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Driveshaft test bench
Testing and inspection
The inspections, tests and checks on the driveshafts and on other components are carried out on a special test bench, built according to precise indications and located in an isolated room. On this test bench, pairs of driveshafts are turned to submit them to endurance tests under stress, during which the mechanical reactions to friction are constantly monitored. Specifically, actual survival tests are performed, bringing the components to a state of blockage or breakage.
Thanks to a series of electric motors, the desired torque and angle values are reproduced. The system consists of a dense network of sensors which continuously transmit information to the "black box" which in turn constantly monitors all the data (torque, temperature of the elements during the test). In this way it is possible to predict the breaking point of the components or the presence of factors that can compromise the correct functioning of the driveshafts.
Friction measurement
Driveshafts
The driveshafts consist of two tubes inserted one inside the other. On the test bench there are load cells that read in real time the force exerted on the tubes themselves and the effect that is triggered when the forces involved cause the tendency to make them slide in opposite directions due to rotation.
The friction deriving from the sliding tendency can be reduced by applying grease or thanks to a particular silicone coating called Rilsan, as occurs in the case of the most stressed homokinetic joints. In this way, it is possible to check what the influence of the profile (section) of the tubes is in relation to the frictional forces.
The tests are generally repeated several times to try to achieve the most precise results possible to minimise the effects deriving from external factors, demonstrating the performance, resistance and quality of Eurocardan cardan joints with empirical data, comparing them with other products on the market.
Duration estimates
Torque limiters
The working conditions in the field of a system consisting of a driveshaft and a safety device can be simulated on the bench with an excellent degree of fidelity compared to actual ones, such that it will be possible to estimate the life of a cardan joint. In some cases the tests can last many hours but, to reduce stress-test times and to have the results available in a short space of time, higher forces are applied by increasing the torque values and increasing the nominal angles of inclination of the joint.
The results of these stress tests make it possible to analyse an excellent quantity of data to obtain important references on the general quality, structural deformations and other problems that can only be highlighted with specific tests. In this way it will be possible to analyse real data to demonstrate the correspondence with the expected performances.
