Wheel alignment systems
AssigneeDoftek Pty Ltd
InventorsGeoffrey William Rogers, Jacob Arthur Rayner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatuses and systems for monitoring wheel alignment and/or for controlling vehicle suspension settings to adjust alignment. Described herein are alignment monitoring apparatuses for determining wheel alignment (e.g., camber, castor and/or toe). Also described herein are alignment adjusting or control apparatuses for adjusting one or more of camber, caster and/or toe.
Claims25
A device for adjusting wheel alignment of a vehicle having a suspension, the device comprising:
- a frame, configured to be mounted to the vehicle;
- a drive motor coupled to the frame;
- a drive shaft driven in rotation by the drive motor;
- a gear engaging the drive shaft, such that rotation of the drive shaft by the drive motor rotates the gear;
- and
- an offset bushing coupled to the gear and configured to be rotated by the gear when the drive motor rotates the gear, wherein the offset bushing is configured to couple with a linkage coupled to a wheel of the vehicle and to drive the linkage into or away from the wheel to adjust the alignment of the vehicle.
A device for adjusting wheel alignment of a vehicle having a suspension, the device comprising:
- a frame, configured to be securely mounted to the vehicle;
- a spiral bevel gear including a hypoid drive gear, and an offset gear having a larger diameter than the hypoid drive gear;
- a drive motor coupled to the frame and configured to drive the hypoid drive gear;
- and
- an eccentric shaft coupled to the offset gear and configured to be rotated by the offset gear, when the drive motor rotates the hypoid drive gear to rotate the offset gear, wherein the eccentric shaft is configured to couple with a linkage coupled to a wheel of the vehicle.
A system for adjusting wheel alignment of a vehicle having a suspension, the system comprising:
- a frame mounted to a body of the vehicle;
- a drive motor coupled to the frame;
- a drive shaft driven in rotation by the drive motor;
- a gear engaging the drive shaft, such that rotation of the drive shaft by the drive motor rotates the gear;
- an offset bushing coupled to the gear and configured to be rotated by the gear when the drive motor rotates the gear;
- and
- a linkage coupled to the offset bushing wherein the linkage is also coupled to a wheel of the vehicle, wherein rotation of the offset bushing causes the linkage to move axially perpendicular to the wheel or the vehicle to adjust alignment of the wheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.