Abstract: A damping performance evaluation apparatus for damping devices including: a support member detachably supporting a damping device in a state enabling the device to exhibit a damping effect thereof; a hammer member for applying oscillation force to the device caused by gravitational descent to strike the device; a double-strike preventing member for preventing the hammer member from dropping a second time due to rebound after initially striking the device, to prevent double-strike of the device by the hammer member; a vibration sensor installed at a vibration zone caused to vibrate through oscillation force applied by said hammer member, for outputting an electrical signal in response to vibration at the vibration zone; and a sensing member for sensing a vibration mode in the vibration zone on the basis of an output of said vibration sensor. A damping performance evaluation method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vibration testing device includes a computer system having: a measurement processing block for inputting an output of the monitoring sensor and processing the output; a model substituting block for modeling characteristics of the test piece, calculating a response quantity corresponding to a drive condition of an actuator, and inputting the calculation result to a numerical simulation block and the parameter changing block; the parameter changing block for comparing the calculation result of the model substituting block with the processing result of the measurement processing block, and changing the parameter; the numerical simulation block for calculating a vibration response in accordance with a previously input structure numerical model; and a waveform generating block for calculating a time function of a deformation to be applied to the test piece, and outputting the time block to the actuator controlling device.

Abstract: An impact sensor for indicating exposure of an electronic equipment to a predetermined impact force is described. The impact sensor has a hollow case, a mass within the case, and a number of wire filaments supporting the mass within the case. Exposure of the sensor to the predetermined impact force results in a force acting on the mass sufficient to cause at least one of the filaments to break. The breaking of at least one of the filaments indicates to a repairer that the electronic equipment has been exposed to the predetermined impact force.

Abstract: A device with at least a supporting means (1, 2, 3, 4) coupled to a movement-system making the upper-plate moving. The device is characterized in that it includes a mechanism by which the supporting means (1, 2, 3, 4) can be moved vertically thanks to the operation of a movement-system, whereby this mechanism comprises at least the following elements: a ball-housing (6) with a ball; a threshold-block (7) with a bearing surface on which the ball rests.

Abstract: In a hydropneumatic suspension for vehicles having greatly varying axle loads, in particular tractors having hydraulic suspension cylinders that are connectable to a pneumatic feed pump via supply lines—with a pressure regulating valve being provided in the supply line leading to the annular spaces of the suspension cylinders—the pressure regulating valve being designed as a proportionally regulated valve which is controlled by a control current from an electric control unit which electronically processes the measured signals of a pressure sensor connected to the piston chambers of the suspension cylinders or links them to additional functional data or to external control signals from the working hydraulics.

Abstract: A method for determining the efficiency of a vehicle's shock absorbers, comprising the following operational steps: identifying, by virtue of image acquisition means, at least one point of the vehicle rigid with the shock absorber lower connection, and at least one point of the vehicle rigid with the shock absorber upper connection; associating said at least two points with a cartesian reference system; subjecting the vehicle or at least a wheel thereof to a non-horizontal forcing stress; memorizing a succession of photograms in order to acquire the equations of motion of said at least two points and calculating the equation resulting from the difference between the two equations of motion; determining from said equation the parameters necessary to evaluate the shock absorber efficiency.

Abstract: A system for servicing a racing car or other car at a track, other race course, or similar destination employs an open platform for supporting the car by its tires in a horizontal position. The platform supports the car, and is itself supported by a crawler, in a carrier vehicle, for example a truck or trailer, when the carrier vehicle is transporting the car. The crawler and platform are also used to unload and load the car from and into the carrier vehicle. To unload the car at the destination, the crawler, with the platform and car on it, is driven out of the carrier vehicle and onto the ground. Next, the platform is elevated by extending its legs so that it rises off, is spaced from, and straddles the crawler. Then the crawler is driven out from under the platform. Then the platform is lowered to the ground, where it is used as a lift to elevate the car so that its undercarriage may be accessed. The platform may also be used to tune the chassis of the car.

Abstract: A system and method for testing an airbag proximity suppression system is disclosed. The testing system includes a positioning system that controls movement of an occupant model inside of a vehicle and toward a suppression zone. A proximity detector provides a first output signal indicative of when the occupant model actually enters the suppression zone by monitoring movement of a position marker. The airbag suppression system, the device under test, provides a second output signal indicative of when the airbag suppression system detects that the occupant model has entered the suppression zone. The timing difference between the first and second output signals is indicative of a performance factor of the airbag suppression system. Further, a controller identifies a position of the occupant model when the airbag suppression system detects that the occupant model has entered the suppression zone.

Abstract: In a hydropneumatic suspension for vehicles having greatly varying axle loads, in particular tractors having hydraulic suspension cylinders that are connectable to a pneumatic feed pump via supply lines—with a pressure regulating valve being provided in the supply line leading to the annular spaces of the suspension cylinders—the pressure regulating valve being designed as a proportionally regulated valve which is controlled by a control current from an electric control unit which electronically processes the measured signals of a pressure sensor connected to the piston chambers of the suspension cylinders or links them to additional functional data or to external control signals from the working hydraulics.

Abstract: A vehicle-mountable, suspension monitoring system produces suspension-analysis information which can be used to determine adjustments to a vehicle suspension. Sensor structure located adjacent the vehicle suspension is connected to a control/processing/display (CPD) unit located adjacent the vehicle operator. The sensor structure senses suspension related information and communicates the suspension related information to the CPD unit. The CPD unit receives the suspension related information and converts it to suspension-analysis information. The CPD unit stores the suspension-analysis information and displays it to the vehicle operator. Alternatively, the suspension-analysis information is downloaded from the CPD unit to a digital computer for display as waveform data.

Abstract: A method for determining the efficiency of a vehicle's shock absorbers, comprising the following operational steps: identifying, by virtue of image acquisition means, at least one point of the vehicle rigid with the shock absorber lower connection, and at least one point of the vehicle rigid with the shock absorber upper connection; associating said at least two points with a cartesian reference system; subjecting the vehicle or at least a wheel thereof to a non-horizontal forcing stress; memorizing a succession of photograms in order to acquire the equations of motion of said at least two points and calculating the equation resulting from the difference between the two equations of motion; determining from said equation the parameters necessary to evaluate the shock absorber efficiency.

Abstract: In known devices for testing vehicle shock absorbers, the tires, which have a dampening effect, are not taken into account, so that the measurement results may be falsified by up to about 30%, depending on the tire pressure. In addition, when the wheels are mounted on the vehicle, no shock absorber characteristic curve may be measured, only individual values. In the disclosed device, the actuating variable “tire” is eliminated by a regulation process that consists in normalizing the resonance amplitude, a considerably more accurate measurement being thus obtained. In addition, the spring constant of the wheel suspension is determined before actually testing the shock absorbers, allowing defective springs to be detected. Finally, car body oscillations may also be determined, causing an additional precision gain. For the first time it becomes possible to determine a shock absorber characteristic curve without having to dismount the shock absorbers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle testing device for carrying out various tests on a vehicle, with the tires of the vehicle being respectively placed on two driveable rotatable rollers. Known vehicle testing devices have a need for substantial space and incur high production costs. Object of the invention is to enable a less expensive and more compact inspection of the vehicle. According to the invention, this is attained by placing a shock absorber testing device in the area of both rollers. The additional axial displacement of the rollers and provision of a third roller disposed in parallel relationship thereto and also shiftable in axial direction enables a testing of brakes, tracking, steering play, joint play as well as shock absorbers in a smallest space.

Abstract: A shock-absorber mounting structure includes a base frame holding two parallel rails vertically, a top carrier and a bottom carrier moved along the parallel rails in the base frame, a screw rod rotated by a hand wheel to move the top carrier along the rails relative to the bottom carrier, a hydraulic system controlled to move the bottom carrier along the rails relative to the top carrier, and two shock-absorber holders respectively installed in the top carrier and the bottom carrier and adapted to hold a shock absorber therebetween.

Abstract: A method (60) of testing a ride control suspension component of a vehicle. The method comprises the steps of setting a vehicle suspension to a first ride mode (70), raising the first suspension to a first height (108), releasing fluid from the first suspension to lower the first suspension (130), and measuring a parameter during the lowering of the first suspension (132). The method further includes the steps of setting the first suspension to a second ride mode which is different than the first ride mode (76), raising the first suspension for a second time (108), releasing pressure from the first suspension to lower the first suspension for a second time (130), measuring a second parameter during the lowering of the first suspension (132), comparing the first and second parameters (82), and determining the condition of a suspension component based on the comparison (84).

Abstract: A transducer assembly adapted for use for measuring forces and moments including a stationary center load axle having an elongated extend extending along an elongated axis between spaced opposed ends. The transducer assembly including first and second load cells interposed in a force path between opposed first and second ends of the load axle measuring applied load in the suspension load path of a two wheel vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring tread wear, shock absorber performance, balance condition of a vehicle tire, and/or rotation speed of a vehicle wheel, use a sensor to provide acceleration signals. To monitor tread wear, acceleration signals from the sensor determine at least one resonance frequency of at least one of the radial and lateral acceleration of the tire and compares it to at least one stored resonance frequency To monitor shock absorber performance, the amplitude of the Fourier component of the radial acceleration is compared to a stored amplitude value. To monitor a balance condition of a vehicle tire, the sensor provides acceleration signals measured over a specified time duration to determine an amplitude of the Fourier component of the radial acceleration that is compared to a stored amplitude specification balance condition of the tire.

Abstract: Measured values obtained from a running test of an object to be tested and a module on a test bench such as a flat belt type chassis dynamo, and computation based upon numerical models of components other than the object to be tested and the module, are related to each other so as to reproduce a condition near to an actual running condition, for the object to be tested and the module so as to precisely analyze how the object to be tested and the module affects upon the motion of the overall vehicle during actual running of the vehicle. Thus it is possible to evaluate dynamic characteristics of respective vehicle components and a module which relate to the maneuvering performance of the vehicle, on a test bench in a condition in which a load variation and an alignment variation are taken into consideration.