GB2094848A - Engine test installation - Google Patents

Abstract

An engine test installation comprises two test cell modules, one of which (1) includes an engine test bed (5) and dynamometer (6) and has acoustically insulated walls (3) on three sides and is open on the fourth side, and the other of which (9) comprises a framework (10) with an acoustically insulated wall (11) on one side that is adapted to cooperate with the open fourth side of said one module (1) so as to form a closed test cell and has a control console (15) set in at one end adjacent to an observation window (17) in said one insulated side wall (11). Said other test cell module (9) has said one insulated side wall (11) recessed with surrounding outwardly extending insulated side walls (12) so as to define a space that forms an extension of the test cell. A third module which contains ancillary equipment is stacked on top of the test cell module (1). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An engine test installation A typical engine test installation includes an acoustically insulated test cell containing an engine test bed, dynamometer and engine hoist; a control console outside of the test cell with a view of the engine through an observation window; and ancillary equipment including engine cooling equipment, dynamometer services, and test cell ventilation equipment.

An object of the present invention is to provide an engine test installation in modular form that is easy to transport and assemble so as to avoid construction problems on site and speed up installation.

This object is achieved according to the present invention by providing two test cell modules one of which includes an engine test bed and dynamometer and has acoustically insulated walls on three sides and is open on the fourth side, and the other of which comprises a framework with an acoustically insulated wall on one side that is adapted to cooperate with the open fourth side of said one module so as to form a closed test cell and has a control console set in at one end adjacent an observation window in said one insulated side wall.

Preferably, said other test cell module has said one insulated side wall recessed with surrounding outwardly extending insulated side walls so as to define a space that forms an extension of the test cell. This recessed construction conveniently houses ancillary equipment such as engine cooling equipment.

The test cell installation may include a third module containing ancillary equipment such as test cell ventilation equipment. Preferably this third module is stacked on top of a test cell module to conserve floor space.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which.

Figure 1 shows a first module containing the engine test bed, Figure 2 shows a second module incorporating the control console, Figure 3 shows a third module including test cell ventilation equipment and Figure 4 shows the three modules assembled together.

The first module 1, shown in Figure 1, has a grill floor 2, acoustically insulated walls 3 on three sides and an acoustically insulated roof 4. The one open side of the module runs parallel to the longer side wall 3. An engine test bed 5 is mounted on the grill floor 2 and supports a dynamometer 6 at one end remote from an end wall 3 that is provided with an engine access door 7. An engine hoist 8 extends above the test bed to facilitate fitting and removal of the test engine.

The second module 9, shown in Figure 2, comprises a framework 10 that supports an acoustically insulated wall 11 adjacent one longer side, and supports two insulated side wall sections 12, an insulated roof section 13 and a grill floor section 14 around the periphery of the wall 11 so as to extend outwards therefrom and form a shallow recessed space. When installed, this second module 9 is placed alongside the first module 1 so that the side wall 11 and its peripheral sections 12, 13, 14 close the open side of the first module, thereby producing an acoustically insulated test cell that is larger than one module.

A control console 1 5 is housed within a recess 16 at one end of the second module 9 so as to be accessible from outside of the module. An observation window 1 7 in the wall 11 gives a view from the control console into the test cell. A door 1 8 in the wall 11 gives access into the test cell from the second module 9. Engine cooling equipment 19 is mounted on the wall 11 within the shallow recessed space formed by the surrounding sections 12, 1 3, 14 and is connected to a water cooling tower 20 on the other side of the wall 11. Electrical cabinets 21 are also provided in the module 9 on the wall 11 outside the test cell.

The third module 22, shown in Figure 3, comprises a framework 23 that supports a ventilation input unit 24 and a ventilation extract unit 25 for ventiiating the test cell, an exhaust silencer and spark arrestor 26 for connection to the exhaust of a test engine in the test cell, and an engine fuel tank 27. Module 22 is adapted to be mounted on top of module 1 which has suitable inlet connections in the roof 4 (not shown in Figure 1).

1. An engine test installation comprising two test cell modules, one of which includes an engine test bed and dynamometer and has acoustically insulated walls on three sides and is open on the fourth side, and the other of which comprises a framework with an acoustically insulated wall on one side that is adapted to cooperate with the open fourth side of said one module so as to form a closed test cell and has a control console set in at one end adjacent to an observation window in said one insulated side wall.

2. An installation as claimed in claim 1 in which said other test cell module has said one insulated side wall recessed with surrounding outwardly extending insulated side walls so as to define a space that forms an extension of the test cell.

3. An installation as claimed in claim 2 in which ancillary equipment is housed within the recess formed by said outwardly extending insulated side walls.

4. An installation as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which includes a third module

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION An engine test installation A typical engine test installation includes an acoustically insulated test cell containing an engine test bed, dynamometer and engine hoist; a control console outside of the test cell with a view of the engine through an observation window; and ancillary equipment including engine cooling equipment, dynamometer services, and test cell ventilation equipment. An object of the present invention is to provide an engine test installation in modular form that is easy to transport and assemble so as to avoid construction problems on site and speed up installation. This object is achieved according to the present invention by providing two test cell modules one of which includes an engine test bed and dynamometer and has acoustically insulated walls on three sides and is open on the fourth side, and the other of which comprises a framework with an acoustically insulated wall on one side that is adapted to cooperate with the open fourth side of said one module so as to form a closed test cell and has a control console set in at one end adjacent an observation window in said one insulated side wall. Preferably, said other test cell module has said one insulated side wall recessed with surrounding outwardly extending insulated side walls so as to define a space that forms an extension of the test cell. This recessed construction conveniently houses ancillary equipment such as engine cooling equipment. The test cell installation may include a third module containing ancillary equipment such as test cell ventilation equipment. Preferably this third module is stacked on top of a test cell module to conserve floor space. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which. Figure 1 shows a first module containing the engine test bed, Figure 2 shows a second module incorporating the control console, Figure 3 shows a third module including test cell ventilation equipment and Figure 4 shows the three modules assembled together. The first module 1, shown in Figure 1, has a grill floor 2, acoustically insulated walls 3 on three sides and an acoustically insulated roof 4. The one open side of the module runs parallel to the longer side wall 3. An engine test bed 5 is mounted on the grill floor 2 and supports a dynamometer 6 at one end remote from an end wall 3 that is provided with an engine access door 7. An engine hoist 8 extends above the test bed to facilitate fitting and removal of the test engine. The second module 9, shown in Figure 2, comprises a framework 10 that supports an acoustically insulated wall 11 adjacent one longer side, and supports two insulated side wall sections 12, an insulated roof section 13 and a grill floor section 14 around the periphery of the wall 11 so as to extend outwards therefrom and form a shallow recessed space. When installed, this second module 9 is placed alongside the first module 1 so that the side wall 11 and its peripheral sections 12, 13, 14 close the open side of the first module, thereby producing an acoustically insulated test cell that is larger than one module. A control console 1 5 is housed within a recess 16 at one end of the second module 9 so as to be accessible from outside of the module. An observation window 1 7 in the wall 11 gives a view from the control console into the test cell. A door 1 8 in the wall 11 gives access into the test cell from the second module 9. Engine cooling equipment 19 is mounted on the wall 11 within the shallow recessed space formed by the surrounding sections 12, 1 3, 14 and is connected to a water cooling tower 20 on the other side of the wall 11. Electrical cabinets 21 are also provided in the module 9 on the wall 11 outside the test cell. The third module 22, shown in Figure 3, comprises a framework 23 that supports a ventilation input unit 24 and a ventilation extract unit 25 for ventiiating the test cell, an exhaust silencer and spark arrestor 26 for connection to the exhaust of a test engine in the test cell, and an engine fuel tank 27. Module 22 is adapted to be mounted on top of module 1 which has suitable inlet connections in the roof 4 (not shown in Figure 1). CLAIMS

1. An engine test installation comprising two test cell modules, one of which includes an engine test bed and dynamometer and has acoustically insulated walls on three sides and is open on the fourth side, and the other of which comprises a framework with an acoustically insulated wall on one side that is adapted to cooperate with the open fourth side of said one module so as to form a closed test cell and has a control console set in at one end adjacent to an observation window in said one insulated side wall.

2. An installation as claimed in claim 1 in which said other test cell module has said one insulated side wall recessed with surrounding outwardly extending insulated side walls so as to define a space that forms an extension of the test cell.

3. An installation as claimed in claim 2 in which ancillary equipment is housed within the recess formed by said outwardly extending insulated side walls.

4. An installation as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which includes a third module containing ancillary equipment and is stacked on top of the test cell module.

5. An engine test installation substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.