Transportable environmental test facility
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A transportable environmental test facility for testing a vehicle having a plurality of wheels comprising:
- a trailer having an enclosure, a trailer bed and trailer wheels, said vehicle being entirely enclosed in the enclosure of the trailer to provide a controlled environment for testing;
a plurality of hydraulic actuators being secured to the trailer bed and a seismic mass,each hydraulic actuator being adapted to support one of the wheels of the vehicle to be tested;
a hydraulic fluid circuit including the hydraulic actuators; and
a controller operatively associated with the hydraulic fluid circuit and hydraulic actuators causing the wheels of the vehicle to be tested to move vertically in a controlled manner relative to the seismic mass to simulate vehicle operating conditions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An environmental test facility for testing vehicle suspension and body components is disclosed. The test facility is transportable over conventional roads and is essentially self-contained for set-up at manufacturing facilities or other locations to facilitate testing of vehicles. A four-poster hydraulic suspension test simulator is provided. A temperature-controlled environment and simulated sunlight sources may also be provided.
64 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A transportable environmental test facility for testing a vehicle having a plurality of wheels comprising:
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a trailer having an enclosure, a trailer bed and trailer wheels, said vehicle being entirely enclosed in the enclosure of the trailer to provide a controlled environment for testing; a plurality of hydraulic actuators being secured to the trailer bed and a seismic mass,each hydraulic actuator being adapted to support one of the wheels of the vehicle to be tested; a hydraulic fluid circuit including the hydraulic actuators; and a controller operatively associated with the hydraulic fluid circuit and hydraulic actuators causing the wheels of the vehicle to be tested to move vertically in a controlled manner relative to the seismic mass to simulate vehicle operating conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A transportable environmental test facility for a vehicle to be tested having a plurality of wheels comprising:
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a trailer having an enclosure, a trailer bed and trailer wheels; a plurality of hydraulic actuators associated with the trailer bed and a seismic mass, each hydraulic actuator being adapted to engage one of the wheels of the vehicle to be tested; a hydraulic fluid circuit including the hydraulic actuators; a controller operatively associated with the hydraulic fluid circuit actuators causinq the wheels of the vehicle to be tested to move in a controlled manner relative to the seismic mass; and a second seismic mass provided in ground at a location where the transportable environmental test facility is temporarily installed, said first and second seismic masses beinq adapted to be secured together for testing.
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14. A transportable environmental test facility for a vehicle to be tested having a plurality of wheels comprising:
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a trailer having an enclosure, a trailer bed and trailer wheels; a plurality of hydraulic actuators associated with the trailer bed and a seismic mass, each hydraulic actuator being adapted to engage one of the wheels of the vehicle to be tested; a hydraulic fluid circuit including the hydraulic actuators; a controller operatively associated with the hydraulic fluid circuit actuators causing the wheels of the vehicle to be tested to move in a controlled manner relative to the seismic mass; a utility trailer having an electrical generator and a hydraulic pump, said utility trailer and trailer being linked by electrical wires and hydraulic conduits whereby noise and vibration from the utility trailer is isolated from the trailer and a self sufficient environmental test facility is provided that does not require connection to stationary facilities to operate; and wherein said utility trailer includes a portion of the seismic mass that is disengaged from the utility trailer at a location where the transportable environmental test facility is temporarily installed and the seismic mass of the trailer is connected to the seismic mass disengaged from the utility trailer. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification