JP2008196912A - Testing device for rolling body - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately simulatingly reproduce a generated force between a road face and a rolling body even when water films are interposed between the road face and the rolling body rolling on the road face. <P>SOLUTION: This device comprises: an annular body 2 having a road face 2a capable of rolling a rolling body T; a supporting mechanism 3 circularly rotatably supporting the annular body 2 in the horizontal direction in a plan view and supporting the annular body 2 to be linear and upward at least one part of the road face 2a of the annular body 2; a driving mechanism 4 driving and turning the annular body 2; a rolling body retaining mechanism 5 rotatably supporting the rolling body T and contacting the rolling body T with the road face 2a; and a water films forming means 6 forming water films on the linear and upward road face 2a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a rolling element test apparatus.

In a tire testing device that measures the various behaviors that occur while the tire is rotating by pressing the tire that is rotatably held against the rotating drum that is driven and rotated, the outer surface of the rotating drum is a curved surface. It can be said that it is almost impossible to accurately reproduce the running state of a flat actual road surface. In order to make the contact surface with the tire flat, a road surface device employing a metal belt conveyor system has been proposed.
For example, a road surface device employing a metal belt conveyor system is known in which a thin steel endless belt is bridged between a pair of drums whose rotating shafts are oriented horizontally (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .

In addition, in this type of tire testing apparatus, there is known a device that can sprinkle water on the road surface on which the tire rolls to reproduce the road surface condition in rainy weather.
For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a tire testing apparatus in which an endless belt is wound around a pair of drums as a substitute road surface body, and water is sprayed toward the endless belt.
Further, in Patent Document 3, an endless belt is wound around a pair of drums as a substitute road surface body, and a water guiding means is provided along a drum on the side where the endless belt is fed toward a tire. There has been proposed a vehicle running test apparatus that winds up water on a road surface on which a tire rolls, thereby forming a water film on the road surface.
JP-A-56-73332 JP 2002-39919 A JP 2006-7153708 A

  However, in the belt-type tire testing devices of Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, since an endless belt as a substitute road surface is wound around a pair of drums, the endless belt can be wound around the drum. It is formed with the material which has. Such a material has a road surface performance such as friction performance and drainage performance far from the actual road surface, and the reproducibility of the actual road surface is poor. In order to solve such a problem, for example, a metal road having a certain thickness or the above-mentioned endless belt with a material having a remarkably low elastic performance such as asphalt material adhered to the substitute road surface using the tire testing apparatus as described above. It is conceivable to adopt as a body, but since these materials do not have the elastic deformability as described above, they are adopted as substitute road bodies even though the friction performance and drainage performance of the actual road surface can be reproduced. It is extremely difficult.

As described above, in the belt conveyor type tire testing machine of Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 described above, the endless belt as the substitute road surface body cannot be provided with road surface performance similar to or substantially similar to the actual road surface. . For this reason, even though such a tire testing machine has a configuration in which a water film is formed on the road surface, there is a problem that the generated force generated in the tire on the road surface having the water film cannot be accurately reproduced. It was.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to accurately simulate and reproduce the generated force between the road surface and the rolling element even when a water film is interposed between the road surface and the rolling element rolling on the road surface. It is intended to provide a rolling element test apparatus capable of performing the above.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has taken the following measures.
That is, the rolling element test apparatus according to the present invention is
An annular body having a road surface capable of rolling the rolling element;
A support mechanism for supporting the annular body in an annularly rotatable manner in a horizontal direction in a top view and supporting the annular body so that at least a part of the road surface is straight and upward;
A driving mechanism for driving and rotating the annular body;
A rolling element holding device that rotatably supports the rolling element and grounds the rolling element to a road surface;
And water film forming means for forming a water film on the straight and upward road surface.

Here, the “rolling element” can be, for example, a tire. Such a configuration as a peripheral circuit surface device is epoch-making, and in this configuration, since the annular body rotates in a horizontal direction in a top view (plan view), this road surface is horizontal unlike the metal belt conveyor system. It does not pass through the winding part that changes its attitude around the rotation axis.
Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the annular body with an elastic deformability for winding it around a pair of drums and the like, and asphalt, concrete, or the like used for the actual road surface can be employed as the road surface. As a result, according to the rolling element test apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to reproduce the road surface performance of the actual road surface including the water film.

The annular body includes a plurality of road surface members having a road surface and a connecting member for connecting the plurality of road surface members in an endless manner so as to maintain a relative distance between the road surface members adjacent to each other. Is preferred.
By doing in this way, the circular movement of the annular body in the part which carries out an annular rotation with a horizontal state becomes smooth. Further, it is possible to prevent or suppress the generation of unpleasant noise and vibration, wear, cracks, chipping, and the like.
The water film forming means includes a supply means for supplying water on the straight and upward road surface, and a width and thickness of the water film formed by the water supplied from the supply means to the road surface on the road surface. It is preferable to have water film defining means for regulating either or both of the above.

According to this, a water film having a desired thickness and width can be formed on the road surface by controlling the supply means and the water film defining means.
Moreover, it is preferable that the said supply means is equipped with the temperature adjustment means which adjusts the temperature of the water supplied to a road surface. By controlling the temperature adjusting means, the temperature of the water supplied on the road surface can be made appropriate.
Moreover, the said road surface member is equipped with the road surface layer which consists of an actual road surface material in the upper part, and is provided with the detachable attachment plate, It is preferable that the said road surface is formed of the upper surface of the said road surface layer.

According to this, the detachable plate can be removed, and the road surface can be replaced for each road surface member.
Moreover, it is preferable that the said water film formation means equips the said road surface with the heat insulation layer which prevents the heat transfer from the downward direction to the water film on a road surface below the said road surface.
By doing in this way, the water film formed on the road surface is not affected by the heat transfer from below the road surface, and the temperature when supplied on the road surface can be maintained.
Further, the water film forming means is provided on the upstream side in the circumferential direction of the road surface with respect to the rolling element holding device, and removes the water film on the road surface on the downstream side in the circumferential direction of the road surface with respect to the rolling element holding device. It is preferable that a water film removing means is provided.

  Thereby, the water film supplied from the water film forming means and passed through the rolling elements supported by the rolling element holding device is removed from the road surface by the water film removing device. Therefore, the water film is formed on the road surface only from the water film forming means to the water film removing means, and the water forming the water film is scattered and adhered to other parts of the rolling element test apparatus. Can be prevented beforehand.

  According to the rolling element test apparatus of the present invention, even when a water film is interposed between the road surface and the rolling element that rolls on the road surface, the generated force between the road surface and the rolling element is accurately measured. Can be simulated.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
1 to 9 show a first embodiment of a rolling element test apparatus according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the rolling element test apparatus 1 includes an annular body 2, a support mechanism 3 that supports the annular body 2 in an annularly rotatable manner, and a drive that drives the annular body 2 supported by the support mechanism 3. A mechanism 4, a rolling element holding device 5 that makes a rolling element T such as a tire contact a road surface 2a provided on the annular body 2, a water film forming means 6 capable of forming a water film p on the road surface 2a, and the water film Water film removing means 7 for removing the water film p formed on the road surface 2a by the forming means 6 is provided.

  The rolling element test apparatus 1 is composed of a road surface 2a composed of a plurality of individual parts in which an annular body 2 is continuously connected. When viewed in plan, the annular body 2 and the road surface 2a constituting the annular body 2 are horizontal (for example, FIG. 1 circulates (runs) in the direction of arrow G). A water film p is formed on the road surface 2a by the water film forming means 6, and the rolling element T comes into contact with the road surface 2a provided with the water film p and rolls. Further, the rolling element test apparatus 1 is provided with a measuring device such as a multi-component force meter (for example, a six-component force meter) that measures the force received by the rolling element T in the rolling element holding device 5 that holds the rolling element T. It is used as a rolling element test apparatus (tire test apparatus) 1 for measuring and testing a multiplicity force that the moving body T generates during rotation.

In this embodiment, the “rolling element T” is a tire, and muddy water, water mixed with a sherbet state, or the like can be used as the water r forming the water film p.
Hereinafter, the annular body 2, the support mechanism 3, the drive mechanism 4, the water film forming means 6, and the water film removing means 7 will be described in detail. In the following description, for convenience of explanation, the vertical direction in FIG. 1 is referred to as “width direction” or “left-right direction”, and the direction orthogonal to this direction on the paper surface (left-right direction on the paper surface) is “longitudinal direction” or “front-rear direction”. "
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the annular body 2 is formed by connecting a plurality of road surface members 9 in an endless manner, and has the plurality of road surface members 9 and connects the road surface members 9. A connecting member 10 is provided. The road surface 2a is formed on the upper surface of each road surface member 9, and the adjacent road surface members 9 are connected by a connecting member 10 in a state where the individual road surfaces 2a are brought close to each other. When the road surface member 9 is connected by the connecting member 10, when the road surface 2a is viewed as a whole, two linear straight portions 8a that are continuously connected to each other while facing upward in a predetermined region in the circumferential direction are parallel. A curved portion 8b that is formed and curved in the horizontal direction so as to connect between the ends of the straight portions 8a is formed.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, the road surface member 9 includes an upper piece 12 and a lower piece 13 provided at the lower portion of the upper piece 12. The upper piece 12 and the lower piece 13 are integrated. The shape of the road surface member 9 as viewed from the side is such that the upper piece 12 and the lower piece 13 are displaced in the front-rear direction and have a stepped shape.
A convex arc portion 14 is provided at one end portion of the upper piece 12, and a concave arc portion 15 is provided at the other end portion of the upper piece 12. The lower piece 13 is provided in a state of being displaced from the upper piece 12 in the circumferential movement direction with respect to the convex arc portion 14 and protruding outward from the concave arc portion 15 in the circumferential movement direction. It has been.

The lower piece 13 is provided with a convex base portion 17 that protrudes outward in the circumferential movement direction (front-rear direction) from a position corresponding to the concave arc portion 15 of the upper piece 12. Are superimposed on the upper piece 12 of the adjacent road surface member 9 below the convex arcuate portion 14 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). In the first embodiment, the overlapping portion where the convex base portion 17 (lower piece 13) and the convex arc portion 14 (upper piece 12) are overlapped is connected by the connecting member 10 so as to be rotatable around the vertical axis. ing.
The road surface member 9 has a detachable plate 60 that is detachably provided on the upper surface of the upper piece 12. A road surface layer 61 is formed on the upper surface of the detachable plate 60, and the road surface 2 a is formed by the upper surface of the road surface layer 61. The road surface layer 61 is formed of the same material as the actual road surface material (actual road surface material) such as asphalt, concrete, metal, sandy ground material, or other desired material. The road surface layer 61 is bonded to the removable plate 60. It is fixed with agents, bolts, anchors, etc.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the detachable plate 60 is provided with a bolt hole (female screw) 62, and the upper piece 12 is provided with a bolt through hole 63 that matches the bolt hole 62. The detachable plate 60 is detachably fixed to the upper piece 12 by a bolt 64 screwed into the bolt hole 62 from the lower side of the upper piece 12 through the bolt through hole 63. The upper piece 12 is provided with a counterbore 65 for immersing the bolt head of the bolt 64 at the lower opening end of the bolt through hole 63. Thereby, the movement of the lower piece 13 (convex base portion 17) of the adjacent road surface member 9 superimposed on the upper piece 12 is not disturbed by the bolt 64.

Needless to say, the detachable plate 60 can be removed from the upper piece 12 by loosening the bolt 64 using the lower space of the upper piece 12, whereby the detachable plate 60 (including the road surface layer 61) can be removed. Since the attachment and detachment can be freely performed, the road surface 2a as the road surface member 9 can be individually replaced without disassembling the entire annular body 2.
A positioning pin 66 is provided in a protruding state on the upper piece 12 side or the detachable plate 60 side as a positioning means between them, and the other side (that is, the one provided with the positioning pin 66 is the upper piece 12). Is a detachable plate 60 side, and conversely, when the detachable plate 60 is used, it is the upper piece 12 side), and a pin hole 67 into which the positioning pin 66 can be inserted without rattling is provided. 60 (including the road surface layer 61) can be made uniform and can be prevented from being displaced.

For this reason, the road surface member 9 can be individually replaced with the replacement of the detachable plate 60, and it is not necessary to bother to replace the entire road surface member 9. In addition, since a plurality of types of detachable plates 60 can be prepared instead of the entire road surface member 9, it is beneficial in terms of stock space and cost.
It is also possible to replace the road surface 2a of some road surface members 9 with a different type from the road surfaces 2a of other road surface members 9, or to replace the road surfaces 2a of all road surface members 9 with various road surface materials. Various road surface conditions can be easily set.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the connecting member 10 includes a pivot 18 whose axis is directed in the vertical direction, and a bearing 19 such as a bearing or a bush fitted on the pivot 18. A bearing hole 20 into which a midway portion of the pivot 18 is inserted via a bearing portion 19 is provided in the convex base portion 17 of the lower piece 13 so as to open upward.
Further, the convex arc portion 14 of the upper piece 12 is provided with a bearing hole 21 that opens the upper end portion of the pivot 18 through the bearing portion 19 so as to open downward. In the present embodiment, the bearing hole 20 is further penetrated so that the pivot 18 penetrates downward, and the bearing hole 21 is provided in a state where the pivot 18 does not come out to the upper part (the road surface 2a).

A plurality of bearing portions 19 are provided to the pivot shaft 18 so as to fit in the lower bearing hole 20 and the upper bearing hole 21, and the axial distance between the bearing portions 19 is held by the collar 23. It is like that.
As shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, in the upper piece 12, the convex arc curve drawn by the outer edge of the convex arc portion 14 and the concave arc curve drawn by the outer edge of the concave arc portion 15 are The radius of curvature is approximately the same, or the concave arcuate portion 15 is slightly larger.
Therefore, the convex arc portion 14 is fitted into the concave arc portion 15 of another adjacent road surface member 9, and the convex arc portion 14 and the concave arc portion 15 that are fitted to each other generate or generate a minute gap. They will be close to each other with some degree of familiarity. Adjacent road surface members 9 are connected by the connecting member 10 while maintaining such a close state of the convex arc portion 14 and the concave arc portion 15, and are rotatable about the pivot 18 as a rotation axis. .

As shown in FIG. 8, the bearing hole 20 provided in the lower piece 13 includes a stepped portion whose diameter is reduced to such an extent that the lower through hole passes through the pivot 18 but does not drop off the bearing portion 19. Further, the pivot 18 is provided as a state protruding downward from the lower piece 13. Thus, the lower end portion of the pivot 18 that projects downward from the lower piece 13 forms an engaging portion 24 for the drive mechanism 4 described later.
Further, the lower piece 13 is provided with slide shoes 25 projecting to both sides in the width direction where the arc portions 14 and 15 of the upper piece 12 are not formed. The slide shoe 25 is a portion that is guided by the support mechanism 3 described later when the road surface member 9, and by extension, the entire annular body 2 moves around. The slide shoe 25 shown in FIG. 4 has a protruding end formed as a corner, but it may be chamfered in an R shape.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the support mechanism 3 supports the annular body 2 so as to be freely rotatable in the horizontal direction, and the annular body 2 faces upward with at least a portion of the road surface 2 a not bent (straight). It is for supporting to become. In the first embodiment, the support mechanism 3 supports the linear portion 8a and supports the curved portion 8b so that the road surface 2a of the annular body 2 faces upward over the entire circumference circuit.
The support mechanism 3 includes a pair of parallel straight portions 3a that connect the two semicircular arc-shaped curved portions 3b and 3b so that the annular body 2 exhibits an oval ring in plan view. In other words, the support mechanism 3 is a combination of the linear portion 3a and the curved portion 3b. The straight portion 8a of the road surface 2a is supported by the straight portion 3a, and the curved portion 8b of the road surface 2a is supported by the curved portion 3b.

The support mechanism 3 has a large and small oval guide rail 30 having a U-shaped cross section so that the slide shoe 25 provided on the road surface member 9 can be smoothly guided. These large and small guide rails 30 are installed in parallel so that the U-shaped open portions face each other, and are provided along the oval ring of the annular body 2 described above. That is, these guide rails 30 hold the slide shoe 25 of each road surface member 9 so as to be slidable along the circumferential direction of the annular body 2, and thereby the annular body 2 smoothly circulates along the support mechanism 3.
The support mechanism 3 is provided with an adjustment mechanism 32 that can finely adjust the track length of the guide rail 30 corresponding to the length of the annular body 2. As shown in FIG. 9, the adjusting mechanism 32 is provided with a stretchable portion 33 in the longitudinal direction on the guide rail 30 forming the straight portion 3 a, and the longitudinal direction of the stretchable portion 33 is directly or indirectly set to the stretchable portion 33. It is possible to apply a stretching force. As a means for applying the expansion / contraction force, an adjustment driving part 34 comprising the cylinder device shown in FIG. 2 is provided, and the adjustment driving part 34 applies the expansion / contraction force to the expansion / contraction part 33.

The expansion / contraction part 33 expands / contracts the guide rail 30 divided by the middle part of the two linear portions 3a, 3a. The stretchable portion 33 can be fixedly provided with a fitting convex portion 35 at one end of the divided rail, and can be inserted into the other divided rail end in a slidable state without rattling. A fitting recess 36 is provided. Therefore, the track length of the guide rail 30 can be changed corresponding to the length of the oval as the annular body 2 by adjusting the degree of insertion of the fitting convex portion 35 into the fitting concave portion 36.
Since the adjustment driving part 34 only needs to be able to expand and contract the expansion / contraction part 33 provided in the linear portion 3b of the support mechanism 3 as described above, the expansion / contraction force may be directly applied to the guide rail 30; Alternatively, an expansion / contraction force may be indirectly applied via the annular body 2. In the first embodiment, a method of indirectly applying a stretching force via the annular body 2 is adopted.

That is, in the annular body 2, the pivot 18 of the connecting member 10 that connects each road surface member 9 is projected downward from the lower piece 13 of each road surface member 9, and the downward projecting portion is connected to the drive mechanism 4 described later. An engaging portion 24 for engaging is formed.
In view of this, a sprocket 38 is provided at the center of one of the curved portions 3b of the support mechanism 3 so as to be horizontally rotatable around a rotation shaft 37 whose axis is oriented in the vertical direction. An engagement recess 39 that engages with the engagement portion 24 of the body 2 is provided. After doing in this way, it was made into the state where the expansion-contraction force by the adjustment drive part 34 was added by sliding the bearing stand 40 which supports the rotating shaft 37 of this sprocket 38 to a longitudinal direction. Specifically, a hydraulic cylinder, a feed screw mechanism driven by a motor, or the like can be used for the adjustment driving unit 34.

A coupling mechanism (not shown) is interposed between the rotary shaft 37 and the guide rail 30 so that the adjustment driving part 34 can move the rotary shaft 37 and the sprocket 38 and the guide rail 30 simultaneously. Accordingly, the tension of the annular body 2 and the expansion / contraction part 33 may be adjusted. Further, the guide rail 30 may be configured to apply an expansion / contraction force linearly by a cylinder device, a screw jack mechanism, a toggle mechanism, or the like.
The drive mechanism 4 is for driving the annular body 2 to circulate the road surface 2a. In the first embodiment, the rotating shaft 41 with the axis centered in the vertical direction at the center of the curved portion 3b of the support mechanism 3 on the opposite side to the sprocket 38 of the adjusting mechanism 32 is provided. A sprocket 42 that is horizontally rotatable around is provided, an engagement recess 43 that engages with the engagement portion 24 of the annular body 2 is provided on the outer periphery of the sprocket 42, and the sprocket 42 is wound and transmitted. The motor 45 is rotationally driven through a transmission unit 44 such as means.

  The rolling element holding device 5 is configured to be able to rotatably hold the rolling element T around an axis oriented in the horizontal direction, and while applying a predetermined load downward to the axial core portion of the rolling element T, the rolling element T Can be pressed against the road surface 2a formed by the annular body 2 from above. Further, this rolling element holding device 5 presses the rolling element T against the road surface 2a or the water film p formed on the road surface 2a while changing the holding state of the camber angle, the steering angle, the slip angle, the ground pressure, etc. (grounding). It is possible to measure the behavior that occurs when the retained rolling element T rolls.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the water film forming means 6 includes a supply means 80 for supplying water r to the road surface 2a to form a water film p, and water r supplied from the supply means 80 to the road surface 2a. Water film defining means 81 for forming a desired water film p on the road surface 2a is provided.
The supply means 80 includes a tank 83 for storing water r, and a quantitative supply device 84 connected to the bottom of the tank 83, and the quantitative supply device 84 is disposed above the road surface 2 a of the annular body 2. It is connected to the water film defining means 81. The tank 83 is provided with temperature adjusting means 85 including a heater 85a and a temperature sensor 85b, and the temperature of the water r in the tank 83 can be freely adjusted.

The water film defining means 81 is provided on the upstream side in the circumferential direction of the road surface 2 a with respect to the rolling element T supported to be grounded on the road surface 2 a by the rolling element holding device 5, and the water supplied from the supply means 80. In addition to guiding r to the straight and upward road surface 2a, both the width and thickness of the water film p on the straight and upward road surface 2a are defined.
The water film defining means 81 includes a water film width defining means 86 for defining the width of the water film p formed by the water r supplied to the road surface 2a, and a water film thickness defining for defining the thickness of the water film p. Means 87 and a frame 88 for supporting the water film width defining means 86 and the water film thickness defining means 87 above the road surface 2a are provided.

The water film width defining means 86 includes a pair of plate-like guides 89 that are in contact with the road surface 2a and prevent the overflow of water r to the side of the road surface, and a guide width adjusting mechanism 90 that adjusts the distance between the pair of guides 89. And. By supplying the water r from the supply means 80 between the pair of guides 89 whose distances are adjusted in advance, the water r is blocked from spreading laterally by the pair of guides 89 and circulates around the road surface. The spread in the direction is urged, and the spread is in the road surface direction.
The water film thickness defining means 87 includes a drum 92 disposed immediately above the road surface 2a and in front of and above the pair of guides 89, and a drum drive mechanism 93 that imparts rotational driving to the drum 92. Yes.

The drum 92 is formed in a columnar shape, and is disposed above the road surface 2a in such a posture that its axis is directed horizontally to the road surface 2a. Further, a slight gap S is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the drum 92 and the road surface 2a. By passing water r formed on the road surface 2a from the supply means 80 through the gap S, the gap S is formed. A water film p having the thickness of the S interval is formed.
In order to encourage the flow of water r into the gap S, the drum 92 can be rotated in the road surface turning direction by the drum drive mechanism 93. The drum driving mechanism 93 is disposed at one end of the drum 92 and rotates in the same rotational axis as the drum 92. The drum driving mechanism 93 is disposed above the drum 92 and rotates around the drum 92. A motor 95 having a rotation axis parallel to the center, a sprocket 96 disposed on the rotation axis of the motor 95, and a chain belt 97 wound around the pair of sprockets 94, 96 are provided. When the motor 95 of the drum drive mechanism 93 is activated, the drum 92 rotates in the road surface circumferential direction.

The rotational speed (circumferential speed) of the drum 92 is preferably the same as or substantially the same as the rotational speed of the road surface 2a.
Further, in order to be able to adjust the gap S between the road surface 2a and the drum 92, the water film thickness defining means 87 is configured so as to be able to approach and leave the road surface 2a along the frame 88 by an elevating mechanism (not shown). Yes.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the water film forming means 6 is provided between the upper piece 12 of the road surface member 9 and the detachable plate 60 having the road surface layer 61, and transfers heat to the water film p on the road surface 2a. Is provided with a heat insulating layer 98 for preventing the above.

The heat insulating layer 98 is a layer provided between the upper piece 12 of the road surface member 9 and the detachable plate 60 provided with the road surface layer 61, and this layer is formed of a heat insulating material. As the heat insulating material, a material that is less likely to transmit heat than the upper piece 12 such as a resin molded body, a foamed resin molded body, and foamed concrete can be used. The heat insulating layer 98 makes it difficult for heat from below to be transmitted to the road surface layer 61, and prevents heat generated by the support mechanism 3 and the drive mechanism 4 from being transmitted to the water film p.
The heat insulating layer 98 is preferably formed of a heat insulating material, but the upper piece 12 and the road surface layer 61 are separated by a spacer or the like, and an air layer is provided between them, and this air layer is formed. You may use it instead of a heat insulating material.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the water film removing means 7 is arranged on the downstream side in the circumferential direction of the road surface 2 a with respect to the rolling element T supported by the rolling element holding device 5 so as to be in contact with the linear and upward road surface 2 a. The water film p that has been provided and has passed through the rolling elements T is removed from the straight and upward road surface 2a.
The water film removing means 7 includes a wiper device 100 that is in sliding contact with the road surface 2a, a wiper height adjusting means 101 that supports the wiper device 100 and can adjust the height position of the wiper device 100 with respect to the road surface 2a, And a frame 102 that supports the wiper device 100 via the wiper height adjusting means 101.

The wiper device 100 includes a wiper main body 104 formed in a flat plate shape using a resin such as rubber as a raw material, and a fixture 105 that holds an upper end portion of the wiper main body 104.
The wiper height adjusting means 101 adjusts the height of the wiper by positioning the wiper device 100 above the road surface 2a and raising and lowering the fixture 105 of the wiper device 100. When the lower end portion of the wiper main body 104 of the wiper device 100 is brought into contact with the road surface 2a with respect to the circulating road surface 2a, the lower end portion of the wiper main body 104 is slid onto the road surface 2a while being bent in the circumferential direction of the road surface 2a. Thus, the water film p on the road surface 2a is removed when the lower end portion of the wiper body 104 is in sliding contact with the road surface 2a.

Further, the wiper main body 104 is supported by the wiper height adjusting means 101 in a posture that is obliquely set from a posture orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the road surface 2a. Thereby, the water r removed from the road surface 2 a by the wiper main body 104 flows into the side of the road surface 2 a along the skew of the wiper main body 104. In view of this point, it is also preferable to provide a drainage container (not shown) that receives water removed from the road surface at a position on the side of the wiper device.
Further, by adjusting the height of the wiper device 100 by the wiper height adjusting means 101, the contact pressure of the wiper with respect to the road surface 2a can be adjusted. Thereby, the removal degree of the water r by the wiper device 100 can be adjusted. However, if the ground pressure is excessively increased, resistance to the circulation of the road surface 2a is caused, and therefore, the ground pressure is preferably kept to some extent.

Accordingly, the water film p supplied from the water film forming means 6 and passing through the rolling elements T supported by the rolling element holding device 5 is removed from the road surface 2 a by the liquid film removing means 7. Therefore, the water film p is formed on the road surface 2a only between the water film forming means 6 and the water film removing means 7, and the water forming the water film p is in other parts of the rolling element test apparatus 1. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of problems such as rust and grease peeling at the site.
In order to operate the rolling element test apparatus 1 having such a configuration, first, the rolling element T is rotatably held by the rolling element holding device 5 and is predetermined downward to the axial core portion of the rolling element T. While applying a load, the outer peripheral surface of the rolling element T is pressed against the road surface 2a of the annular body 2 from above.

Further, the width of the pair of guides 89 of the water film width defining means 86 of the water film forming means 6 is adjusted to define the width of the water film p formed on the road surface 2a. Further, the thickness of the water film p formed on the road surface 2a is defined by adjusting the distance between the drum 92 of the water film thickness defining means 87 of the water film forming means 6 and the road surface 2a. Moreover, the temperature of the water r forming the water film p is adjusted by adjusting the temperature adjusting means 85 of the supply means 80 of the water film forming means 6.
Thereafter, the drive mechanism 4 is operated. As a result, a driving force is transmitted to each road surface member 9 of the annular body 2 via the sprocket 42, and the annular body 2 starts to circularly move along the support mechanism 3. Therefore, the rolling element T on the road surface 2a also starts to rotate under the driving of the annular body 2.

At this time, the drum driving mechanism 93 of the water film forming means 6 is also operated to rotate the drum 92 in the road surface circumferential direction. Then, the water r is supplied from the supply means 80 toward the road surface 2 a via the water film forming means 6.
The water r supplied toward the road surface 2a is prevented from spreading to the side of the road surface 2a by the pair of guides 89, and spreads in the circumferential direction of the road surface 2a. Then, the water r on the road surface 2a is caught in the rotation of the drum 92 and is urged by the circumference of the road surface 2a to enter the gap S between the drum 92 and the road surface 2a. Then, when the water r passes through the gap S, a water film p having a defined width and thickness is formed on the road surface 2a on the downstream side of the water film forming means 6.

Then, when the road surface 2a passes through the rolling element T, the rolling element T rolls on the road surface 2a on which the water film p is stretched. Thereby, the situation where the rolling element T drive | works on the road surface where the water film was stretched at the time of rain, etc. is reproduced. Then, by measuring the behavior of the rolling element T in this state with a force detector provided in the rolling element holding device 5, the rolling element T rolling on the road surface 2a on which the water film p is stretched is applied. The acting force is measured.
Although there is some disturbance due to the passage of the rolling element T, the water film p still exists on the road surface 2a after passing through the rolling element T. The water film p is removed by the water film removing means 7 disposed on the downstream side of the rolling surface T of the road surface 2a from the rolling element T. The road surface 2a that has passed through the water film removing means 7 circulates again toward the water film forming means 6 with all or almost all of the water film p removed.

According to this embodiment, the annular body 2 circulates in a state in which each road surface member 9 is maintained in a horizontal state (does not face downward), which is different from the conventional metal belt conveyor system. The road surface 2a does not pass through the winding portion where the posture is changed up and down. Therefore, in the peripheral circuit surface 2a device 1 according to the present invention, the conventional problems caused by adopting the metal belt conveyor system are eliminated.
That is, according to the present embodiment, even when the road surface 2a or the road surface layer 61 constituting the road surface 2a and the road surface member 9 circulate around the arc portion 3a of the support mechanism 3, bending acts on the road surface layer 61 and the road surface member 9. In other words, it is not necessary to provide the road surface layer 61 and the road surface member 9 with elastic deformability that allows the bending. For this reason, as the road surface layer 61 and the road surface member 9, a material having extremely low elastic deformability such as asphalt, concrete, and metal used for an actual road surface can be adopted.

And the material used as an actual road surface is employ | adopted as a material of the road surface layer 61 which comprises the road surface 2a in this way, By giving the same drainage performance as an actual road surface to the road surface 2a which rolls the rolling element T, it is also possible. When the water film p is formed on the road surface 2a, the situation in which the water film p is formed on the actual road surface is reproduced.
Therefore, according to the rolling element test apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the water film p is formed on the road surface 2a of the annular body 2, so that the road surface condition such as rain on the actual road surface can be reproduced very accurately. Then, by rolling the rolling element T on the road surface 2a, the performance of the rolling element T that rolls on the actual road surface on which the water film p is stretched can be measured and evaluated with high accuracy.

In addition, the road surface members 9 of the annular body 2 are connected in a state in which the convex arc portion 14 and the concave arc portion 15 are close to each other with a familiarity of whether or not a minute gap is generated. ing. That is, since the road surface members 9 adjacent to each other maintain a relative distance in the direction of the circular movement even during the rotation, the rotation of the annular body 2 at the curved portion 11b in which the road surface member 9 rotates circularly while being in a horizontal state is maintained. Becomes smooth and can prevent or suppress the generation of unpleasant noise and vibration, as well as wear, cracks, and chipping.
Further, since the annular body 2 is maintained at the best tension (tensile force) that does not generate elongation or rattling by appropriately adjusting the adjustment mechanism 32 of the support mechanism 3, measures against noise and vibration, and wear , Cracks, cracks, and the like are more reliably prevented and suppressed.

Moreover, since the relative distance in the circumferential movement direction of the road surface members 9 adjacent to each other is kept constant, there is no possibility that the adjacent road surface members 9 collide with each other. This also makes it possible to employ a material that is brittle to impact such as asphalt or concrete used on the actual road surface as the road surface 2a.
[Second Embodiment]
10 to 13 show a second embodiment of the rolling element test apparatus 1 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 10, the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment in that the annular body 2 is circularly rotated in the horizontal direction when the annular body 2 is viewed in plan (top view).

  The second embodiment is most different from the rolling element test apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment described above. In the support mechanism 3, the curved portions 3b on both sides are twisted by 90 ° along the circumferential movement direction. It is in the point to be. For this reason, in the annular body 2 of the rolling element test apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 10, one linear portion 3a (that is, the formation area of the road surface 2a formed on the annular body 2 to enable the rolling element T to roll). Then, while the annular body 2 is viewed in plan view to form a horizontal road surface 2a (upward road surface 2a), the other straight portion 3a has a posture as if it is raised sideways in the paper surface penetration direction. Yes.

The annular body 2 of the second embodiment has a road surface member 9 having a shape different from that of the first embodiment. That is, the road surface member 9 has a plate-like main body piece 50 (not a stepped shape with the upper piece 12 and the lower piece 13).
A convex arc portion 14 is provided on one side of the circumferential direction of the road surface 2a of the main body piece 50, and a concave arc portion 15 is provided on the other side. In the region where the road surface 2a faces upward, of the adjacent main body pieces 50, the convex arc portion 14 of one main body piece 50 fits into the concave arc portion 15 of the other main body piece 50, thereby adjacent main body pieces 50 A continuous road surface 2a is formed except for a joint between 50.

Further, the road surface member 9 has a coupler base 51 provided in a projecting manner on the lower surface of the main body piece 50, and the connecting member 10 is attached to the coupler base 51. As described above, the coupler bases 51 adjacent to each other are connected by the connecting member 10 in a state where the convex arc portion 14 of the main body piece 50 is fitted into the concave arc portion 15 of the main body piece 50 of the adjacent road surface member 9. Thus, the road surface members 9 adjacent to each other are continuously connected.
Specifically, the connecting member 10 includes a connecting rod 52 extending from one coupler base 51 to the other coupler base 51 on the road surface members 9 adjacent to each other, and a universal joint (universal joint) provided at the tip of the connecting rod 52. (Joint, ball joint, etc.) 53. The connecting rod 52 of one coupler base 51 is connected to the other coupler base 51 via the universal joint 53.

When the annular body 2 travels on the curved portion 3 b of the support mechanism 3, the road surface members 9 adjacent to each other move so as to shift in the sliding direction at the joint portion. The movement keeps the relative distance in the circumferential movement direction of the road surface members 9 adjacent to each other. Therefore, the road surface members 9 adjacent to each other do not collide with each other in the curved portion 3b. There is no occurrence of vibration or the like resulting from the collision.
The coupler table 51 is provided with guide rollers 54 and 55 divided into three portions. One guide roller 54 is provided on the opposite side of the coupler base 51 from the road surface member 9 (main body piece 50), and the remaining guide rollers 55 are provided on both sides of the coupler base 51. In contrast, the support mechanism 3 has a U-shaped cross section that supports the guide rollers 54 and 55 so as to be rotatable along the circumferential movement direction of the coupler 51 and supports the rotation surfaces of the guide rollers 54 and 55. A grooved guide rail 56 is provided.

Furthermore, in the second embodiment, a linear motor 57 is employed as the drive mechanism 4. As the linear motor 57, a propulsion coil 72 is provided in correspondence with the linear portion 3a in the horizontal state (that is, the formation area of the road surface 2a formed on the annular body 2 so that the rolling element T can roll). . A magnet (not shown) for generating a propulsive force corresponding to the propulsion coil 72 is mounted on the lower surface of the road surface member 9.
According to the second embodiment, since the linear motor system is adopted as the drive mechanism 4 as described above, space saving of the drive mechanism 4, reduction of the number of parts, and the like are achieved.

The other configurations, substantial operations, operations, and effects in the second embodiment are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment, and the linear motor 57 is also used in the third embodiment. Detailed explanation in is omitted.
[Third Embodiment]
14 to 16 show a third embodiment of the rolling element test apparatus 1 according to the present invention. The third embodiment is basically the same as the first embodiment (see FIGS. 1 to 9), but the drive mechanism 4 floats the annular body 2 around the entire circumference in the same manner as the second embodiment. The point which employ | adopts the linear motor system which gives propulsive force after making it differ is different from 1st Embodiment. Moreover, it differs in that a heat insulating layer is not provided between the upper piece 12 and the detachable plate 60 on which the road surface layer 61 is formed.

The drive mechanism 4 according to the third embodiment gives a propulsive force to the annular body 2 via the levitation coil 70 that levitates the road surface member 9, the levitation limiting coil 71 that limits the levitation of the road surface member 9, and the road surface member 9. It has a propulsion coil 72, a trajectory guide coil 73 that restricts lateral movement of the road surface member 9 with respect to the support mechanism 3, and a magnet (not shown) provided on the road surface member 9 side. By controlling the coils 70 to 73 of the drive mechanism 44, a propulsive force is applied to the road surface member 9, and the road surface member 9, that is, the annular body 2 circulates.
In the third embodiment, since the linear motor type driving mechanism 4 is provided over the entire circumference of the circumferential circuit of the annular body 2 formed by the support mechanism 3, the road surface member 9 extends over the entire circumference. Will surface. For this reason, even when the water r scatters and adheres between the drive mechanism 4 and the road surface member 9 passing through the drive mechanism 4, the road surface member 9 circulates without being affected by the water r. It will be a thing.

That is, when the road surface member 9 is in sliding contact with the support mechanism 3, the water r enters between the support mechanism 3 and the road surface member 9 to cause rust, which may deteriorate the movement. .
On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, since the support mechanism 3 and the road surface member 9 are separated from each other, even when the water r scatters and adheres between them, the water r is as described above. The road surface member 9 goes around without being affected. In addition, the rolling element T can be stably tested over a long period of time under the condition that the water film p is formed on the road surface 2a.

Further, since the road surface member 9 is in a floating state, heat is hardly transmitted to the water film p formed on the road surface 2a. That is, although the support mechanism 3 is provided over the entire circumference of the circumferential circuit of the annular body 2, the contact area between the support mechanism 3 and the road surface member 9 is reduced, and heat is generated due to friction between the support mechanism 3 and the road surface member 9. Is suppressed. Thereby, the maintenance effect of the temperature state of the water film p is improved.
Other configurations, substantial operations, operations, and effects in the third embodiment are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the shape, structure, material, combination, and the like of each member can be appropriately changed without changing the essence of the invention. That is, the wiper device 100 of the water film removing means 7 may be an elastic plate (for example, a rubber plate) or an elastic brush (for example, a resin brush) that is in sliding contact with the road surface 2a, and an air wiper that is not in sliding contact with the road surface 2a. It may be a device or a mist suction device.
In the above-described embodiment, the rolling element test apparatus 1 is used to evaluate the behavior of the rolling element T that rolls on the road surface 2a provided with the water film p. It can also be used as a road surface 2a test apparatus for evaluating how the road surface 2a is affected by the rolling elements T that move.

For example, at least a part of the road surface member 9 is formed of a member such as glass or transparent plastic that transmits visible light from the side where the rolling element T is present to the reverse moving body T side (in other words, in the vertical direction of the road surface member 9). be able to. If it does in this way, the contact state to the road surface 2a of the rolling element T from the downward direction of the road surface member 9 can be confirmed or observed, and various tests and measurements are possible.
The combination of the support mechanism 3 and the drive mechanism 4 is not particularly limited. For example, the drive mechanisms 4 described in the first to third embodiments can be replaced with the drive mechanisms 4 of the other embodiments. It is. For example, in the third embodiment, various coils of the linear motor 57 are provided over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction of the support mechanism 3. However, as long as sufficient propulsive force can be obtained, the second embodiment is used. Various coils may be provided on a part of the support mechanism 3 in the circumferential direction. Various materials can be used for the road surface layer 60 used for the road surface member 9, and it is also possible to form the road surface 2a of various environments by this. Moreover, what is necessary is just to provide the heat insulation layer 98 as needed.

It is the top view which partially fractured and showed 1st Embodiment of the rolling element test apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a partially broken front view corresponding to FIG. It is principal part sectional drawing of a rolling element test apparatus. It is the top view which expanded and showed a part of annular body. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a portion B of FIG. It is the perspective view which showed the road surface member. It is a top view of a road surface member. It is CC sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which showed the expansion-contraction part of the adjustment mechanism. It is the top view which showed 2nd Embodiment of the rolling element test apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a partially broken front view corresponding to FIG. It is the figure which expanded and fractured | ruptured and shown the D section of FIG. It is principal part sectional drawing of a rolling element test apparatus. It is the top view which partially fractured and showed 3rd Embodiment of the rolling element test apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a partially broken front view corresponding to FIG. It is principal part sectional drawing of a rolling element test apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rolling body test apparatus 2 Annular body 2a Road surface 3 Support mechanism 4 Drive mechanism 5 Rolling body holding device 6 Water film formation means 7 Water film removal means 9 Road surface member 10 Connection member 60 Detachable plate 61 Road surface layer 80 Supply means 81 Water film regulation Means 85 Temperature adjusting means 86 Water film width defining means 87 Water film thickness defining means 98 Heat insulation layer 100 Wiper device 101 Wiper height adjusting means T Rolling element p Water film r Water

Claims (7)

An annular body having a road surface capable of rolling the rolling element;
A support mechanism for supporting the annular body in an annularly rotatable manner in a horizontal direction in a top view and supporting the annular body so that at least a part of the road surface is straight and upward;
A driving mechanism for driving and rotating the annular body;
A rolling element holding device that rotatably supports the rolling element and grounds the rolling element to a road surface;
A rolling element testing apparatus comprising: a water film forming means for forming a water film on the straight and upward road surface.   The annular body includes a plurality of road surface members having a road surface and a connecting member for connecting the plurality of road surface members endlessly so as to maintain a relative distance between the road surface members adjacent to each other. The rolling element testing device according to claim 1.   The water film forming means includes a supply means for supplying water on the straight and upward road surface, and a width and thickness of the water film formed by the water supplied to the road surface from the supply means on the road surface. The rolling element testing device according to claim 1, further comprising a water film defining unit that defines either one or both.   The rolling element test apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the supply unit includes a temperature adjustment unit that adjusts a temperature of water supplied to the road surface.   The road surface member has a road surface layer made of an actual road surface material, and includes a detachable detachable plate, and the road surface is formed by an upper surface of the road surface layer. The rolling element test device according to claim 4.   The said water film formation means equips the said road surface with the heat insulation layer which prevents the heat transfer from the downward | lower direction to the water film on a road surface under the said road surface. The rolling element testing device according to claim 1.   The water film forming means is provided on the upstream side in the circumferential direction of the road surface with respect to the rolling element holding device, and the water film for removing the water film on the road surface on the downstream side in the circumferential direction of the road surface with respect to the rolling element holding device. The rolling element test apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a removing unit.

Images