US 5,177,558 AGranted

Wheel alignment apparatus

OwnerJerry M. Hillinventor

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Abstract

A wheel alignment apparatus (10) for measuring the toe angles of the wheels (42) of a vehicle such that the wheels (42) may be properly aligned, including vehicles whose rear axle (20) and front axle (22) are of unequal lengths. The wheel alignment apparatus (10) of the present invention includes at least one light beam source (14) for emitting a beam of light (24) toward a photosensor (12). The light beam (24) produces currents at each end of the photosensor (12), the currents then being measured and processed by a signal processor (16) to determine the impinging angle of the light beam (24). Each of the light beam sources (14) and the photosensors (12) are attached to the respective wheels (42) with connecting apparatuses, or heads (18). The photosensor (12) is a lateral photocell for receiving at least a portion of the emitted light beam (24) on a continuous active area (30). The signal processor (16) includes an Analog-to-Digital (A-D) converter (94) for data analysis and storage. Heads (18) are provided for carrying the light beam sources (14) and photosensors (12) and are placed about the vehicle proximate each wheel (42).

Claims22

Dependent claims

A wheel alignment apparatus for measuring selected angles between adjacent wheels of a vehicle, said wheel alignment apparatus comprising:

a light beam source for emitting a plurality of light beams, each of said light beams emitted from a position proximate a first selected wheel of said vehicle toward an adjacent second selected wheel, said light beam source comprising at least one light emitting diode for emitting a light beam modulated at a selected frequency, said modulated light beam being directed in a substantially horizontal plane and in a direction substantially parallel to a selected axis of said first selected wheel;
a light beam sensor for detecting said light beam modulated at said selected frequency, said light beam sensor generating at least two signals, one of said signals being detected at each of first and second ends of said light beam sensor, a magnitude of each of said signals being used to determined a relative angle between a selected axis of said first selected wheel and a corresponding axis of said adjacent second selected wheel, said light beam sensor including a position sensitive photosensor defining an active area positioned to receive said light beam, said active area being continuous between said first and second ends of said light beam sensor;
a signal processor for processing and analyzing said generated signals for said determination of said relative angle between said selected axis of said first selected wheel and said corresponding axis of said adjacent second selected wheel;
a wheel attachment device for attaching said light beam source to said first selected wheel;
and
a wheel attachment device for attaching said light beam sensor to a selected wheel of said vehicle.

3 more elements

A wheel alignment apparatus for measuring selected angles between adjacent wheels of a vehicle, said wheel alignment apparatus comprising:

a plurality of light beam sources for emitting a plurality of light beams, each of sadi light beams emitted from a position proximate a first selected wheel of said vehicle toward an adjacent second selected wheel, said light beam source comprising at least one light emitting diode for emitting a light beam modulated at a selected frequency, said modulated light beam being directed in a substantially horizontal plane and in a direction substantially parallel to a selected axis of said first selected wheel, one of said plurality of light beam sources being located proximate each of said wheels attached to a steering axle directed toward adjacent wheels attached to a non-steering axle, one each located proximate each of said wheels attached to said non-steering axle directed toward adjacent said wheels attached to said steering axle, and one each located proximate each of said wheels attached to said steering axle directed toward adjacent sadi wheels attached to said steering axle;
a plurality of light beam sensors for detecting said light beam modulated at said selected frequency, each of said plurality light beam sensors generating at least two signals, one of said signals being detected at each of first and second ends of each of said plurality of light beam sensors, a magnitude of each of said signals being used to determine a relative angle between a selected axis of said first selected wheel and a corresponding axis of said adjacent second selected wheel, said light beam sensor including a position sensitive photosensor defining an active area positioned to receive said light beam, said active area being continuous between said first and second ends of said light beam sensor, each of said plurality of light beam sensors being positioned to detect said light beam emitted from one said light beam sources;
a signal processor for processing and analyzing said generated signals for said determination of said relative angle between said selected axis of said first selected wheel and said corresponding axis of said adjacent second selected wheel;
a wheel attachment device for attaching said light beam source to said first selected wheel;
and
a wheel attachment device for attaching said light beam sensor to a selected wheel of said vehicle.

3 more elements

A wheel alignment apparatus for measuring selected angles between adjacent wheels of a vehicle, said wheel alignment apparatus comprising:

a plurality of light beam sources for emitting a plurality of light beams, each of said light beams emitted from a position proximate a first selected wheel of said vehicle toward an adjacent second selected wheel, said light beam source comprising at least one light emitting diode for emitting a light beam modulated at a selected frequency, said modulated light beam being directed in a substantially horizontal plane and in a direction substantially parallel to a selected axis of said first selected wheel, one of said plurality of light beam sources being located proximate each of said wheels attached to a primary steering axle directed toward adjacent wheels attached to a secondary steering axle, one each located proximate each of said wheels attached to said secondary steering axle directed toward adjacent said wheels attached to said primary steering axle, and one each located proximate each of said wheels attached to said primary steering axle directed toward adjacent said wheels attached to said primary steering axle;
a plurality of light beam sensors for detecting said light beam modulated at said selected frequency, each of said plurality light beam sensors generating at least two signals, one of said signals being detected at each of first and second ends of each of said plurality of light beam sensors, a magnitude of each of said signals being used to determine a relative angle between a selected axis of said first selected wheel and a corresponding axis of said adjacent second selected wheel, said light beam sensor including a position sensitive photosensor defining an active area positioned to receive said light beam, said active area being continuous between said first and second ends of said light beam sensor, each of said plurality of light beam sensors being positioned to detect said light beam emitted from one said light beam sources;
a signal processor for processing and analyzing said generated signals for said determination of said relative angle between said selected axis of said first selected wheel and said corresponding axis of said adjacent second selected wheel;
a wheel attachment device for attaching said light beam source to said first selected wheel;
and
a wheel attachment device for attaching said light beam sensor to a selected wheel of said vehicle.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.