Measuring and testing – Simulating operating condition – Marine
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-04
2001-07-10
Fuller, Benjamin R. (Department: 2855)
Measuring and testing
Simulating operating condition
Marine
C073S669000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257055
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to loading assemblies used for testing portions of a vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a loading assembly for applying at least one of a lateral force, a steer moment and a camber moment to the vehicle spindle.
Many test fixtures have been advanced to apply forces and moments to a vehicle spindle in order to simulate driving or road conditions. These test fixtures often include separate actuators to apply substantially independent vertical, longitudinal and lateral forces as well as a braking moments to the vehicle spindle. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,733,558 and 5,083,453 disclose two such test fixtures.
Commonly, the test fixtures include a wheel adapter housing that is mounted to the vehicle spindle. Two vertical struts are joined to the perimeter of the wheel adapter housing and are used to transfer the longitudinal forces, the vertical forces and the braking moments to the vehicle spindle. A center downwardly projecting tang located between the vertical struts and also joined to the perimeter of the wheel adapter housing is joined to a lateral strut, which is used to transmit lateral force developed from an actuator.
Although the above-identified test fixtures are quite capable of applying longitudinal forces, vertical forces, lateral forces and braking moments to the vehicle spindle, adaptation of the test fixtures in order to apply either steer moments or camber moments to the vehicle spindle is not easy. U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,615 describes a test fixture for applying steer and camber moments. In this fixture, a plurality of struts connect to the wheel adapter at spaced-apart locations in order to develop the desired moments. However, vehicle fender well sheet metal can create severance clearance problems that make application of the fixture to some vehicles difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A loading assembly used in a vehicle spindle text fixture to apply a lateral force parallel to a spindle axis of a vehicle spindle includes a support frame and a wheel adapter housing mountable to the vehicle spindle. A pair of vertical struts are pivotally joined to the wheel adapter housing. A first actuator is operably coupled to the vertical struts to apply a force along a vertical axis substantially perpendicular to the spindle axis and substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. A pair of lateral struts are provided. Each lateral strut is pivotally joined to one of the vertical struts. A second actuator is operably coupled to the lateral struts to apply a lateral force.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3028761 (1962-04-01), Cole, Jr.
patent: 3713330 (1973-01-01), Lentz
patent: 4016754 (1977-04-01), Wiss
patent: 4133201 (1979-01-01), Klinger
patent: 4263809 (1981-04-01), Petersen et al.
patent: 4501139 (1985-02-01), Petersen
patent: 4567782 (1986-02-01), Speicher et al.
patent: 4658656 (1987-04-01), Haeg
patent: 4733558 (1988-03-01), Grenier
patent: 4977791 (1990-12-01), Erichsen
patent: 4981034 (1991-01-01), Haeg
patent: 5083453 (1992-01-01), Daley
patent: 5088320 (1992-02-01), Fukuda et al.
patent: 5131267 (1992-07-01), Fukuda et al.
patent: 5241856 (1993-09-01), Petersen et al.
patent: 5465615 (1995-11-01), Petersen et al.
Haeg Steven R.
Zieman Ricky L.
Fuller Benjamin R.
Koehler S.
MTS Systems Corporation
Stevens Maurice
Westman Champlin & Kelly P.A.
LandOfFree
Loading assembly for a vehicle spindle test fixture does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Loading assembly for a vehicle spindle test fixture, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Loading assembly for a vehicle spindle test fixture will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2488968