Digital Instrumentation System for Engine Testing 720877

This paper discusses the Dynamometer System of Accurate, Unambiguous Readouts (Dinosaur), a new system used in the performance testing of engines at John Deere. Readouts are digital, and data are in engineering units; thus, the engineer supervising the test can make decisions regarding the conduct of the test while there is still time to modify the test program. Testing time is reduced as the operator need not perform calculations, data conversions, etc. Test setup and teardown time is minimized by checking all instrumentation transducers for proper operation prior to the test at which time a bulkhead system with quick-disconnect connectors is utilized. Among the subjects discussed are the operation and design of Dinosaur, the method of digital computation, and the use of a new programmable-cascadable frequency divider.