US-20260126348-A1 - ROADWAY SIMULATOR TESTING ASSEMBLY

US20260126348A1US 20260126348 A1US20260126348 A1US 20260126348A1US-20260126348-A1

Abstract

A roadway simulator and method configured to simulate a heated roadway. A continuous belt is supported by a first roller such that the continuous belt moves about the first roller and a spaced apart second roller. The belt is configured to be under at least a portion of a vehicle. The belt is heated or cooled to a selected temperature and rotated to simulate movement of the vehicle along a road at a selected speed at the selected temperature. One or more parameters of the vehicle can be monitored due to the presence of the heated continuous belt.

Inventors

Victor Senft

Assignees

ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251103

Claims (19)

1 . A roadway simulator comprising: a first roller; a second roller spaced from the first roller; a continuous belt positioned about the first roller and the second roller, the continuous belt having an outer surface and an inner surface; an energy source configured to impart energy into the continuous belt to heat or cool the continuous belt; a temperature sensor configured to provide a signal relating to a sensed temperature of the continuous belt; and a controller configured to receive the signal from the temperature sensor, determine an error between the sensed temperature on the continuous belt and a setpoint and send a signal to the energy source to adjust an amount of heat imparted into the continuous belt based upon the error.
2 . The roadway simulator of claim 1 , wherein the energy source comprises a heat source configured to direct heated air directed toward the continuous belt to convectively heat the continuous belt.
3 . The roadway simulator of claim 1 , and further comprising: an air bearing located between the first roller and the second roller and below the inner surface of the continuous belt, wherein heated or cooled air is directed through the air bearing to convectively heat or cool the continuous belt.
4 . The roadway simulator of claim 1 , and wherein the energy source comprises a radiant heater configured to direct radiant energy toward the continuous belt.
5 . The roadway simulator of claim 4 , wherein the radiant heater comprises an infrared heater configured to direct radiant energy towards the inner or outer surface of the continuous belt.
6 . The roadway simulator of claim 1 , wherein the energy source is located within the first roller and/or the second roller, wherein the energy source is configured to heat the first roller and/or the second roller, wherein the continuous belt is heated through conduction due to contact with the first roller and/or the second roller.
7 . The roadway simulator of claim 1 , and further comprising: a water/glycol bearing located between the first roller and the second roller and below the inner surface of the continuous belt, wherein heated water is directed through the water/glycol bearing to convectively heat the continuous belt.
8 . The roadway simulator of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is embedded or attached to the continuous belt.
9 . The roadway simulator of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises a non-contact sensor configured to sense a temperature of the continuous belt.
10 . A method of simulating a heated roadway, the method comprising: providing a continuous belt supported by a first roller such that the continuous belt moves about the first roller and a spaced apart second roller; positioning at least a portion of a vehicle over the continuous belt; heating or cooling the continuous belt to a selected temperature; rotating the continuous belt to simulate movement of the vehicle along a road at a selected speed at the selected temperature; and monitoring one or more parameters of the vehicle due to the presence of the heated continuous belt.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the selected elevated temperature ranges between about 120°F and about 140°F.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the selected temperature is cooled below ambient temperature to simulate cold weather road conditions.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein heating the continuous belt comprises directing heated or cooled fluid towards the continuous belt to convectively heat or cool the continuous belt.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein heating the continuous belt comprises directing heated fluid towards the continuous belt through a bearing located between the first roller and the second roller and below the continuous belt.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein cooling the continuous belt comprises directing cooled fluid towards the continuous belt through a bearing located between the first roller and the second roller and below the continuous belt.
16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein heating the continuous belt comprises directing radiant energy toward the continuous belt.
17 . The method of claim 10 and further comprising: sensing a temperature of the continuous belt with a sensor; comparing the temperature to the selected temperature; and adjusting an amount of heat imparted into the continuous belt based upon the comparing the temperature to the selected temperature.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein sensing the temperature of the continuous belt comprises: embedding or attaching a sensor to the continuous belt; and sending a wireless signal relating to the temperature to a controller to compare the temperature to the selected temperature.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein sensing the temperature of the continuous belt comprises: utilizing a non-contact temperature sensor to determine a sensed temperature of the continuous belt; and sending a signal relating to the temperature to a controller to compare the sensed temperature to the selected temperature.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Serial No. 63/716,510, filed November 5, 2024, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND The discussion below is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The present disclosure relates to a roadway testing assembly that allows, for example, a vehicle to simulate traveling along a road in a substantially stationary position while sensing or monitoring selected variables on the vehicle. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a roadway assembly that is configured to be heated to allow, for example, a vehicle to simulate traveling along a road that has been heated due to ambient conditions. Electric vehicles (“EVs”) are becoming increasingly popular vehicle for people to drive. Many people chose EVs over fossil fuel powered vehicles because EVs are essentially emission free and do not produce carbon dioxide or other exhaust gasses that can harm the environment. However, the batteries used to power EVs are heavy and are typically located along a midplane of the vehicle in the direction of travel to provide substantially similar forces on each set of spaced apart wheels. The batteries are also located proximate a transverse midplane so that similar forces are provided between the spaced apart sets of wheels on the EV. Typically, the batteries are also located lower to the ground to cause the center of gravity to be lower to provide better stability. An issue with the batteries used in EVs is the generation of heat while electric energy is being drawn from the battery and power the EV. At least some of the heat is required to be drawn from the battery while discharging power to prevent the battery from overheating. A typical method of drawing heat from, or cooling the battery, is to transfer heat to the ambient environment as the EV is moving along a road. However, some environmental conditions where the roadway become sufficiently hot, such as in a desert where road surface temperatures can reach, for example, between and 120°F and 140°F, the transfer of heat to the ambient air is not sufficient to cool the battery due to the proximate location of the battery relative to the heated roadway. The heated roadway can result in a build-up of heat in the batteries, which can result in battery malfunction and/or premature failure. SUMMARY An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a roadway simulator configured to simulate a heated roadway. The roadway simulator also includes a first roller; a second roller spaced from the first roller; a continuous belt positioned about the first roller and the second roller, the continuous belt having an outer surface and an inner surface. An energy source is configured to impart energy into the continuous belt to heat or cool the continuous belt. A temperature sensor is configured to provide a signal relating to a sensed temperature of the continuous belt. A controller is configured to receive the signal from the temperature sensor, determine an error between the sensed temperature on the continuous belt and a setpoint and send a signal to the energy source to adjust an amount of heat imparted into the continuous belt based upon the error. Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The energy source may include a heat source configured to direct heated air directed toward the continuous belt to convectively heat the continuous belt. Heated or cooled air can be directed through the air bearing to convectively heat or cool the continuous belt. In one embodiment, the selected elevated temperature ranges between about 120 degrees (Fahrenheit) and about 140 degrees (Fahrenheit). The energy source may include a radiant heater configured to direct radiant energy toward the continuous belt. The radiant heater may include an infrared heater configured to direct radiant energy towards the inner or outer surface of the continuous belt. The energy source can be located within the first roller and/or the second roller, where the energy source is configured to heat the first roller and/or the second roller, where the continuous belt is heated through conduction due to contact with the first roller and/or the second roller. For instance, the energy source may include resistive heaters within the first roller and/or the second roller. The energy source may include heated air directed into an interior of the first roller and/or the second roller. In another embodiment, heated water is directed through the water/glycol bearing to conductive heat the continuous belt. The temperature sensor can be embedded or attached to the continuous belt. The temperature sensor can be configured to send a wireless signal to the controller. The temperature sensor may include a non-contact senso