Three directional support mechanism for vehicle wheels

A device to generate a movement in three orthogonal directions, the device comprising:

• a movement system;
• at least one supporting arrangement coupled to the movement-system, the movement-system being configured to move the supporting arrangement in accordance with a first orthogonal direction and in accordance with a second orthogonal direction perpendicular to the first orthogonal direction;
• and
• a mechanism configured to be acted upon by the movement system to move the supporting arrangement in a third orthogonal direction perpendicular to the first and second orthogonal directions, the mechanism including first, second, third, and fourth ball-housings, first, second, third, and fourth balls respectively arranged in the first, second, third, and fourth ball-housings, and first, second, third, and fourth threshold-blocks having respective inclined bearing surfaces to respectively support the first, second, third, and fourth balls, the bearing surfaces having respective slopes;
• wherein
• wherein the slopes of the bearing surfaces permit the supporting arrangement to move in the third orthogonal direction in accordance with at least one operation of the movement-system in the first orthogonal direction and at least one operation of the movement-system in the second orthogonal direction.

A method to detect the play of at least one part of a movable carrier, the part being linked to a movable supporting arrangement, the method comprising:

• detecting the play;
• and
• while detecting the play, moving the supporting arrangement using a device to generate a movement in three orthogonal directions, the device including a movement system;
• at least one supporting arrangement coupled to the movement-system, the movement-system being configured to move the supporting arrangement in accordance with a first orthogonal direction and in accordance with a second orthogonal direction perpendicular to the first orthogonal direction;
• and a mechanism configured to be acted upon by the movement system to move the supporting arrangement in a third orthogonal direction perpendicular to the first and second orthogonal directions, the mechanism including at least one ball-housing, a ball arranged in the ball-housing, and a threshold-block having a bearing-surface on which the ball rests, the bearing-surface of the threshold-block having at least one slope;
• wherein the slope of the bearing surface permits the supporting arrangement to move in the third orthogonal direction in accordance with at least one operation of the movement-system in the first orthogonal direction and at least one operation of the movement-system in the second orthogonal direction.

A method for measuring the braking forces of at least one wheel of a movable carrier, the method comprising:

• placing the wheel on a movable supporting arrangement;
• measuring the braking forces;
• and
• while measuring the braking forces, moving the supporting arrangement using a device to generate a movement in three orthogonal directions, the device including a movement system;
• at least one supporting arrangement coupled to the movement-system, the movement-system being configured to move the supporting arrangement in accordance with a first orthogonal direction and in accordance with a second orthogonal direction perpendicular to the first orthogonal direction;
• and a mechanism configured to be acted upon by the movement system to move the supporting arrangement in a third orthogonal direction perpendicular to the first and second orthogonal directions, the mechanism including at least one ball-housing, a ball arranged in the ball-housing, and a threshold-block having a bearing-surface on which the ball rests, the bearing-surface of the threshold-block having at least one slope;
• wherein the slope of the bearing surface permits the supporting arrangement to move in the third orthogonal direction in accordance with at least one operation of the movement-system in the first orthogonal direction and at least one operation of the movement-system in the second orthogonal direction.

A method to direct a vehicle to light-measuring equipment, the vehicle including wheels, the method comprising:

• placing at least one of the wheels of the vehicle on a movable supporting arrangement to direct the vehicle with respect to the light-measuring equipment;
• and
• moving the supporting arrangement using a device to generate a movement in three orthogonal directions, the device including a movement system;
• at least one supporting arrangement coupled to the movement-system, the movement-system being configured to move the supporting arrangement in accordance with a first orthogonal direction and in accordance with a second orthogonal direction perpendicular to the first orthogonal direction;
• and a mechanism configured to be acted upon by the movement system to move the supporting arrangement in a third orthogonal direction perpendicular to the first and second orthogonal directions, the mechanism including at least one ball-housing, a ball arranged in the ball-housing, and a threshold-block having a bearing-surface on which the ball rests, the bearing-surface of the threshold-block having at least one slope;
• wherein the slope of the bearing surface permits the supporting arrangement to move in the third orthogonal direction in accordance with at least one operation of the movement-system in the first orthogonal direction and at least one operation of the movement-system in the second orthogonal direction.