Mts Systems Corporation

Glen Charles Grenier

Steven R Haeg

Ricky L Zieman

Chad E Brose

A servo actuator system and method of operating the same includes a dual acting actuator comprising an actuator body and a movable member movable in the actuator body to define a first and second chamber on each side of the movable member. A first port is fluidly coupled to the first chamber and a second port is fluidly coupled to the second chamber. A fluid pump having a return is provided. A proportional valve assembly is fluidly coupled to the fluid pump, return and the first and second ports. The proportional valve assembly includes a plurality of metering orifices. A controller is operably coupled to the proportional valve assembly to control the plurality of metering orifices to generate a load vector having magnitude and direction and wherein an actual position of a movable member in an actuator body is indeterminate.

Servo actuator load vector generating system

A loading assembly used in a vehicle spindle test fixture includes a wheel adapter housing that is mountable to a vehicle spindle. A pair of vertical struts are provided. Each vertical strut is joined to the wheel adapter housing at spaced-apart first pivot connections. A bell crank is coupled to each end of the vertical struts at spaced-apart second pivot connections. An actuator is pivotally coupled to the bell crank at a third pivot connection. The location of the second pivot connections relative to the third pivot connection approximates the location of the first pivot connections relative to the spindle axis.

Loading assembly for a vehicle spindle test fixture

A brake torque loading linkage for vehicle spindle test fixtures permits applying a brake torque load while other loads are being applied, particularly vertical loading, where substantial movement is encountered, without requiring substantial compensation. The brake torque loading actuator is mounted to move with the vertical loading linkage. The reference for the brake torque is thus on the linkage that moves for applying the vertical load and there is no need to compensate for vertical movements of the spindle being tested when applying the brake torque. The linkage utilized comprises a bell crank loading linkage that is used for applying the torque to a spindle and in particular is useful for testing spindles mounted on pivoting swing arm mountings.

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Ray, MI, United States of America

Glen Charles Grenier