Patent US3857276A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3857276A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Shock absorber testing apparatus
Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Europe BVBA
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Filing: 1972-12-08
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Granted: 1974-12-31
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Expires: 1992-12-08
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for testing vehicular shock absorbers in situ upon a vehicle having a sprung portion and supporting wheels, the apparatus comprising a support structure, elevating means on the structure engageable with one supporting wheel of a vehicle and adapted to exert an upwardly directed force thereagainst and thereby raise the wheel and that portion of the vehicle supported thereby from a relatively non-elevated position to a relatively elevated position, means for permitting the elevated wheel and portion of the vehicle supported thereon to fall from the elevated position to the non-elevated position and means for sensing the velocity and/or acceleration of one of the portions of the vehicle with respect to some preselected reference surface during the fall thereof and thereby determine the rebound and compression characteristics of the associated shock absorber.
Inventors
- 👤 J Fader
- 👤 J Keijzer
- 👤 R Versehoore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:49
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M17/00; G01M17/007; G01M17/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
234 words
In an apparatus for testing vehicular shock absorbers in situ upon a braked, parked or otherwise relatively stationary vehicle having a sprung portion supported by associated suspension springs from an unsprung portion with the unsprung portion including road contacting wheels, the apparatus comprising: a support structure adapted to be fixedly mounted relative to a reference surface; an elevatable platform supported by said structure for upward and downward movement relative to said structure and for supporting one road contacting wheel of said vehicle; ramp means supported by said structure for permitting said vehicle to be driven to a point wherein said wheel is located on said platform; means operatively connected between said platform and said support structure for elevating said platform and thereby raising said wheel and that portion of the vehicle supported thereon from a relatively non-elevated position to a relatively elevated position and simultaneously compressing the suspension spring associated with said wheel; means for permitting said platform and said elevated portions of the vehicle to fall from said elevated position to said non-elevated position whereby said elevated wheel will be ejected downwardly under the influence of the compressed spring, means for sensing the rate of movement of one of the vehicle portions with respect to said reference surface during the fall thereof for determining the operational characteristics of the associated shock absorber; and resilient means located below said platform for cushioning said fall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
234 words
In an apparatus for testing vehicular shock absorbers in situ upon a braked, parked or otherwise relatively stationary vehicle having a sprung portion supported by associated suspension springs from an unsprung portion with the unsprung portion including road contacting wheels, the apparatus comprising: a support structure adapted to be fixedly mounted relative to a reference surface; an elevatable platform supported by said structure for upward and downward movement relative to said structure and for supporting one road contacting wheel of said vehicle; ramp means supported by said structure for permitting said vehicle to be driven to a point wherein said wheel is located on said platform; means operatively connected between said platform and said support structure for elevating said platform and thereby raising said wheel and that portion of the vehicle supported thereon from a relatively non-elevated position to a relatively elevated position and simultaneously compressing the suspension spring associated with said wheel; means for permitting said platform and said elevated portions of the vehicle to fall from said elevated position to said non-elevated position whereby said elevated wheel will be ejected downwardly under the influence of the compressed spring, means for sensing the rate of movement of one of the vehicle portions with respect to said reference surface during the fall thereof for determining the operational characteristics of the associated shock absorber; and resilient means located below said platform for cushioning said fall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support structure has a generally flat rectangular shape which is adapted to be located at least partially beneath said one road contacting wheel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said platform includes a surface located along one marginal edge which is located beneath and at least partially supports an outer peripheral surface of said wheel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one edge of said platform is located above the elevation of said structure, and wherein said ramp means permits said wheel to traverse said elevation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said resilient means includes at least one resilient bumper element located directly subjacent of said platform.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said platform includes at least one side wall projecting upwardly from said platform and adapted to confine said wheel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for elevating said platform includes a fluid actuated piston and cylinder assembly for raising and lowering said platform.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support structure is portable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sensing means includes means for determining the rate of velocity of one of the vehicle portions with respect to said reference surface during the fall thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sensing means includes means for determining the rate of acceLeration of one of the vehicle portions with respect to said reference surface during the fall thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sensing means includes means for sensing the displacement of one of the vehicle portions with respect to said reference surface during the fall thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reference surface is defined by the ground.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reference surface is defined by said support structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
166 words
In the method of testing vehicular shock absorbers in situ upon a braked, parked or otherwise stationary vehicle having a sprung portion supported by associated suspension springs from an unsprung portion with the unsprung portion including road contacting wheels, the steps which include, locating an elevatable platform under one of the road contacting wheels, elevating the platform so as to exert an upwardly directed force against said one wheel of the vehicle and thereby raise said wheel and that portion of the vehicle supported thereon from a relatively non-elevated position defined by a reference surface to a relatively elevated position, permitting said platform and said elevated wheel and portion of the vehicle supported thereon to fall from said elevated position to said non-elevated position while preventing fore and aft movement of the vehicle, and sensing the rate of movement of one of the vehicle portions with respect to the reference surface during the fall thereof and thereby determining the operational characteristics of the associated shock absorber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
166 words
In the method of testing vehicular shock absorbers in situ upon a braked, parked or otherwise stationary vehicle having a sprung portion supported by associated suspension springs from an unsprung portion with the unsprung portion including road contacting wheels, the steps which include, locating an elevatable platform under one of the road contacting wheels, elevating the platform so as to exert an upwardly directed force against said one wheel of the vehicle and thereby raise said wheel and that portion of the vehicle supported thereon from a relatively non-elevated position defined by a reference surface to a relatively elevated position, permitting said platform and said elevated wheel and portion of the vehicle supported thereon to fall from said elevated position to said non-elevated position while preventing fore and aft movement of the vehicle, and sensing the rate of movement of one of the vehicle portions with respect to the reference surface during the fall thereof and thereby determining the operational characteristics of the associated shock absorber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method as set forth in claim 14 wherein said step of sensing the rate of movement consists of determining the rate of velocity of one of the vehicle portions with respect to the reference surface during the fall thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method as set forth in claim 14 wherein said step of sensing the rate of movement consists of determining the rate of acceleration of one of the vehicle portions with respect to the reference surface during the fall thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as set forth in claim 14 which includes the step of cushioning the fall of said platform and said elevated wheel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-30 | 1978-07-01 | 1978-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-30 | 1982-07-01 | 1982-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-30 | 1986-07-01 | 1986-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |