A gyroscope, in one embodiment a ring laser gyro, is used in an alignment measuring device for checking and adjusting alignment of a vehicle. The device includes an "x" and a "y" digital inclinometer working in concert with the gyroscope to measure various angle related to vehicle alignment.
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What is claimed is: 1. An alignment system for measuring alignment of a structure, the alignment system comprising: a gyroscope carried in a housing, the gyroscope having an internal data storage location in an internal electronics package and the electronics package having data output capability;
What is claimed is: 1. An alignment system for measuring alignment of a structure, the alignment system comprising: a gyroscope carried in a housing, the gyroscope having an internal data storage location in an internal electronics package and the electronics package having data output capability; a digital x-axis inclinometer supported by the housing, the x-axis inclinometer having capability of directing data to the internal data storage location of the internal electronics package of the gyroscope, the x-axis inclinometer also having data output capability; a digital y-axis inclinometer supported by the housing, the y-axis inclinometer having capability of directing data to the internal data storage location of the gyroscope, the y-axis inclinometer also having data output capability; a central processing unit in communication with the gyroscope, the x-axis inclinometer, and the y-axis inclinometer, the central processing unit capable of receiving data from the laser gyroscope, the x-axis inclinometer and the y-axis inclinometer and for transmitting data; and an operator interface capable of sending and receiving data to and from the central processing unit; a data file pertaining to the structure, the data file stored in a location remote from the central processing unit and accessible through the operator interface, the central processing unit and a connection between the central processing unit and a data storage location at the remote location. 2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the gyroscope is a ring laser sensor. 3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein the ring laser sensor comprises a laser block assembly based on a triangular leg path length. 4. The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein the laser block assembly further comprises an equilateral glass ceramic block. 5. The invention in accordance with claim 4 wherein the laser gyroscope further comprises an internal electronics package. 6. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the gyroscope comprises a compact single interferometric fiber-optic gyroscope carried in a compact enclosure. 7. The invention in accordance with claim 6 further comprising a processor-based electronics package. 8. The invention in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a radio communications network comprising a radio communications transceiver in the housing, a radio communications transceiver associated with the central processing unit, and a radio communications transceiver associated with the operator interface. 9. The invention in accordance with claim 8 wherein the operator interface comprises a monitor. 10. The invention in accordance with claim 9 wherein the monitor is a touch responsive screen monitor. 11. The invention in accordance with claim 8 wherein the operator interface comprises a headset having an audio speaker. 12. The invention in accordance with claim 11 wherein the headset comprises a microphone. 13. The invention in accordance with claim 8 wherein the laser gyroscope housing is carried by an alignment head mount, the alignment head mount capable of interfacing with a structure of which alignment is being measured. 14. The invention in accordance with claim 13 wherein the structure being measured is a wheel assembly of a vehicle and the alignment head mount is positioned to interface with the wheel assembly. 15. The invention in accordance with claim 13 wherein the structure is a control surface of an aircraft. 16. The invention in accordance with claim 15 wherein the control surface is the tail assembly of the aircraft. 17. The invention in accordance with claim 15 wherein the control surface is an aileron of the aircraft. 18. The Invention in accordance with claim 13 wherein the structure is a structural component of a building. 19. The invention in accordance with claim 13 wherein the structure is a pattern for the manufacture of a product. 20. A method of performing an alignment operation on a structure, the method comprising the acts of: a) positioning an alignment apparatus on the structure at a first location, i. the alignment apparatus comprising a gyroscope carried in a housing, the gyroscope further comprising an internal data storage location of an internal electronics package, the internal electronics package having data output capability; ii. a digital x-axis inclinometer supported by the housing, the x-axis inclinometer having capability of directing data to the internal data storage location of the internal electronics package of the gyroscope, the x-axis inclinometer also having data output capability; iii. a digital y-axis inclinometer supported by the housing, the y-axis inclinometer having capability of directing data to the internal data storage location of the gyroscope, the y-axis inclinometer also having data output capability; iv. a central processing unit in communication with the gyroscope, the x-axis inclinometer, and the y-axis inclinometer, the central processing unit capable of receiving data from the gyroscope, the x-axis inclinometer and the y-axis inclinometer and for transmitting data; v. an operator interface capable of sending and receiving data to and from the central processing unit; b) sensing positional information pertaining to the first location; c) repositioning the alignment apparatus at a second location on the structure; d) sensing positional information of the second location on the structure; e) comparing the positional information of the second location with predetermined positional data for the second location; f) outputting information directing a procedure to conform the positional information of the second location with the predetermined positional data forte second location. 21. The method of performing an alignment operation in accordance with claim 20 wherein the alignment operation is a alignment operation to be performed on an automotive vehicle. 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the vehicle is an automobile and the alignment operation is performed on a steerable wheel of the vehicle, the steerable wheel corresponding to the second location on the structure, and in which the first location is a known location on the vehicle used as a benchmark data location to which alignment positional information for the automobile, including the specified positional information of the second location, is indexed. 23. The method of claim 21 further comprising a third location on the vehicle, the third location corresponding to the location of a second steerable wheel on the vehicle, the act further including the act of performing the alignment operation on the second steerable wheel of the vehicle, the second steerable wheel corresponding to the third location on the vehicle. 24. The method of claim 23 wherein the act of performing the alignment operation further comprises the act of: adjusting camber of the first and the second steerable wheels of the vehicle to comport with the positional information for each wheel. 25. The method of claim 24 wherein the act of performing the alignment operation further comprises the act of: adjusting toe angle of the first and second steerable wheels of the vehicle to comport with the positional information for each wheel. 26. The method of claim 25 further comprising a fourth location on the vehicle, the fourth location corresponding to the location of nonsteerable wheels on the vehicle, the act further including the act of performing the alignment operation on the nonsteerable wheel of the vehicle, the alignment operation further comprising the act of adjusting toe angle of the nonsteerable wheel. 27. The method of claim 25 further comprising a fourth location on the vehicle, the fourth location corresponding to the location of a second set steerable wheels on the vehicle, the act further including the act of performing the alignment operation on the second set of steerable wheel of the vehicle, the alignment operation further comprising the act of adjusting camber and toe angle of the second set steerable wheels. 28. The method of claim 25 further comprising a fourth location on the vehicle, the fourth location corresponding to the location of nonsteerable wheels on the vehicle, the act further including the act of performing the alignment operation on the nonsteerable wheel of the vehicle, the alignment operation further comprising the act of adjusting thrust angle of the nonsteerable wheels. 29. The method of performing an alignment operation in accordance with claim 20 wherein the alignment operation is an alignment operation to be performed on an aircraft. 30. The method of performing an alignment operation in accordance with claim 29 wherein the alignment operation is an alignment operation to be performed on a tail structure of the aircraft. 31. The method of performing an alignment operation in accordance with claim 29 wherein the alignment operation is an alignment operation to be performed on a control surface of an aircraft. 32. The method of performing an alignment operation in accordance with claim 20 wherein the alignment operation is an alignment operation to be performed on a building structure.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (15)
Hodge John C., Apparatus and method for wheel alignment, suspension diagnosis and chassis measurement of vehicles.
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Nagornov, Vladimir Vladimirovich, Method and system for determining vehicle wheel alignment based on the application of systems using gyroscopic sensors and/or MEMS angular rate sensors (MEMS gyroscopes).
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