Test Stand Patents (Class 73/116.01)
  • Publication number: 20110252876
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a comprehensive test bed for vehicle body, which comprises an vehicle body static strength testing apparatus, an vehicle body air tightness testing apparatus, an vehicle coupler strength testing apparatus and an vehicle body mode testing apparatus, wherein the tested vehicle body is provided with a strain foil and a displacement sensor; and the strain foil and the displacement sensor are connected with a data acquisition system. The comprehensive test bed for the vehicle body can perform an vehicle body static strength test on various rail passenger vehicles, an vehicle body steel structure vibration mode test, an vehicle body partial assembly vibration mode test and an vehicle body air tightness test, and can realize strength tests on partial key components of the vehicle body (a transition vehicle coupler, a return vehicle coupler, an vehicle body chassis cross beam, a hoisting structure, an end structure, and the like).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: QINGDAO SIFANG ROLLING STOCK RESEARCH INSTITUTE., LTD.
    Inventors: Fei MA, Jie CHEN, Yuanfeng PANG
  • Patent number: 7980123
    Abstract: A jointed flexible drive shaft assembly is provided. The drive shaft has at least one flexible joint comprising a yoke connecting two drive shaft components together in a flexible manner which permits angular offsetting of the axis of rotation of one shaft component relative to the axis of rotation of another shaft component while a pilot and pilot bore cooperate to maintain the axes of rotation fixed against relative lateral offset a predetermined amount. The drive shaft assembly may be used on a test stand to couple a driving element with a driven element thereby reducing the need for a precision alignment between the driving and driven elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Assembly & Test Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Lynn Ussery
  • Patent number: 7954366
    Abstract: An environmental test enclosure for modifying the temperature of a vehicle test property is presented. The enclosure includes a movable pallet assembly that is operable to deliver the test property to and from the property test site. The movable pallet assembly includes a base plate that is configured to attach to and support the test property thereon. A plurality of sidewalls project upward from the base plate to surround the test property. A flexible cover is mounted to the overhead structure of the test site, and configured to transition between an open position, in which the cover is in a raised and generally folded state, to a closed position, in which the cover is in a lowered state and attachable to the pallet assembly. The flexible cover cooperates with the movable pallet assembly when attached thereto to define an enclosed and substantially thermally insulated space around the test property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard W. Gushman, Mark D. Womack, David J. Gunnels
  • Patent number: 7926337
    Abstract: A vehicle locking device locking a vehicle on a chassis dynamometer, equipped with rollers allowing driving wheels of the vehicle placed thereon, while keeping the driving wheels thereof placed on the rollers, was configured so as to detect angles of traction, to determine traction forces optimum for hauling the vehicle based on the detected angles, and to control the vehicle locking device based on thus-determined traction forces so as to take up a belt, aiming at readily and stably locking a test vehicle under optimum traction forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignees: Ono Sokki Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isamu Inoue, Atsushi Shibata, Naoki Umeda, Shuichi Tsukatsune, Haruhiko Tateno, Takahiro Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20100326178
    Abstract: An aerodynamic test stand (1) is provided for determining forces acting on a vehicle. The test stand has a stationary floor (2), at least two supporting devices (4) for supporting the motor vehicle, and at least one band unit moving in relation to the floor, for influencing air flow behavior in the floor region. The band unit is composed, segment-like, of runway sections (9, 10, 11, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28) to accurately detect forces acting on the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventor: Gustavo Estrada
  • Publication number: 20100170330
    Abstract: A test system (1) is arranged for testing vehicle systems which comprise at least one sensor (20). The test system comprises a test stand (11) for accommodating a vehicle (2), an object (12) which is movable relative to the test stand, and a control unit (13) for controlling the movement of the object. The test stand (11) is provided with a speed measurement unit (14) for detecting the virtual speed (v) of the vehicle, while the control unit (13) is arranged for controlling the movement of the object in dependence on said virtual speed. The object (12) preferably is a dummy vehicle which may be pulled along a track (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST- NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO
    Inventors: Bart Theodoor Maria Scheepers, Antonius Cornelis Maria Versmissen, Jeroen Ploeg, Rene Mathieu Corbeij, Pieter Jan Schutyser
  • Patent number: 7748262
    Abstract: A coolant flow measurement device includes a coolant flow circuit, a cooling system, a purge system, a variable speed fluid pump, a differential pressure gage and a primary flow meter. The coolant flow circuit may be attached to a an HVAC system of the vehicle such that coolant may be circulated through the HVAC system of the vehicle. The cooling system may cool the coolant in the coolant flow circuit. The purge system may be used to purge air from the coolant flow circuit. The variable speed fluid pump may be operable to balance the fluid pressure between the device inlet and the device outlet. The primary flow meter may be operable to measure the coolant flow in the coolant flow circuit. The differential pressure gage measures a pressure differential between the device inlet and the device outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Alberto Nerida Reginaldo, Linda Celina Ward, Richard Gene Lowhorn, Matthew Noppenberger
  • Patent number: 7726182
    Abstract: An engine test stand assembly includes an elongated front support having a pair of coupling sleeves mounted thereon. The coupling sleeves are coupled to a pair of elongated lateral supports. A pair of receiving members is positioned on the front support to receive ends of an engine hoist to stabilize the hoist with respect to the front support. Each of the lateral supports has one of a pair of vertical mounts attached thereto. The vertical mounts support post members to secure the post members to an associated one of the lateral supports. A pair of engine supports each includes a top end and bottom end. The bottom ends engage the front support and the top ends of the engine supports are abuttable against an engine to hold the engine above the front support. A pair of lower supports mounted on the post members is engageable with the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventors: Mark A. Newlin, Lance Newlin
  • Patent number: 7721529
    Abstract: An exhaust system for a combustion source is disclosed. The exhaust system may have a passageway connected to receive an exhaust flow from the combustion source, and a sensor disposed within the passageway. The sensor may generate a signal indicative of the concentration of a constituent in the exhaust flow. The exhaust system may also have a controller in communication with the sensor to receive the signal. The controller may be configured to selectively communicate a flow of calibration gas with the sensor during operation of the combustion source, and compare the signal received during the selective communication with a reference value. The controller may be further configured to adjust the sensor output in response to the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mary Louise Kesse, Paul Adam Gamble, James Joshua Driscoll, Michael Paul Withrow
  • Patent number: 7702447
    Abstract: An isolation method and system is described for distinguishing between turbine case cooling (TCC) and high pressure turbine (HPT) performance faults. A trend is observed in gas path parameter data during cruise and a resulting percent ? signature across the shift in the gas path parameters is assignable to either an HPT or TCC performance fault. During either fault, exhaust gas temperature (EGT) will shift upward. Since take-off EGT margin is calculated from take-off data, the shift, or lack of shift in EGT margin may be used to differentiate between TCC and HPT faults.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Allan J. Volponi
  • Publication number: 20100058849
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for automatically identifying a type of vehicle or a type of tire on a test stand. Said method comprises the following steps: a) predetermined parameters characterizing the type of vehicle or type of tire are supplied; b) a test stand encompassing a plurality of sensors is provided; c) at least some areas of a vehicle or tire are sensed on the test stand; d) at least one vehicle or tire property is determined from values sensed by means of at least some of the sensors. Said method is characterized in that: e) the properties determined in step d) are compared with the predetermined parameters; f) the type of vehicle or type of tire is assigned based on the result obtained in step e), or parameters of a new type of vehicle or type of tire are defined if a type of vehicle or type of tire cannot be assigned because properties fail to match the parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Ulrich Pingel, Ralf Viehl
  • Publication number: 20090272182
    Abstract: A load cell detects wheel forces and/or moments at tire test stands in the laboratory and on mobile test vehicles based on the piezoelectric measurement principle. The load cell comprises a base plate and a cover plate facing the base plate as well as a plate-shaped quartz sensor, arranged between the plates in a laminar manner. The base plate and cover plate are designed in an elongated shape and include two or more of the plate-shaped quartz sensors there between. The plate-shaped quartz sensors are arranged in an array with respect to the longitudinal orientation of the plates and are preloaded by the plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: KISTLER HOLDING AG
    Inventors: MARTIN AMMANN, FRANK FURTER
  • Publication number: 20080202227
    Abstract: A test bed and method for performing aerodynamic measurements on an object, in particular, a vehicle, are provided, in which a weighing plate serves to support the weight of the object. The weighing plate is mounted on a bearing device relative to a stationary environment. The bearing device is formed with at least one magnetic bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Welf EBELING, Karlheinz EBBINGHAUS, Edzard MERCKER, Oliver MEYER
  • Publication number: 20080148832
    Abstract: A system and method for testing the operation of fuel pump is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pressure measurement portion, a flow measurement portion, an electrical diagnostic portion, and a fault simulation portion, where a user can simulate a number of potential fuel system failures to determine the diagnostics of the fuel system. The method includes the steps of measuring an electrical value related to said fuel pump, measuring a pressure related to said fuel pump, measuring a fuel flow related to said fuel pump, simulating a fuel system failure condition, and determining an operating status of said fuel pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Baker, James M. Merlotti
  • Publication number: 20080148834
    Abstract: A detection apparatus has an intake air temperature detection part less prone to receive an adverse influence due to hear generation in an intake air pressure detection part. The apparatus includes an exterior resin integrated with a terminal having one end exposed therefrom, a sensor module received in the exterior resin and having a lead frame connected to the other end of the terminal, an intake air pressure detection part electrically connected to the lead frame for detecting air pressure in the intake pipe, an intake air temperature detection part electrically connected to the lead frame for detecting an air temperature in the intake pipe, and a base having a base end connected to the exterior resin and a vent hole for introducing the air in the intake pipe to the intake air pressure and temperature detection parts. The intake air pressure and temperature detection parts are formed separately from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Izuru Shinjo
  • Publication number: 20080148831
    Abstract: Current based methods and systems for testing an electromagnetically actuated fuel injector of an engine are provided. In at least one embodiment, an injector is commanded to actuate, data about a current associated with the command is collected, and a determination is made regarding whether the injector is functioning properly based on the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Harry Kekedjian, Roderick Simpson, Alexander Marrocco
  • Publication number: 20080148835
    Abstract: The engine misfire detection apparatus of the invention successively determines whether a rotational fluctuation difference Nxd360 as a difference between a rotational fluctuation Nxd at a certain crank angle CA of an engine and a rotational fluctuation Nxd at a 360 degree-prior crank angle CA exceeds a predetermined reference value A1 (step S150) and whether a rotational fluctuation difference Nxd720 as a difference between the rotational fluctuation Nxd at the certain crank angle CA and a rotational fluctuation Nxd at a 720 degree-prior crank angle CA exceeds a predetermined reference value B1 (step S160).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hikokazu Akimoto, Osamu Harada, Takahiro Nishigaki, Akihiro Katayama
  • Publication number: 20080148833
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a sensing apparatus senses rotation of an engine component (e.g., a crank shaft) relative to an engine body. The sensing apparatus includes a sensor, and a bracket configured to position the sensor in a fixed location relative to the engine body. The starter ring has (i) a support portion configured to rotate in tandem with the engine component, (ii) a starter interface mounted to the support portion, the starter interface being configured to receive drive from a starter motor during operation of the starter motor, and (iii) a trigger portion mounted to the support portion. The trigger portion is configured to provide a series of indicators during rotation of the engine component. The series of indicators (e.g., a series of magnetic field perturbations during rotation of the engine component) is readable by the sensor thus enabling identification of component positioning and speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: Lycoming Engines, a division of Avco Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Kremer, Forrest Lysinger, Jason Rogers