tire testing machine of the flat belt type comprising a first frame assembly, a pair of rotatable drum members mounted on said frame assembly, an endless belt mounted over said drum members and having one length extending between said drum members generally in a plane, a second tire support frame comprising a pair of legs spaced apart at first ends thereof and formed into a general "A" shape, a first of said legs having its first end pivotally mounted on said first frame assembly adjacent a first of said drums, and a second of said legs having its first end pivotally mounted on said first frame assembly adjacent a second of said drums, the pivotal mountings of the first and second legs being along an axis which passes substantially along the surface of the one length of the belt and is generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said drum members, and means to control the angular position of said second tire support frame about said axis.
- 3. A tire testing machine of the flat belt type comprising a first frame assembly, a pair of rotatable drum members mounted on said frame assembly, an endless belt mounted over said drum members and having one length extending between said drum members generally in a plane, a second tire support frame mounted to said first frame assembly about a pivot axis which passes substantially along the surface of the one length of the belt and is generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said drum members, said second tire support frame comprising a structure generally centered along the transverse width of said belt measured in direction along the axis of rotation of said drums, and including first and second leg members extending upwardly from the pivot axis, said leg members being joined together in a central frame portion overlying said one length of belt, the plane defined by said leg members being parallel to said pivot axis, means forming a guideway in the central portions of said second tire support frame, said guideway including a column movable in direction of the plane defined by said leg members, means on said column for rotatably mounting a tire to be tested, means to control the movement of said column relative to said guideway, and means to control the angular position of said second tire support frame about said axis.
-
5. In a tire testing machine of the flat belt type having a pair of drums for mounting a road simulation belt thereon for movement as said drums are driven, the improvement comprising:
- support means for supporting said drums in position with the surfaces of the drums closely spaced from each other including a frame member positioned between said drums, said frame member having a plane generally parallel to the axis of at least one of said drums;
means to rotatably support a first of said drums on one side of said frame member with the surface of said first drum adjacent the surface of said frame member; and
means to mount a second of said drums relative to said frame member on an opposite side of said frame member from the first drum for limited movement toward and away from said frame member to provide for take-up of a belt on said drums comprising a torsion tube mounted relative to said frame member and positioned generally parallel to the axis of said first drum, means providing a reactive force tending to rotate said torsion tube in a first direction, lever means having portions spaced axially on said torsion tube, substantially noncompressible link means mounted between each of said lever means and said second drum to exert a force tending to move the axis of said second drum away from said first drum when the torsion tube is urged to rotate in the first direction, and means to guide said second drum so that a tendency of the axis of said second drum to skew relative to the torsion tube is resisted by torsional stiffness of said torsion tube. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- support means for supporting said drums in position with the surfaces of the drums closely spaced from each other including a frame member positioned between said drums, said frame member having a plane generally parallel to the axis of at least one of said drums;
-
13. A tire testing machine of the flat belt type comprising a first frame assembly, an endless belt, means mounting said belt to said first frame assembly to provide a simulated roadway surface, a second tire support frame mounted to said first frame assembly at spaced pivot points together defining an axis which passes substantially parallel to and substantially along the surface of a portion of said belt and is generally parallel to the direction of movement of said belt, power means to control the angular position of said second tire support frame about said axis, means forming a guideway in the central portions of said second tire support frame, said guideway including a column movable in directions toward and away from said belt, means on said column for rotatably mounting a tire to be tested, and means to control the movement of said column relative to said guideway.
- 14. In a base frame for supporting a road simulator belt mounted on a pair of spaced apart, rotatable drums, each having a central shaft and opposite ends, the drums being positioned to carry and drive an endless belt mounted on the drums to move in a closed belt path, comprising a first support wall positioned generally uprightly alongside first ends of both of said drums, said first wall being supported on a supporting surface, and a drum support member mounted to said first wall, said drum support member projecting from said wall and being positioned between said drums and within the space defined by the belt path, and means extending from said drum support member to rotatably mount each of said drums, the means extending including bearing supports mounted on the drum support member to rotatably mount the opposite ends of the shafts for each drum, the means extending being entirely within the space defined by the belt path in radial directions from the axes of rotation of the drums at the ends of the drums opposite from the first ends to thereby permit a belt to be moved on and off the drums in direction away from the first wall without interference from the drum support member on the means extending.
Specification