Device for applying vibrations to passenger cars

Abstract

DEVICE FOR APPLYING VIBRATIONS TO PASSENGER CARS. A device for applying vibrations to passenger cars, which has a platform with a roller on which a pair of front or rear wheels of the passenger car can be positioned, wherein the roller has for each wheel positioned on it at least two tracks with a different relief, all in such a way that, in a first position, the passenger car is located with the wheels on a first pair of tracks and, in a second position, is located with the wheels on another pair of tracks, and so that, by rotating the rollers under the wheels, vibrations are applied to the passenger car by the relief of the roller, wherein each track has a width that is greater than the largest of the different wheel widths and wherein there is a distance between each of the first and second pair of tracks that is substantially equal to the largest of the different track widths.

Description

1 / 13 “DEVICE FOR APPLYING VIBRATIONS TO PASSENGER CARS”

[001] The invention relates to a device for applying vibrations to passenger cars.

[002] When testing prototype passenger cars and / or adjusting and / or improving passenger cars that are in production, these cars are tested for vibration. More specifically, the cars are placed in a device where the passenger cars are positioned with at least two wheels, the front wheels and / or the rear wheels, on rollers. The rollers have a surface relief in order to generate a predetermined vibration when they turn under the wheels. A surface relief can, for example, be created to mimic a predetermined ground surface, such as cobblestones. When the passenger car is placed with its wheels on the rollers, and the wheels and rollers rotate, a vibration is applied to the car by the surface relief. This vibration corresponds to a vibration of the passenger car when moving along the predetermined ground surface. Such a device is known in practice as a so-called rattle machine.

[003] Rollers typically have a plurality of tracks. Each track has its own relief. Each relief corresponds to a different type of ground surface. By providing each roller with a plurality of tracks, for example, a track on the left side and a track on the right side with a different relief, the passenger car can first be placed on the left side of the device so as to test the passenger car on the left-side relief, and the passenger car can then be moved to the right-side track so as to be tested on the right-side relief. Lateral displacement of the vehicle on the device is simple when the rollers and wheels are rotating. This allows the vehicle to be tested for different types of ground surface on one device. By varying the rotational speed of the rollers and Petition 870220060350, dated 08 / 07 / 2022, page 8 / 27 2 / 13 Selecting the terrain of different tracks, a passenger car can be tested for different species, types, and frequencies of vibration.

[004] It is an object of the invention to improve the device for applying vibrations in passenger cars, so that the device can be used for passenger cars with different track widths and different wheel widths.

[005] The invention provides for this purpose a device for applying vibrations to passenger cars with different track widths and different wheel widths, said device having a platform on which the passenger car can be placed, the platform having a roller on which a front or rear pair of wheels of the passenger car can be positioned, the roller having for each wheel positioned on it at least two tracks with a different relief, all this in such a way that in a first position in the device, the passenger car is located with the wheels on a first pair of tracks and in a second position in the device it is located with the wheels on another pair of tracks and in such a way that, by rotating the rollers under the wheels, the vibrations are applied to the passenger car by the relief of the roller, each track having a width that is greater than the largest of the different wheel widths and in which there is a distance,measured on the outer sides of each trail, between each of the first and second pairs of trails, the distance between which is substantially equal to the greater of the different trail widths.

[006] The device according to the invention provides a roller on which a pair of front wheels or a pair of rear wheels of the passenger car can be positioned. Two wheels of the passenger car are located on the roller during the operation of the device when testing the passenger car. The roller has at least two tracks for each of the two wheels. Each track is provided with a relief on its surface to imitate or simulate a predetermined ground surface. The tracks for the left wheel and the tracks for the right wheel correspond. This means that in a first position, the vehicle can be Petition 870220060350, dated 08 / 07 / 2022, page 9 / 27 3 / 13 positioned on the roller, so that the two wheels are located on the first corresponding tracks and in the second position the two wheels are located on the second tracks. When testing the passenger car, this allows a first test to be performed in which the vehicle is in the first position, and the vibrations are applied by the first relief, and in which, by a simple repositioning on the rollers, the vehicle can be tested on the same device for vibrations that are applied by the second relief.

[007] The invention is based on the perception that when the track width on the roller is considerably greater than the wheel width, and the distance measured on the outer sides of the corresponding tracks is equal to the greater track width, it is not necessary, or at least less necessary, to offset the left and right side tracks relative to each other. In practice, such devices were typically developed and optimized for a type of passenger car. A type of passenger car has only one wheel width, or at least a highly limited wheel width range. A type of car can also typically be supplied with a limited number of different wheel widths. The wheelbase for a type of passenger car is also fixed and predetermined. In known machines, the track width on the rollers is therefore typically adapted to the wheel width.The distance between the tracks is adapted to the distance between the wheels of the passenger car. In such a device, it is necessary to change the distance between the tracks on the left side and the tracks on the right side when a passenger car with a different track width needs to be tested.

[008] Altering the distance between the left-side and right-side tracks is not necessary in the device according to the invention. Because the track width is considerably greater than the largest width of the wheel, and because the distance between the left-side and right-side tracks, measured on the outer sides of each track, is equal to the largest track width, it is also possible to test Petition 870220060350, dated 07 / 08 / 2022, p. 10 / 27 4 / 13 vehicles with a narrower track width. Surprisingly, these proportions allow vehicles with varying track widths and wheel widths to be tested on the same device without having to alter the track spacing. This will be further explained and illustrated in the full description.

[009] The device is preferably further adapted to apply vibrations to passenger cars with different wheelbases, further comprising another roller on which another of a pair of front or rear wheels of the passenger car can be positioned, wherein a distance between the roller and the other roller can be adjusted so that the device is adjustable to passenger cars with different wheelbases. The additional roller is preferably constructed exactly like the roller described above.

[010] The other preferred roller has, for each wheel positioned on it, at least two tracks with different relief, all in such a way that, in the first position, the passenger car is located with the wheels on the first corresponding tracks and, in the second position, it is located with the wheels on other corresponding tracks.

[011] Each roller preferably has three tracks with a different relief for each wheel of the passenger car, each track being positioned so as to be located under the wheels in a predetermined position of the passenger car in the device.

[012] The roller preferably has a base body formed integrally, and the base body is preferably provided with a peripheral casing in which at least four tracks are formed, these forming at least two tracks for each wheel positioned on it.

[013] The second roller preferably has a base body formed integrally, and the base body is preferably provided with a peripheral casing in which at least four tracks are formed, these forming the said Petition 870220060350, dated 08 / 07 / 2022, page 11 / 27 5 / 13 at least two tracks for each wheel positioned on it.

[014] Each track preferably has a width greater than 400 mm, preferably greater than 425 mm, more preferably greater than 450 mm, and even more preferably about 475 mm.

[015] The distance between the corresponding tracks on a roller, measured on the outer sides of each track, is preferably less than 2200 mm, preferably less than 2100 mm and greater than 1500 mm, preferably greater than 1600 mm, more preferably still about 1800 mm.

[016] The device preferably also comprises a tilting mechanism for tilting the roller relative to the platform. The first roller may be tilted particularly clockwise while the second roller is tilted counterclockwise, so that a torque may be applied to the passenger car during the application of vibrations.

[017] The invention will now be described further on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing.

[018] In the drawing:

[019] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[020] Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of a device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in use;

[021] Figure 3 shows a roller of the device according to the invention and a passenger vehicle in multiple positions relative to the roller and

[022] Figure 4 shows a roller of the device according to the invention and another passenger vehicle.

[023] Identical or similar elements are designated in the drawing with the same reference number.

[024] In the context of this description, the word passenger car is Petition 870220060350, dated 07 / 08 / 2022, p. 12 / 27 6 / 13 broadly defined as a four-wheeled vehicle in which at least one person can occupy a seat. A passenger car is preferably a vehicle weighing more than 500 kg, preferably more than 1,000 kg, more preferably more than 1,500 kg and weighing less than 5,000 kg, preferably less than 3,500 kg, more preferably less than 3,000 kg. The passenger car is most suitablely configured to carry at least two people. Cargo transport, as in a van, may be a secondary function. Transporting families, as in a family car, may alternatively be a function. As a further alternative, the function may be traversing more difficult terrain, as in an off-road vehicle or SUV. As a further alternative, the function may be sporting performance, as in a sports car.In the context of this description, the term passenger car will preferably exclude a truck and a work vehicle, such as a forklift and a tractor. In the further description, a passenger car as defined above is understood when the word vehicle is used.

[025] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a device 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The device 1 has a platform 2. A passenger car can be placed on the platform 2. The platform 2 forms a surface that does not necessarily need to extend continuously, but which must nevertheless cover the upper side of the device 1 by a sufficient extent to allow a passenger car to be placed on the device. The device of the embodiment of Figure 1 comprises two rollers, a first roller 3 and a second roller 4. The two rollers 3 and 4 preferably assume a substantially identical shape. In some embodiments, however, it will be possible to give the two rollers different shapes. In another embodiment, only one roller is provided, i.e., only the first roller 3 or only the second roller 4 will be provided. When two rollers 3 and 4 are provided, a passenger car Petition 870220060350, dated 08 / 07 / 2022, page 13 / 27 7 / 13 passenger vehicles can be positioned with their front wheels on the first roller and their rear wheels on the second roller, thus applying vibrations to the passenger vehicle through all four wheels simultaneously. When only one roller is provided, it will only be possible to apply vibrations to two wheels at the same time, either the front wheels or the rear wheels, depending on which ones are placed on which roller.

[026] The purpose of device 1 is to apply vibrations to the wheels of a passenger vehicle. Device 1 is preferably intended to simulate driving on predetermined types of ground surface. For this purpose, each of the rollers 3 and 4 is provided in the position of its surface with a predetermined relief. In the embodiment shown, each roller 3 and 4 has three tracks for each wheel placed on it. The first track is designated with the reference number 5, the second track is designated with the reference number 6, and the third track is designated with the reference number 7. The tracks are positioned in device 1 so that a vehicle that is in a first position is located on the first corresponding track 5.In the configuration shown, the vehicle will be positioned on the far left with its left front wheel on track 5a, its right front wheel on track 5b, its left rear wheel on track 5c, and its right rear wheel on track 5d. When the passenger car is centrally located on the device, the wheels will be equally positioned on tracks 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d. When the vehicle is positioned on the right of the device, the wheels will be supported by tracks 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d. By providing different tracks 5, 6, and 7 with varying surface relief, different vibrations can be applied to the vehicle in different positions on device 1. This allows for extensive testing of the vehicle on different ground surfaces and speeds in a simple manner.

[027] Based on the function and purpose of device 1, the expert will realize that device 1 has a longitudinal direction and that rollers 3 and 4 extend Petition 870220060350, dated 07 / 08 / 2022, p. 14 / 27 8 / 13 transversely in relation to the longitudinal direction. Platform 2 is supported by a frame 8. The first roller 3 is preferably fixed to the frame 8. A second roller 4 is preferably connected to the frame 8 via a subframe 9 that is movable relative to the frame 8. This displacement is indicated by an arrow 10. The distance between the first roller 3 and the second roller 4 can be adjusted via the subframe 9. This distance can be chosen according to the wheelbase, so that the front wheels can be located on the first roller 3 and the rear wheels on the second roller 4. Alternatively, the distance can be chosen to position the front wheels separately or the rear wheels separately on roller 3 or 4. These different options increase the flexibility of the device 1.The expert will realize that, in another embodiment, the first roller 3 can be movable in relation to the frame 8, while the second roller 4 is mounted in a fixed manner in relation to the frame 8, or that both rollers 3 and 4 are movable.

[028] For safety reasons, railings 11 are preferably provided at the side edges of device 1. The railings 11 act as safety rails and will prevent a vehicle located on device 1 from accidentally ending up on the side adjacent to the device. A stop 12 is also preferably provided at the front of the device. The stop 12 is preferably removable, for example, taking the form of a post that can slide up and down relative to platform 2. The post can thus be slid down when a vehicle can leave platform 2 from the front and be slid up during the testing of a passenger car in order to prevent the passenger car from accidentally moving out of device 1 to the front.

[029] Based on the objective, one skilled in the art will further verify that rollers 3 and 4 comprise a drive for actuating the rollers in a predetermined number of revolutions. The drive for rollers 3 and 4 is Petition 870220060350, dated 08 / 07 / 2022, page 15 / 27 9 / 13 preferably synchronized with the drive of the passenger vehicle's wheels, mechanically, pneumatically, electrically or electronically, so that the vehicle remains on the rollers during the rotation of the rollers. The vehicle 3 can, for example, be secured in the device so that forward and backward movement of the vehicle body is prevented. When the rollers are activated, the wheels will automatically rotate synchronously. Alternatively, the vehicle's drive can be operatively coupled to the roller drive to allow synchronous rotation. As a further alternative, additional rollers can be placed in front of and / or behind the wheels to prevent the vehicle from moving forward and / or backward.

[030] Figure 2 shows a side view of a device according to the invention. Figure 2 shows a passenger car 13 situated in the device. The passenger car 13 has front wheels 14 and rear wheels 15. The front wheels 14 are both placed on the first roller 3 and the rear wheels 15 are both placed on the second roller 4. The distance between the front wheels 14 and the rear wheels 15 is referred to as the wheelbase 16. Different species and / or types of passenger cars 13 typically have different wheelbases 16. As the subframe 9 can move 10 relative to the frame 8, the distance 17 between the first and second rollers is adjustable. The distance 17 is preferably chosen to be the same as the wheelbase 16 of the passenger car being tested in the device. For this purpose, subframe 9 is normally connected via guides 18 to frame 8.The second roller 4 is held, i.e., mounted and actuated, on the subframe 9 and therefore indirectly on the frame 8. The first roller 3 is held, i.e., mounted and actuated, directly on the frame 8. Based on figure 2, a skilled individual will be able to verify how device 1 can be adjusted for passenger cars 13 with different wheelbases 16. Petition 870220060350, dated 08 / 07 / 2022, page 16 / 27 10 / 13

[031] Figure 3 shows a passenger vehicle 13 in rear view and shows a roller 3 or 4. The figure shows that the vehicle 13 has a wheel width 19. The width of the front wheels is not necessarily the same as the width of the rear wheels. In the figures, the wheel width is designated with the reference number 19. The figure also shows the track width 20 of the vehicle 13. The track width is defined as the distance between the outer sides of the wheels of the vehicle 13. In other words, the track width 20 is the distance between the left side of the left wheel and the right side of the right wheel, as shown in Figure 3. The track width 20 is not necessarily identical between the front wheels and the rear wheels of a vehicle 13.

[032] Figure 3A further shows roller 3 or 4 in a realistic proportion relative to vehicle 13. Each roller 3 and 4 is provided for the purpose of supporting two wheels of vehicle 13. Roller 3, 4 has a plurality of segments for each of the two wheels. The figure shows a first segment 5L for the left wheel and a first segment 5R for the right wheel, a second segment 6L for the left wheel and a second segment 6R for the right wheel, and a third segment 7L for the left wheel and a third segment 7R for the right wheel. In Figure 3A, vehicle 13 is positioned relative to rollers 3 and 4 in a first position where all wheels are located entirely on the first tracks 5. In Figure 3B, the same vehicle 13 is positioned on the same rollers 3 and 4 in a second position, where all wheels are located on the second tracks 6.In Figure 3C, the same vehicle is positioned on the same rollers in a third position, where all the wheels are located on the third track 7. The first position corresponds to a left position, the second position to a central position, and the third position to a right position.

[033] Figure 3 shows that the width 23 of a track is considerably greater than the width of the wheel 19 of vehicle 13. The distance between the tracks Petition 870220060350, dated 08 / 07 / 2022, page 17 / 27 The corresponding 11 / 13 distance, measured on the outside of the tracks, is designated in the figures with the reference number 21. This distance 21 is preferably substantially equal to the width of the vehicle track with the largest track width 20, which is to be tested on rollers 3 and 4. In the figures, only one distance 21 is shown, between the corresponding track 5L and track 5R. The distance between the corresponding tracks 6L and 6R and between the corresponding tracks 7L and 7R is determined similarly and is preferably substantially identical to the distance shown 21. The width of a track 23 is also designated only for track 7R. All tracks are preferably substantially the same width.

[034] Figure 4 shows how a different vehicle 13 can be tested on the same rollers 3, 4. The other vehicle 13 in Figure 4 has a considerably smaller wheel width 19 and a considerably smaller track width 20 than vehicle 13 in Figure 3. Since the width of tracks 5, 6, 7 is considerably larger than the width of the wheels of the vehicle in Figure 3, vehicle 13 in Figure 4 with a narrower track width 20 can still be placed with its wheels fully on the first track 5L, 5R. More specifically, vehicle 13 in Figure 4 can be positioned with its wheels fully on each track in the respective positions. The figure illustrates that it is not necessary to move or swap the tracks on the left 5L, 6L, 7L relative to the tracks on the right 5R, 6R, 7R to fit vehicle 13 in Figure 4. This considerably simplifies the construction of device 1 according to the invention.

[035] The specific choices regarding the width 23 of tracks 5, 6, 7 and the distance between the corresponding tracks 21 are not typical because most vehicles will not be positioned with their wheel centered on tracks 5, 6, 7. Tests have shown that this, however, is not a disadvantage. It is precisely because the wheels are not centrally located on tracks 5, 6, 7 that it becomes possible to test vehicles with different wheel widths and different track widths. Petition 870220060350, dated 08 / 07 / 2022, page 18 / 27 12 / 13 on a defined roller. The vehicle as shown in figure 3 will therefore most likely be located on the roller tracks on the outside. The vehicle in figure 4 will likely be located on the roller tracks on the inside.

[036] Because two wheels are placed on them in each case, each roller 4, 5 has two segments. A segment to the left of the roller comprises the tracks on the left side. The segment to the right of the roller comprises the tracks on the right side. In the figure, the left segment comprises tracks 5L, 6L and 7L. The right segment comprises tracks 5R, 6R and 7R. The roller is preferably integral. This results in the roller being able to be mounted and connected to the frame 8 at its outer ends. The bearing is shown schematically in Figure 4 and designated with reference number 22. For this purpose, the roller preferably has a fixed base body, for example, a fixed central shaft. Flanges, to which the outer surface can be attached, can be mounted on this shaft. The outer surface forms the surface of the roller. At the position of the roller surface, the roller can be provided with external fixings or elements that form the relief.Since roller 3, 4 is integrally formed, the distance between the left segment and the right segment can be minimal. The distance is preferably less than 200 mm, more preferably less than 150 mm. This means that there is a minimum distance between the inner side of the inner track of the first segment, which is the right side of track 7L in Figure 4, and the inner side of the inner track of the second segment, which is the left side of track 5R in Figure 4. This is possible because the roller is integrally formed and therefore does not require support or bearings between the segments.

[037] When vehicles with generally very varied wheel widths and track widths need to be tested on rollers 3, 4, the rollers can also be supplied with only two tracks per wheel placed on them. Supplying only two tracks increases the operational range of device 1, more Petition 870220060350, dated 08 / 07 / 2022, page 19 / 27 13 / 13 specifically the difference between the smallest testable track width and the largest test track width.

[038] Those skilled in the art will find from the above description that the invention can be carried out in different ways and based on different principles. The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. The embodiments described above and the figures are merely illustrative and serve only to enhance understanding of the invention. The invention will therefore not be limited to the embodiments described herein, but is defined in the claims. Petition 870220060350, dated 08 / 07 / 2022, page 20 / 27

Claims

1 / 3 CLAIMS 1. Device for applying vibrations to passenger cars (13) with different track widths and different wheel widths, CHARACTERIZED in that the device comprises a platform on which the passenger car can be placed, wherein the platform has rollers (3, 4) on which a pair of front or rear wheels of the passenger car can be positioned, wherein each roller has for each wheel positioned on it at least two tracks (5, 6, 7) with a different surface relief, all this in such a way that, in a first position on the device, the passenger car is located with the wheels on a first pair of tracks and, in a second position on the device, is located with the wheels on another pair of tracks and in such a way that, by rotating the rollers under the wheels, the vibrations are applied to the passenger car by the relief of the roller,wherein each track has a width (23) which is greater than the greater of the different wheel widths (19) and wherein there is a distance (21) between corresponding tracks, measured on the outer sides of each track, between each of the first and second pair of tracks, which distance is substantially equal to the greater of the different track widths, wherein the track width (20) is defined as the distance between the outer sides of the vehicle wheels (13) and corresponds to a distance between a left side of a left wheel and a right side of a corresponding right wheel.

2. Device (13) according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that it is further adapted to apply vibrations to passenger cars with different wheelbases, further comprising another roller on which another pair of front or rear wheels of the passenger car can be positioned, wherein a distance between the roller and the other roller can be defined, so that the device is adjustable to passenger cars with different wheelbases.

3. Device (13), according to the preceding claim, CHARACTERIZED in that the additional roller has for each wheel on it Petition 870260049499, dated 05 / 25 / 2026, page 6 / 14 2 / 3 positioned at least two tracks with a different relief, all in such a way that in the first position the passenger car is located with the wheels on the first corresponding tracks and in the second position it is located with the wheels on the second corresponding additional tracks.

4. Device (13), according to any of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED in that each roller has, for each wheel of the passenger car, three tracks with a different relief, each track being positioned so as to be located under the wheels in a predetermined position of the passenger car in the device.

5. Device (13), according to any of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED in that the roller has an integrally formed base body and in that the base body is provided with a peripheral housing in which at least four tracks are formed, these forming at least two tracks for each wheel positioned thereon.

6. Device (13), according to any of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED in that the second roller has an integrally formed base body and in that the base body is provided with a peripheral housing in which at least four tracks are formed, these forming said at least two tracks for each wheel positioned thereon.

7. Device (13), according to any of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED in that each track has a width greater than 400 mm, preferably greater than 425 mm, more preferably greater than 450 mm, even more preferably about 475 mm.

8. Device (13), according to any of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED in that the distance between the corresponding tracks on a roller, measured on the outer sides of each track, is less than 2200 mm, preferably less than 2100 mm and is greater than 1500 mm, preferably greater than 1600 mm, more preferably about 1800 mm.

9. Device (13), according to any of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED in that the device further comprises a tilting mechanism for tilting the roller relative to the platform. Petition 870260049499, dated 05 / 25 / 2026, page 7 / 14 3 / 3

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