Maschinenfabrik Köppern Gmbh & Co. Kg

Jan Willem Hilbrands

A method and apparatus for determining the behavior of a shock absorber arranged in a wheel suspension unit within the sprung-mass-system of a vehicle. The method includes measuring the static wheel load, causing the wheel to vibrate by applying forces to the wheel according to a predetermined relationship of amplitude or stroke to frequency, measuring at least one of the minimum and maximum value of the vertical contact force supplied by the wheel to a support surface while subjecting the wheel to such applied forces as an indication of the minimum and maximum wheel load, respectively. The measured minimum or maximum wheel load is then divided by the static wheel load so as to form a dimensionless factor which serves as an indication of the usability of the shock absorber. The apparatus includes devices for vibrating the wheel, measuring the necessary values and providing an indication of the dimensionless factor.

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Hattingen, Netherlands

Jan Willem Hilbrands