Patent Abstract:
An apparatus for delivering an engine to a dynamometer is provided with an exhaust system, coolant system, electrical system, and an engine mounting system. The systems decrease the time required to dress an engine while increasing test reliability and the number of engines that can be tested in an engine test room.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates in general to an engine testing device, more specifically, to an improved portable engine testing apparatus having integral fluid, exhaust and electrical systems. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Engine delivery systems are used to facilitate testing of an engine in an engine dynamometer room. In order to maximize usage of the dynamometer room, it has been desirable to increase the number of engines that can be tested during each shift of operation of the manufacturing facility. When maximizing the number of engines that can be tested during each shift, it is also necessary to maintain reliability of each test. Standardizing the testing process through improved test fixtures is an aspect of improving reliability of the test results. 
     Conventional engine delivery systems employ a wheeled pallet system that allows an operator to dress the engine in a holding area and then hook up the fluid lines to a vertically arranged fluid manifold. The pallet is then moved to the dynamometer room where the exhaust pipes are connected to the engine exhaust manifold and the electrical system is connected to the engine. The engine is then ready to be tested. 
     It has become desirable to improve the engine delivery system by integrating a coolant system and an exhaust system with the wheeled pallet assembly. It is further desirable to centerize the electrical connectors and an electrical panel in order to streamline the electrical system on the pallet assembly. Also, it is desirable to provide an improved engine mounting system that allows an engine to be easily and quickly secured to the engine pallet. The aforementioned components should improve reliability of the test data by consistently delivering an engine to a dynamometer which in turn, will test the engine&#39;s performance. Such a system should also minimize the number of connections that need to be made in the dynamometer room in order to minimize the test cycle time and set up the engine prior to starting the test. The improved system should also increase the number of engines that can be tested each shift. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, an engine delivery system is comprised of a metal frame having a base and an upwardly extending member. Connected to the base is an engine coolant system for delivering fluid to and from the engine, and an exhaust recovery system that includes an adjustable member for engaging the exhaust manifold of the engine. An engine support system secures the engine to be tested to the base. An electrical system includes a pivoting overhead boom that provides a central collecting point for the wires that are connected to a plurality of sensors. 
    
    
     These and other aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention will be further understood by examining the preferred embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the drawings and by studying the detailed description and the claims found below. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the present invention, showing an engine mounted to a pallet, the exhaust assembly, the coolant system and the electrical system; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the left side of the engine delivery system, illustrating the front engine mount, the exhaust system and a cut out of the manifold showing the inlet and outlet flow chambers; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the right side of the engine delivery system, illustrating the exhaust system, the electrical system and the engine mounting system; 
     FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating the bell housing disconnected from the cradle; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the adjustable exhaust connector that transfers exhausts from the engine exhaust manifold to the exhaust collection cavity; and 
     FIG. 6 is a partial side elevational view illustrating the boom in a raised position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to FIGS. 1 through 3, an engine delivery system  10  is comprised of a pallet  12 , a coolant system  14 , an exhaust system  16 , an electrical system  18 , an engine mounting system  20 , and an engine  22 . The pallet  12  includes a machined steel base plate  24  with wheel assemblies  26  secured to the underside of the base plate, and a vertically extending frame member  28 . A recess  30  is machined in the base plate  24  and delivers spilled fluid to a drain hole  32 . A removable pan  34  is connected to the underside of the base plate and is located underneath the drain hole  32  for collecting fluids. 
     The coolant system  14  provides engine coolant to the engine water jacket and removes the heated coolant from the engine and off of the pallet  12 . The coolant system  14  includes a fluid manifold  36  made of corrosion resistant material and has an internal partition  38  which internally separates a first chamber  40  from a second chamber  42 . The first chamber is connected to the outlet connector  44  and the second chamber is connected to the inlet connector  46 . The connectors preferably are of quick-disconnect type style to allow an operator to easily connect the coolant system  14  to the corresponding coolant system within the dynamometer room. A pipe  48  is connected to the second chamber which in turn is connected at one end to an upwardly extending pipe  50 . The pipes are preferably made of corrosion resistant tube steel. Hose  52  supplies coolant to the engine block and hose  54  together with control valve  56  act as an override if the thermostat fails. 
     Coolant is removed from the engine block through outlet hose  58  to return pipe or column  60  which in turn is in fluid connection with first chamber  40 . A pressure safety valve  62  is located at a distal end of the return pipe  60 . 
     A support member  64  extends between pipes  50  and  60  and has a pair of braces  66  extending downward therefrom which are fixed to the base plate  24 . 
     The exhaust system  16  includes an exhaust collection cavity  68  that is spaced apart from the base plate  12  by spacers  70  in order to increase heat dissipation from the collection cavity. The collection cavity is a closed member that is preferably made of steel with three holes  124  extending through the top surface  72  for receiving a pair of adjustable exhaust connectors  74  and an exhaust outlet  76 . The exhaust outlet  76  is preferably of a quick-disconnect type in order to allow an operator to easily connect an exhaust line which extends to a scrubber. The exhaust connectors  74  and exhaust outlets  76  are secured via suitable fasteners  78  to the top surface  72 . 
     With reference to FIG. 5, the adjustable exhaust connector  74  includes a column  80  that is preferably made of stainless steel that has an internal bore  82  machined therein. The outside surface of the column  80  has a flat  84  that is operable to receive a clamp  86  having a rod  88  extending through a guide  89 . Connected to an upper end of the rod  88  is an upper clamp member  90  with a bore  92  that is operable to receive a corrosion resistant rigid hollow sleeve  94 . A shoulder  96  is fixed to the upper end of the column  80  and a retainer plate  98  is secured by fasteners  100  to the shoulder  96 . The retainer plate  98  has a reduced internal diameter  110 . Retainer members  112 , such as screws, are located in the bottom of the sleeve  94  to act as a stop against the underside of retainer plate  98  so that the sleeve  94  does not separate from column  80 . A spring  114  is disposed between the upper clamp member  90  and a head  116  which includes an articulating coupling  118 . The coupling  118  pivots in order to provide alignment to the centerline of the engine&#39;s exhaust manifold. Further, once the spring  114  is loaded by clamp  86 , a constant force biases the coupling  118  against the exhaust manifold  120  to create a seal. 
     The lower end of the column  80  has a lip  122  that is received within the hole  124  of the top surface  72  of the exhaust collection cavity  68 . A sensor  126  may be inserted into the column  80  for measuring temperature, gas characteristics, etc. The sensor is connected to the boom which is part of the electrical system  18 . 
     With reference to FIGS. 2,  3  and  6 , the electrical system  18  includes a boom  128  that is pivotally connected by pin  129  to the frame  28 . The boom  128  can be selectively positioned and held upright by a lock  130  or pin that extends through member  132  and boom  128 . A plurality of connectors  132  and associated harnesses are connected to the boom  128 . Each harness  134  is in turn connected to various sensors  126  that are positioned throughout the engine and testing apparatus. To assist in the flexibility of the engine delivery system  10 , the connectors  132  and associated harnesses can be easily replaced. The boom  128  is preferably made of channel aluminum to allow wires to be routed within the channel to pipe  136  and to electrical panel  138 . The panel  138  is preferably water tight and is secured to the frame  28  and has a door  140  and a control panel for arranging the electrical components. It will be appreciated that the boom  128  could be adjustable side to side instead of the adjustable mode disclosed and further the boom could be located off to the side of the frame. 
     With reference to FIGS. 1 through 4, the engine mounting system  20  includes a front engine mount  142  and a rear engine mount  144 . The front engine mount  142  includes a bell housing  146  that covers a simulated fly wheel that has a female spline  147  with capabilities of receiving a male spline for engine starting and testing purposes. The mount  142  also includes a bearing assembly  148  if required. The bell housing  146  is preferably made of machined steel and includes a retaining flange  150  with holes  152 . A cradle  154  has a channel  156  that is configured to receive the retaining flange  150  and pins  158  lock the bell housing  146  to the cradle  154  as shown in FIG.  2 . The cradle  154  sits on top of a shock mount  160  which is in turn secured to a base plate  24 . The pins  158  are connected to the shock mount  160  so that they do not get lost. The shock mount  160  dampens the vibration during extended runs of the engine being tested. 
     Each rear engine mount  144  includes a support column  162  that is affixed to the base  24  and an upwardly extending member  164  fixed to the column  162 . A pin  166  secures flange  168  of the engine to the column  162 . 
     Handles  170  are located on the frame  28  and on the bell housing  146  and allow the operator to move the engine delivery system  10  to the preferred location. 
     It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other variations to the preferred embodiments to the present invention, beyond those mentioned above, are possible. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the protection sought and to be afforded hereby should be deemed to extend to the subject matter defined by the claims below, including all fair equivalents thereof

Technology Classification (CPC): 6