VEHICLE INSPECTION TRAILER

Abstract: A mobile vehicle inspection facility (10) which is provided with a towing hitch (12) to enable the facility (10) to be towed by a prime mover. The facility (10) includes a brake testing assembly (27) which provides an indication of the condition of the brakes of a vehicle being tested. The brake testing assembly (27) also incorporates load cells (60) which provide a signal indicative of the weight carried by the wheels being tested. The facility (10) further includes a steering and suspension play detection assembly (36) which is used to determine the play in the steering and suspension of the vehicle. The brake testing assembly (27) and the steering and suspension play detection assembly (36) are aligned transversely of the facility (10) so that a vehicle being tested may move transversely of the facility (10) between the brake testing assembly (27) and the steering suspension play detection assembly (36). The facility (10) has wheel assemblies (13) which are movable from a transport position supporting the facility (10), to an inoperative position allowing the test vehicle to move transversely of the facility (10).

Description: Vehicle Inspection Trailer Background of the Invention The present invention relates to apparatus for inspecting motor vehicles, and more particularly but not exclusively for inspecting public vehicles and motor lorries. The Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales, Australia, conducts six-monthly and annual inspections of public vehicles ( buses, taxis, etc) and heavy trucks respectively, together with random roadside monitoring inspections. These inspections are essential because of extremely poor maintenance of heavy vehicles when inspections are not conducted, and the involvement of these vehicles in fatal and serious crashes. Random and annual inspections have been proven effective in greatly improving heavy vehicle safety maintenance. There is growing interest in, and acceptance of, the need for random insDections of heavy vehicles. This is not only occurring in other Australian states, but alsc in Europe and in the United States. Discussion of Prior Art Ideally, all vehicle safety inspections should be conducted using roller brake testing machines and steering/suspension testing machines, such as are installed in Department of Motor Trasnport Vehicle Inspection Stations. By definition, random roadside inspections cannot De undertaker, at such stations. Furthermore, because of the geographic spread of Vehicles, less than half of annual truck inspections ( and six-monthly public vehicle inspections ) are conducted at such stations. Vehicles inspected away from stations are tested to a substantially lower standard in that they are not tested using roller-brake testing machines and steering/suspension testing machines. This is particularly important because braking faults constitute 50% of all major defects found, while steering/suspension faults amount to another 30% (these results are not only applicable in New South Wales, but are typical o f those found around the world) . Standard roller brake testing machines are expensive, heavy and require substantial electrical power supplies. They also require installation pits to mount them such that vehicles can drive onto the machines, and to withstand reaction forces during brake tests. Steering/suspension testing machines require inspection pits to accommodate associated jacking of vehicles, and require electrical /air/ ydraul ic power supplies. They are also expensive. 3§6 - ■■ ■' > PCT/AU89/Q0141 * - 2 - - -. ^.Ob ect :pf-:the^invention * .- .. -V.V; ' -. ' -- ' . Vehicle ' fleet ' -owήefs have had their °vehτcles -tested, ϊn respect of braking-a'steerlRg/suspensTdR'.'at iήs-taϊlatiσns generall -remote froπt-t-heir ■ own prei-ifes ' --and by ": a-όrgahTsat on-nό -trrfder their control- 'This leads to time lost ' r-as'tHe-vehfcT-e Ηas to be~dnverτ ' to ' the install tion, -and the driver will most likely have to await for the vehicle to be tested before returning. Accordingly there is a need for a vehicle testing and inspection facility suitable for the needs of vehicle fleet owners. It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages. Summary of the Invention Tnere is disclosed herein a vehicle inspection facility, said facility comprising: a generally horizontally extending base frame to be supported as a ground surface; a brake testing assembly comprising two sub-assemblies arranged such that the wheels on an axle of a vehicle being tested are supDorted by the two sub-assemblies, each sub-assembly includes at least two rollers adapted to engage a test vehicle wheel, said rollers being rotatably supported on said base so as to be rotatable about two generally parallel coextensive axes, motor means to drive at least one of said rovers, anc indicator means which provide an indication of the resistance applied to the driven roller by a braking system associated with the wheel being tested by the brake testing assembly; and a steering and suspension play detection assembly including a jack to raise a test vehicle, a pair of movable members upon which front wheels of the test vehicle rest, and means to move the plates in unison in a first horizontal direction and/or a second direction transverse of the first direction. In one preferred construction of the above described facility, the base frame has at least two wheels enabling the facility to be transported, with the base being adapted to be movable between a vehicle inspection position resting on a ground surface, and a raised transport position. The generally parallel co-extensive axis of the rollers extend gene-ally longitudinally of the facility, and said first horizontal direction is generally longitudinally of the facility and said second direction is generally transverse of the facility. There is further disclosed herein a vehicle steering and suspension inspection facility to test a vehicle having a pair of front dirigible wheels, said facility comprising; a base frame to be supported on a ground surface; and a steering and suspension plate detection assembly mounted on the frame, said assembly including a jack to raise the front of the vehicle; a pair of wheel engaging surfaces mounted relative to the jack so that each surface receives a respective one of the pair of dirigible wheels, said jack being operable to raise the vehicle so as to minimize the weight supported by said surfaces, mountings supporting said surfaces for movement in a first direction transverse of the longitudinal axis of said vehicle, and a second direction extending longitudinally of the vehicle, motor means to move said surfaces in unison in said two directions so that said wheels are biased to move in said direction with said surfaces. Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a mobile testing facility to test motor vehicles, with the facility in its transport configuration; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the facility of Figure 1, in its testing configuration; Figure 3 is a schematic front end elevation of the facility of Figu-e 1; Figure 4 is a schematic side elevation of the facility of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a schematic top plan view of the facility of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of the suspension of the facility of Figure 1 ; Figure 7 is a schematic sectioned elevation of the axle of the suspension of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a schematic top plan view of a brake testing assembly of the facility of Figure 1 ; Figure 9 is a schematic side elevation of the assembly of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a schematic end elevation of the assembly of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a schematic side elevation of a suspension and steering testing assembly employed in the facility of Figure 1; Figure 12 is a schematic perspective view of a clamp employed with the suspension of Figure 6; and Figure 13 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of the clamp assembly of Figure 12. - . • _ ,,. ■ FCT/AU89/0014I -4- ..-"--• ■ _ . Description-.of the Preferred Embodiment - --... ' In the accompanying, drawings-.there ' is schematically. epicted a. obile, facility IX. -to test-bra es-; steering and suspensions-of..motor vehicles, - particularl -heavy vehicles-and public vehicles. The-facil.ity 10 includes a base frame 11 -having. ts forward.end provided -with a-towing hitch 12 • enabl ng the facility 10 to be towed by a motor vehicle. Mounted on the frame 11 are wheel assemblies 13, with each assembly 13 including an arm 14 pivotally mounted by means of a bearing assembly 15. The two bearing assemblies 15 provide for pivoting of the arms 14 about a common axis transverse of the general direction of travel of the facility 10. Rotatably mounted at the ends of the arms 14 are wheels 16 covered by guards 17. The arms 14 are pivoted about their common pivot axis by means of hydraulic motors 18. The arms 14 are movable between a transport position, with the wheels 16 engaging a ground surface, and a raised position allowing the frame 11 to rest on the ground surface. Extending Detween the arms 14 and mounted thereon so as to be fixed thereto, is an axle 21 which pivotally supports each of the wheel assemblies 13. Each wheel assembly 13 includes a pivot member 19 extending radially from the longitudinal axis of the axle 21, with each member 19 supporting a stub axle 20. The stub axle 20 supports bearings which rotatably support the associated wnee 16. The axle 21 is attached to the arms 14 via mountings 22. Fixed to the base frame 11 are two plates 23 which co-operate with clamDS 24 to selectively secure the arms 14 to the base frame 11 when the facility 10 is in the transport mode of operation. Each clamp 24 includes a pair of links 25 pivotally mounted on the associated arm 14 via a roller 26. Also extending between the links 25 are rollers 37, 48 and 49, with the roller 49 being adapted to engage beneath the plate 23. Extending between the roller 26 and 48 are a pair of brackets 32 which pivotally attach tne rollers 26 and 48, with the links 25 then being able to pivot about the roller 48. Also attached to the links 25 is a lever 50 provided with a handle 51. During use of the clamp assembly 24, the links 25 are manipulated by the user until the roller 48 engages with the plate 23. This is achieved by gripping the links at the roller 37. Once in this initial position, the handle 50 will be projecting up at an acute angle relative to the associated arm 14. The user then grabs the handle 51 and pushes the hand.e 51 towards the associated member 15. This will cause pivotting of the links 25 to an "over centre" position retaining the roller 47 firmly sandwiching the plate 43 against the associated arm 14. Each of the members 19 has extending from it a sub-axle 52 extending into the interior of the axle 21. The axle 21 is not of a circular transverse cross-section. More particularly it has longitudinally extending lobes 53 which provide longitudinally extending cavities to receive resilient elements 54. The sub-axle 52 has lobes 64 which also abut the resilient elements 54. Accordingly, rotation of the sub-axle 52 relative to the axle 21 is inhibited by the resilient elements 54. The wheel assemblies 13 are shown in their transport position, in Figure 1, while the wheel assemblies 13 are shown in a raised position in Figure 2, enabling the frame 11 to rest on a ground surface. Mounted on the frame 11 is a roller brake testing assembly 27, including two sub-assemblies. The sub-assemblies provide two sets of rollers 28. Each set of rollers 28 includes two rollers 29. The rollers 29 are driven by means of hydraulic motors 30. Extending between each pair of rollers 29 are drive belts 56 extending between pulleys 57. Via the pulleys 57 and belts 56, driving motion is transferred between the two rollers 29. The rollers 29 are also supported by bearing blocks 58 supported on a sub-frame 59. The sub-frame 59 in turn is supported on ioati cells 60, which load cells can provide a signal indicative of the weight carried by the wheels being tested. In order to provide a reaction toroue for the motors 30, there is provided a reaction member 61 extending to the sub-frame 59. The load cell 60 are each in turn supported on the base frame 11. The motors 30 receive hydraulic fluid under pressure from a pump 33 driven by a petrol engine 34. The pump 33 has associated with it a reservoir 35. Alsc mounted on the frame 11 is a suspension/steering testing assembly 36 each having an upper horizontal wheel supporting surface, which includes a pair of plates 37 which are movably mounted on the frame 11 so as to be movable in a direction longitudinally of the facility 10, as well as transverse of the facility 10. The assembly 36 also includes a jack 38 having an upper plate 39 to engage and raise the forward end of the vehicle being tested. The jack 38 includes a parallelogram assembly 40 operated by hydraul i rams 41. The plates 37 are each associated with a pair of hydraulic rams which move the plates 37 longitudinally or transverse of the facility 10. The plates 37 may be moved in unison either in the same direction, or in opposite directions. The plates 37 provide horizontal surfaces 61 which receive the wheels 16. In Figure 7 one of the plates 37 is illusrated. The plate 37 is supported by a stack -of resilient .pads 42.further-.attached to a ' -member 43. The plate 37 is moved by means of hydraulic rams 45 and 46, with the hydraulic ram 45 moving the plate 37 longitudinally of the facility 10, and the ram 46 moving, the, pl te 37 -transverse of the facility 10. There is positioned adjacent.the ; plate 37 stop members 44 which restrict the downward movement of the plate 37. Initially when a vehicle wheel is located on the plate 37, the plate 37 moves downward until it engages a stop 44. Thereafter, the jack 38 is operated until the plate 37 is free for movement and is clear of the stop 34. In this position, the wheels are in sufficient frictional contact with the plate 37 to move therewith or to slide relative thereto. Accordingly, a force is applied tc the wheel biasing the wheel to move in the direction of movement of the plate 37. Attachable to the longitudinal side edges of the frame 11 are ramp assemblies 48. The ramp assemblies 48 are long enough to ensure that any- legal vehicle will not "ground" while crossing the trailer. For compactness and ease of operation, the sets of rollers 28 are aligne transversely of the facility 10, with the plates 37. In use of the brake testing assembly, the rollers 29 are driven via • their hydraulic motors 30. The wheels of the vehicle unαer test, are braked and the torque applied by the motors 30 measured. Tnis could be achieved by producing a signal proportional to the pressure delivered to the motors 30. Alternatively the load cells 6 could proviαe the signal. An electronic control system would then transfer the signa " to an electronic control unit with a brake force and a brake balance readout. The unit could be a hand-held item. Preferably, the rolle-s 29 can be rotated in either direction. When the steering and suspension test is to be carried out, the operator activates the jack 38 to raise the vehicle so that the wheels under test are only just in engagement witr the plates 37. Thereafter, the plates 37 are moved either longitudinally or transverse of the facility 10 to provide the operator with an indication of the condition of the steering and suspension of the vehicle. The wheels would be biased to move with the plates 37 due to frictional contact therewith. The above described form of the present invention provides a facility for testing motor vehicle brakes, steering and suspensions independently of a fixed station and their facilities and power supplies, however it should be appreciated that it could be fixed to a particular site to provide a stationary facil ity. Preferably the facility is designed for legal towing by a light commercial vehicle. It can be towed to a site and placed -π operation quickly and simply. Preferably each of the arms 14 would be provided with a stand 62 which would support the wheel assemblies in the displaced position depicted in Figure 2. This would then prevent the arms 14 providing a torque tending to raise the frame 11 from good frictional contact with the ground supporting surface. Preferably the portions of the frame 11 contacting the ground surface would be provided with a friction enhancing substance such as rubber or resilient plastics material to prevent movement of the device 11 during brake testing. To raise the frame 11 when the wheels are being moved to their transport mode of operation, there is provided three hydraulic rams 63. These rams would also be actuated when the wheels are being moved to the raised test mode position of the facility 11.

Claims: _. - CLAIMS 1. A vehicle inspection facility 10, said facilit 10 comprising: " " ' '"' & generally horizontally extending base frame to be supported as a ground surface; ' " " ' a brake testing " assembly 27 comprising two sub-assemblies arranged " suc that the wheels on " an axle of a vehicle being tested are supported by the ' two sub-assemblies, each sub-assembly includes at least two rollers 28 adapted to engage a test vehicle wheel, said rollers 28 being rotatably supported on said base 11 so as to be rotatable about two generally parallel coextensive axes, motor means 30 to drive at least one of said rollers of each sub-assembly, and sensor means which provide an indication of the resistance applied to the driven roller by a braking system associated with the wheel being tested by the brake testing assembly 27; and a steering and suspension play detection assembly 36 including a jack 38 to raise a test vehicle, a pair of movable members 37 upon which front wheels of the test vehicle rest, and means to move the movable members 37 in unison in a first horizontal direction and/or a second direction transverse of the first direction. 2. The facility 10 of claim 1, wherein the facility 10 is mobile and said base frame 11 is provided with at least two wheels 16 enabling the facility 10 to be transported, said facility 10 further including means 13 movably supporting the wheels 16 so that said base frame 11 is movable between an inspection position resting on said ground surface, and a raised transport position supported on said wheels 16. 3. The facility 10 of claim 2, wherein the wheels 16 are supported by a pair of transversely spaced arms 14 extending longitudinally of the facility 10 and pivotally mounted so as to be pi otable about a horizontal axis extending generally transverse of the facility 10, and an axle extending between said arms, which axle 21 is located above said base frame 11 and which supports said wheels 16. 4. The facility 10 of claim 3, wherein said arms 14 are pivotable to move said wheels 16 from the transport position, and a position spaced forward of said transport position clearing passage for the vehicle being tested to move transversely of the facility 10 between said brake testing assembly 27 and said steering and suspension plate detection assembly 36. 5. The facility 10 of claim 2, wherein said movable members 37 are aligned transversely of said facility 10 with said two sub-assemblies so that a vehicle being tested may move transversely of the facility 10 SUBSTITUTE SHEET between said brake testing assembly 27 and said steering and suspension play detection assembly 36. 6. The facility 10 of claim 4, wherein each sub-assembly is supported on said base frame 11 by a weight detection means 60, so that each weight detection means 60 can provide a signal indicative of the weight supported by the sub-assembly. 7. The facility 10 of claim 4, wherein each steering and suspension play detection assembly 36 includes a plurality of resilient pads 42 which movable support said movable members 37 for movement in said first and second directions, which pads 42 are compressable so that said members 37 are movable between an inoperative position when the full weight of a wheel is applied thereto, and an operative position with the load applied to said members 37 is reduced. 8. A vehicle steering and suspension inspection facility 10 to test a vehicle having a pair of front dirigible wheels, said facility 10 comprising; a base frame 11 to be supported on a ground surface; and a steering and suspension play detection assembly 36 mounted on the frame 11, said assembly 36 including a jack 38 to raise the front of the vehicle; a pair of wheel engaging surfaces 61 mounted relative to the jack 38 so that each surface 61 receives a respective one of the pair of dirigible wheels, said jack 38 being operable to raise the vehicle so as to reduce the weight supported by said surfaces 61, mountings 42 supporting said surfaces 61 for movement in a first direction transverse of the longitudinal axis of said vehicle, and a second direction extending longitudinally of the vehicle, motor means 45, 46 to move said surfaces 61 in unison in said two directions so that said wheels are biased to move with said surfaces 61. 9. The facility 10 of claim 8, wherein each steering and suspension play detection assembly 36 includes a plurality of resilient pads 42 which ovably support said surfaces for movement in said first and second directions, which pads 42 are compressable so that said surfaces 61 are movable between an inoperative position when the full weight of a wheel is applied thereto, and an operative position with the load applied to said surfaces 61 is reduced. 10. The facility 10 of claim 9, wherein the motor means 45, 46 includes a pair of rams 45, 46, which extend in the direction of said mutually perpendicular axis. 11. The facility 10 of claim 8, further including a brake testing -10- assembly 27 comprising two sub-assemblies arranged such that the wheels of an axle of a vehicle being tested are supported by the two sub-assemblies, each sub-assembly including at least two rollers 28 adapted to engage a test vehicle wheel, said rollers 28 being rotatably supported on said base 11 so as to be rotatable about generally parallel co-extensive axis, motor means 30 to drive at least one of the rollers 28 of each sub-assembly, and indicator means which provides an indication of the resistance applied to the roller 28 by a braking system associated with the wheel being tested by the brake testing assembly 27. 12. The facility 10 of claim 11, wherein said surfaces 61 are aligned transversely of said facility with said two sub-assemblies so that a vehicle being tested may move transversely of the facility 10 between said brake testing assembly 27 and said steering and suspension play detection assembly 36. 13. A vehicle inspection facility 10 including a brake testing assembly 27 comprising two sub-assemblies arranged such that the wheels upon an- axle of a vehicle being tested are supported by the two sub-assemblies, each sub- assembly including at least two rollers 28 adapted to engage the test vehicle wheels, said rollers 28 being rotatable about two generally parallel co-extensive axis, motor means 30 to drive at least one of said rollers of each sub-assembly, sensor means whϊcn provides an indication of the resistance applied to the driven rollers by a braking system associated with the wheels being tested by the brake testing assembly 27; and weight detection means 60 supporting each sub-assembly and providing a signal indicative of the weight supported thereby, so that saic weight detectio means can provide an indication of the weight supported by the wheel . 14. A vehicle inspection facility 10 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 15. A brake testing assembly 27, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 16. A steering and suspension play detection assembly 36, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: FINDLAY RUSSELL KENNETH, JAKABEK IVAN, MCLACHLAN MYLES JOHN, RICHARDSON RALPH, VAUGHAN RODNEY GEORGE, VENN-BROWN GEOFFREY CHRISTOPHE, FINDLAY, RUSSELL, KENNETH, JAKABEK, IVAN, MCLACHLAN, MYLES, JOHN, RICHARDSON, RALPH, VAUGHAN, RODNEY, GEORGE, VENN-BROWN, GEOFFREY, CHRISTOPHER
Applicants: ROADS & TRAFFIC AUTHORITY OF N, ROADS & TRAFFIC AUTHORITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES
Application year: 1989
Main classification: G01M17
IPC codes: F02B1, G01G19, G01L5, G01M17