Transportable vehicle tester
First Claim
1. A mobile apparatus for detecting drive line system imbalances in an automotive vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- an angular position and speed sensor located at a position spaced from, but associated with, a drive shaft of a drive line system in a non-contacting relationship therewith, said sensor generating a signal responsive to speed and angular position of the drive shaft relative to a preselected reference point thereon;
at least one vibration sensor located at position, spaced from, but associate with, the drive line system in non-contacting relationship therewith, said at least one vibration sensor detecting drive line vibration and generating a signal responsive thereto;
an angular sensor for detecting an angular alignment of the drive line system;
a signal analyzer which receives the signals generated by said angular position and speed sensor as well as said at least one vibration sensor and calculates any imbalance in the drive line system and presents counterbalance weight and position parameters for correcting any system imbalance;
a trailer having a hitch for attachment to a towing vehicle for transporting the apparatus for measuring the drive line system; and
wherein said angular sensor comprises a pair of perceptron cameras for sending a pair of signals to the signal analyzer for determining the angular alignment of the drive line system and calculating a corrective shim thickness between a center bearing and the vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A transportable apparatus for detecting drive line system imbalances in an automotive vehicle includes an angular position and speed sensor located at a position spaced from, but associated with the drive shaft in non-contacting relationship therewith, the sensor generates a signal responsive to the speed and angular position of the drive shaft relative to a reference point. The apparatus also includes at least one vibration sensor, spaced from, but associated with, the drive line in non-contacting relationship therewith. The vibration sensor detects the drive line vibration and generates a signal responsive thereto. A signal analyzer receives the signals generated by the angular position and speed sensor as well as the vibration sensor and calculates any imbalance in the drive line system and presents counterweight and position parameters for correcting any system imbalance.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A mobile apparatus for detecting drive line system imbalances in an automotive vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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an angular position and speed sensor located at a position spaced from, but associated with, a drive shaft of a drive line system in a non-contacting relationship therewith, said sensor generating a signal responsive to speed and angular position of the drive shaft relative to a preselected reference point thereon; at least one vibration sensor located at position, spaced from, but associate with, the drive line system in non-contacting relationship therewith, said at least one vibration sensor detecting drive line vibration and generating a signal responsive thereto; an angular sensor for detecting an angular alignment of the drive line system; a signal analyzer which receives the signals generated by said angular position and speed sensor as well as said at least one vibration sensor and calculates any imbalance in the drive line system and presents counterbalance weight and position parameters for correcting any system imbalance; a trailer having a hitch for attachment to a towing vehicle for transporting the apparatus for measuring the drive line system; and wherein said angular sensor comprises a pair of perceptron cameras for sending a pair of signals to the signal analyzer for determining the angular alignment of the drive line system and calculating a corrective shim thickness between a center bearing and the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for detecting drive line system imbalances in an automotive vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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a chassis dynamometer having a support surface for supporting an automotive vehicle while said chassis dynamometer is operatively engaged by driven wheels of the automotive vehicle, said support surface including at least one bay defined therein; an angular position and speed sensor and at least one vibration sensor housed with said bay in said support surface of said chassis dynamometer, said sensors being operatively moveable between a first position below said support surface and a second position raised above said support surface and spaced from, but associated with, a drive shaft of a drive line system in non-contacting relationship therewith; said angular position and speed sensor generating a signal responsive to speed and angular position of the drive shaft relative to a preselected reference point therein, said at least one vibration sensor detecting drive line vibration and generating a signal responsive thereto; an angular sensor for detecting an angular alignment of the drive line system; a signal analyzer which receives the signals generated by said angular position and speed sensor as well as said at least one vibration sensor and calculates any imbalance in the drive line system and presents counterbalance weight and position parameters for correcting any system imbalance; a trailer having a hitch for attachment to a towing vehicle for transporting the apparatus for measuring the drive line system; and wherein said angular sensor comprises a pair of perceptron cameras for sending a pair of signals to the signal analyzer for determining the angular alignment of the driveline and calculating a corrective shim thickness between the center bearing and the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of detecting drive line system imbalances in an automotive vehicle, said method including the steps of:
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transporting a transportable chassis dynamometer; positioning an automotive vehicle on the portable chassis dynamometer having a support surface for supporting the automotive vehicle while said chassis dynamometer is operatively engaged by driving wheels of the automotive vehicle, moving an angular position and speed sensor and at least one vibration sensor housed within a bay in said support surface of said chassis dynamometer from a first position below said support surface to a second position above said support surface and spaced from, but associated with a driveshaft of a driveline of the vehicle in a noncontacting relationship therewith; generating a signal in response to an angular position and speed of a drive shaft of the drive line system from a sensor placed in non-contacting relationship therewith; detecting vibration in the drive line system from at least one sensor and disposed spaced from, but in non-contacting relationship with respect to the drive line system and generating a signal corresponding thereto; determining an angular relationship of the driveline to the vehicle; and calculating any imbalance in the drive line system based on said signals from the angular position and speed sensor as well as the at least one vibration sensor and determining a corrective counterweight and position thereof to eliminate any system imbalance. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification