Apparatus and method for wheel alignment, suspension diagnosis and chassis measurement of vehicles

An apparatus for wheel alignment, suspension diagnosis and chassis measurement of vehicles, said apparatus capable of measuring toe relative to the chassis, to the thrust line and to the effective thrust line, said apparatus comprising:

• light beam generation means for generating a light beam for indicating an angle, and particularly for measuring the location of vehicle body parts relative to reference lines of the vehicle's manufacturer;
• light beam direction means for directing said light beam outwardly in a measurable and adjustable direction;
• an electronic angle sensor for measuring said angle;
• a microprocessor for controlling said angle sensor and for converting electronic signals from said sensors into calculated diagnostic parameters;
• a head for measuring, calculating and controlling data on at least one of the wheels on a vehicle, said head suitable for mounting on the wheel of a vehicle, said head housing said angle sensors, said microprocessor and said light beam generation means;
• said apparatus further capable of measuring and calculating toe relative to the chassis, toe relative to other wheels, camber, caster, steering axis inclination, included angle, frequency of jounce and rebound, camber maximum, camber minimum, tilt maximum, and tilt minimum, setback and offset distance measurements, and frequency and amplitude of sonic vibrations, further comprising within said head:
• an electronic gravity sensor unit, said gravity sensor unit fixedly attached to said head and including an electronic element which senses said head's orientation relative to gravity in two directions, said unit further comprising the electronic circuit necessary to provide signals to said microprocessor for indicating orientation;
• a power unit, said power unit including electrical components necessary to convert incoming voltage into the electrical power needed by the other electrical units and to charge batteries;
• a battery unit, said battery unit included within said power unit for providing power to said head such that said head can be utilized in a portable manner;
• a display unit for displaying data output from said microprocessor;
• a keypad, said keypad being capable of providing to said microprocessor data concerning the operator choices and wheel locations;
• a sonic sensor unit for receiving frequency and amplitude of sonic vibrations and for transmitting electrical signals to said signal processing unit described below, said sonic sensor affixed within the part of said head which is directly connected to said shaft of said rim adaptor such as the form a metal connection to the vehicle;
• a signal processor unit, said signal processor unit capable of determining the frequencies and amplitude of the sonic vibrations detected by said sonic sensor unit when the vehicle is moved such as to be capable of detecting and determine some types of damage to the vehicle;
• and
• an acceleration sensor, said acceleration sensor included within said head, said acceleration sensor further being capable of providing to said microprocessor data concerning the position, velocity and acceleration at each wheel such that while the vehicle is moving a determination can be made as to the relevant motion of said wheel.

A method for measuring the toe of the front wheels of a vehicle, said method comprising the steps:

• (a) projecting a first light beam in an established direction from a rear wheel of the vehicle;
• (b) projecting a second light beam in an established direction from a front wheel of the vehicle;
• and
• (c) aligning the second light beam from the front wheel parallel to the first light beam from the rear wheel.

Method of determining a first alignment parameter of a first body part of a vehicle, the vehicle having a chassis, the chassis having a front end and a rear end, a first reference point on the chassis, a second reference point on the chassis, the first and second reference points establishing a first lateral reference line, the method characterized by:

• mounting a first head to a first body part of the vehicle;
• generating a first beam of light from the first head;
• directing the first beam of light along the lateral reference line;
• and
• determining the first alignment parameter of the first body part as a function of a distance and/or an angle of the first beam of light to the first body part.