Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle diagnosis or maintenance indication
Reexamination Certificate
1996-07-02
2001-01-30
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle diagnosis or maintenance indication
C033S203180, C033S288000, C356S138000, C356S139090, C356S155000, 36, 36, 36
Reexamination Certificate
active
06181993
ABSTRACT:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a wheel alignment system for vehicle wheels wherein a single means for angle measurement means is mounted in predetermined relationship to the plane of each of four vehicle support wheels. The angle measurement means provides wheel angle indicative output signals in redundant signal sets and wherein any signal set contains data sufficient to obtain alignment angles. Further means are provided for receiving and processing the redundant signal sets and for indicating alignment angles for the support wheels.
A wheel alignment system is disclosed herein for a vehicle having at least four support wheels wherein single omnidirectional angle measurement means is mounted on each wheel in known orientation with the plane of the wheel for determining the spatial angles relating to toe and camber between the planes of the wheel on which mounted and a projected energy beam and providing projected beam angle indicative signals corresponding thereto. Means is provided for receiving and processing the angle indicative signals for providing signals indicative of toe and camber alignment angles between the planes of the support wheels.
A wheel alignment system is disclosed herein for a vehicle having at least four support wheels wherein angle measurement means is mounted on each wheel in predetermined relationship with the plane of the wheel for providing wheel angle indicative output signals in redundant signal sets. Any signal set contains data sufficient to obtain desired wheel alignment angles. Further means is included for prioritizing the signal sets in the order of potential wheel alignment angle accuracy. Means is also included for selecting the highest accuracy priority signal set available and for processing the highest accuracy signal set available to obtain the desired wheel alignment angles.
An omnidirectional angle measurement apparatus is disclosed herein which includes spheroid-like mounting means having a plurality of mounting positions on the surface thereof, wherein each position is oriented in predetermined spatial position relative to a polar axis of the mounting means. A plurality of beam emitting means is provided for individual mounting at ones of the plurality of mounting positions for emitting energy beams in predetermined spatial directions relative to the polar axis. Means is included for receiving the energy beams and for identifying the spatial direction of received beams toward said means for receiving relative to said polar axis.
An omnidirectional angle measurement apparatus is disclosed which includes mounting means having a polar axis and a plurality of mounting positions thereon. A plurality of beam emitting means are secured at ones of the plurality of mounting positions so that the beam emitting means project beams omnidirectionally in predetermined directions relative to the polar axis. Means is included for sequentially exciting the beam emitting means and for providing an emission sequence signal corresponding thereto. Means is also provided for receiving the projected beams and the emission sequence signal to thereby identify the projection directions of the received beams relative to the polar axis.
An omnidirectional measurement apparatus is disclosed herein which includes at least two beam receiver means mounted in spaced positions and a mounting base positioned in a known location having at least two light sources mounted in known position in the mounting base and emitting beams extending in directions separated by a known angle. Means is also provided for sweeping the emitted beams from the two light sources cyclically through an angle large enough to impinge upon each of said beam receiver means.
Further, an angle measurement apparatus is disclosed for measuring angular relationship between a plurality of adjustable interconnected members without reference to vertical. Omnidirectional beam projector means is mounted in known orientation relative to each member. Beam receiver means is mounted on each member for receiving projected beams and for providing beam reception signals. Means is provided for receiving and processing the beam reception signals and for providing member relative angular orientation in at least two substantially orthogonal planes.
A vehicle wheel alignment system for use on level or non-level vehicle support surfaces is disclosed which operates to align wheels on a vehicle having at least four support wheels with defined wheel planes. Omnidirectional beam projection means is mounted on each support wheel in known orientation with the wheel plane. Beam reception means is mounted in known position on each support wheel providing beam received signals when impinged by a projected beam. Also included is means for receiving the beam received signals and for determining the spatial angles between a wheel plane and a beam projected from the omnidirectional beam projection means mounted on one support wheel toward the beam reception means mounted on another support wheel. Further, means is included for combining the determined spatial angles for obtaining wheel alignment angles in the wheel reference planes for the four support wheels.
A wheel alignment system has been developed for a vehicle having left and right front and left and right rear wheels having wheel planes subject to alignment adjustments. The system includes first means for measuring the line of sight angles between the plane of the left front wheel and the planes of the right front, left rear, and right rear wheels. Further, second means is included for measuring the line of sight angles between the plane of the right front wheel and the planes of the left front, right rear, and left rear wheels. Processor means is provided for receiving the line of sight angle measurements from the first and second means for measuring and for providing output indicative of the relative orientations of the left and right front and the left and right rear wheel planes.
A wheel alignment system is disclosed for a vehicle having four wheels with wheel planes subject to alignment adjustment which includes first wheel mounted means for measuring the line of sight angles between the plane of a first wheel and the planes of second, third and fourth wheels. Processor means is provided for receiving the line of sight angle measurements from the first wheel mounted means for measuring and for providing output indicative of the relative orientations of the four wheel planes.
A wheel alignment system is disclosed herein for measuring wheel alignment angles of front and rear wheels, wherein the system includes first and second means for measuring angles mounted on and in predetermined orientation with the left and right front wheels, and third and fourth means for measuring angles mounted on and in predetermined orientation with the left and right rear wheels. The first, second, third and fourth means for measuring angles are in optical communication with each other, whereby line of sight angle measurement outputs are produced by each means for measuring angles. Processor means is provided for receiving the line of sight angle measurement outputs and for providing output indicative of the relative orientations of the front and the rear wheels.
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Dale, Jr. James L.
de Bellefeuille, Jr. Jean Oliver Wilfrid
Poe Richard J.
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Hernandez Olga
McDermott & Will & Emery
Snap-on Technologies, Inc.
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