Apparatus for carrying out a crash test on a motor vehicle

• US 5,635,624 A
• Filed: 07/29/1996
• Issued: 06/03/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Cerny, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Dougherty, Elizabeth L.
• Application Number:
  US08/688,134
• Time in Patent Office: 309 Days
• Field of Search: 73/12.01, 73/12.04, 73/865.3, 73/865.6, 280/735, 280/749, 180/282
• US Class Current: 73/12.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/0078 Shock-testing of vehicles

Abstract

An apparatus for carrying out a crash test on a motor vehicle is described, in which the vehicle is accelerated on a track by means of a driving arrangement before it strikes an obstacle. A data recording unit associated with the vehicle and serving to record the measuring data of the crash test is not mounted on the vehicle itself, but on a follower vehicle guided behind the vehicle. This follower vehicle has associated with it a braking mechanism, which brings about braking of it before the vehicle crashes against the obstacle. A measuring cable connection is provided between the vehicle and the follower vehicle, which has a length at least great enough to cover the distance between the vehicle in the crashed condition and the follower vehicle in the braked condition. Preferably, a cable storage device for the measuring cable is provided on the follower vehicle, from which the measuring cable is hung in meander-like loops and is automatically released on braking of the follower vehicle.

Claims

1. An apparatus for carrying out a crash test on a motor vehicle, in which the vehicle is accelerated on a track by means of a driving arrangement to strike an obstacle, the apparatus comprising:

a data recording unit

a follower vehicle guided on the track behind the vehicle, driven by the driving device and having said data recording unit carried thereon, said follower vehicle having a braking mechanism operative to stop said follower vehicle before the motor vehicle strikes the obstacle; and

wherein a measuring connecting cable is provided between the motor vehicle and the follower vehicle, said cable having a length at least great enough to open the distance between the vehicle in the crashed condition and the follower vehicle in the stopped condition.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measuring cable connection has associated with it a cable storage device from which measuring cable is released upon relative movement between the vehicle and the follower vehicle.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said cable storage device comprises a guide rail device mounted on the follower vehicle and extending longitudinally thereof and having an open end at the side facing the motor vehicle, on which at least one measuring cable is held as a meander loop on guide elements, said guide elements being fixed to said measuring cable in spaced apart relationship, being movably received by said guide rail device.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said guide elements comprise guide rollers.

5. An apparatus for carrying out a crash test on a motor vehicle comprising:

at least one data sensor mounted on the motor vehicle;

a track having an obstacle positioned proximate an end thereof and adapted to permit longitudinal movement of the motor vehicle therealong;

a follower vehicle carried longitudinally rearward of the motor vehicle for movement along said track;

a data recording unit carried with said follower vehicle;

a driving arrangement drivingly engaging both the motor vehicle and said follower vehicle to effect accelerating movement of the motor vehicle and said follower vehicle toward said obstacle;

brake means operative to stop movement of said follower vehicle at a position longitudinally rearwardly spaced from the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle engages said obstacle; and

at least one measuring connecting cable having one end connected to said at least one data sensor and another end operatively connected to said data recording unit.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said at least one measuring connecting cable defines a length greater than the distance that said data recording unit is spaced from said at least on data sensor when the motor vehicle has contacted sdaid obstacle and said follower vehicle has stopped longitudinally rearwardly spaced therefrom.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the measuring connecting cable includes a cable storage device from which measuring cable is released upon relative movement between the vehicle and the follower vehicle and braking of said follower vehicle.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said cable storage device comprises a guide rail device mounted on said follower vehicle and extending longitudinally thereof and having an open end at the side facing the motor vehicle, on which said at least one measuring cable is held as a meander loop on guide elements, said guide elements being fixed to said measuring cable in spaced apart relationship, being movably received by said guide rail device.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said guide elements comprise guide rollers.