Method and system for measuring caster trail
AssigneeSnap-on Technologies, Inc.
InventorsDavid A. Jackson, Stephen L. Glickman, James L. Dale, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for measuring caster trail of a wheel. The system comprises position sensing devices for sensing positional signals of the wheel and a data processing system configured to couple to the position sensing devices. The data processing system receives signals from the position sensing devices and determines spatial characteristics of a steering axis of the wheel, a reference plane and the center of a wheel. The system then determines the caster trail based on the spatial characteristics.
Claims72
A method for measuring caster trail of a wheel comprising the machine-implemented steps of:
- determining spatial characteristics of a steering axis of the wheel;
- determining spatial characteristics of a reference plane;
- determining spatial characteristics of a wheel center;
- and
- determining the caster trail of the wheel based on the spatial characteristics of the steering axis, the reference plane and the wheel center.
A system for measuring caster trail of a wheel, comprising:
- position sensing devices for sensing positional signals of the wheel;
- and
- a data processing system configured to couple to the position sensing devices, the data processing system including:
- a data port for receiving the positional signals from the position sensing devices;
- a data processor coupled to the data port for processing data;
- and
- a data storage device coupled to the data processor for storing instructions upon execution by the data processor causing the data processing system to perform the machine-implemented steps of:
- determining spatial characteristics of a steering axis of the wheel based on the positional signals;
- determining spatial characteristics of a reference plane based on the positional signals;
- determining spatial characteristics of a wheel center based on the positional signals;
- and
- determining the caster trail of the wheel based on the spatial characteristics of the steering axis, the reference plane and the wheel center.
A data processing system configured to use with position sensing devices to measure caster trail of a wheel, wherein the position sensing devices are configured to sense positional signals of the wheel, the data processing system comprising:
- a data port for receiving the positional signals;
- a data processor for processing data;
- and
- a data storage device coupled to the data processor for storing instructions upon execution by the data processor causing the data processing system to perform the machine-implemented steps of:
- determining spatial characteristics of a steering axis of the wheel based on the positional signals;
- determining spatial characteristics of a reference plane based on the positional signals;
- determining spatial characteristics of a wheel center based on the positional signals;
- and
- determining the caster trail of the wheel based on the spatial characteristics of the steering axis, the reference plane and the wheel center.
A machine-readable medium bearing instructions for controlling a data processing system for use with position sensing devices to determine a caster trail of a wheel, wherein the position sensing devices are configured to sense positional signals of the wheel, the instructions upon execution by the data processing system causing the data processing system to perform the steps of:
- determining spatial characteristics of a steering axis of the wheel based on the positional signals;
- determining spatial characteristics of a reference plane based on the positional signals;
- determining spatial characteristics of a wheel center based on the positional signals;
- and
- determining the caster trail of the wheel based on the spatial characteristics of the steering axis, the reference plane and the wheel center.
A system for measuring caster trail of a wheel, comprising:
- position sensing means for sensing positional signals of the wheel;
- and
- data processing system configured to couple to the position sensing devices, the data processing system including:
- data port means for receiving the positional signals from the position sensing devices;
- data processing means for processing data;
- and
- data storage means coupled to the data processor for storing instructions upon execution by the data processor causing the data processing system to perform the machine-implemented steps of:
- determining spatial characteristics of a steering axis of the wheel based on the positional signals;
- determining spatial characteristics of a reference plane based on the positional signals;
- determining spatial characteristics of a wheel center based on the positional signals;
- and
- determining the caster trail of the wheel based on the spatial characteristics of the steering axis, the reference plane and the wheel center.
A data processing system configured to determine caster trail of a wheel, comprising:
- an input device for receiving data related to positional parameters of the wheel;
- a data processor coupled to the input device for processing data;
- and
- a data storage device coupled to the data processor for storing instructions upon execution by the data processor causing the data processing system to perform the machine-implemented steps of:
- determining spatial characteristics of a steering axis of the wheel based on the positional parameters;
- determining spatial characteristics of a reference plane based on the positional parameters;
- determining spatial characteristics of a wheel center based on the positional parameters;
- and
- determining the caster trail of the wheel based on the spatial characteristics of the steering axis, the reference plane and the wheel center.
A data processing system configured to use with a vision imager that detects a first image when the wheel is in a first position and a second image when the wheel is in a second position, the data processing system comprising:
- a data port configured to couple to the vision imager for receiving signals therefrom;
- a data processor for processing data;
- and
- a data storage device coupled to the data processor for storing instructions upon execution by the data processor causing the data processing system to determine the caster trail of the wheel based on signals representing the first image and the second image.
A data processing system configured to use with position sensing devices to determine caster trail of a wheel, wherein the position sensing devices are configured to detect positional signals of the wheel, the data processing system comprising:
- a data port configured for receiving the positional signals;
- a data processor coupled to the data port for processing data;
- and
- a data storage device coupled to the data processor for storing instructions upon execution by the data processor causing the data processing system to perform the machine-implemented steps of:
- calculating a caster value of the wheel based on the positional signals;
- determining spatial characteristics of a reference plane and a wheel center based on the positional signals;
- and
- determining the caster trail based on the caster value and the spatial characteristics of the reference plane and the wheel center.
A data processing system configured to use with position sensing devices to determine caster trail of a wheel, wherein the position sensing device are configured to detect positional signals of the wheel, the data processing system comprising:
- a data port configured for receiving the positional signals;
- a data processor for processing data;
- and
- a data storage device coupled to the data processor and the data port for storing instructions upon execution by the data processor causing the data processing system to perform the machine-implemented steps of:
- determining spatial characteristics of a side wheel centerline, a reference plane and a steering axis based on the positional signals;
- and
- determining the caster trail based on the spatial characteristics of the side wheel centerline, the reference plane and the steering axis.
A data processing system configured to determine caster trail of a wheel comprising:
- an input device for receiving data related to positional parameters of the wheel;
- a data processor for processing data;
- and
- a data storage device coupled to the data processor for storing instructions upon execution by the data processor causing the data processing system to perform the machine-implemented steps of:
- determining spatial characteristics of a side wheel centerline, a reference plane and a steering axis based on the positional parameters;
- and
- determining the caster trail based on the spatial characteristics of the side wheel centerline, the reference plane and the steering axis.
A data processing system configured to use with position sensing devices to determine a caster trail of a wheel, wherein the position sensing devices are configured to sense positional signals of the wheel, the system comprising:
- an input device for receiving data related to positional parameters of the wheel;
- an input port for receiving the positional signals;
- a data processor coupled to the input device for processing data;
- and
- a data storage device coupled to the data processor for storing instructions upon execution by the data processor causing the data processing system to perform the machine-implemented steps of:
- determining spatial characteristics of a steering axis of the wheel based on at least one of the positional parameters and the positional signals;
- determining spatial characteristics of a reference plane based on at least one of the positional parameters and the positional signals;
- determining spatial characteristics of a wheel center based on at least one of the positional parameters and the positional signals;
- and
- determining the caster trail of the wheel based on the spatial characteristics of the steering axis, the reference plane and the wheel center.
A system for measuring caster trail of a wheel, comprising:
- position sensing devices for sensing positional signals of the wheel;
- and
- a data processing system configured to couple to the position sensing devices, the data processing system including:
- a data port for receiving the positional signals from the position sensing devices;
- an input device for receiving data related to positional parameters of the wheel;
- a data processor coupled to the data port for processing data;
- and
- a data storage device coupled to the data processor for storing instructions upon execution by the data processor causing the data processing system to perform the machine-implemented steps of:
- determining spatial characteristics of a steering axis of the wheel based on at least one of the positional signals and the positional parameters;
- determining spatial characteristics of a reference plane based on at least one of the positional signals and the positional parameters;
- determining spatial characteristics of a wheel center based on at least one of the positional signals and the positional parameters;
- and
- determining the caster trail of the wheel based on the spatial characteristics of the steering axis, the reference plane and the wheel center.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.