Abnormal noise correction verification apparatus

• US 7,493,238 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Tanaka, Tsutomu, Yoshida, Toshiaki, Amakatsu, Junichi, Kawano, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; John H
• Application Number:
  US11/655,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20070185664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 702 56- 59, 702183-185, 702/191, 701/29, 701/36, 701/38, 701/200, 701/207, 701/301, 303/191
• US Class Current: 702/191
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/028 Acoustic or vibration analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/045 Acoustic or vibration analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/007 Wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles G01M17/08 takes precedence

Abstract

An abnormal noise correction verification apparatus is provided that can easily verify the effectiveness a corrective action with respect to an abnormal noise being generated. The apparatus has at least one vibration sensor, which detect vibrations of the vehicle. The apparatus extracts a signal in a specific frequency band for the vibrations detected from the vibration sensor. The apparatus stores a pre-corrective action signal extracted from the vibration sensor, which is from before eliminating a cause of abnormal noise, and a post-corrective action signal extracted from the vibration sensor, which is from after eliminating the cause of abnormal noise. Both pre-corrective action signal and the post-corrective action signal were detected under identical travel conditions by the vibration sensor. The apparatus then synchronizes and separately outputs the pre-corrective action signal and the post-corrective action signal for comparison.

Claims

1. An abnormal noise correction verification apparatus comprising:

a vibration sensor configured to detect vibrations of a vehicle;

a signal extracting component configured to extract a signal in a specific frequency band of the vibrations detected from the vibration sensor;

a signal storing component configured to store the signal extracted from the vibration sensor; and

an outputting component configured to synchronize and separately output a pre-corrective action signal from the signal storing component, which is from before eliminating a cause of abnormal noise, and a post-corrective action signal, which is from after eliminating the cause of abnormal noise, in which both signals were detected under identical travel conditions by the vibration sensor.

2. The abnormal noise correction verification apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the outputting component is configured to output the post-corrective action signal from the signal storing component.

3. The abnormal noise correction verification apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the outputting component is configured to output the post-corrective action signal from the signal extracting component.

4. The abnormal noise correction verification apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising

a displacement component configured to detect vertical displacements of the vehicle, with the outputting component using one of the displacements detected by the displacement component that has a prescribed magnitude as a reference to synchronize the pre-corrective action signal and the post-corrective action signal.

5. The abnormal noise correction verification apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein

the displacement component is configured to calculate the vertical displacements of the vehicle based on a signal outputted from the vibration sensor.

6. The abnormal noise correction verification apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein

the vibration sensor is configured to temporarily and freely be attached to and detached from a desired location of the vehicle during inspection.

7. The abnormal noise correction verification apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein

the outputting component includes a sound wave outputting device that separately outputs, as sound waves, the signals selected by a signal selecting component.

8. The abnormal noise correction verification apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein

the displacement component includes a laser displacement gauge configured to detect the vertical displacements of the vehicle.

9. The abnormal noise correction verification apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein

the vibration sensor is configured to temporarily and freely be attached to and detached from a desired location of the vehicle during inspection.

10. The abnormal noise correction verification apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein

the outputting component includes a sound wave outputting device that separately outputs, as sound waves, the signals selected by a signal selecting component.

11. The abnormal noise correction verification apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein

the vibration sensor is configured to temporarily and freely be attached to and detached from a desired location of the vehicle during inspection.

12. The abnormal noise correction verification apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein

the outputting component includes a sound wave outputting device that separately outputs, as sound waves, the signals selected by a signal selecting component.

13. The abnormal noise correction verification apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the vibration sensor is configured to temporarily and freely be attached to and detached from a desired location of the vehicle during inspection.

14. The abnormal noise correction verification apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein

the outputting component includes a sound wave outputting device that separately outputs, as sound waves, the signals selected by a signal selecting component.

15. The abnormal noise correction verification apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the outputting component includes a sound wave outputting device that separately outputs, as sound waves, the signals selected by a signal selecting component.

16. An abnormal noise correction verification apparatus comprising:

vibration sensing means for detecting vibrations of a vehicle;

signal extracting means for extracting a signal in a specific frequency band of the vibrations detected from the vibration sensing means;

signal storing means for storing the signal extracted from the vibration sensing means; and

outputting means for synchronizing and separately outputting a pre-corrective action signal from the signal storing means, which is from before eliminating a cause of abnormal noise, and a post-corrective action signal, which is from after eliminating the cause of abnormal noise, in which both signals were detected under identical travel conditions by the vibration sensing means.

17. An abnormal noise correction verifying method comprising:

operating a vehicle under specified travel conditions;

detecting vibrations of the vehicle during operation of the vehicle by using a vibration sensor that is attached to the vehicle;

storing the vibrations detected by the vibration sensor during operation of the vehicle under the specified travel conditions as a pre-corrective action signal;

investigating, based on the detected vibrations, whether the vehicle has an abnormal noise and a cause of the abnormal noise;

performing a corrective action on the vehicle to eliminate the cause of the abnormal noise;

operating the vehicle again under the specified travel conditions, after the corrective action was performed;

detecting vibrations of the vehicle during operation of the vehicle after the corrective action was performed as a post-corrective action signal; and

synchronizing and separately outputting the pre-corrective action signal and the post-corrective action signal.

18. The abnormal noise correction verifying method as recited in claim 17, further comprising

detecting a vertical displacement of the vehicle under the specified travel conditions before the corrective action was performed;

storing the vertical displacement that was detected before the corrective action was performed;

detecting the vertical displacement of the vehicle under the specified travel conditions after the corrective action was performed; and

using the vertical displacements that were detected having a prescribed magnitude as a reference to synchronize the pre-corrective action signal and the post-corrective action signal.