Patent · US Expired

Measuring vehicle front end parameters

US4307515A · kind A · utility

1Cited by
3References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 15, 1979
Grant dateDec 29, 1981
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 15, 1999

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01B5/255
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for dynamically measuring vehicle front end parameters such as toe-in (or toe-out) and camber angle. The apparatus includes a separate pair of support rollers for supporting each vehicle front wheel and causing rotation thereof. A sensing roller is adapted to contact the tire tread surface at the lowermost point of the tire so as to be rotated by rotation of the wheel. The axis of the sensing roller is arranged transverse to the plane of rotation of the wheel such that any toe-in or toe-out of the wheel causes a transverse or generally axial displacement of the sensing roller to a position wherein the axis of the sensing roller is normal to the toe-in or toe-out direction of the wheel. The sensing roller is mounted on an axle which forms one bar of a trapezium shaped four bar linkage which causes said sensing roller to pivot about an effective pivot point which is arranged, by means of said linkage, a considerable distance away from the wheel. The pivot point is the point of intersection of the center lines of the tapered sides of the linkage since the bars of the linkage are pivotally interconnected. A further sensing roller for meas…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.