Apparatus for testing and evaluating the performance of an automobile
First Claim
1. Apparatus for testing and evaluating the performance of an automobile including a frame and wheel shafts under simulated conditions with the automobile not being supported by tires, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
- torque applicator means for attachment to wheel shafts of an automobile to support the automobile by said wheel shafts when attached thereto and independently apply torque forces to said wheel shafts;
movable support means supporting said torque applicator means;
force applicator means for connection to said automobile at a location on said automobile spaced from said wheel shafts to apply forces to the automobile at said location;
control means operatively associated with said torque applicator means and with said force applicator means for selectively varying the torque forces applied by said torque applicator means to the wheel shafts when attached thereto and for varying the forces applied to said automobile at said location by said force applicator, said torque applicator means comprising a plurality of torque applicators for attachment to the wheel shafts controlled by said control means, and said movable support means comprising a plurality of movable supports, each of said movable supports supporting a torque applicator and independently movable relative to the other of said movable supports; and
mover means operatively associated with said independently movable supports to move said movable supports up and down independently of one another during testing and evaluation of said automobile to simulate road or race track surface conditions.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for testing and evaluating the performance of an automobile under simulated conditions includes torque applicators for connection to wheel shafts of an automobile and for applying torque forces to the wheel shafts, movable supports supporting the torque applicators and a force applicator for connection to the automobile to apply forces to the automobile. A control associated with the torque applicators and the force applicator varies the torque forces applied by the torque applicators to the wheel shafts and varies the forces applied to the automobile by the force applicator.
69 Citations
23 Claims
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1. Apparatus for testing and evaluating the performance of an automobile including a frame and wheel shafts under simulated conditions with the automobile not being supported by tires, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
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torque applicator means for attachment to wheel shafts of an automobile to support the automobile by said wheel shafts when attached thereto and independently apply torque forces to said wheel shafts; movable support means supporting said torque applicator means; force applicator means for connection to said automobile at a location on said automobile spaced from said wheel shafts to apply forces to the automobile at said location; control means operatively associated with said torque applicator means and with said force applicator means for selectively varying the torque forces applied by said torque applicator means to the wheel shafts when attached thereto and for varying the forces applied to said automobile at said location by said force applicator, said torque applicator means comprising a plurality of torque applicators for attachment to the wheel shafts controlled by said control means, and said movable support means comprising a plurality of movable supports, each of said movable supports supporting a torque applicator and independently movable relative to the other of said movable supports; and mover means operatively associated with said independently movable supports to move said movable supports up and down independently of one another during testing and evaluation of said automobile to simulate road or race track surface conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. Apparatus for testing and evaluating the performance of an automobile including a frame and wheel shafts under simulated road or race track and environmental conditions with the automobile not being supported by tires, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
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a plurality of torque applicators for attachment to wheel shafts of an automobile to support the automobile by said wheel shafts when attached thereto and independently apply torque forces to said wheel shafts; movable support means supporting said torque applicators and independently movable in up and down directions during testing and evaluation of said automobile to simulate road or race track surface conditions; force applicator means for connection to said automobile at a location spaced from said wheel shafts to apply forces to said automobile; a portable housing defining a housing interior for accommodating said automobile during test and evaluation thereof; environment modifying means for varying the atmospheric environment within said housing interior; and control means operatively associated with said torque applicators and said force applicator means for selectively varying the torque forces applied by said torque applicators to said wheel shafts and for varying the forces applied to said automobile at said location by said force applicator means, said control means further being operatively associated with said environment modifying means for changing the atmospheric environment within said housing interior to simulate natural atmospheric conditions that may actually occur at a road or race track.
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Specification