GB2592004A - A device for supporting a decelerometer - Google Patents

A device for supporting a decelerometer Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2592004A
GB2592004A GB2001720.8A GB202001720A GB2592004A GB 2592004 A GB2592004 A GB 2592004A GB 202001720 A GB202001720 A GB 202001720A GB 2592004 A GB2592004 A GB 2592004A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
levelling
decelerometer
base
supporting means
supporting
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB2001720.8A
Other versions
GB202001720D0 (en
Inventor
Miles Bowen Kenneth
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB2001720.8A priority Critical patent/GB2592004A/en
Publication of GB202001720D0 publication Critical patent/GB202001720D0/en
Publication of GB2592004A publication Critical patent/GB2592004A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R11/00—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16M—FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
    • F16M11/00—Stands or trestles as supports for apparatus or articles placed thereon Stands for scientific apparatus such as gravitational force meters
    • F16M11/02—Heads
    • F16M11/04—Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand
    • F16M11/06—Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand allowing pivoting
    • F16M11/12—Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand allowing pivoting in more than one direction
    • F16M11/14—Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand allowing pivoting in more than one direction with ball-joint
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16M—FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
    • F16M11/00—Stands or trestles as supports for apparatus or articles placed thereon Stands for scientific apparatus such as gravitational force meters
    • F16M11/20—Undercarriages with or without wheels
    • F16M11/2007—Undercarriages with or without wheels comprising means allowing pivoting adjustment
    • F16M11/2035—Undercarriages with or without wheels comprising means allowing pivoting adjustment in more than one direction
    • F16M11/2078—Undercarriages with or without wheels comprising means allowing pivoting adjustment in more than one direction with ball-joint
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16M—FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
    • F16M13/00—Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles
    • F16M13/02—Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16M—FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
    • F16M13/00—Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles
    • F16M13/04—Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains, e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01D—MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01D11/00—Component parts of measuring arrangements not specially adapted for a specific variable
    • G01D11/24—Housings ; Casings for instruments
    • G01D11/245—Housings for sensors
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01P—MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT
    • G01P1/00—Details of instruments
    • G01P1/02—Housings
    • G01P1/023—Housings for acceleration measuring devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R11/00—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
    • B60R2011/0042—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for characterised by mounting means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01P—MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT
    • G01P15/00—Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
    • G01P15/02—Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration by making use of inertia forces using solid seismic masses
    • G01P15/08—Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration by making use of inertia forces using solid seismic masses with conversion into electric or magnetic values
    • G01P15/0891—Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration by making use of inertia forces using solid seismic masses with conversion into electric or magnetic values with indication of predetermined acceleration values

Abstract

A decelerometer levelling device 10 comprises supporting surface 20 for supporting a decelerometer 100 in a horizontally levelled position relative to a vehicle. A base 30 is coupled to the support 20. A levelling means 40 for aligns the support 20 relative to base 30. A securing means 41 secures the support 20 in a stable position. Levelling means 40 may comprise a universal joint, a ball-and-socket joint, a gimbal or at least one hinge. Base 30 may be weighted to prevent slipping, and device 10 may comprise a handle 50. Levelling means 40 may provide one, two or three axes of rotation about which supporting means 20 can be rotated relative to base 30. The second axis may be orthogonal to the first axis, and the first and second of axes of rotation may be in a horizontal plane. Also claimed is an assembly 200 comprising a decelerometer levelling device 10 in combination with a decelerometer 100.

Description

A device for su000rtino a decelerometer
Background
The present invention relates to a decelerometer levelling device for supporting a decelerometer in use Braking systems are a fundamental safety feature of vehicles, and as such must be correctly maintained and tested. While visual inspection of components forming a braking system must be carried out, it may also be necessary to test brake efficiency to ensure test standards are met where government regulations apply, such as for motor vehicles.
Brake meters utilising digital decelerometers are lightweight and portable; such brake meters are themselves commonly referred to as decelerometers. They are placed inside a vehicle, normally on the floor of the passenger footwell, and when the vehicle is simulated to undergo an emergency braking, they measure braking efficiency using an electrical transducer inside the decelerometer. The simulation takes place with the vehicle being driven forward in a straight line, and the decelerometer being orientated so that an arrow (or other appropriate indicia) on the decelerometer points in the intended direction of travel and is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
Decelerometers are intended to be placed on a level surface, and may be self-aligning to an extent. They can usually compensate for a small variation in alignment from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (the longitudinal axis of the vehicle being aligned substantially with the direction of travel), but they are more sensitive to deviations from level in the horizontal plane. This problem may be exacerbated by any carpet or other type of floor coverings lining the footwell of the car, which may also cause lightweight devices to slip during deceleration of the vehicle being tested.
The present invention is arranged to alleviate at least some of the aforementioned problems.
Summary
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a decelerometer levelling device, the device comprising supporting means for supporting a decelerometer in a levelled position, a base coupled to the supporting means, levelling means for levelling the supporting means relative to the base and securing means for securing the supporting means in a levelled position.
The levelling means may provide one, two or three axes of rotation about which the supporting means can be rotated, relative to the base. The axes may be orthogonal, and where there are only two axes they may both be in a horizontal plane.
The levelling means comprises at least one universal joint, ball-and-socket joint gimbal and/or hinge.
The base may be weighted, and the device may comprise a handle coupled therewith.
In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an assembly comprising a device according to the first aspect in combination with a decelerometer.
Brief description of the drawings
The invention may be performed in various ways and embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference being made to the Figures, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a decelerometer levelling device according to an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of an assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed description of the drawings
With reference to Figure 1, there is illustrated a decelerometer levelling device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device 10 comprises supporting means 20 for supporting the decelerometer 100 (Figure 2), a base 30 coupled to the supporting means 20, levelling means 40 for levelling the supporting means 20 and securing means 1 for securing the supporting means 20 in a levelled position. By "levelled" it is meant that the supporting means 20 is orientated to be in a substantially horizontal plane and/or to ensure that the decelerometer 100 is orientated to be in a substantially horizontal plane when the decelerometer 100 is placed on the supporting means 20 in use.
The device 10 and its constituent parts may be made from any suitable material, for example a metal or plastics material, or a combination of suitable materials.
The supporting means 20 may comprise a platform or frame (not shown) or bracket (not shown) for supporting the decelerometer 100. The supporting means 20 may further comprise retaining means for preventing movement of the decelerometer 100 relative to the supporting means 20. The retaining means may comprise, for example, at least one clamp or it may comprise a surface covering on the supporting means 20 for providing a sufficient level of friction to prevent the decelerometer 100 from sliding or shifting relative to the supporting means 20. The surface covering may be made from an anti-slip material which increases friction, for example a resilient material such as rubber, or it may be textured or contoured to increase friction. In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining means comprises a wall 21 which extends along a periphery of the supporting means, upwardly thereof, to minimise movement of the decelerometer 100 relative to the supporting means 20.
The base 30 is suitable for providing stability to the device 10 to minimise movement of the device 10 relative to the car in which it is placed. The base 30 may be weighted, by which it is meant that the base has a sufficient mass to minimise movement, including sliding or tilting, of the device 10 relative to the car during a simulated emergency braking. Alternatively, the underside of the base, in use, may comprise an anti-slip material which increases friction, for example a resilient material such as rubber, or it may be textured or contoured to increase friction. The underside of the base may be at least partially covered with a material such as hook material (i.e. the hook side of hook and loop material) which may have particular application in carpeted vehicles. In other embodiments, the device or the base itself may have means for fixing the device or base in place in situ to prevent its movement relative to the car.
The levelling means 40 may comprise any type of support or connection or adjustment means that allows the supporting means 20 to be levelled. The levelling means 40 may comprise, for example, at least one hinge, pivot, gimbal, universal joint or ball-and-socket joint, or a plurality or combination thereof. The term gimbal may be used to refer to a pivoted support that allows rotation about a single axis, in which case the levelling means may comprise one gimbal or a set of two or three gimbals. Alternatively, the term gimbal may be used to refer to a set of pivoted supports which together allow rotation about more than one axes, in which case the levelling means may comprises a two-or three-axis gimbal. The levelling means 40 allows the supporting means 20 to move around at least one rotational axis, and more preferably around two or three rotational axes relative to the base. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the levelling means 40 comprises a ball-and-socket joint comprising a spherical part 42 held within a socket 44.
Where a two-or three-axis gimbal is used, the supporting means may be self-levelling. In some embodiments, the supporting means 20 or levelling means 40 may comprise means for indicating when the supporting means 20 has been levelled, such as an integrated sprit level or digital level.
The securing means 1 may be used to secure the levelling means 40 in place once the supporting means 20 has been appropriately levelled. It may comprise at least one clamp, wedge or screw, or any other suitable type of friction device that can be used to lock the supporting means 20 relative to the base 30.
The device 10 optionally comprises a handle 50, which may be attached to the device or formed integrally therewith The handle 50 is intended primarily to aid a user in manipulating the device 10, and in the embodiment illustrated, the handle 50 is fixedly or pivotally attached to the base 30 of the device 10. The handle may be reconfigurable between an operable configuration in which the handle extends over the base and supporting means, and a folded configuration in which the handle extends substantially in the plane of the base. In an embodiment, the handle may be locked in the desired configuration via locking means (not shown).
The device 10 may have numerous applications, but by means of illustration its use will be described with respect to a motor vehicle designed for road use, such as a car.
In order to measure the efficiency of the car's brakes, the decelerometer 100 must be placed in the car and, for the most accurate measurement of the deceleration of the car, the decelerometer 100 must be properly levelled. This is achieved by levelling the supporting means 20 of device 10 on which the decelerometer 100 may be placed. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, in order to correctly level the supporting means 20 of the device 10 in situ, the device 10 is placed on the floor of the footwell in the passenger side of the car; more specifically, the underside of the base 30 of the device 10 in use in placed upon the floor of the footwell. The supporting means 20 is then levelled by using levelling means 40 which, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, comprises a ball-and-socket joint between the supporting means 20 and the base 30. The spherical part 42 of the joint is connected to a pillar 43 which is connected to the supporting means 20, while the socket 44 is connected to a second pillar 45 which is connected to the base 30.
In the device illustrated in Figure 1, the supporting means 20 is manually levelled using a spirit level or digital level. Once the supporting means 20 has been levelled it is secured in a levelled position using the securing means 41.
The securing means 41 is moved from a position in which the levelling means 40 is able to move freely relative to the base, to a position in which further movement is prevented, so that it is locked relative to the base. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the securing means 41 is a screw, more specifically a thumb screw, which can be screwed through an internally threaded aperture formed within the socket to abut the spherical part 42. The screw is rotated within the aperture to cause the spherical part 42 to abut the socket 44 and become locked therein.
Once the supporting means 20 has been levelled and locked relative to the base, the decelerometer 100 may be placed on the supporting means 20. Alternatively, the supporting means 20 may be levelled when the decelerometer 100 has already been placed on the supporting means 20.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, a handle 50 is attached to the base 30 to allow the device to be transported, carried and positioned more easily by a user.
Figure 2 illustrates an assembly 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprising a decelerometer levelling device 10, as hereinbefore described, in combination with a decelerometer 100.

Claims (12)

  1. Claims A decelerometer levelling device, the device comprising: supporting means for supporting a decelerometer in a levelled position; a base coupled to the supporting means; levelling means for levelling the supporting means relative to the base; and securing means for securing the supporting means in a levelled position.
  2. 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the levelling means provides an axis of rotation about which the supporting means can be rotated, relative to the base.
  3. 3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the levelling means provides a second axis of rotation about which the supporting means can be rotated, relative to the base, the second axis being orthogonal to the first axis.
  4. 4. A device according to claim 3, whether the first and second of axes of rotation are in a horizontal plane.
  5. 5. A device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the levelling means provides a third axis of rotation about which the supporting means can be rotated, relative to the base, the third axis being is orthogonal to both the first and second axes.
  6. 6. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the levelling means comprises a universal joint.
  7. 7. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the levelling means comprises a ball-and-socket joint.
  8. 8. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the levelling means comprises a gimbal.
  9. 9. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the levelling means for comprises at least one hinge.
  10. 10. A device according to any preceding claim in which the base is weighted.
  11. 11. A device according to any preceding claim comprising a handle.
  12. 12. An assembly comprising the device according to claim 1 in combination with a decelerometer.
GB2001720.8A 2020-02-07 2020-02-07 A device for supporting a decelerometer Withdrawn GB2592004A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2001720.8A GB2592004A (en) 2020-02-07 2020-02-07 A device for supporting a decelerometer

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2001720.8A GB2592004A (en) 2020-02-07 2020-02-07 A device for supporting a decelerometer

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB202001720D0 GB202001720D0 (en) 2020-03-25
GB2592004A true GB2592004A (en) 2021-08-18

Family

ID=69897144

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB2001720.8A Withdrawn GB2592004A (en) 2020-02-07 2020-02-07 A device for supporting a decelerometer

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2592004A (en)

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1204763A (en) * 1967-07-18 1970-09-09 Singer General Prec Inc Apparatus for providing an accurate vertical reference in a doppler-inertial navigation system
US4359823A (en) * 1980-12-22 1982-11-23 White Wilfrid G Gravity adjusted compass
DE19811246A1 (en) * 1997-03-21 1998-09-24 Volkswagen Ag Fixing for acceleration recording equipment in e.g. motor vehicle body
JP2002040155A (en) * 2000-07-26 2002-02-06 Tokimec Inc Apparatus and method of measuring gravitation
US20050022402A1 (en) * 2003-08-01 2005-02-03 Ash Michael E. Compact navigation system and method
GB2410491A (en) * 2004-01-27 2005-08-03 Shaun Hume Container with gimbal stabilised contents
DE202007005801U1 (en) * 2007-04-18 2007-07-19 Somag Ag Jena Device for the active horizontal stabilization of carrier systems of optical or radio devices
CN204887125U (en) * 2015-09-07 2015-12-16 陈文辉 Cell phone stand with a plurality of linking arms
CN208367204U (en) * 2018-06-29 2019-01-11 安徽四创电子股份有限公司 A kind of levelling mechanism for vehicle-mounted movable radar
CN208682754U (en) * 2018-09-12 2019-04-02 冯国 A kind of detachable mobile phone support of double Universal-heads

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1204763A (en) * 1967-07-18 1970-09-09 Singer General Prec Inc Apparatus for providing an accurate vertical reference in a doppler-inertial navigation system
US4359823A (en) * 1980-12-22 1982-11-23 White Wilfrid G Gravity adjusted compass
DE19811246A1 (en) * 1997-03-21 1998-09-24 Volkswagen Ag Fixing for acceleration recording equipment in e.g. motor vehicle body
JP2002040155A (en) * 2000-07-26 2002-02-06 Tokimec Inc Apparatus and method of measuring gravitation
US20050022402A1 (en) * 2003-08-01 2005-02-03 Ash Michael E. Compact navigation system and method
GB2410491A (en) * 2004-01-27 2005-08-03 Shaun Hume Container with gimbal stabilised contents
DE202007005801U1 (en) * 2007-04-18 2007-07-19 Somag Ag Jena Device for the active horizontal stabilization of carrier systems of optical or radio devices
CN204887125U (en) * 2015-09-07 2015-12-16 陈文辉 Cell phone stand with a plurality of linking arms
CN208367204U (en) * 2018-06-29 2019-01-11 安徽四创电子股份有限公司 A kind of levelling mechanism for vehicle-mounted movable radar
CN208682754U (en) * 2018-09-12 2019-04-02 冯国 A kind of detachable mobile phone support of double Universal-heads

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB202001720D0 (en) 2020-03-25

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