US4182166A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dynamometer test stand
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
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Filing: 1977-07-18
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Granted: 1980-01-08
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Expires: 1997-07-18
Abstract
Abstract A test stand including a dynamometer having a housing with two parts relatively rotatable about an axis, one of the parts defining an end of the dynamometer and serving as a rotary input adapted to be coupled to a rotary output of a mechanism to be tested, the other of the parts defining the other end of the dynamometer, a fixed base, a movable base mounted on the fixed base for movement generally parallel to the axis, a motor for moving the movable base on the fixed base, a self-aligning bearing on the axis and rotatably interconnecting the other end of the dynamometer and the movable base, a load cell adjacent the dynamometer other end and interconnecting the housing other part and the movable base, and a cradle mounted on the movable base intermediate the dynamometer ends for supporting the housing when the rotary input is not coupled to a mechanism to be tested.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles H. Herr, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:04
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M15/00; G01M15/04; G01M15/042; G01M15/044; G01L; G01L3/00; G01L3/16; G01L3/18; G01M15/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A test stand comprising: a dynamometer including a housing having opposed ends; one of said ends including a rotary input adapted to be coupled to a rotary output of a mechanism to be tested and driven about an axis; a base for mounting said housing; a single self-aligning bearing located on said axis and interconnecting said housing at the other end of the housing and said base for relative rotation about said axis; and a load cell adjacent said other end and interconnecting said base and said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
A test stand comprising: a dynamometer including a housing having opposed ends; one of said ends including a rotary input adapted to be coupled to a rotary output of a mechanism to be tested and driven about an axis; a base for mounting said housing; a single self-aligning bearing located on said axis and interconnecting said housing at the other end of the housing and said base for relative rotation about said axis; and a load cell adjacent said other end and interconnecting said base and said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The test stand of claim 1 wherein said bearing and said load cell are disposed in a common plane transverse to said axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
A test stand comprising: a dynamometer including a housing and a rotary input at one end thereof adapted to be coupled to a rotary output of a mechanism to be tested and driven about an axis, a base for mounting said dynamometer, a single self-aligning bearing remote from said one end interconnecting said housing and said base for relative rotation about said axis, and a load cell disposed in a plane substantially transverse to said axis and extending substantially through said bearing, said load cell interconnecting said housing and said base.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
91 words
A test stand comprising: a dynamometer including a housing and a rotary input at one end thereof adapted to be coupled to a rotary output of a mechanism to be tested and driven about an axis, a base for mounting said dynamometer, a single self-aligning bearing remote from said one end interconnecting said housing and said base for relative rotation about said axis, and a load cell disposed in a plane substantially transverse to said axis and extending substantially through said bearing, said load cell interconnecting said housing and said base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
151 words
A test stand comprising: a dynamometer including a housing having two parts relatively rotatable about an axis, one of said parts defining an end of the dynamometer and serving as a rotary input adapted to be coupled to a rotary output of a mechanism to be tested, the other of said parts defining the other end of the dynamometer; a fixed base; a movable base mounted on said fixed base for movement generally parallel to said axis; means for moving said movable base on said fixed base; a self-aligning bearing on said axis and rotatably interconnecting said dynamometer other end and said movable base; a load cell adjacent said dynamometer other end and interconnecting said housing other part and said movable base; and cradle means mounted on said movable base intermediate said dynamometer ends for supporting said housing when said rotary input is not coupled to a mechanism to be tested.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
151 words
A test stand comprising: a dynamometer including a housing having two parts relatively rotatable about an axis, one of said parts defining an end of the dynamometer and serving as a rotary input adapted to be coupled to a rotary output of a mechanism to be tested, the other of said parts defining the other end of the dynamometer; a fixed base; a movable base mounted on said fixed base for movement generally parallel to said axis; means for moving said movable base on said fixed base; a self-aligning bearing on said axis and rotatably interconnecting said dynamometer other end and said movable base; a load cell adjacent said dynamometer other end and interconnecting said housing other part and said movable base; and cradle means mounted on said movable base intermediate said dynamometer ends for supporting said housing when said rotary input is not coupled to a mechanism to be tested.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The test stand of claim 4 wherein said cradle means is disposed below said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The test stand of claim 5 wherein said housing one part mounts a chuck having guide means for guiding itself into coupled relationship with a rotary output of a mechanism to be tested.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The test stand of claim 4 wherein said self-aligning bearing comprises a spherical bushing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The test stand of claim 4 wherein said dynamometer comprises a liquid cooled automotive disc brake.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
116 words
A test stand comprising: a dynamometer including a housing having two parts relatively rotatable about an axis; a rotary input connected to one housing part; a fixed base; a movable base mounted on said fixed base for movement generally parallel to said axis; means for moving said movable base on said fixed base; a self-aligning bearing rotatably interconnecting said movable base and the housing other part; a load cell disposed in a plane generally transverse to said axis and generally including said bearing and interconnecting said housing other part and said movable base; and means spaced from said bearing for supporting said housing when said rotary input is not coupled to a mechanism to be tested.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
116 words
A test stand comprising: a dynamometer including a housing having two parts relatively rotatable about an axis; a rotary input connected to one housing part; a fixed base; a movable base mounted on said fixed base for movement generally parallel to said axis; means for moving said movable base on said fixed base; a self-aligning bearing rotatably interconnecting said movable base and the housing other part; a load cell disposed in a plane generally transverse to said axis and generally including said bearing and interconnecting said housing other part and said movable base; and means spaced from said bearing for supporting said housing when said rotary input is not coupled to a mechanism to be tested.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The test stand of claim 9 wherein said movable base is below said housing and said supporting means comprises an upwardly extending cradle mounted on said movable base.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
119 words
A test stand comprising: a dynamometer including a housing and a rotary input at one end thereof adapted to be coupled to a rotary output of a mechanism to be tested and driven about an axis, a base for mounting said dynamometer, a self-aligning bearing remote from said one end interconnecting said housing and said base for relative rotation about said axis, a load cell disposed in a plane substantially transverse to said axis and extending substantially through said bearing, said load cell interconnecting said housing and said base, and a cradle mounted on said base in spaced relation to said bearing for supporting said housing when said rotary input is not coupled to a mechanism to be tested.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
119 words
A test stand comprising: a dynamometer including a housing and a rotary input at one end thereof adapted to be coupled to a rotary output of a mechanism to be tested and driven about an axis, a base for mounting said dynamometer, a self-aligning bearing remote from said one end interconnecting said housing and said base for relative rotation about said axis, a load cell disposed in a plane substantially transverse to said axis and extending substantially through said bearing, said load cell interconnecting said housing and said base, and a cradle mounted on said base in spaced relation to said bearing for supporting said housing when said rotary input is not coupled to a mechanism to be tested.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
97 words
A test stand comprising: a dynamometer including a housing having opposed ends; one of said ends including a rotary input adapted to be coupled to a rotary output of a mechanism to be tested and driven about an axis; a base for mounting said housing; self-aligning bearing means interconnecting said housing on said axis remote from said one end and said base such that said housing is freely movable about a point on said axis and within the envelope of said bearing means; and a load cell adjacent said point and interconnecting said base and said housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
97 words
A test stand comprising: a dynamometer including a housing having opposed ends; one of said ends including a rotary input adapted to be coupled to a rotary output of a mechanism to be tested and driven about an axis; a base for mounting said housing; self-aligning bearing means interconnecting said housing on said axis remote from said one end and said base such that said housing is freely movable about a point on said axis and within the envelope of said bearing means; and a load cell adjacent said point and interconnecting said base and said housing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
81 words
A test stand comprising: a dynamometer including a housing having opposed ends; one of said ends including a rotary input adapted to be coupled to a rotary output of a mechanism to be tested and driven about an axis; a base for mounting said housing; means mounting said housing on said base for universal movement about a point on said axis near the housing other end; and a load cell adjacent said other end and interconnecting said base and said housing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
81 words
A test stand comprising: a dynamometer including a housing having opposed ends; one of said ends including a rotary input adapted to be coupled to a rotary output of a mechanism to be tested and driven about an axis; a base for mounting said housing; means mounting said housing on said base for universal movement about a point on said axis near the housing other end; and a load cell adjacent said other end and interconnecting said base and said housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-01-07 | 1983-07-09 | 1984-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-01-07 | 1987-07-09 | 1988-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-01-07 | 1991-07-09 | 1992-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |