The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 16, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 22, 1999
Bruce Howard Whittle, Livonia, MI (US);
Arthur J. Page, Canton, MI (US);
David M. Fricke, Prior Lake, MN (US);
David W. Olson, Belleville, MI (US);
James Alanoly, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Nabih Wassef Elsenety, Bloomfield, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A method and system are provided for generating engine attachment control boundary conditions and corresponding control signals for an exhaust system laboratory test fixture which accurately reproduce both the dynamic behavior of a vehicle powertrain during operation, and the dynamic behavior of the vehicle frame during operation in the area where the exhaust system is attached to the vehicle frame. Road load data is collected in vertical, lateral, and longitudinal directions on the vehicle frame during vehicle operation at each of the locations where the exhaust system attaches. In addition, temperature and thermal cycling data are also collected during operation of the vehicle. The road load data is used to determine a best fit rigid body model. Accelerometer locations and directions are determined from statistical analysis and ranking to find the measures best fitting the determined rigid body. This information is then used to generate the test boundary conditions and control signals to be input to the test fixture. Thermal profiles are generated based on the collected temperature data to form input control signals to control heating of the exhaust system during testing. The generated thermal profiles allow simulation of real-world thermal stresses caused by hot exhaust gases.