Vehicle fixing apparatus

Abstract

To improve working efficiency for restraining yawing movement of a test vehicle without requiring remodeling of the test vehicle, and to improve a degree of freedom in arrangement of a peripheral device.SOLUTION: A vehicle fixing apparatus 1 for restraining yawing of a test vehicle 3 supplied for a vehicle testing apparatus 2 comprises a support section 5, an elastic body 6, a pedestal section 7, a support side connection tool 9, and a connection mechanism 10. The support section 5 is erected in both the left and right sides of the test vehicle 3 supplied for the vehicle testing apparatus 2. The elastic body 6 is disposed directly below the test vehicle 3. The pedestal section 7 has a pin 71 that is provided in the elastic body 6 and is inserted into a recess in a lower portion of a body of the test vehicle 3. A vehicle side connection section 8 is connected to the pedestal section 7. The support side connection tool 9 is supported by the support section 5 rotatably in a horizontal direction. The connection mechanism 10 is connected to the vehicle side connection section 8 and is connected to the support side connection tool 9 rotatably in a vertical direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a test vehicle fixing device that mounts the drive wheels of a test vehicle on rollers, connects a dynamometer to the rollers, and transmits the driving force and braking force of the test vehicle to the dynamometer via the rollers, thereby simulating road driving of the test vehicle indoors. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle fixing device for a test vehicle used in a vehicle testing device, which allows rolling, yawing (left-right movement of the vehicle), and pitching of the test vehicle while restricting forward-backward movement.

[0003] Patent document 2 also discloses a vehicle fixing device that fixes the movement of a test vehicle in the forward / backward, left / right (yawing direction), and up / down directions by inserting an adapter for connecting the vehicle fixing device into an adapter insertion portion provided on a reinforcing beam or side sill on the bottom of the test vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2-48854 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-33517 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The vehicle restraint device in Cited Document 1 restrains the longitudinal movement of the test vehicle, but does not fix the yawing. Therefore, if any abnormality occurs in the test vehicle, the wheels will move left and right on the rollers, causing the vehicle to sway. This can lead to the tires repeatedly leaving the rollers or colliding with the side rollers designed to prevent departure, creating a dangerous situation. Therefore, a method of fixing the yawing of the vehicle could be considered, by connecting a wire rope or chain to a towing hook attached to the front of the vehicle. However, this requires tension management of the wire rope or chain, and adjustment of the attachment angle, which makes it difficult to set up and adjust.

[0006] In addition, vehicle cooling fans are often located at the front of the vehicle, and if the vehicle body is secured with wire ropes or chains, this can interfere with the fan's outlet, making it difficult to reduce the distance between the fan's outlet and the front of the vehicle, making it difficult to properly position the vehicle. Furthermore, the test vehicle cannot be cooled at an appropriate air speed, which can hinder the actual testing and evaluation.

[0007] Furthermore, when the rotating parts of the test vehicle (tires and hub nuts) are fixed, for safety reasons the towing hook attached to the vehicle is connected to the pit using wire ropes or chains, which requires tension management and adjustment of the mounting angle, making setup and adjustment work difficult.

[0008] The vehicle immobilization device of Cited Document 2 fixes the yawing of the test vehicle by inserting an adapter for connecting the vehicle immobilization device into an adapter insertion part installed on a reinforcing beam or side sill on the bottom of the test vehicle, but the part where the adapter insertion part is installed is often not for fixing the vehicle. Therefore, many of these parts have low rigidity, and there is a possibility that they will be damaged if a force in the lateral direction is applied to the joint between the test vehicle and the vehicle immobilization device.

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to improve the workability of restraining the yawing motion of a test vehicle and the freedom of peripheral equipment placement without requiring modification of the test vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] One aspect of the present invention is a vehicle fixing device that restrains the yawing of a test vehicle used in a vehicle testing device, and includes a support portion erected on both the left and right sides of the test vehicle, an elastic body positioned directly below the test vehicle, a base portion provided on the elastic body and equipped with a pin that is inserted into a recess in the lower part of the body of the test vehicle, a vehicle-side connecting portion connected to the base portion, a support-side connecting device that is connected to the support portion so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction, and a connecting mechanism that is connected to the vehicle-side connecting portion and is connected to the support-side connecting device so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction.

[0011] In one aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle fixing device, the vehicle side connecting portion comprises a rotating shaft supported on the side of the base portion, and an axial connecting portion that is rotatably connected in the vertical direction by this rotating shaft and is connected to the vehicle side connecting end of the connecting mechanism.

[0012] In one aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle immobilization device, the connecting mechanism is capable of adjusting the connection length between the vehicle-side connecting portion and the pillar-side connecting tool.

[0013] One aspect of the present invention is a vehicle fixing device that restrains the yawing of a test vehicle used in a vehicle testing device, and includes a support portion erected on both the left and right sides of the test vehicle, an elastic body positioned directly below the test vehicle, a base portion provided on the elastic body and having a pin that is inserted into a recess in the lower part of the body of the test vehicle, a vehicle-side connecting portion connected to the base portion, a support-side coupler supported by the support portion so as to be rotatable horizontally, and a connecting mechanism connected to the vehicle-side connecting portion and the support-side coupler, and the vehicle-side connecting portion, the support-side coupler, and the connecting mechanism are configured to be able to move up and down on the base portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention as described above, it is possible to improve the workability of restraining the yawing motion of a test vehicle and the degree of freedom in arranging peripheral equipment without requiring modification of the test vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a left front perspective view of a test vehicle used in a vehicle testing device to which a vehicle immobilization device according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied; [Figure 2] 2 is a plan view of a test vehicle used in a vehicle testing device to which the vehicle immobilization device of FIG. 1 is applied. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle immobilization device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which restrains a test vehicle from the left side of the test vehicle. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle immobilization device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which restrains a test vehicle from the right side of the test vehicle. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a vehicle immobilization device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which restrains a test vehicle from the left side of the test vehicle. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a vehicle immobilization device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which restrains a test vehicle from the right side of the test vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0017] [Embodiment 1] A test vehicle 3 provided to the vehicle testing device 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is restrained on a pit cover 20 of the vehicle testing device 2 by a vehicle fixing device 1 and a vehicle restraint device 4.

[0018] The vehicle fixing device 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention suppresses yawing of the test vehicle 3 from both the left and right sides of the test vehicle 3. Note that yawing means that the test vehicle 3 rotates on a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction when the direction of gravity is the up-down direction. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the vehicle fixing device 1 includes a support part 5, an elastic body 6, a base part 7, a vehicle-side connecting part 8, a support-side connecting tool 9, and a connecting mechanism 10.

[0019] The support pillars 5 are erected on both the left and right sides of the test vehicle 3 provided to the vehicle testing device 2 , and can be attached to any position on the slide rail 21 of the vehicle testing device 2 .

[0020] The support column 5 comprises a base 50, a support column main body 51, a connector support part 52, and a handle 53. The base 50 can be positioned at any position on the slide rail 21. The support column main body 51 is erected on the base 50. The connector support part 52 is provided on the support column main body 51 so as to be movable in the height direction of the support column main body 51, and supports the support column side connector 9 for horizontal rotation by a rotation shaft 521. The handle 53 is provided at the upper end of the support column main body 51, and allows the position of the connector support part 52 to be adjusted in the height direction of the support column main body 51 by a feed screw system.

[0021] The elastic bodies 6 are disposed immediately below the left and right sides of the body of the test vehicle 3. As the elastic bodies 6, for example, well-known air springs are used.

[0022] The base portion 7 is provided on the upper surface of the elastic body 6 and includes a pin 71 that is inserted into a recess in the lower part of the body of the test vehicle 3. The pin 71 is biased toward the test vehicle 3 by the elastic body 6.

[0023] The vehicle-side connecting portion 8 is connected to the side surface of the base portion 7 and is connected to the vehicle-side connecting end portion 12 of the connecting mechanism 10.

[0024] The pole-side coupler 9 is connected to the pole section 5 so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction. Specifically, the pole-side coupler 9 is connected to the pole main body section 51 by a rotation shaft 521 of the coupler support section 52 of the pole section 5 so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction. The pole-side coupler 9 supports the pole-side connecting end section 13 of the connecting mechanism 10 by the rotation shaft 91 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction.

[0025] The connecting mechanism 10 is connected to the vehicle-side connecting part 8 and is also connected to the pillar-side connecting tool 9 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction. The connecting mechanism 10 comprises a connecting main body 11, a vehicle-side connecting end part 12, and a pillar-side connecting end part 13. The connecting main body 11 connects the vehicle-side connecting end part 12 and the pillar-side connecting end part 13 using a turnbuckle system so as to allow adjustment of the connection length. The vehicle-side connecting end part 12 is connected to one end of the connecting main body 11 and is connected to the vehicle-side connecting part 8. The pillar-side connecting end part 13 is connected to the other end of the connecting main body 11 and is supported by a rotation shaft 91 of the pillar-side connecting tool 9 via a bearing 131 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction.

[0026] Because the vehicle-side coupling part 8, the pillar-side coupling device 9, and the coupling mechanism 10 are configured as described above, the vehicle fixing device 1 of embodiment 1 is configured to be able to move the base part 7 in the vertical direction by coupling the coupling mechanism 10 to the pillar-side coupling device 9 so that the coupling mechanism 10 can rotate in the vertical direction. Note that the configuration for making the base part 7 movable in the vertical direction is not limited to the above, and for example, the vehicle-side coupling part 8, the pillar-side coupling device 9, and the coupling mechanism 10 may be configured to slide vertically relative to the pillar part 5 as a single unit.

[0027] The vehicle restraint device 4 can be attached to any position on the slide rail 21 of the vehicle testing device 2, and rotatably restrains the rear wheels 30 of the test vehicle 3. For example, the hub nut clamp type vehicle restraint device disclosed in Patent Document 1 can be used as the vehicle restraint device 4. Note that the vehicle restraint device 4 is not limited to the hub nut clamp type, and any well-known vehicle restraint device other than the hub nut clamp type that can rotatably restrain the rear wheels 30 of the test vehicle 3 may be used.

[0028] The following describes the effects of the vehicle immobilizing device 1 of the first embodiment with reference to FIGS. 1-4.

[0029] According to the vehicle fixing device 1 described above, the pin 71 of the base portion 7 on the elastic body 6 is introduced into the underside of the test vehicle 3 via the support portion 5 arranged on the left and right sides of the test vehicle 3, the support side connector 9, the connecting mechanism 10 and the vehicle side connecting portion 8, and is inserted and locked into a recess in the underside of the body of the test vehicle 3, thereby fixing the body of the test vehicle 3.

[0030] In particular, the support column 5 can be appropriately positioned at any position on the left or right side of the test vehicle 3 on the slide rail 21 of the pit cover 20. The support column side coupler 9 is supported on the support column 5 so that its position can be adjusted in the height direction and it can rotate horizontally.

[0031] Furthermore, the coupling mechanism 10 is connected to the vehicle-side coupling part 8 and can be connected to the pillar-side coupling device 9 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction. The turnbuckle function of the coupling body 11 also makes it possible to arbitrarily adjust the coupling length between the vehicle-side coupling part 8 and the pillar-side coupling device 9. This makes it possible to adjust the coupling length to match the position of the pillar part 5 and the position of the base part 7 connected to the vehicle-side coupling part 8, thereby appropriately suppressing yawing of the test vehicle 3.

[0032] Furthermore, by providing a spacer plate (not shown) or the like below the elastic body 6, it is possible to fine-tune the height of the pin 71. Furthermore, the elastic body 6 is deformable, and prevents the pin 71 from coming out of the recess in the test vehicle 3 when the test vehicle 3 moves in the front-to-back or up-to-down directions.

[0033] The rear wheels 30 of the test vehicle 3 are rotatably restrained by the vehicle restraint device 4, so that the test vehicle 3 is prevented from moving significantly in the longitudinal direction.

[0034] The combination of the vehicle immobilization device 1 and vehicle restraint device 4 of the first embodiment described above allows for vertical movement and slight forward / backward movement of the test vehicle 3, while restraining only the yawing movement of the test vehicle 3. This improves the ease of work in restraining the yawing movement of the test vehicle 3 and the degree of freedom in arranging the vehicle cooling fan without requiring modification of the test vehicle 3. In particular, tension management is not required, and work such as adjusting the attachment angle to the test vehicle 3 is simplified, allowing the test vehicle 3 to be used without modification and without damaging the vehicle body. Furthermore, because the body of the test vehicle 3 is secured from the left and right sides, it is possible to avoid interference with the outlet of the vehicle cooling fan, which is a peripheral device located in front of the test vehicle 3, and the test vehicle can be cooled at an appropriate air speed.

[0035] [Embodiment 2] The vehicle fixing device 1 of the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 has the same configuration as the vehicle fixing device 1 of the first embodiment, except that it has a vehicle-side connecting portion 8a instead of the vehicle-side connecting portion 8.

[0036] The vehicle side connecting portion 8a comprises a rotating shaft 81 supported horizontally on the side of the base portion 7, and an axial connecting portion 82 that is connected to the rotating shaft 81 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction and is connected to the vehicle side connecting end portion 12 of the connecting mechanism 10.

[0037] The following describes the effects of the vehicle immobilizing device 1 of the second embodiment with reference to the drawings.

[0038] 5 and 6, the basic action and operation of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment. That is, as in the first embodiment, the pin 71 of the base portion 7 on the elastic body 6 is introduced into the lower part of the test vehicle 3 from the support portions 5 arranged on the left and right sides of the test vehicle 3 via the support-side coupler 9, the coupling mechanism 10, and the vehicle-side coupling portion 8, and is inserted and locked into a recess in the lower part of the body of the test vehicle 3, thereby fixing the body of the test vehicle 3. The action and effect of the support portions 5, the coupling mechanism 10, and the vehicle restraint device 4 are also the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0039] In particular, in the second embodiment, the rotation axis 81 of the vehicle-side connecting part 8a, which is interposed between the base part 7 and the vehicle-side connecting end part 12 of the connecting mechanism 10, makes it possible to adjust the angle of the vehicle-side connecting end part 12 of the connecting mechanism 10 relative to the base part 7. This improves the workability of restraining the yawing motion of the test vehicle 3 by the support part 5 via the connecting mechanism 10.

[0040] As in the first embodiment, the height of the pin 71 can be finely adjusted by providing a spacer plate (not shown) below the elastic body 6. Furthermore, the elastic body 6 is deformable, and prevents the pin 71 from coming out of the recess in the test vehicle 3 when the test vehicle 3 moves in the front-rear or up-down directions.

[0041] By combining the vehicle immobilization device 1 and vehicle restraint device 4 of the second embodiment described above, it is possible to restrain only the yawing movement of the test vehicle 3 while allowing vertical movement and slight forward-backward movement of the test vehicle 3, as in the first embodiment. Therefore, the workability of restraining the yawing movement of the test vehicle 3 and the degree of freedom in arranging the vehicle cooling fan are improved without requiring modification of the test vehicle 3. In particular, tension management is not required, and the workability of adjusting the attachment angle to the test vehicle 3 is simplified, allowing the test vehicle 3 to be used without requiring modification and without damaging the body. In addition, because the body of the test vehicle 3 is fixed from the left and right sides of the test vehicle 3, it is possible to avoid interference with the outlet of the vehicle cooling fan, which is a peripheral device located in front of the test vehicle 3, and the test vehicle can be cooled at an appropriate air speed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1...Vehicle fixing device 2...vehicle testing device, 20...pit cover, 21...slide rail 3...Test vehicle 4...Vehicle restraint device 5...Support portion, 50...Base portion, 51...Support body portion, 52...Connector support portion, 521...Rotating shaft, 53...Handle 6...Elastic body 7...Base, 71...Pin 8, 8a... Vehicle side coupling portion, 81... Rotating shaft, 82... Shaft coupling portion 9…Pole side connector 10... coupling mechanism, 11... coupling main body, 12... vehicle side coupling end, 13... support pole side coupling end, 131... bearing

Claims

1. A vehicle immobilization device that restrains yawing of a test vehicle used in a vehicle testing device, Support pillars erected on both the left and right sides of the test vehicle; an elastic body disposed directly below the test vehicle; a base portion provided on the elastic body and having a pin to be inserted into a recess in the lower part of the body of the test vehicle; a vehicle-side coupling portion connected to the base portion; a support pole side connector supported by the support pole portion so as to be rotatable in a horizontal direction; a connecting mechanism connected to the vehicle-side connecting portion and connected to the pillar-side connecting device so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction; A vehicle immobilization device comprising:

2. The vehicle side coupling portion is a rotation shaft supported on a side surface of the base; a shaft connecting portion that is connected to the vehicle side connecting end portion of the connecting mechanism so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction by the rotating shaft; 2. The vehicle immobilization device according to claim 1, further comprising:

3. 2. The vehicle fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting mechanism is capable of adjusting the connecting length between the vehicle-side connecting portion and the support-pillar-side connecting tool.

4. A vehicle immobilization device that restrains yawing of a test vehicle used in a vehicle testing device, Support pillars erected on both the left and right sides of the test vehicle; an elastic body disposed directly below the test vehicle; a base portion provided on the elastic body and having a pin to be inserted into a recess in the lower part of the body of the test vehicle; a vehicle-side coupling portion connected to the base portion; a support pole side connector supported by the support pole portion so as to be rotatable in a horizontal direction; a connecting mechanism connected to the vehicle-side connecting portion and the pillar-side connecting tool, A vehicle fixing device, characterized in that the vehicle-side connecting portion, the support-pillar-side connecting tool, and the connecting mechanism are configured to be able to move the base portion in the vertical direction.

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