Method and apparatus for testing shock absorbers

Claim 2

Apparatus for testing the performance of shock absorbers in combination with a suspension of a vehicle comprising: a ramp adapted to support a wheel of the vehicle advanced thereover and responsive in deformation to the loading of the wheel thereon, said ramp being conformed in longitudinal cross section to substantially define a sinusoidal function terminating at either end at the adjacent minimum elevations thereof and including a substantially central maximum elevation: a fulcrum attached to the ramp proximate the center thereof and extending normal thereto to a length beyond a plane joining the ends of said ramp; and measuring means connected to register the deformation of said ramp for producing a signal indicative of the distributed loading difference thereon in complement about said fulcrum in response to the advancing of the wheel thereover.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: switching means connected to said measuring means and adapted to be activated by a selected structure of the vehicle for isolating the signal indicative of the loading on said ramp developed by a front wheel from the signal indicative of the loading developed by a rear wheel.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising: a first and second integrator alternatively connected with said measuring means according to the position of said switching means, said first And second integrators alternatively integrating in complementary sequence a signal indicative of the loading deformation of said ramp on the distal sides of said fulcrum.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said switching means comprises: a hold circuit alternatively connected to a respective one of the first or second integrator when the corresponding other one is connected with said measuring means.

Claim 8

A method according to claim 5 wherein: the step of combining includes integrating the measurement of the deformation of the respective sides of said ramp to produce an integrated difference therebetween.

Claim 9

A method according to claim 6 wherein: the step of combining further includes switching between a first integrator and a second integrator for selectively producing integrated differences corresponding to a first wheel of said vehicle and a second wheel thereof.

Claim 10

Apparatus for testing the performance of shock absorbers in combination with a suspension of a vehicle, comprising: a ramp adapted to support a wheel of the vehicle advanced thereover and responsive in deformation to the loading of the wheel thereon, said ramp being conformed in longitudinal cross section to substantially define a sinusoidal function terminating at either end at the adjacent minimum elevations thereof and including a substantially central maximum elevation and having a first side disposed between one said minimum and said maximum elevation and a second side disposed between the other said minimum and maximum elevation; a fulcrum attached at one end thereof to the ramp proximate the center thereof joining said first and second sides and extending substantially normal thereto to terminate for pivotal motion at the other end thereof beyond a plane joining the respective free ends of said first and second sides; and measuring means connected to register the deformation of said ramp for producing a signal indicative of the distributed loading difference on said respective first and second sides in complement about said fulcrum in response to the advancing of the wheel thereover.

Claim 11

Apparatus for testing the performance of shock absorbers in combination with a suspension of a vehicle, comprising: a ramp adapted to support a wheel of the vehicle advanced thereover and responsive in deformation to the loading of the wheel thereon, said ramp being conformed in longitudinal cross section to substantially define a sinusoidal function terminating at either end at the adjacent minimum elevations thereof and including a substantially central maximum elevation and having a first side disposed between one said minimum and said maximum elevation and a second side disposed between the other said minimum and maximum elevation; a fulcrum attached at one end thereof to the ramp proximate the center thereof joining said first and second sides and extending substantially normal thereto to terminate for pivotal motion at the other end thereof beyond a plane joining the respective free ends of said first and second sides; and measuring means connected to register the deformation of said ramp for producing a signal indicative of the distributed loading difference on said respective first and second sides in complement about said fulcrum in response to the advancing of the wheel thereover.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein: said ramp being further conformed in longitudinal cross section to compensate for pivotal motion about the free end of said fulcrum having said first side shaped to substantially define a half of a sine function referenced to a plane supporting the corresponding one end thereof and the free end of said fulcrum and said second side shaped substantially to define the other half of the sine function referenced to a plane joining the other end thereof and the free end of said fulcrum, said one and the other ends being respectively associated with said first and second sides of said ramp.