Patent ID: 7568382

Claim:
An engine test system, comprising: a base constructed and arranged to reside at a fixed location; an engine support member constructed and arranged to concurrently support an engine and move relative to the base; a linear transducer having (i) a first portion supported by the base, (ii) a second portion supported by the engine support member, and (iii) a circuit adjacent the first and second portions, the circuit being constructed and arranged to provide a linear transducer signal identifying an amount of linear loading between the engine support member and the base along a predefined direction; and a set of hinges which is constructed and arranged to restrict the engine support member to substantially hinged movement relative to the base; wherein each of the base and the engine support member has a first side and a second side which is opposite that first side; wherein the set of hinges mechanically couples the first side of the engine support member to the first side of the base; wherein the linear transducer mechanically couples the second side of the engine support member to the second side of the base; wherein the first sides of the base and the engine support member are horizontally opposite the second sides of the base and the engine support member; and wherein the linear transducer includes a load cell which outputs, as the linear transducer signal identifying the amount of linear loading along the predefined direction, a load cell signal indicating a measure of load in a vertical direction.