Christian J Oberheide

US Patent:

40622215, Dec 13, 1977

Filed:

Dec 16, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/751545

Inventors:

Christian H. Oberheide - Arlington Heights IL
Edward Mikkelsen - Glenview IL
George E. Misthos - Glenview IL

Assignee:

Promotional Marketing Incorporated - Glenview IL

International Classification:

G01M 1704

US Classification:

73 11

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for testing shock absorbers in situ on automotive vehicles, the apparatus including, generally, a light-weight, hand-carried console which in the preferred embodiment includes its own source of energy so that it is truly portable, and which also has an oscillation detector in the form of an accelerometer supported thereon. The console of the apparatus is preferably placed on the fender of the vehicle, directly over the tire or wheel to which the shock absorber to be tested is coupled. The console has thereon easily observable light indicators to visually indicate the number of times the vehicle oscillates up and down. Initially, the vehicle is bounced a pre-determined number of times to activate the apparatus, five times in the disclosed embodiment, with each bounce, that is, each up and down, being visually indicated by means of operating lights. An alarm or warning also is provided to audibly indicate that the vehicle has been bounced the proper amount of times and should be released. The subsequent oscillations, each up and down, thereafter are counted and visually indicated by the indicator lights to provide a visual record of the number of oscillations made by the vehicle after it was released.