초록 ▼

A four sensor wheel aligner has a single omnidirectional angle sensor mounted on each of four vehicle support wheels. Each sensor is in optical communication with the other sensors. Data is produced from which toe, camber, caster and steering axis inclination angles are computed. No reference is mad

A four sensor wheel aligner has a single omnidirectional angle sensor mounted on each of four vehicle support wheels. Each sensor is in optical communication with the other sensors. Data is produced from which toe, camber, caster and steering axis inclination angles are computed. No reference is made to vertical. Redundant data sets are produced which provide system reliability and error tracking features and maximum accuracy from available data sets. Frame distortion measurements are made to facilitate collision repair in coordination with wheel alignment.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A wheel alignment system for vehicles comprising at least four vehicle support wheels which comprises:single means for angle measurement mounted in predetermined relationship to a wheel plane of each of the four vehicle support wheels for collectively providing wheel angl

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A wheel alignment system for vehicles comprising at least four vehicle support wheels which comprises:single means for angle measurement mounted in predetermined relationship to a wheel plane of each of the four vehicle support wheels for collectively providing wheel angle indicative output signals in redundant signal sets, any one of said signal sets containing data sufficient to obtain four wheel alignment angles;said single means for angle measurement comprisingomnidirectional beam projection means mounted on each of a first two support wheels for projecting a plurality of beams in known directions with respect to the wheel plane, anddirectional beam reception means mounted on a second two support wheels for providing receiver output signal indicative of direction of received beams relative to the wheel plane of respective ones of said second two support wheels and of identity of the direction of projection of received beams relative to the wheel plane of respective ones of said first two support wheels; andmeans in communication with said single means for receiving and processing said redundant signal sets and for computing alignment angles for the support wheels.