Apparatus and method for testing flow noise

• US 7,849,735 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2008
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Ochs, Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCALL, ERIC SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US12/111,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20080271536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 731/170.1, 731/180.1, 731/180.2
• US Class Current: 73/117.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/007 Wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles G01M17/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/24 using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations

Abstract

An apparatus and method for testing flow noise of a motor vehicle are provided. The apparatus includes a blast nozzle device having at least one blast nozzle, and a transport device. The blast nozzle device is designed for the targeted impingement of the outer skin of the motor vehicle by air flow, and the transport device is designed such that the blast nozzle device and the motor vehicle may be moved relative to one another. A microphone array is positioned in the interior of the motor vehicle and measures the flow noise in the interior of the motor vehicle. The microphone array is preferably a spherical array. The flow noise in the interior of the motor vehicle generated by the air flow is measured by use of the microphone array.

Claims

1. An apparatus for testing flow noise of a motor vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a blast nozzle device having at least one blast nozzle, the blast nozzle device being operatively configured for targeted impingement of air flow on an outer skin of the motor vehicle;

a transport device operatively configured for moving the blast nozzle device and the motor vehicle relative to one another; and

a spherical microphone array positionable in an interior of the motor vehicle, the microphone array being operatively configured to measure flow noise in the interior of the motor vehicle.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one optical recording device, the optical recording device being operatively coupled with the microphone array.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting device operatively configured to position the microphone array at a defined location relative to one or more elements in the interior of the motor vehicle.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control device for at least one of controlling the movement of the transport device, controlling measurements by the microphone array, and evaluating measurements by the microphone array.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one blast nozzle is adjustable at least in a transverse direction and inclinable at least by a defined angle.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the microphone array includes a wireless interface for coupling with a test bench computer.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one blast nozzle is adjustable at least in a vertical direction and is pivotable at least about one axis extending in a traverse direction.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a further blast nozzle is adjustable at least in a transverse direction and inclinable at least by a defined angle.

9. An apparatus for testing flow noise of a motor vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a blast nozzle device having at least one blast nozzle, the blast nozzle device being operatively configured for targeted impingement of air flow on an outer skin of the motor vehicle;

a transport device operatively configured for moving the blast nozzle device and the motor vehicle relative to one another;

a microphone array positionable in an interior of the motor vehicle, the microphone array being operatively configured to measure flow noise in the interior of the motor vehicle; and

at least one optical recording device, the optical recording device being operatively coupled with the microphone array.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein microphones of the microphone array are positioned around the optical recording device.

11. A method for testing flow noise of a motor vehicle, the method comprising the acts of:

moving a blast nozzle device and a motor vehicle relative to one another;

arranging a microphone array at a defined position in an interior of the motor vehicle;

impinging air flow in a targeted manner on an outer skin of the motor vehicle via the blast nozzle device; and

measuring the flow noise generated by the impinging air flow in an interior of the motor vehicle via the microphone array; and

wirelessly transmitting measurement data concerning the flow noise from microphone array to a test bench computer.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the microphone array is a spherical array operatively coupled with an optical recording device.

13. The method according to claim 11, the method comprising:

evaluating differences in propagation times of acoustic signals recorded by individual microphones of the microphone array; and

identifying noise sources on a vehicle-specific interior surface based upon the evaluated differences.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising adapting an orientation of a plurality of blast nozzles of the blast nozzle device to an outer contour of the motor vehicle.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

measuring the outer contour of the motor vehicle via at least one optical sensor device; and

utilizing the measurement of the outer contour to adapt the orientation of the blast nozzles to the outer contour of the motor vehicle.

16. An apparatus for testing flow noise of a motor vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a blast nozzle device having at least one blast nozzle, the blast nozzle device being operatively configured for targeted impingement of air flow on an outer skin of the motor vehicle, the blast nozzle further being adjustable in at least one of a vertical direction and a transverse direction and being pivotable or inclinable;

a transport device operatively configured for moving the blast nozzle device and the motor vehicle relative to one another; and

a microphone array positionable in an interior of the motor vehicle, the microphone array being operatively configured to measure flow noise in the interior of the motor vehicle.