Facility for performance testing of power transmission units

This paper describes the engineering design for a facility to test the performance of gearboxes and drive axles. Power transmission units are much more frequently tested on test rigs than in motor vehicles. The rig testing of such devices constitutes a very complex area because of the diversity of functions performed by individual components and their parts in the power transmission systems of motor vehicles and construction machinery. In the simulation tests carried out on simulation test rigs, the conditions of testing of individual units should match the expected conditions of operation for such units as much as possible. The test rigs used for this purpose are very complicated and expensive, but the results of rig tests are more reliable and accurate than they would be if other test methods were employed. The rig tests described here reflect the impact of anticipated service loads on the endurance of the unit under test.