Portable flywheel test assembly

• US 6,405,585 B1
• Filed: 11/15/1999
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stanley J. Hewitt
• Original Assignee: Stanley J. Hewitt
• Inventors: Hewitt, Stanley J.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCALL, ERIC SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US09/454,160
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 731/16, 731/171, 731/172, 731/173, 731/181, 731/19.R
• US Class Current: 73/116.05
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/044 by monitoring power, e.g. by operating the engine with one of the ignitions interrupted; by using acceleration tests

Abstract

A portable dynamometer includes a frame, an axle rotatably mounted on the frame, and a flywheel secured to the axle. An endless loop drive mechanism connects the axle and the output shaft of the engine to be tested. A ring gear drivingly attaches to the axle and an automotive starter connects to the ring gear to start the axle and engine turning. Various position-adjustable mounting pad assemblies can be mounted on the frame to hold different sizes and types of engines. The whole dynamometer can be tipped on end to facilitate testing of engines with vertical output shafts. A caliper brake mounts on the frame and decelerates the flywheel. Other methods of warming up and loading the engine are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A dynamometer for testing an engine having an output shaft comprising:

a table frame including a pair of spaced elongated top frame rails together defining a table top, a pair of cross members interconnecting the top frame rails, and a plurality of upright legs extending downward from the top frame rails to support the table top;

flywheel drive axle rotatably mounted to the cross members below the table top and disposed between all of the legs;

a flywheel having a central axis of rotation and being coaxially secured to the flywheel drive axle at a location between all of the legs so as to rotate therewith, a substantial portion of the flywheel extending above the table top;

an engine mounting pad assembly position-adjustably mounted on top of the top frame rails; and

endless loop means associated with the flywheel drive axle at a location disposed between the top rails and all of the legs for drivingly and non-coaxially connecting the flywheel drive axle to an output shaft of an engine to be tested.

2. The dynamometer of claim 1 wherein the mounting pad assembly includes an elongated mounting rack detachably mounted to the frame rails so as to extend transversely therebetween in one of a plurality of locations along the frame rails.

3. The dynamometer of claim 2 wherein the mounting rack has opposite ends, a top, and a bottom, the mounting rack being reversibly orientable and mountable such that in a first orientation of the mounting rack the top is directed away from the Same rails and in a second orientation the top is directed toward the frame rails.

4. The dynamometer of claim 2 wherein the mounting rack includes a first elongated mounting bar, a second elongated mounting bar, and a third elongated mounting bar, the first mounting bar and the second mounting bar being spaced closer together than the second mounting bar and the third mounting bar.

5. The dynamometer of claim 4 wherein the mounting bars are identical radially spaced cylindrical bars that extend substantially horizontally, parallel to each other, and perpendicular to the axle.

6. The dynamometer of claims 1 comprising a battery, a ring gear drivingly secured to the axle, and an electric automotive starter mounted on the fame adjacent the ring gear and connected to the battery by a switch the starter selectively engaging the ring gear when the switch is closed and thereby rotating the ring gear and the axle.

7. The dynamometer of claim 1 wherein the endless loop means includes a sprocket on the axle and an endless loop chain engaging the sprocket on the axle.

8. The dynamometer of claim 7 wherein the sprocket on the axle is releasably secured to the axle and is selectively slidable longitudinally along the axle.

9. The dynamometer of claim 6 wherein the ring gear has a plurality of teeth arranged circumferentially thereon and the starter has a selectively extensible output gear with a plurality of teeth thereon for engaging the teeth of the ring gear when the switch is closed.

10. The dynamometer of claim 6 wherein the ring gear and the flywheel are axially spaced along the axle and rigidly connected to each other in addition to being connected to the axle.

11. The dynamometer of claim 7 wherein a one-way clutch is interposed between the sprocket and the flywheel.

12. The dynamometer of claim 1 comprising a brake mounted on the frame for selectively decelerating the flywheel by contacting the flywheel such that the flywheel itself acts as a rotor for the brake.

13. The dynamometer of claim 12 wherein the flywheel is secured to the axle between the frame rails, the brake being mounted on the frame rails adjacent the flywheel.

14. The dynamometer of claim 12 wherein the brake is a hydraulically operated caliper brake.

15. The dynamometer of claim 14 wherein the flywheel has opposite axially spaced first and second side surfaces, the caliper brake having a first brake pad for selectively engaging the first side surface of the flywheel and a second brake pad opposing the first brake pad for selectively engaging the second side surface of the flywheel.

16. A dynamometer for testing an engine having an output shaft comprising

a frame having legs connected to a pair of elongated frame rails and at least one cross member interconnecting the frame rails,

a flywheel drive axle rotatably mounted on the frame;

means for drivingly connecting the output shaft of the engine to the axle;

a flywheel secured to the axle so as to rotate therewith;

an engine mounting pad assembly position-adjustably mounted on the frame for detachably securing the engine to the frame;

wherein the mounting pad assembly includes a top mounting plate positioned over the mounting bars and means extending below the mounting bars for selectively clamping the top mounting plate to the bars in a desired position along the bars.

17. The dynamometer of claim 16 wherein the means for selectively clamping the top plate to the mounting bars includes a bottom wing plate positioned below the mounting bars and threaded fastening means for interconnecting and drawing the top and bottom plates toward each other.

18. A dynamometer for testing an engine having an output shaft comprising:

a frame having legs connected to a pair of elongated frame rails and at least one cross member interconnecting the frame rails;

a flywheel drive axle rotatably mounted on the frame;

means for drivingly connecting the output shaft of the engine to the axle;

a flywheel secured to the axle so as to rotate therewith;

an engine mounting pad assembly position-adjustably mounted on the fame for detachably securing the engine to the frame;

wherein the mounting pad assembly includes a mounting plate slidably mounted to an adjacent pair of the legs so as to extend therebetween; and

wherein an elongated member having a J-shaped cross-section is rigidly mounted respectively to each leg of the pair of legs so as to form a channel between the J-shaped member land the leg for slidably receiving an edge of the mounting plate.

19. The dynamometer of claim 18 wherein the mounting plate has an aperture therein and four elongated slots that extend through the plate and extend radially outward from the aperture, the slots being spaced ninety degrees apart.

20. A dynamometer for testing an engine having an output shaft comprising:

a frame having legs connected to a pair of elongated frame rails and at least one cross member interconnecting the frame rails;

a flywheel drive axle rotatably mounted too the frame;

means for drivingly connecting the output shaft of the engine to the axle;

a flywheel secured to the axle so as to rotate therewith;

an engine mounting pad assembly position-adjustably mounted too the frame for detachably securing the engine to the frame;

mounting plate slidably mounted to an adjacent pair of the legs so as to extend therebetween and slide longitudinally therealong.

21. A portable dynamometer for testing an engine having an output shaft comprising a battery;

a table frame including a plurality of legs supporting a table top with a mounting bracket thereon for mounting the engine to be tested;

a flywheel axle rotatably mounted to the frame below the table top;

a flywheel secured to the axle for rotation therewith at a location on the frame remote from the engine to be tested;

a ring gear secured to the axle for rotation therewith at a location on the frame remote from the engine to be tested;

an electric automotive starter mounted on the frame adjacent the ring gear and connected to the battery by a switch, the starter selectively engaging the ring gear when the switch is closed so as to rotate the ring gear and thereby the axle;

endless loop means for drivingly connecting the axle with the output shaft of the engine to be tested in a non-coaxial manner.

22. A dynamometer for testing an engine having an output shaft comprising:

a frame having legs connected to a pair of elongated frame rails and at least one cross member interconnecting the frame rails;

a flywheel drive axle rotatably mounted on the frame;

means for drivingly connecting the output shaft of the engine to the axle;

a flywheel secured to the axle so as to rotate therewith;

an engine mounting pad assembly position-adjustably mounted on the frame for detachably securing the engine to the frame;

wherein the mounting pad includes a first elongated mounting bar, a second elongated mounting bar, and a third elongated mounting bar, the first mounting bar and the second mounting bar being spaced closer together than the second mounting bar and the third mounting bar; and

the first, second and third mounting bars being parallel to each other and each having a central longitudinal axis disposed in a common plane, the central longitudinal axis of the first mounting bar being spaced approximately three inches in one direction from the central longitudinal axis of the second mounting bar, the central longitudinal axis of the third mounting bar being spaced approximately 3.5 inches from the central longitudinal axis of the second mounting bar in another direction.