Patent · US Expired

Wheel alignment system

US4594789A · kind A · utility

34Cited by
19References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 22, 1985
Grant dateJun 17, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 22, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01B2210/283
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A wheel alignment system uses head units attached to each of the four wheels. The front head units contain photodetector arrays which view across the front of the vehicle and to the rear. The rear units carry photodetector arrays which look forward. Each photodetector array views a target on one of the other head units. A microcomputer in each head unit determines an angular value based upon the position of the target image on the photodetector array. The angle values determined by the microcomputers of the individual head units are supplied to a master computer in a main console which determines individual toe angles with respect to a tread centerline for either the front two wheels or for all four wheels. The master computer controls a display at the main console, as well as a remote display to guide the mechanic in making alignment adjustments.

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