Wheel alignment apparatus

US5177558A · kind A · utility

Inventor

• Jerry M. Hill · North Little Rock, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 26, 1991
• Grant date: Jan 5, 1993
• Expiry date: Dec 26, 2011

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01B2210/283
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A wheel alignment apparatus (10) for measuring the toe angles of the wheels (42) of a vehicle such that the wheels (42) may be properly aligned, including vehicles whose rear axle (20) and front axle (22) are of unequal lengths. The wheel alignment apparatus (10) of the present invention includes at least one light beam source (14) for emitting a beam of light (24) toward a photosensor (12). The light beam (24) produces currents at each end of the photosensor (12), the currents then being measured and processed by a signal processor (16) to determine the impinging angle of the light beam (24). Each of the light beam sources (14) and the photosensors (12) are attached to the respective wheels (42) with connecting apparatuses, or heads (18). The photosensor (12) is a lateral photocell for receiving at least a portion of the emitted light beam (24) on a continuous active area (30). The signal processor (16) includes an Analog-to-Digital (A-D) converter (94) for data analysis and storage. Heads (18) are provided for carrying the light beam sources (14) and photosensors (12) and are placed about the vehicle proximate each wheel (42).