Misalignment sensor

Abstract

In a disclosed embodiment, a steering axle wheel assembly for a vehicle is provided with a system for actively sensing and alerting a vehicle user of wheel misalignment. The wheel assembly includes an elongated tie rod extending between two wheels and a rotatable knuckle system connecting each wheel to a respective end of the tie rod. A steer angle, that is, the angle of a wheel with respect to an axle, is monitored. When the steer angle is significant, result in a tensile or compressive force is provided on the tie rod. This force on the tie rod is small when the steer angle is small. The tie rod is provided with a system to measure the force. An alerting system is provided which alerts a vehicle user when significant tensile or compressive force on the tie rod is measured, and the steer angle is small. Thus, a vehicle user is actively alerted of wheel misalignment.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.