The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.

Soichiro Shirato

Ichiro Akiyama

Haruo Tuchiya

A washer-type strain sensor, which generates an output representing a load acting thereon, is arranged between the vehicle body and the wheel. A dynamic load acting on the wheel is measured on the basis of the outputs of the strain sensor when the vehicle is traveling. A lateral force, a lateral-force coefficient, a slip angle, and steering characteristics of the wheel are obtained on the basis of the measured dynamic load, and thereby the cornering characteristics of the wheel are obtained.

Method for measuring dynamic characteristics of wheel of vehicle

An apparatus for measuring dynamic load characteristics of wheels, which can be relatively easily installed on a portion between the body of the vehicle and the wheel to receive force from the road surface, which is cheap yet makes it possible to grasp the dynamic load characteristics of the wheel during the travel maintaining a sufficient degree of accuracy. The apparatus comprises a washer-type strain sensor incorporated between the body of a vehicle and a wheel, at a portion where it receives force from the road surface, e.g., at a portion where a shock absorber of the suspension system is attached to the main body of vehicle, and a means for measuring an output of the washer-type strain sensor while the vehicle is traveling.

Growing community of inventors

Hiratsuka, Japan

Soichiro Shirato