Miniature universal dynamometer educational tool
A miniature universal dynamometer for use in teaching and measuring horsepower of scaled down electronic vehicles and DC generators is provided. The miniature universal dynamometer relates generally to electro-mechanical vehicles that use DC energy and DC generators that produce electrical power. This miniature universal dynamometer relates specifically to vehicles that easily and quickly demonstrate to students and auto workers the design and horsepower used by the electronic vehicles in moving vehicles on various roadways. The device also utilizes a switch which allows the device to measure horsepower required to produce electrical power from a DC generator.
1. A miniature dynamometer comprising:
a base having a top and a bottom;
a securing mechanism having a top and a bottom wherein the bottom of the securing mechanism is secured to the top of the base and wherein the top of the securing mechanism is capable of supporting and securing a miniature vehicle having a mass and having rotating wheels and an engine;
a generally cylindrical rotating apparatus having a first end, a second end and a mass wherein the generally cylindrical rotating apparatus is secured on each end by a separate shaft wherein each shaft is connected to a support motor and wherein each support motor is secured to a brace which is secured to the top of the base and wherein the wheels of the miniature vehicle contact and move in unison with the generally cylindrical rotating apparatus and wherein the energy required to accelerate the mass of the cylindrical rotating apparatus at an angular velocity is approximately the same as the energy required to accelerate the mass of the vehicle on a flat level surface at a linear velocity;
a computer circuit having a power source wherein the computer circuit is electrically connected to and capable of measuring revolutions of said generally cylindrical rotating apparatus to determine angular acceleration produced by said wheels of the miniature vehicle driving the cylindrical rotating apparatus;
wherein the miniature vehicle is supported by the securing mechanism in a position so as to force the rotating wheels of the miniature vehicle to engage the generally cylindrical rotating apparatus;
a power source electrically connected to the engine of the miniature vehicle or the shaft of the support motors of the generally cylindrical rotating apparatus wherein the power source powers the miniature vehicle or the support motors of the generally cylindrical rotating apparatus; and
wherein the computer circuit controls and measures the electrical power to the engine of the miniature vehicle and the support motors of the generally cylindrical rotating apparatus while the wheels of the miniature vehicle are rotating on the generally cylindrical rotating apparatus and wherein the computer circuit determines and measures the power required to drive the generally cylindrical rotating apparatus and supporting motor shafts.
2. The dynamometer of claim 1 wherein the miniature vehicle is an electric vehicle.
3. The dynamometer of claim 1 wherein the computer circuit controls the driving of the support motors to assist or impede the turning of the generally cylindrical rotating apparatus by the wheels of the miniature vehicle.
4. The dynamometer of claim 1 further comprising:
an electrical cable connecting the computer circuit to a software program which calculates the horsepower of the miniature vehicle.
5. The dynamometer of claim 4 wherein the horsepower created from the rotation of the generally cylindrical rotating apparatus substantially equals the horsepower generated by the engine of the miniature vehicle when driven on a flat surface.
6. The dynamometer of claim 1 further comprising:
a computer monitor electrically connected to the computer circuit wherein the computer monitor displays and graphs the actual speed of the miniature vehicle and the conditions required to achieve that speed.
7. The dynamometer of claim 1 further comprising:
an external power source used to power the miniature vehicle.
8. The dynamometer of claim 7 further comprising:
a computing device electrically attached to the external power source wherein the computing device monitors and records the efficiency by the miniature vehicle in achieving a predetermined set horsepower.
9. The dynamometer of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the generally cylindrical rotating apparatus is transparent.
10. The dynamometer of claim 9 wherein a portion of the generally cylindrical rotating apparatus is substantially transparent except for a generally rectangular opaque surface on an external perimeter of the transparent portion of the generally cylindrical rotating apparatus wherein the generally rectangular opaque surface periodically prevents a beam of light from passing through the generally cylindrical rotating apparatus and exiting the generally cylindrical rotating apparatus.
11. The dynamometer of claim 1 wherein the generally cylindrical rotating apparatus has a diameter of approximately one inch and a mass equal to approximately three times the mass of the miniature vehicle so as to allow similar acceleration and coasting for both the cylindrical rotating apparatus and the miniature vehicle on a level surface.
12. The dynamometer of claim 3 further comprising:
an electrical circuit connected to a software program and wherein the electrical circuit is electrically connected to the support motors wherein the software program calculates the electrical power being used to drive the support motors and further wherein the software program calculates the power coming from the support motors under various conditions to measure power added or removed when emulating uphill or downhill conditions.
13. A miniature dynamometer comprising:
a base having a top and a bottom;
a generally cylindrical rotating apparatus having a first end, a second end and a mass wherein the generally cylindrical rotating apparatus is secured on each end by a separate shaft wherein one shaft is connected to a support motor which supplies power to drive the generally cylindrical rotating apparatus and wherein the other shaft is attached to a generator and wherein the shaft of the support motor and the shaft of the generator are secured to braces which are secured to the top of the base;
a power source connected to the support motor;
a computer circuit connected to the power source wherein the computer circuit is electrically connected to and capable of measuring the power used by the support motor of the generally cylindrical rotating apparatus wherein the power source powers the support motor of the generally cylindrical rotating apparatus;
wherein the computer circuit controls and measures the electrical power to the support motor of the generally cylindrical rotating apparatus and the generator of the generally cylindrical rotating apparatus; and
wherein the computer circuit calculates the efficiency of the generator when driven by a DC motor.