Chassis Dynamometer Having Mechanical Configuration That Reduces Size While Maintaining Functionality

Abstract

A dynamometer system may include a first dynamometer roll, a second dynamometer roll, a first motor, and a second motor. The first dynamometer roll is supported for rotation about a rotational axis. The second dynamometer roll is supported for rotation about the rotational axis. The first motor may include an output shaft coupled to the first dynamometer roll for rotation therewith. The first motor may be drivingly connected to the first dynamometer roll at a first location. The second motor may include an output shaft coupled to the second dynamometer roll for rotation therewith. The second motor may be drivingly connected to the second dynamometer roll at a second location. The first motor may be disposed between the first and second locations in a direction extending along the rotational axis. The second location may be disposed between the first and second motors in the direction extending along the rotational axis.

Claims

1. A dynamometer system comprising: a first dynamometer roll supported for rotation about a rotational axis; a second dynamometer roll supported for rotation about the rotational axis; a first motor having an output shaft coupled to the first dynamometer roll for rotation therewith, the first motor drivingly connected to the first dynamometer roll at a first location; and a second motor having an output shaft coupled to the second dynamometer roll for rotation therewith, the second motor drivingly connected to the second dynamometer roll at a second location, wherein the first motor is disposed between the first location and the second location in a direction extending along the rotational axis, and wherein the second location is disposed between the first motor and the second motor in the direction extending along the rotational axis.

2. The dynamometer system of claim 1, wherein an outer rim of the first dynamometer roll encircles the first motor.

3. The dynamometer system of claim 1, wherein an outer rim of the second dynamometer roll encircles the first motor.

4. The dynamometer system of claim 1, wherein the outer rim of the second dynamometer roll encircles the second motor.

5. The dynamometer system of claim 1, wherein the dynamometer system is a chassis dynamometer system.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0020] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a Class 8 truck on a chassis dynamometer having two motors disposed laterally outside of two dynamometer rolls;

[0022] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the Class 8 truck on the dynamometer of FIG. 1;

[0023] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of another chassis dynamometer having two motors, each driving a corresponding dynamometer roll;

[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a motor-in-the-middle dynamometer configuration;

[0025] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a dual-motor dynamometer configuration with motors disposed laterally outside of dynamometer rolls;

[0026] FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the dual-motor dynamometer configuration of FIG. 5;

[0027] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another dynamometer configuration similar to the dynamometer shown in FIG. 3; and

[0028] FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the dynamometer configuration of FIG. 7.

[0029] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0031] Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.

[0032] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms a, an, and the may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms comprises, comprising, including, and having, are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

[0033] When an element or layer is referred to as being on, engaged to, connected to, or coupled to another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being directly on, directly engaged to, directly connected to, or directly coupled to another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., between versus directly between, adjacent versus directly adjacent, etc.). As used herein, the term and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0034] Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as first, second, and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.

[0035] Spatially relative terms, such as inner, outer, beneath, below, lower, above, upper, and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as below or beneath other elements or features would then be oriented above the other elements or features. Thus, the example term below can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

[0036] With reference to FIG. 3, a chassis dynamometer system 10 is provided that may include a foundation 12, a first motor 14, a second motor 16, a first dynamometer roll 18, and a second dynamometer roll 20. The foundation 12 can be a frame structure fixedly disposed on a floor of a test chamber (or test cell) in which the chassis dynamometer system 10 is located. Alternatively, the foundation 12 could be the floor of the test chamber.

[0037] The first and second motors 14, 16 may be mounted to the foundation 12 and/or any other stationary structure. In some configurations, the first and second motors 14, 16 may be identical. The first motor 14 includes a first output shaft 22, and the second motor 16 includes a second output shaft 24. The first output shaft 22 is coupled to the first dynamometer roll 18 such that the first motor 14 can rotationally drive and be driven by the first dynamometer roll 18. The second output shaft 24 is coupled to the second dynamometer roll 20 such that the second motor 16 can rotationally drive and be driven by the second dynamometer roll 20.

[0038] The first and second motors 14, 16 can be any suitable type of motor. For example, the first and second motors 14, 16 may be electric motor/generators that use alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). In such a configuration, the first and second motors 14, 16 can generate electricity by being driven by the wheels of the vehicle (via the dynamometer rolls 18, 20). The electricity generated can then be measured to determine the force, torque, and power generated by the vehicle. Alternatively, the first and second motors 14, 16 can draw electricity to drive the dynamometer rolls 18, 20 and thus the wheels of the vehicle or to create a simulated load. The electrical current that the first and second motors 14, 16 draw can be controlled and measured to calculate power, friction losses, and/or pumping losses, for example. Of course, the use of other types of dynamometer motors is possible and is considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0039] The first and second dynamometer rolls 18, 20 may include first and second cylindrical outer rims 26, 28, respectively, that can engage and be driven by the wheels of the vehicle during testing. More specifically, the wheels of the vehicle may rest on the cylindrical outer rims 26, 28 such that the dynamometer rolls 18, 20 spin with the wheels of the vehicle during testing. The first and second dynamometer rolls 18, 20 may also include first and second axles 30, 32, respectively. Support members 34, 36 may connect the first and second axles 30, 32 to the first and second cylindrical outer rims 26, 28, respectively. The first and second axles 30, 32 may be coupled to the first and second output shafts 22, 24 of the motors 14, 16, respectively. In this manner, the first dynamometer roll 18 and the first output shaft 22 of the first motor 14 may rotate together, and the second dynamometer roll 20 and the second output shaft 24 of the second motor 16 may rotate together.

[0040] The first motor 14 may be disposed between the first and second dynamometer rolls 18, 20 and/or between the support members 34, 36 of the first and second dynamometer rolls 18, 20 in a direction extending along a rotational axis R about which the first and second dynamometer rolls 18, 20 rotate. In some configurations, one or both of the first and second cylindrical outer rims 26, 28 may extend around (i.e., encircle) the first motor 14. That is, the first motor 14 may be at least partially received inside of a first recess 38 defined by the first cylindrical outer rim 26 and/or at least partially received inside of a second recess 40 defined by the second cylindrical outer rim 28.

[0041] The second motor 16 may be positioned laterally outside of the support member 36 of the second dynamometer roll 20. In other words, the support member 36 of the second dynamometer roll 20 may be disposed between the first motor 14 and the second motor 16 in a direction extending along the rotational axis R. In some configurations, the second cylindrical outer rim 28 may extend around (i.e., encircle) the second motor 16. That is, the second motor 16 may be at least partially received inside of a third recess 42 defined by the second cylindrical outer rim 28. The support member 36 may separate the third recess 42 from the second recess 40.

[0042] The arrangement of the motors 14, 16 and the dynamometer rolls 18, 20 described above and shown in FIG. 3 reduces the overall width of the chassis dynamometer system 10. In some instances, the arrangement described above and shown in FIG. 3 reduces the overall width by approximately 30% compared to other chassis dynamometer configurations. Furthermore, the arrangement described above and shown in FIG. 3 provides space laterally outside of the first dynamometer roll 18 (i.e., to the left of the first dynamometer roll 18 in FIG. 3) for mounting an emission particulate tunnel (not shown in FIG. 3) for emissions testing. That is, the space laterally outside of the first dynamometer roll 18 allows the emission particulate tunnel to be positioned in close proximity to the tailpipe of the vehicle.

[0043] Driving the first and second dynamometer rolls 18, 20 with the first and second motors 14, 16, respectively, allows the dynamometer rolls 18, 20 to rotate at different speeds (independently of each other) and allows the dynamometer rolls 18, 20 to be loaded differently (i.e., different rotational loads) by the motors 14, 16. Furthermore, the dynamometer system 10 of the present disclosure is compact in size, and yet still is able to generate a sufficient amount of torque at each of the dynamometer rolls 18, 20. Therefore, the size of the test chamber in which the dynamometer system 10 is disposed can be minimized and still accommodate an emission particulate tunnel. Accordingly, the dynamometer system 10 can reduce the cost associated with controlling the climate within the test chamber, while maintaining the functionality that enables more realistic test condition, accurate torque measurements and accurate emissions measurements.

[0044] While the dynamometer system 10 is described above as being a chassis dynamometer system, it will be appreciated that the principles of the present disclosure could be applied to other types of dynamometer systems.

[0045] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.