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:
Nov. 25, 2003
Filed:
Jun. 12, 2001
Edward Moffatt, Orinda, CA (US);
Eddie Cooper, Scottsdale, AZ (US);
Exponent, Inc., Menlo Park, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for measuring and/or analyzing the rollover characteristics of a vehicle . Apparatus includes a controller , a selectively movable test fixture assembly , a truck or towing vehicle which is coupled to trailer assembly and which selectively tows or drives assembly , several cameras and , and a user interface . Vehicle is attached to test fixture , and user interface is used to activate motor assembly which selectively rotates vehicle to a desired roll angle relative to the ground surface . Once vehicle is correctly positioned, an operator drives truck at a predetermined and desired speed. Controller generates release signals to exploding bolts , which simultaneously explode, thereby releasing vehicle from frame . In this manner, apparatus allows the drop height and the translational and vertical velocity of a vehicle to be selectively controlled, adjusted and repeated from test to test, and provides controllable and predictable roof-to-ground impacts.