Adapter Plate for Vehicle Dynamometer Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dynamometer testing systems face challenges in accurately measuring complex vehicle transmissions and require repeated testing under various conditions, such as cold starts and different temperatures, which leads to inefficiencies due to the need for frequent vehicle relocation and disconnection from testing equipment.
Innovation Solution
The use of an adapter plate that is rigidly coupled to the wheel shaft, allowing the vehicle to be supported and relocated without remounting wheels, enabling quicker setup for repeated tests and facilitating testing of vehicles with complex transmissions and varying conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the vehicle is disconnected from and moved away from testing equipment between repeated tests, then the vehicle can be cooled down or prepared for next test conditions, but the setup time and effort increase due to wheel remounting
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter plate serves as an intermediary component between the wheel hub and the dynamometer test unit. It can be permanently mounted to the wheel hub and remains attached during vehicle relocation, eliminating the need to repeatedly mount and dismount wheels. The adapter plate mediates the connection, allowing the wheel to stay on the vehicle while still enabling dynamometer testing when needed.
2Loss of time
If the vehicle is kept connected to testing equipment for repeated tests, then setup time is reduced, but the vehicle cannot be cooled down or prepared for different test conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static connection state to a dynamic on-demand connection state. The adapter plate enables the vehicle to be connected to the dynamometer test unit only when testing is required, and disconnected otherwise. This dynamic approach allows the vehicle to be cooled down or prepared for different conditions between tests while maintaining measurement precision when actually connected for testing.
3Productivity
If wheels are removed and vehicle relocated between tests, then another vehicle can be tested, but the utilization of the dynamometer test system decreases due to relocation time
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter plate is pre-mounted to the wheel hub before the vehicle enters the testing facility. This preliminary action eliminates the need for wheel removal and reinstallation during vehicle transitions. When one vehicle completes testing, it can be quickly relocated to allow the next vehicle to be tested, significantly reducing downtime and improving system utilization.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The present invention relates to a vehicle dynamometer system for dynamometer testing of a vehicle (100), comprising at least one dynamometer test unit (110, 111) having a power source (201), the power source (201) comprising an output shaft (202) arranged for, in use, rotation with a vehicle wheel shaft (105, 106), the system further comprising an adapter plate, said adapter plate comprising means for allowing fixed connection to a wheel hub (203) of a wheel shaft (105, 106) being tested, said adapter plate further comprising means for allowing fixed connection of the adapter plate to the output shaft (202) of said dynamometer test unit (110, 111) to thereby connect the output shaft (202) of the dynamometer test unit (110, 111) to said wheel shaft (105, 106). The adapter plate (204) is designed such that, when fixedly connected to said wheel hub (203) but disconnected from said dynamometer test unit (110, 111), said adapter plate (204) is arranged to support the vehicle (100) to allow relocation of said vehicle (100) while supported by said adapter plate (204).