Apparatus and method for vehicle rollover crash testing

• US 6,651,482 B1
• Filed: 06/12/2001
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exponent Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Exponent Incorporated
• Inventors: Moffatt, Edward, Cooper, Eddie
• Primary Examiner(s): NOORI, MAX H
• Application Number:
  US09/879,516
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 73/120.1, 73/120.4, 73/120.5, 73/120.6, 73/120.7, 73/120.8, 73/120.9, 73/121.1, 73/121.2, 73/121.3, 73/121.4
• US Class Current: 73/12.12
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/0078 Shock-testing of vehicles

Abstract

An apparatus 10 for measuring and/or analyzing the rollover characteristics of a vehicle 12. Apparatus 10 includes a controller 14, a selectively movable test fixture assembly 16, a truck or towing vehicle 18 which is coupled to trailer assembly 16 and which selectively tows or drives assembly 16, several cameras 22, 24, 26 and 28, and a user interface 30. Vehicle 12 is attached to test fixture 16, and user interface 30 is used to activate motor assembly 36 which selectively rotates vehicle 12 to a desired roll angle 90 relative to the ground surface 43. Once vehicle 12 is correctly positioned, an operator drives truck 18 at a predetermined and desired speed. Controller 14 generates release signals to exploding bolts 86, 88, which simultaneously explode, thereby releasing vehicle 12 from frame 32. In this manner, apparatus 10 allows the drop height and the translational and vertical velocity of a vehicle to be selectively controlled, adjusted and repeated from test to test, and provides controllable and predictable roof-to-ground impacts.

Claims

1. An apparatus performing rollover crash testing of a vehicle onto a surface, said apparatus comprising:

a test fixture assembly on which said vehicle is mounted above the surface and which is selectively movable at a certain velocity;

at least one selectively releasable attachment member which is effective to couple said vehicle to said test fixture assembly and to selectively release said vehicle from said moving test fixture assembly, thereby causing the vehicle to contact the surface and a rollover crash event to act upon the vehicle; and

a device generating rollover test data during the rollover crash event.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one selectively releasable attachment member comprises exploding bolts.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a user interface; and

a controller which is communicatively connected to said at least one releasable attachment member and said user interface, said controller being effective to receive commands from said user interface and to communicate a signal to said at least one selectively releasable attachment member, said signal being effective to cause said at least one selectively releasable attachment member to release said vehicle from said moving test fixture.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said test fixture assembly includes a motor assembly which is effective to selectively rotate said vehicle about a longitudinal axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the device comprises

a plurality of cameras mounted to said test fixture assembly, said plurality of cameras being effective to acquire images of said vehicle during said rollover crash event.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a towing vehicle to which said test fixture assembly is connected and which is effective to tow said test fixture assembly at said certain velocity.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said test fixture assembly is effective to selectively hold said vehicle at a plurality of drop heights.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the device comprises a plurality of sensors positioned within the vehicle.

8. A system for performing a rollover crash test of a vehicle comprising:

a movable fixture upon which said vehicle is mounted;

a pair of selectively activatable releasable attachment members which are effective to selectively and releasably mount said vehicle to said fixture;

a towing vehicle which Is connected to said movable fixture and which is effective to move said fixture at a certain speed;

a controller which is communicatively coupled to said releasable attachment members and which is effective to selectively activate said members once said vehicle reaches said certain speed, thereby releasing said vehicle from said fixture and causing said vehicle to impact the ground in a repeatable rollover manner;

a device generating rollover test data during the rollover crash event.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a pair of shafts which are each coupled to a unique one of said releasable attachment members, and which are rotationally coupled to said fixture; and

a motor assembly which is coupled to a unique one of said pair of shafts and which is effective to selectively rotate said shaft, thereby positioning said vehicle at a desired roll angle.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said motor assembly is further effective to impart a certain roll rate upon said vehicle.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein said release attachment members comprise exploding bolts.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein said fixture is effective to hold said vehicle at a certain pitch angle and a certain yaw angle.

22. The system of claim 8 wherein the device comprises a plurality of sensors positioned within the vehicle.

23. The system of claim 8 wherein the device comprises a plurality of cameras mounted to said test fixture assembly, said plurality of cameras being effective to acquire images of said vehicle during said rollover crash event.

13. A method for performing rollover crash testing of a vehicle comprising the steps of:

suspending said vehicle from a movable fixture at a predetermined angular position;

moving said fixture at a predetermined velocity;

releasing said vehicle from said fixture, thereby causing said vehicle to rollover;

generating rollover test data during the rollover.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

positioning said vehicle at a predetermined drop height.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

rotating said vehicle prior to releasing said vehicle, effective to impart a predetermined roll rate to said vehicle.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said fixture is moved by use of a truck.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said predetermined angular position comprises a roll angle with respect to a ground surface.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said predetermined angular position further comprises a pitch angle.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said predetermined angular position further comprises a yaw angle.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein said vehicle is suspended from said fixture by use of exploding bolt assemblies.