Mobile speedometer tester

• US 5,656,764 A
• Filed: 05/24/1995
• Issued: 08/12/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul L. Loeffler
• Original Assignee: Paul L. Loeffler
• Inventors: Loeffler, Paul L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kwok, Helen C.
• Application Number:
  US08/449,346
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 73/2, 73/117, 73/123
• US Class Current: 73/1.37
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/0076 Two-wheeled vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 21/02 of speedometers

Abstract

A mobile speedometer tester comprising at least two main wheels rotatably attached to a trailer frame, and a trailer frame. A target disk, pickup and totalizer measure the rate of roller rotation, and bellcranks rotatably mounted to the trailer frame allow the main wheels to be extended and retracted. A brake is provided to stop the rollers from rotating, and the front wheel is retractable by means of an electric motor. The main wheels are quickly and easily removable from the bellcranks. Ramps attached to the trailer frame allow test vehicles to drive up onto the mobile speedometer tester in order to test their speedometers. A motorcycle version allows motorcycle speedometers to be tested. The motorcycle version includes an engine rotatably attached to the trailer frame, an engine drive wheel which imparts rotary motion to one roller, an engine jack to bring the engine drive wheel in and out of contact with a roller, and an auxiliary control panel which allows the motorcycle speedometer test operator to start the engine, and to brake the roller to a halt. An alternate embodiment provides a dynamometer for measuring torque imparted to the rollers by a test vehicle.

Claims

1. A mobile speedometer tester comprising:

a trailer frame comprising at least two main wheels;

at least one roller rotatably mounted to said trailer frame;

a means of measuring the rate of rotation of said roller; and

a means to retract and extend said main wheels comprising a bellcrank rotatably attached to each said main wheel, each said main wheel being attached to one end of one said bellcrank at a bellcrank axle hole, bellows being rotatably attached to another end of said bellcrank at a bellows attach point, one end of each said bellows being attached to said bellcrank and another end of each said bellows being attached to said trailer frame, said bellcrank comprising a spur leg and a bellows leg, an extreme of one said spur leg being rigidly attached to an extreme of said bellows leg at an approximately right angle at a leg intersection, said bellcrank being rotatably attached to said trailer frame at a bellcrank attach point disposed at said leg intersection, whereby said bellcrank may rotate relative to said frame about said bellcrank attach point, said bellcrank axle hole being disposed at an extreme of said spur leg opposite said leg intersection, said bellows attach point being disposed on said bellows leg.

2. The mobile speedometer tester of claim 1 further comprising a bellcrank spur rigidly attached to said spur leg at an approximately right angle, a length of said bellcrank spur being greater than a distance between said bellcrank attach point and a lower edge of said trailer frame, whereby said main wheels are forced out of contact with the ground to facilitate quick and easy wheel removal and replacement when said wheels are fully retracted.

3. The mobile speedometer tester of claim 1 further comprising a bellcrank rod rigidly connecting at least one pair of said bellcranks, said bellcrank rod being attached to said bellcranks at an end of each said bellcrank at which said bellows attach point is disposed.

4. The mobile speedometer tester of claim 1 further comprising a means of quickly and easily removing said main wheels from said trailer frame.

5. The mobile speedometer tester of claim 4 wherein said means of quickly and easily removing said main wheels from said trailer frame comprises bellcranks attached to said trailer frame, a bellcrank axle hole disposed in each said bellcrank, a main wheel axle rotatably attached to each said main wheel, each said main wheel axle being sized to fit in the bellcrank axle holes, a pin hole in each said main wheel axle, and a pin sized to fit in each of the pin holes.

6. The mobile speedometer tester of claim 1 further comprising a front wheel attached to said trailer frame.

7. The mobile speedometer tester of claim 6 further comprising a means to extend and retract said front wheel.

8. The mobile speedometer tester of claim 7 wherein said means to extend and retract said front wheel comprises an electric front wheel jack motor.

9. The mobile speedometer tester of claim 4 further comprising a trailer hitch attached to said trailer frame.

10. The mobile speedometer tester of claim 4 further comprising a means to brake rotary motion of said at least one roller, whereby said at least one roller may be immobilized, so that a vehicle being tested may be driven off said mobile speedometer tester.

11. The mobile speedometer tester of claim 1 further comprising a manifold communicating with an air compressor, and communicating with each said bellows through an up solenoid valve, whereby said bellows may be pressurized to extend said main wheels.

12. The mobile speedometer tester of claim 11 further comprising a down solenoid valve communicating with each said bellows, whereby said bellows may be decompressed to retract said main wheels.

13. The mobile speedometer tester of claim 10 wherein said braking means comprises a manifold communicating with an air compressor, and communicating with brake calipers through a brake solenoid valve, a brake disc within each said caliper, one said brake disc being attached to each said rollers.

14. The mobile speedometer tester of claim 12 further comprising:

a compressed air tank communicating with said manifold; and

a pressure switch communicating with said manifold, said pressure switch being electrically connected to said air compressor, whereby said air compressor may be automatically turned off when a pre-determined pressure is achieved within said manifold.

15. The mobile speedometer tester of claim 12 further comprising a battery, an alternator electrically connected to said battery, and a main control panel electrically connected to said battery.

16. The mobile speedometer tester of claim 15 wherein said main control panel comprises;

a main switch electrically connected to said battery;

a main wheels up/down rocker switch electrically connected to said main switch, to the up solenoid valves, and to the down solenoid valves;

a front wheel up/down rocker switch electrically connected to said main switch, and to a front wheel jack motor; and

an air compressor switch electrically connected to said main switch and to said air compressor.

17. The mobile speedometer tester of claim 16 wherein said means of measuring the rate of rotation of said roller comprises a target disc attached to one said roller, a pickup disposed near said target disc, and a totalizer electrically connected to said pickup, said totalizer being electrically connected to said main switch.

18. The mobile speedometer tester of claim 17 further comprising brake calipers communicating with said manifold through a brake solenoid valve, and a brake disc within each said caliper, one said brake disc being attached to each said at least one roller, said brake solenoid valve being electrically connected to said main switch through a main control panel brake switch.

19. The mobile speedometer tester of claim 16 further comprising an engine rotatably attached to said trailer frame, an engine drive wheel attached to the output of said engine, the distance between said engine drive wheel and one said roller being determined by an engine jack upon which said engine depends, whereby one said roller may be driven by said engine drive wheel.

20. The mobile speedometer tester of claim 19 further comprising an auxiliary control panel electrically connected to said main switch, said auxiliary control panel comprising a starter switch and an auxiliary control panel brake switch, said starter switch being electrically connected to a starter, whereby said engine may be started, said auxiliary control panel brake switch being electrically connected to a brake solenoid valve where through said manifold communicates with brake calipers around brake discs, one said brake disc being attached to each said roller, whereby said at least one roller may be immobilized.

21. A mobile speedometer tester comprising:

a trailer frame comprising at least two main wheels;

at least one roller rotatably mounted to said trailer frame;

a means of measuring the rate of rotation of said roller; and

an engine rotatably attached to said trailer frame, an engine drive wheel attached to the output of said engine, the distance between said engine drive wheel and one said roller being determined by an engine jack upon which said engine depends, whereby a motorcycle speedometer engaged with the front wheel of a motorcycle may be calibrated.

22. A mobile speedometer tester comprising:

at least two main wheels rotatably attached to a trailer frame and at least one roller rotatably mounted to said trailer frame;

a means of measuring the rate of rotation of said roller;

a means to extend and retract said main wheels comprising a bellcrank rotatably attached to each said main wheel, each said main wheel being attached to one end of one said bellcrank at a bellcrank axle hole, bellows being rotatably attached to another end of said bellcrank at a bellows attach point, one end of each said bellows being attached to said bellcrank and another end of each said bellows being attached to said trailer frame, said bellcrank comprising a spur leg and a bellows leg, an extreme of one said spur leg being rigidly attached to an extreme of said bellows leg at an approximately right angle at a leg intersection, said bellcrank being rotatably attached to said trailer frame at a bellcrank attach point disposed at said leg intersection, whereby said bellcrank may rotate relative to said frame about said bellcrank attach point, said bellcrank axle hole being disposed at an extreme of said spur leg opposite said leg intersection, said bellows attach point being disposed on said bellows leg;

a means of quickly and easily removing said main wheels; and

a means of braking said at least one roller, whereby said at least one roller may be immobilized, so that a vehicle being tested may be driven off said mobile speedometer tester.

23. The mobile speedometer tester of claim 22 further comprising:

a manifold communicating with an air compressor, and communicating with each said bellows through an up solenoid valve, whereby said bellows may be pressurized to extend said main wheels; and

a down solenoid valve communicating with each said bellows, whereby said bellows may be decompressed to retract said main wheels.

24. A mobile speedometer tester comprising:

at least two main wheels rotatably attached to a trailer frame and at least one roller rotatably mounted to said trailer frame;

a means of measuring the rate of rotation of said roller;

a means to extend and retract said main wheels;

a means of quickly and easily removing said main wheels comprising bellcranks attached to said trailer frame, a bellcrank axle hole disposed in each said bellcrank, a main wheel axle rotatably attached to each said main wheel, each said main wheel axle being sized to fit in the bellcrank axle holes, a pin hole in each said main wheel axle, and a pin sized to fit in each of the pin holes; and

a means of braking said at least one roller, whereby said at least one roller may be immobilized, so that a vehicle being tested may be driven off said mobile speedometer tester.

25. A mobile speedometer tester comprising:

at least two main wheels rotatably attached to a trailer frame and at least one roller rotatably mounted to said trailer frame;

a means of measuring the rate of rotation of said roller;

a means to extend and retract said main wheels;

a meaning of quickly and easily removing said main wheels; and

a means of braking said at least one roller comprising a manifold communicating with an air compressor, and communicating with brake calipers through a brake solenoid valve, a brake disc within each said brake caliper, one said brake disc being attached to each at least one said roller, whereby said at least one roller may be immobilized, so that a vehicle may be driven off said mobile speedometer tester after being tested.

26. A mobile speedometer tester comprising:

at least two main wheels rotatably attached to a trailer frame and at least one roller rotatably mounted to said trailer frame;

a means of measuring the rate of rotation of said roller;

a means to extend and retract said main wheels;

a means of quickly and easily removing said main wheels;

a means of braking said at least one roller, whereby said at least one roller may be immobilized, so that a vehicle being tested may be driven off said mobile speedometer tester; and

an engine rotatably attached to said trailer frame, an engine drive wheel attached to the output of said engine, the distance between said engine drive wheel and one said roller being determined by an engine jack upon which said engine depends, whereby one said roller may be driven by said engine drive wheel.

27. The mobile speedometer tester of claim 26 further comprising an auxiliary control panel electrically connected to a battery through a main switch, said auxiliary control panel comprising a starter switch and an auxiliary control panel brake switch, said starter switch being electrically connected to a starter, whereby said engine may be started, said auxiliary control panel brake switch being electrically connected to a brake solenoid valve where through a manifold communicates with brake calipers around brake discs, one said brake disc being attached to each said at least one roller, whereby said rollers may be immobilized.

28. The mobile speedometer tester of claim 27 further comprising at least one ramp, a motorcycle support plate and at least two side rollers attached to said trailer frame.

29. A mobile speedometer tester comprising:

at least two main wheels rotatably attached to a trailer frame and at least one roller rotatably mounted to said trailer frame;

a means to extend and retract said main wheels;

a means of quickly and easily removing said main wheels comprising a bellcrank rotatably attached to each said main wheel, each said main wheel being attached to one end of one said bellcrank at a bellcrank axle hole, bellows being rotatably attached to another end of said bellcrank at a bellows attach point, one end of each said bellows being attached to said bellcrank and another end of each said bellows being attached to said trailer frame, said bellcrank comprising a spur leg and a bellows leg, an extreme of one said spur leg being rigidly attached to an extreme of said bellows leg at an approximately right angle at a leg intersection, said bellcrank being rotatably attached to said trailer frame at a bellcrank attach point disposed at said leg intersection, whereby said bellcrank may rotate relative to said frame about said bellcrank attach point, said bellcrank axle hole being disposed at an extreme of said spur leg opposite said leg intersection, said bellows attach point being disposed on said bellows leg;

a means of braking said at least one roller; and

a means of measuring the torque imparted to said at least one roller by a test vehicle.