Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of controlling a dynamometer system for simulating road load forces and speed of a vehicle being tested in place which system includes means adapted for driving engagement with the powertrain of the vehicle, a power absorption and motoring unit coupled with the driving engagement means for simulating road load forces, a torque transducer for providing a signal corresponding to the equivalent force of the power absorption and motoring unit and a speed transducer for providing a signal corresponding to the speed of the power absorption and motoring unit, said method comprising the steps of: (a) determining changes in the speed of the power absorption unit as a result of changes in speed of the vehicle; (b) determining the force to which the power absorption and motoring unit must be set to match the change in force of the vehicle which produces the change in speed; (c) determining the feed-forward force value to compensate for errors in the change of speed of the power absorption and motoring unit as a result of differences in the mass of the vehicle and the dynamometer; and (d) setting the power absorption and motoring unit at a force equal to the sum of the forces determined in steps (b) and (c).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of controlling a dynamometer system for simulating road load forces and speed of a vehicle being tested in place which system includes means adapted for driving engagement with the powertrain of the vehicle, a power absorption and motoring unit coupled with the driving engagement means for simulating road load forces, a torque transducer for providing a signal corresponding to the equivalent force of the power absorption and motoring unit and a speed transducer for providing a signal corresponding to the speed of the power absorption and motoring unit, said method comprising the steps of: (a) determining changes in the speed of the power absorption unit as a result of changes in speed of the vehicle; (b) determining the force to which the power absorption and motoring unit must be set to match the change in force of the vehicle which produces the change in speed; (c) determining the feed-forward force value to compensate for errors in the change of speed of the power absorption and motoring unit as a result of differences in the mass of the vehicle and the dynamometer; and (d) setting the power absorption and motoring unit at a force equal to the sum of the forces determined in steps (b) and (c).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 in which steps (a) and (b) are taken over a short, precise time unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 in which steps (a) through (d) are repeated over successive short, precise time units.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
242 words
A method of controlling a dynamometer system for simulating road load forces and speed of a vehicle being tested in place which system includes means adapted for driving engagement with the powertrain of the vehicle, a power absorption and motoring unit coupled with the driving engagement means for simulating road load forces, a torque transducer for providing a signal corresponding to the equivalent force of the power absorption and motoring unit, and a speed transducer for providing a signal corresponding to the speed of the power absorption and motoring unit, said method comprising the steps of: (a) determining the power absorption and motoring unit force (F m ) and speed (V m ) over a short, precise time unit (Δt) to obtain the average force using the readings preceding and following each time interval; (b) determining the road equivalent speed change (ΔV r ) over Δt; (c) determining a first feed-forward force value (F c1 ) to which the power absorption and motoring unit force must be set to match the change in the power absorption and motoring unit speed to ΔV r ; (d) determining a second feed-forward force value (F c2 ) to be added to F c1 to compensate for errors between V m and V r as a result of differences in the mass of the vehicle and the dynamometer; and (e) setting the force of the dynamometer to the sum of F c1 and F c2 .
Claim 6
Independent Claim
242 words
A method of controlling a dynamometer system for simulating road load forces and speed of a vehicle being tested in place which system includes means adapted for driving engagement with the powertrain of the vehicle, a power absorption and motoring unit coupled with the driving engagement means for simulating road load forces, a torque transducer for providing a signal corresponding to the equivalent force of the power absorption and motoring unit, and a speed transducer for providing a signal corresponding to the speed of the power absorption and motoring unit, said method comprising the steps of: (a) determining the power absorption and motoring unit force (F m ) and speed (V m ) over a short, precise time unit (Δt) to obtain the average force using the readings preceding and following each time interval; (b) determining the road equivalent speed change (ΔV r ) over Δt; (c) determining a first feed-forward force value (F c1 ) to which the power absorption and motoring unit force must be set to match the change in the power absorption and motoring unit speed to ΔV r ; (d) determining a second feed-forward force value (F c2 ) to be added to F c1 to compensate for errors between V m and V r as a result of differences in the mass of the vehicle and the dynamometer; and (e) setting the force of the dynamometer to the sum of F c1 and F c2 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 4 in which steps (a) through (e) are repeated at the end of each Δt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method in accordance with claim 5 in which F c2 is determined by the following: F.sub.c2 =(V.sub.m -V.sub.r) M.sub.o /Δt where M o =effective mass of dynamometer outside of control loop.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
114 words
A method in accordance with claim 6 in which ΔV r is determined by the following: ##EQU2## where F ma =the average F m using the readings preceding and following each time interval, V ma =the average speed, A=a constant rolling resistance parameter with dynamometer constant friction outside the control loop subtracted, B=a constant which is the speed proportional rolling resistance parameter with dynamometer speed proportional friction outside the control loop subtracted, C=a constant which is a wind resistance parameter with dynamometer speed squared friction outside the control loop substrate subtracted, W=gross weight of vehicle, sinθ=sine of hill angle above or below horizontal, D=constant parameter for braking and miscellaneous forces, M=effective mass of vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 7 in which F c1 is determined by the following: F.sub.c1 =A+BV.sub.m +CV.sub.m.sup.2 +W(sinθ+D)+(M-M.sub.o)(ΔV.sub.r /Δt).