초록 ▼

A vehicle restraint system for testing vehicles has vehicle restraint linkages which couple to a vehicle mounted on a simulated roadway to provide restraint in selected axes and to permit freedom of movement in other axes in a manner that permits the automobile to react as it would when being driven

A vehicle restraint system for testing vehicles has vehicle restraint linkages which couple to a vehicle mounted on a simulated roadway to provide restraint in selected axes and to permit freedom of movement in other axes in a manner that permits the automobile to react as it would when being driven over an actual roadway. The restraint system is made to combine and limit lateral, longitudinal and yaw motions with a minimum effect on the handling properties in other axes of movement. The restraint system includes selective, active servo positioning in the restrained axes so that the position of the vehicle can be maintained so that the vehicle tires are kept within a load support area of the simulated roadway without substantially affecting the vehicle handling properties. The linkages used are operated through actuators that can also be used as passive restraints, that is, providing a spring force to maintain the vehicle in a desired location. The action of the restraint linkages is through the center of gravity of the vehicle. The three restrained axes are decoupled from each other so that the restraint in each axis does not substantially affect the other axes. Precise simulation of effects on a vehicle of a roadway can thus be obtained.

대표청구항 ▼

For use in combination with a test facility having a simulated roadway on which a vehicle is mounted, said vehicle having a center of gravity and a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis passing through the center of gravity, which roadway comprises means for simulating vehicle travel while the veh

For use in combination with a test facility having a simulated roadway on which a vehicle is mounted, said vehicle having a center of gravity and a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis passing through the center of gravity, which roadway comprises means for simulating vehicle travel while the vehicle is restrained in space, the improvement comprising a restraint system including: at least first and second link means for controlling movement of the vehicle in opposite directions along its longitudinal axis and its transverse axis, said separate link means each having one link controlled in direction along the axis being controlled thereby, and a plurality of other links pivoted together for permitting the vehicle to move along one of the axes to change positions of the vehicle in space without substantially changing the link means controlling the other axis.