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Apparatus for use in aligning the differential input shaft of a race car with the transmission output shaft includes a transmission attachment and a differential attachment, each of which is detachably mountable to the race car. Each attachment includes a laser mounted centrally in a plate which is

Apparatus for use in aligning the differential input shaft of a race car with the transmission output shaft includes a transmission attachment and a differential attachment, each of which is detachably mountable to the race car. Each attachment includes a laser mounted centrally in a plate which is mounted substantially perpendicular to the transmission and the differential respectively. The laser mounted to the transmission emits a light beam coaxial to the transmission output shaft and the laser mounted to the differential emits a light beam coaxial to the differential input shaft. By adjusting the differential and transmission relative to each other such that the laser beams do not intersect, the differential and the transmission are aligned for optimum performance. A camber gauge may be substituted for the laser in either plate to measure the attitude of the differential or the transmission.

대표청구항 ▼

1. Apparatus to align an input shaft of a differential gear of a rear wheel drive vehicle with an output shaft of a transmission thereof, comprisinga first attachment detachably mounted to a one of the input shaft of the differential gear and the output shaft of the transmission,a second attachment

1. Apparatus to align an input shaft of a differential gear of a rear wheel drive vehicle with an output shaft of a transmission thereof, comprisinga first attachment detachably mounted to a one of the input shaft of the differential gear and the output shaft of the transmission,a second attachment detachably mounted to an other of the input shaft of the differential gear and the output shaft of the transmission,the first attachment comprising a laser selectively emitting a first light beam toward the second attachment,the first light beam coaxial with the one of the input shaft and the output shaft to which the first attachment is detachably mounted,the second attachment comprising a target element having a region thereof aligned with the axis of the other of the input shaft and the output shaft to which the second attachment is detachably mounted,the target element intersecting the first light beam when the input shaft of the differential gear is generally aligned with the output shaft of the transmission. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinthe target element comprises a plate,the plate disposed in axial alignment with the other of the input shaft and the output shaft to which the second attachment is detachably mountable. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinthe target element includes an indicator aligned with the axis of the other of the input shaft and the output shaft to which the second attachment is detachably mountable. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinthe first attachment comprises a first plate having a central opening therein,the laser of the first attachment removably mounted within the central opening of the first plate. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinthe second attachment comprises a second laser selectively emitting a second light beam toward the first attachment,the second light beam coaxial with the other of the input shaft of the differential gear and the output shaft of the transmission to which the second attachment is detachably mounted. 6. The apparatus of claim 5 whereinthe first attachment comprises a first plate disposed perpendicularly to the light beam emitted by the laser of the first attachment,the target element comprising a second plate disposed perpendicularly to the second light beam,whereby the first light beam strikes the second plate and the second light beam strikes the first plate when the first laser and the second laser are concurrently activated and the input shaft of the differential gear is generally aligned with the output shaft of the transmission. 7. The apparatus of claim 6 whereinthe first plate has a central opening therein,the laser of the first attachment mounted within the central opening of the first plate,the second plate has a central opening therein,the second laser mounted within the central opening of the second plate. 8. The apparatus of claim 7 whereinthe first attachment is detachably mountable to the output shaft of the transmission,the first attachment comprises a hollow shaft coaxially mounted to the first plate,the hollow shaft receivable on the output shaft of the transmission,the input shaft of the differential gear comprises a differential yoke,the second attachment is detachably mountable to the differential yoke. 9. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinthe first attachment includes a manually operable switch to activate the laser of the first attachment,the second attachment includes a manually operable switch to activate the laser of the second attachment. 10. The apparatus of claim 5 whereinthe first light beam is a first color and the second light beam is a second color. 11. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinthe first attachment is detachably mountable to the output shaft of the transmission,the first attachment comprising a hollow shaft coaxially mounted to the fist plate,the hollow shaft receivable on the output shaft of the transmission,the input shaft of the differential gear comprising a differential yoke,the second attachment detachably mountable to the differential yoke,the second attachment comprising a second laser selectively emitting a second light beam toward the first attachment,the second light beam coaxial with the input shaft of the differential gear,the first attachment comprising a first plate disposed perpendicularly to the light beam emitted by the laser of the first attachment,the first plate having a central opening therein,the laser of the first attachment mounted within the central opening of the first plate,the target element comprising a second plate disposed perpendicularly to the second light beam,the second plate having a central opening therein,the second laser mounted within the central opening of the second plate,the first attachment including a manually operable switch to activate the laser of the first attachment,the second attachment including a manually operable switch to activate the laser of the second attachment. 12. A method of aligning the differential gear of a race car with the transmission thereof comprising the steps of:mounting a first laser to the differential gear of the race car,causing the first laser to emit a first light beam coaxial to an input shaft of the differential gear, the first light beam emitted in a direction toward the transmission of the race car,mounting a second laser to an output shaft of the transmission of the race car,causing the second laser to emit a second light beam coaxial to the output shaft of the transmission, the second light beam emitted toward the differential gear,observing the first light beam and the second light beam in an area between the first laser and the second laser,adjusting the orientation of the transmission and of the differential gear so that the first light beam does not intersect the second light beam. 13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of introducing a fine powder between the first laser and the second laser.