Misalignment sensor

Details Misalignment sensor Misalignment sensor

1999-12-07

2001-03-27

Wu, Daniel J. (Department: 2632)

Communications: electrical

Land vehicle alarms or indicators

Internal alarm or indicator responsive to a condition of the...

C340S439000, C340S440000, C340S686200, C073S457000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06208240

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a system for sensing wheel misalignment while a vehicle is moving. Wheel misalignment is a common problem in modern vehicles. Many driving conditions can result in wheel misalignment. Until it is detected, wheel misalignment can adversely affect a vehicle's steering system as well as provide uneven tire wear. The longer that significant wheel misalignment goes undetected and uncorrected, the greater the undesirable tire wear.
Typically wheel misalignment is detected at a time when a vehicle is serviced. Of course, this only occurs periodically. It would be desirable to provide a system whereupon a user of a vehicle may actively determine wheel misalignment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the disclosed embodiment of this invention a steering axle wheel assembly for a vehicle is provided with a system for actively sensing wheel misalignment. The steering axle wheel assembly is a basic system known to one of ordinary skill in the art and 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 measured from the front wheel with respect to a front axle changes as the vehicle is turned When the vehicle is being turned, and the steer angle is significant, there is a tensile or compressive force on the tie rod. With a small steer angle this force should be quite small. However, if the wheels are misaligned, the force will be large. By monitoring the force on the tie rod when the steer angle is small, one can actively predict misalignment.
The steer angle can be monitored by the relationship of elements in the rotatable knuckle system that connects each wheel to a respective end of the tie rod. The rotatable knuckle rotates on a kingpin defining an axis. The steer angle is characterized by the angle of rotation of the knuckle about the kingpin axis. This measurement is zero when the wheels are in the straight ahead position. The inventive system monitors this angle.
The tie rod is provided with a sensor to measure force. The force should be zero with the wheels in the straight ahead position. The present invention monitors the steer angle and the force. If a predetermined force is exceeded when the steer angle is below a minimum, a decision is made that the wheels are misaligned.
An alerting system is provided which alerts a vehicle user when misalignment is indicated. To reduce any effect of anomalies or noise on the force measurement, a moving average may be employed.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3597728 (1971-08-01), Kurtz
patent: 3897636 (1975-08-01), Leblanc
patent: 4458535 (1984-07-01), Juergens
patent: 4907452 (1990-03-01), Yopp
patent: 5269186 (1993-12-01), Yopp
patent: 5786751 (1998-07-01), Robby
patent: 5795997 (1998-08-01), Gittins et al.
patent: 5875418 (1999-02-01), Gill et al.

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