GB2202504A

GB2202504A - Vehicle wheel supporting member

Info

Publication number: GB2202504A
Application number: GB08804868A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Edwin Barker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-03-20
Filing date: 1988-03-01
Publication date: 1988-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 2008-03-01
Also published as: GB2202504B; GB8804868D0

Abstract

The vehicle wheel supporting member is usable in pairs for supporting a pair of wheels of a vehicle while the wheels are driven (so as to provide a way of dynamically testing a wheeled vehicle). The support member comprises a pair of opposed side walls 1, 2; a ramp portion 3; and a pair of rollers 4, 5. The ramp portion extends between leading edges of the side walls to an intermediate position on the side walls and the rollers are mounted for rotation about parallel axes between the side portions, beyond the trailing edge of the ramp portion. One of the rollers is adjacent the upper end of the ramp portion and the other is towards the rear of the wheel support member. Means are provided for locking the rollers when the vehicle mounts or de-mounts from the support member. <IMAGE>

Description

Vehicle wheel supporting members Ihe present invention is concerned with vehicle wheel supporting members of the type which are used in pairs, each for supporting one of a pair of wheels (for example, the front or rear wheels of a motor car, van or the like).

Such supporting members are known in the form of ramps which generally include a frame having a base which, in use, rests on the ground or other surface, a top, vehicle wheel-contacting portion connected to the base by load-supporting means, the top portion being generally horizontal and being further connected to the base by an inclined ramp portion. Such ramps are intended for raising one end of the vehicle, so as to permit easier access to the underneath of the vehicle in the vicinity of the raised wheels.

I have now devised an improved supporting member which, when used in pairs, enables a pair of wheels of a vehicle to be supported while the wheels are driven; a pair of supporting members according to the invention can therefore be used as a rolling road.

According to the present invention, therefore, there is provided a vehicle wheel supporting member, which comprises a pair of opposed side portions arranged to rest on the ground, an inclined ramp portion extending between leading edges of said side portions and intermediate locations thereof, and a pair of rollers mounted for rotation about parallel axes between said side portions, one of said rollers being adjacent the upper end of the ramp portion, and the other of said rollers being spaced from the first-mentioned roller towards the trailing edges of the side portion.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a partly exploded perspective view of a vehicle wheel supporting member according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a modification of the vehicle wheel supporting member of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a further modification of the vehicle wheel supporting member of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a still further modification of the vehicle wheel supporting member of Figure 1; and Figure 5 shows the use of a vehicle wheel supporting member similar to that of Figure 2, in use as a rolling road for a vehicle.

Referring to Figure 1, the support member comprises a pair of vertical side walls 1,2, an inclined ramp portion 3, a pair of rollers 4, 5 and a ridge member 6.

Side wall 1 has an elongate bottom (ground-engaging) edge 7, an upper, shorter edge 8, parallel to bottom edge 7, a short end edge 9, which is perpendicular to edges 7 and 8, and an inclined edge 10 at a very acute angle to the bottom edge 7. Side wall 2 is similar to side wall 1.

Integrally connecting inclined edge 10 and the corresponding inclined edge 11 of side plate 2 is an inclined ramp portion 3 with a smoothly curved leading edge 12.

Adjacent to, but spaced from, trailing edge 13 of ramp portion 3 is roller 4, which is rotatably mounted to side walls 1,2.

Roller 5 is also rotatably mounted to side walls 1, 2 and is spaced from roller 4 by an amount exceeding the radius of either roller.

2he spacing between rollers 4, 5 is typically about 6 inches, with'rollers of diameter about 5 inches (that is, the axes of the rollers may be separated by about 16 inches).

The spacing should be sufficiently large to minimise any tendency for the driven wheels of the vehicle to go off the end of the roller 5.

The rollers 4, 5 have end plates 14, 15 respectively which have a series of spaced apertures 16, 17.

Lock nuts 18, 19 may be inserted through such apertures so as to prevent further rotation of the respective roller.

The ridge member 6 as illustrated is in the form of a sheet folded to form a peak 20 parallel to the axes of the rollers; the ridge member inhibits a vehicle being driven too far off the trailing end of the vehicle wheel supporting member. Other means of preventing the wheel travelling too far may also be provided (such as a bar or rod member secured in place).

Preferring to Figure 2, in which like parts are denoted by like reference numerals, the support member is largely as shown in Figure 1; in sddition, a pair of rotatable wheels 21, 22, are fixed to respective sidewalls 1, 2 near end edge 9, and a grab handle 23 is fixed to the ramp portion 3 near the leading edge 12. The grab handle 23 is typically a flexible member, such as a rope, secured in predrilled holes 24,25 in the leading edge 12.

Tbe wheels 21, 22 are located such that when the support member rests on the bottom edge 7 of sidewall 1 and the corresponding bottom edge of sidewall 2, the wheel is clear of the ground. As the leading edge 12 is lifted clear of the ground (for example, using handle 23), the wheels engage the ground when the bottom edges are at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the horizontal; at this point, the support member can be manoeuvred by rolling it on the wheels 21, 22 (the rolling being facilitated by pulling handle 23).

Referring to Figure 3, in which again like parts are denoted by like reference numerals, there is shown an additicnal roller 26 intermediate between rollers 4 and 5.

Roller 26 has an end plate 27 with a series of spaced apertures 28 through which lock nuts 29 may be inserted in a similar manner to lock nuts 18, 19 in apertures 16,17.

Referring to Figure 4, in which once again like parts are denoted by like reference numerals, there is shown an additional ramp portion 30 (similar to ramp portion 3), the end 31 of which ramp portion is closely adjacent roller 5. This ramp portion 30 is such that the whole support member is symmetrical about a plane 7-7 intermediate between the rollers 4 and 5. In addition, a pair of wheels 21,22 and 2la,22a is provided at each end of the respective ramp portions 3,30, and also a grab handle 23,23a at each end.

Referring to Figure 5, a wheel 31 of a vehicle 32 is shown on a supporting member similar to that of Figure 2 (one such supporting member being used for each wheel of a pair of wheels). Side wall 2 has a socket 33 which receives an upright telescopically extensible leg 34, to which is further secured a fixed leg 35 and a cross member 36.

Mounted on leg 34 is an arm 37 which has a clamping plate 38 at the inner end thereof; arm 37 is adjustable in position and may be secured in place by a clamping bolt 39.

In use, the clamping plate 38 engages the side wall of the vehicle, to minimise the possibility of the vehicle drifting sideways on the rollers.

In use, the rollers of the vehicle wheel support members according to the invention are used in pairs, each supporting a respective vehicle wheel. Ihe rollers are driven solely by the driven wheels of a vehicle supported thereon; there is no auxiliary drive means for the rollers.

The rollers may further be provided with means for inhibiting turning of steered wheels in the case when the steered wheels of a vehicle being tested-are also the driven wheels. Such means for inhibiting turning are unnecessary in the embodiment of Figure 3. In this embodiment, the support member according to the invention may be used for either rear wheel drive vehicles, when the driven wheels will be supported by the rollers 4 and 26 while for a front wheel drive vehicle, the driven wheels will be supported by rollers 5 and 26.

The supporting member according to the invention, which is preferably readily portable, or at least transportable, may be used (in pairs) for rolling tests of driven vehicles (that is as a portable rolling road). Thus, the supporting member according to the invention may be useful for dynamic tests for garages, home mechanics and breakdown services.

The present invention further comprises a method of dynamically testing a wheeled vehicle in which a pair of the supporting members according to the invention are located under a pair of the vehicle's wheels (for example, by driving the vehicle up the ramp portion), and the vehicle is driven with its pair of wheels on the rollers in such a way that the rollers are permitted to rotate freely.

The supporting members according to the invention may be used for dynamic tests of brakes, transmiss-ions and--manyH other operations.

Zhe supporting member according to the invention may, in some embodiments of the present invention, be provided with means for detecting the rate of rotation of the rollers so as to, for example, provide a way of calibrating the speedometer af the vehicle.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A vehicle wheel supporting member, which comprises a pair of opposed side portions arranged to rest on the ground, an inclined ramp portion extending between leading edges of said side portions and intermediate locations thereof, and a pair of rollers mounted for rotation about parallel axes between said side portions, one of said rollers being adjacent the upper end of the ramp portion, and the other of said rollers being spaced from the first-mentioned roller towards the trailing edges of the side portion.

2. A vehicle wheel supporting member according to claim 1, in which said roller is provided with means for preventing rotation thereof.

3. A vehicle wheel supporting member according to claim 1 or 2, in which said other roller is provided with means for preventing rotation thereof.

4. A vehicle wheel supporting member according to any of claims 1 to 3, in which means is provided adjacent to said other roller, towards said trailing edges, for preventing said vehicle wheel leaving said other roller.

5. A vehicle wheel supporting member according to claim 4, in which said means comprises sheet material folded to form a peak.

6. A vehicle wheel supporting member according to any of claims 1 to 3, in which a further inclined ramp portion is provided extending between said trailing edges.

7. A vehicle wheel suppporting member according to claim 6, which is substantially symmetrical about a plane intermediate between said rollers.

8. A vehicle wheel supporting member according to any of claims 1 to 7, in which a further roller is mounted between said side portions, for rotation about an axis parallel to said axis, said further roller being intermediate between said one roller and said other roller.

9. A vehicle wheel supporting member according to claim 8, in which said further roller is provided with means for preventing rotation thereof.

10. A vehicle wheel supporting member according to any of claims 1 to 9, in which a pair of rotatable members are mounted on said side portions adjacent said trailing edges.

11. A vehicle wheel supporting member according to claim 10, in which said rotatable members are mounted such that they are clear of the ground when said side portions rest on the ground, but engage the ground when said leading edge is lifted clear of the ground.

12. A vehicle wheel supporting member according to any of claims 1 to 11, which further comprises handle means at said leading edge.

13. A vehicle wheel supporting member according to any of claims 1 to 12, which is further provided with means for inhibiting turning of a steered wheel of said vehicle supported by said supporting member.

14. A vehicle wheel supporting member according to any of claims 1 to 13, which is further provided with clamping means for engaging a side of the bodywork of a vehicle supported by said supporting member.

15. A vehicle wheel supporting member substantially as described herein with reference to any of Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings

16. A method of dynamically testing a wheeled vehicle, which comprises locating a pair of vehicle wheel supporting meters according to any of claims 1 to 15 beneath a pair of opposed wheels of said vehicle, and driving said vehicle with its wheels remaining on said rollers, the hatter being permitted to rotate freely during the test.