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US 4,296,626 AGranted
Wheel alignment apparatus
OwnerDavis R. Jarman, Virgil H. Hinsoninventors
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OwnerDavis R. Jarman, Virgil H. Hinsoninventors
Estimating the term…
An alignment system for non-adjustable motor vehicle front end suspension systems, such as those employing McPherson struts, includes anchors for mounting, by appropriate adaptors, to the opposite side forward sheet metal portions of the vehicle to which the upper ends of associated McPherson struts are secured. An elongated adjustable length thrust member is operatively connected between the anchors and a support assembly is provided anchorable relative to one side of the associated vehicle. The support assembly includes an upper portion to which the adjacent alignment system anchor may be connected by means of an adjustable length anchor member and the support further includes an adjustable support member to which the adjacent wheel hub may be releasably anchored. The adjustable length thrust member may be utilized to effect and maintain proper spacing between the McPherson strut anchor points and the adjustable length anchor member and adjustable support member may be utilized to effect simultaneous lateral adjustment of the strut anchor points of the associated vehicle. Also, the adjustable length anchor member and adjustable support member may be utilized to maintain proper positioning of one of the strut anchor points while the adjustable length thrust member connected between the strut anchor points may be utilized to effect proper spacing therebetween, thus also properly locating the upper anchor point of the other strut member.
An alignment apparatus for a motor vehicle front end system including body sheet metal supported upper suspension strut end anchor locations, a pair of adaptor assemblies, said adaptor assemblies including mounting means for removable anchoring to said anchor locations, an elongated adjustable length thrust member of the push and pull type, means pivotally attaching the opposite end portions of said thrust member to said adaptor assemblies, a stand anchorable to the supporting surface for said vehicle on one side of the latter, an elongated pull structure having one end anchored to an upper portion of said stand and the other end thereof anchored to the adjacent adaptor assembly of said vehicle, an intermediate portion of said stand including a horizontally outwardly projecting adjustable length arm supported therefrom, the outer end of said arm including abutment structure for abutting and securement to an adjacent wheel hub of the associated vehicle, said stand being generally L-shaped in configuration including a lower horizontal leg and an upper vertical leg whose lower end is anchored to one end of the lower leg and from an intermediate height portion of which said adjustable length arm is supported, the outer end of said lower horizontal leg including a turntable supported therefrom upon which a wheel supported from said wheel hub may rest.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.