Apparatus for wheel alignment
OwnerRay Ventressinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for vehicle wheel alignment comprising a wheel engaging member and a bearing surface rigidly mountable to the wheel engaging member. A lever with a movable fulcrum is mounted to the bearing surface for applying an appropriately directed force to the bearing surface to adjust the alignment of an engaged wheel. A bracing member is provided extendable from the lever for attachment to an anchor surface. The bracing member provides a reaction force to ensure that the aligning force generated by the lever is directed toward the engaged wheel. Alternative embodiments of the invention can be used to adjust wheel alignment on straight axle and trailing arm axle vehicles.
Claims32
Apparatus for vehicle wheel alignment comprising:
- a bearing surface;
- means for mounting the bearing surface to the wheel comprising one or more threaded extensions to engage one or more studs of the wheel and removably secure the bearing surface to the wheel at a distance from the wheel to create a lever arm for applying a bending force said one or more threaded extensions positioned between the bearing surface and the wheel;
- lever means having a movable fulcrum point mountable to said bearing surface for applying an appropriately directed force to said bearing surface to adjust the alignment of an engaged wheel;
- and
- bracing means extendable from said lever means for attachment to an anchor surface, said bracing means providing a reaction force to ensure that the aligning force generated by said lever means is directed toward said engaged wheel.
Apparatus as claimed in claim i including alignable holes formed in said bearing surface and said lever means and a pin member insertable through a pair of said alignable holes to define a fulcrum point for said lever means.
Apparatus as claimed in claim I in which said anchor surface is a body panel sill of the vehicle and said bracing means comprises a clamping member to grip and engage said sill, and a rigid connecting member interconnecting said clamping member and said lever means.
Apparatus as claimed in claim I in which said anchor surface is a suspension strut of the vehicle and said bracing means comprises a strut engaging member and a rigid connecting member interconnecting said strut engaging member and said lever means.
Apparatus for adjusting wheel alignment in a vehicle suspension system comprising:
- a bearing surface;
- means for mounting the bearing surface to the wheel comprising one or more extension members to engage one or more studs of the wheel and removably secure the bearing surface to the wheel at a distance from the wheel to create a lever arm for applying a bending force;
- lever means mountable to the bearing surface;
- force exerting means connectable between the lever means and an anchor surface for applying a force to the bearing surface to vary the alignment of the wheel.
Apparatus for adjusting wheel alignment in a vehicle suspension system that includes a straight axle comprising:
- a bearing surface;
- means for mounting the bearing surface to the wheel
- force exerting means engageable with the bearing surface for generating a force to vary the alignment of the wheels;
- and
- bracing means comprising a chain engaged about the axle of the vehicle and connected to an anchor point to restrain movement of the axle while the force exerting means is being operated.
Apparatus for adjusting wheel alignment in a vehicle suspension system that includes a straight axle comprising:
- a bearing surface;
- means for mounting the bearing surface to the wheel;
- bracing means comprising a chain connected between the bearing surface as a first anchor point and the axle as a second anchor point;
- and
- force exerting means engaged against the axle intermediate the first and second anchor points for generating a force against the axle to vary the alignment of the wheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.