Geometrical instruments – Gauge – Wheel
Patent
1991-06-14
1993-05-04
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
Geometrical instruments
Gauge
Wheel
3320313, G01B 525
Patent
active
052070018
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a device for supporting motor vehicle wheels when taking suspension geometry measurements.
Suspension geometry measurements (convergence angle, camber angle etc.) require the vehicle to be positioned with its wheels on plates which are free to lie in the horizontal plane to conform with the stresses to which the vehicle is subjected. Suitable apparatus applied to the wheels enables the various measurements to be taken and the various quantities of interest to be calculated.
These plates are generally of different shapes according to whether they are to support the vehicle front or rear wheels, and in particular are circular for the front wheels (cf. EP-A2-0 215 540) and of elongated shape for the rear wheels (cf. EP-B1-0 051 088) to ensure correct positioning of said rear wheels when the front wheels are positioned on the circular discs, independently of the vehicle length, at least within certain limits.
These plates can be incorporated into the respective lift runways in the sense of being housed in corresponding seats provided in the runways, and have their surface coplanar with the runway plane. Alternatively they can be housed in structures applied to the runways and in this case they are housed in suitable seats provided therein such that the bearing surface for the wheels is coplanar with the runway plane.
In either case the known constructions have a plurality of drawbacks and limitations, and in particular: certain laboriousness in manoeuvering; production; plates into structures fitted to the runways has proved considerably complicated and costly; limitation, the rotation of the rear plates is less the greater their length, and this can be an unacceptable constraint especially in the case of vehicles with steered rear wheels; positions 180.degree. apart makes it necessary to raise the vehicle to effect this rotation, and because of the lateral inclination of the wheel plane (camber angle) this raising movement results in excessive lateral displacement of the plates, with frequent alteration in the values of the measurements taken; the measurements to be taken require perfect vehicle planarity and correct load distribution over the wheels, and for this reason they are influenced by non-uniform wheel inflation.
An object of the invention is to eliminate all these drawbacks and to provide a device for supporting motor vehicle wheels when taking suspension geometry measurements which is of simple construction and practical use.
A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the stated type which can be used both for vehicle front wheels and rear wheels.
A further object of the invention is to provide a device which does not require the vehicle to be raised between one measurement and the next to allow the wheels to be rotated through 180.degree..
A further object of the invention is to provide a device which can be adapted to vehicle lifts of any type, even to those not specifically designed for suspension geometry measurements.
All these and further objects which will be apparent from the description given hereinafter are attained according to the invention by a device for supporting motor vehicle wheels when taking suspension geometry measurements, comprising a structure provided with ball shaped supports for its free resting on an underlying horizontal surface, characterised by further comprising: structure and supporting a wheel mounted on the vehicle, said ball shaped supports and to firmly bind said structure to said surface when the rotation of said one roller is caused, apart to each other in a direction transverse to their axis between two end positions, in one of which the two rollers are on opposite sides of the zone of contact between said wheel and said resting surface, and in the other of which the two rollers are closer together to support said wheel raised from said resting surface.
The present invention is described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic overall side view of a vehicle
REFERENCES:
patent: 3411346 (1968-11-01), Gagliardi
patent: 3812592 (1974-05-01), Haupt
patent: 4055899 (1977-11-01), Dean
patent: 5111585 (1992-05-01), Kawashima et al.
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Dowling William C.
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