Apparatus and method for measuring vehicle alignment
AssigneeNexion S.P.A.
InventorGiulio Corghi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus (1) for measuring an alignment of a wheeled vehicle (V), comprises: two contact tracks (P) for the wheels of the vehicle, extending along a longitudinal direction (L); a measuring assembly (2), including a measuring unit (21), for capturing one or more images of the vehicle and generating corresponding image data, and a connector (22), having a first end (22A) connected to the measuring unit (21) and positioned at a first height (Q1), and a second end (226), positioned at a second height (Q2), greater than the first height (Q1); a control unit (3), configured to receive the image data (301) from the measuring unit (21) and to process the image data (301) to derive vehicle alignment information therefrom. The measuring unit (21) is movable towards and away from the contact tracks (P).
Claims20
An apparatus for measuring an alignment of a wheeled vehicle, comprising:
- a structure, including a lift, for lifting the vehicle vertically;
- two contact tracks for the wheels of the vehicle, extending along a longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end, the contact tracks being integral to the lift of the structure;
- a measuring assembly, including:
- a measuring unit, including a first camera configured to capture one or more images of the wheels of the vehicle and to generate corresponding image data,
- a connector, having a first end connected to the measuring unit and positioned at a first height, and a second end positioned at a second height, greater than the first height;
- a control unit, configured to receive the image data from the measuring unit and to process the image data to derive vehicle alignment information therefrom, the measuring unit being movable towards and away from the contact tracks,
- a supporting assembly, wherein the second end of the connector is connected to the supporting assembly, and
- a reference structure, positioned at the second end of the contact tracks at a distance therefrom in the longitudinal direction, the reference structure including a reference element and an additional reference element, spaced from one another along a transversal direction, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and to a vertical direction,
- wherein the measuring unit further includes a second camera, oriented longitudinally, configured to view the reference element or the additional reference element and configured to take images thereof, and
- wherein the structure further includes a vertical column and a beam, connected to the vertical column, the connector being slidably connected to the beam.
A method for measuring an alignment of a wheeled vehicle, comprising the following steps:
- preparing a structure including a lift, for lifting the vehicle vertically;
- preparing two contact tracks, extending along a longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end, the contact tracks being integral to the lift of the structure, and preparing a measuring assembly, including a measuring unit, including a first camera and a second camera, and a connector, having a first end, connected to the measuring unit and positioned at a first height, and a second end, positioned at a second height, greater than the first height;
- positioning the wheels of the vehicle in contact with the contact tracks;
- through the first camera, capturing one or more images of the wheels of the vehicle and generating corresponding image data through the measuring unit;
- processing the image data in a control unit to derive vehicle alignment information therefrom,
- moving the measuring unit towards and away from the contact tracks and supporting, wherein a supporting assembly is connected to the second end of the connector to support the measuring unit,
- preparing a reference structure positioned at the second end of the contact tracks at a distance therefrom in the longitudinal direction, the reference structure including a reference element and an additional reference element, spaced from one another along a transversal direction, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and to a vertical direction;
- and
- viewing the reference element or the additional reference element and taking images thereof through the second camera, oriented longitudinally, and
- wherein the structure further includes a vertical column and a beam, connected to the vertical column, the connector being slidably connected to the beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.