IP Library Granted Patent US 7,721,593
Granted Patent B2
US 7,721,593 · App. 12/037,690 · Granted May 25, 2010

System for setting a spatial position for a motor vehicle

Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,721,593
App. No.
12/037,690
Granted
May 25, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for setting a spatial position of a vehicle relative to a foundation, on which the vehicle is standing with its wheels, in particular in a wind tunnel, is provided. The adjusting system includes a plurality of linear actuating devices, which are assigned to each one of the wheels and which are mounted on the vehicle in the area of the respective wheel and with which in the area of the respective wheel a distance between the foundation and a vehicle chassis can be set. The adjusting system includes a plurality of measuring devices, which are assigned to each one of the actuating devices, for determining the distance between the foundation and the vehicle chassis in the area of the respective wheel.

Claims (23)

1. A system for setting a spatial position of a vehicle relative to a foundation on which the vehicle stands with its wheels in a wind tunnel, the system comprising:

a plurality of linear actuating devices assigned respectively to each one of the wheels and being mounted on the vehicle in an area of a respective wheel, wherein a distance between the foundation of the wind tunnel and a chassis of the vehicle is settable in the area of the respective wheels via the plurality of linear actuating devices;

a plurality of measuring devices assigned respectively to each one of the actuating devices for determining the distance between the foundation and the vehicle chassis in the area of the respective wheels; and

a control unit disposed externally of and spaced from the vehicle and being operatively coupled to the plurality of measuring devices, the control unit controlling actuation of the linear actuating devices.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the control unit is disposed in a control center of the wind tunnel.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein a each of the respective measuring devices is mounted to a respective one of the actuating devices to form a constructional structural unit that can be mounted to the vehicle.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of linear actuating devices are operatively installed in the vehicle such that the vehicle is drivable relative to the foundation.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the linear actuating devices is an electromotor actuating device having a spindle drive.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein a respective actuating device is arranged on the vehicle in the area of the respective wheel instead of or in parallel to at least one of a suspension strut and shock absorber strut assigned to the respective wheel.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of measuring devices measure the distance between the vehicle chassis and the foundation using ultrasound.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of measuring devices has probe to measure the distance between the vehicle chassis and the foundation using a probe.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is operatively configured to automatically actuate the linear actuating devices as a function of position and orientation parameters in order to adjust the position and orientation parameters.

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the position and orientation parameters are input or predefined and comprise at least one of a vehicle to ground distance, a vehicle rolling angle, and a vehicle pitch angle.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of linear actuating devices are driven via one of electric, pneumatic, and hydraulic energy.

12. The system according to claim 11 , further comprising an energy supply disposed externally with respect to the vehicle and being coupled via supply lines to the plurality of linear actuating devices.

13. The system according to claim 11 , wherein, each of the actuating devices has an electric motor driving a spindle drive, the spindle drive extending or retracting a lift rod in a lift direction for manipulating the distance between the foundation and the vehicle chassis.

14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein each of the actuating devices is oriented so that the lift direction is substantially orthogonal to the foundation.

15. A component of an adjusting system for setting a spatial position of a vehicle relative to a foundation of a wind tunnel on which the vehicle stands with its wheels, comprising:

a linear actuating device for the adjusting system, the linear actuating device being operatively configured for attachment to the vehicle in an area of a wheel in place of at least one of a suspension strut and shock absorber assigned to the respective; and

a control unit disposed externally of and spaced from the vehicle, the control unit being operatively connected to the linear actuating device for selectively setting the spatial position of the vehicle relative to the foundation of the wind tunnel.

16. A component of an adjusting system for setting a spatial position of a vehicle relative to a foundation of a wind tunnel on which the vehicle stands with its wheels, comprising:

a linear actuating device for the adjusting system, the linear actuating device being operatively configured for attachment to the vehicle in an area of a wheel in order to act in parallel to at least one of a suspension strut and shock absorber strut assigned to the respective wheel; and

a control unit disposed externally of and spaced from the vehicle, the control unit being operatively connected to the linear actuating device for selectively setting the spatial position of the vehicle relative to the foundation of the wind tunnel.

Assignments (4)
MERGER Recorded Jul 8, 2010
From: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
To: PORSCHE ZWISCHENHOLDING GMBH
Reel/Frame 024652/0644 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 8, 2010
From: PORSCHE ZWISCHENHOLDING GMBH
To: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 024653/0037 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 30, 2008
From: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
To: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT (COMPANY NUMBER 722287)
Reel/Frame 021184/0926 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2008
From: PFADENHAUER, MICHAEL
To: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 020883/0021 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2007 018 166 · Apr 18, 2007 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080257029A1 · Oct 23, 2008