An adaptor assembly for securing a wheel alignment device to a wheel, especially a vehicle wheel. The adaptor of the present invention allows such a device to be secured to a vehicle wheel even if the wheel is substantially flangeless in design. The adaptor assembly includes a collar that releasably
An adaptor assembly for securing a wheel alignment device to a wheel, especially a vehicle wheel. The adaptor of the present invention allows such a device to be secured to a vehicle wheel even if the wheel is substantially flangeless in design. The adaptor assembly includes a collar that releasably engages an adaptor pin portion of a wheel alignment device. The collar allows the adaptor assembly to rotate about an axis defined by the adaptor pin. A wheel contacting means is connected to the collar by a plate member. Once installed to a wheel, an outward movement of wheel alignment device extension arms to which the adaptor pins are attached causes the wheel contacting means to be forced against a wall of the wheel, thereby causing a self-centering of the wheel contacting means and a securing of the wheel alignment device to the wheel.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. An adaptor assembly for use in securing a wheel alignment device to a wheel during a wheel alignment procedure, said alignment device providing an adaptor pin defining a rotation axis, said adaptor assembly comprising: a collar, said collar having an opening therein for recei
What is claimed is: 1. An adaptor assembly for use in securing a wheel alignment device to a wheel during a wheel alignment procedure, said alignment device providing an adaptor pin defining a rotation axis, said adaptor assembly comprising: a collar, said collar having an opening therein for receiving said adaptor pin, a first end and a second end, said collar having a length extending from said first end to said second end; a plate member, said plate member having a first side and a second side, said collar attached at its second end to the first side of said plate member, said plate member further adapted for engagement with a separate wheel contacting means; and a wheel contacting means, said wheel contacting means having a first end and a second end, said first end affixed to said plate member, said second end of said wheel contacting means adapted to contact an inner wall of said wheel; wherein, when said collar is engaged with said adaptor pin, said wheel contacting means and a portion of said plate cooperate to effectively engage an inner wall of said wheel; and wherein engagement of said adaptor pin and said collar permits rotation of said wheel contacting means about said rotation axis upon contact with said inner wall of said wheel. 2. The adaptor assembly of claim 1, wherein said collar is removably retained on said adaptor pin by frictional contact therebetween. 3. The adaptor assembly of claim 2, further comprising an o-ring that increases frictional contact between said adaptor pin and said collar. 4. The adaptor assembly of claim 1, further comprising a slot through said plate member and running along the length thereof. 5. The adaptor assembly of claim 4, wherein said first end of said wheel contacting means is threaded and passes through said slot in said plate member, said wheel contacting means secured to said plate member with a pair of flange nuts. 6. The adaptor assembly of claim 5, wherein said wheel contacting means is a ball stud. 7. The adaptor assembly of claim 5, wherein a height of said wheel contacting means with respect to said plate member can be adjusted using said flange nuts. 8. The adaptor assembly of claim 1, further comprising a rim protector affixed to said plate member and located to reside between said plate member and said wheel during engagement of said wheel. 9. An adaptor assembly for use in securing a wheel alignment device to a vehicle wheel during a wheel alignment procedure, said alignment device having a plurality of extension arms, each extension arm having an adaptor pin extending therefrom and defining a rotation axis, said adaptor assembly comprising: a retention collar of some length and having a first end and a second end, said retention collar having an adaptor pin receiving bore extending from said first end, said second end of said retention collar adapted for connection to a plate member; a plate member, said plate member having a first side and a second side, said plate member attached along its first side to said second end of said retention collar, said plate member further having a slot passing therethrough and extending along a length thereof, said slot provided to receive a first end of a separate wheel contacting element; and a wheel contacting element, said wheel contacting element having a first end adapted to pass through said slot in said plate member and to secure said wheel contacting element thereto, and a second end adapted to contact an inner surface of said wheel when said wheel alignment device is installed thereto; wherein, an adaptor assembly is installed on each extension arm of said wheel alignment device by sliding said collar over said adaptor pin, engagement of said adaptor pin with said collar permitting rotation of said wheel contacting element about said rotation axis upon contact with said wheel; and wherein, with the position of said wheel alignment device above said wheel maintained by a portion of each said plate member, an outward movement of said extension arms with respect to a center of said wheel causes said wheel contacting element to be forced against an inner wall of said wheel, thereby securing said wheel alignment device thereto. 10. The adaptor assembly of claim 9, wherein said retention collar is removably retained on said adaptor pin by frictional contact therebetween. 11. The adaptor assembly of claim 10, further comprising an o-ring that increases frictional contact between said adaptor pin and said retention collar. 12. The adaptor assembly of claim 11, wherein said first end of said wheel contacting element is threaded and passes through said slot in said plate member, said wheel contacting element secured to said plate member with a pair of flange nuts. 13. The adaptor assembly of claim 12, wherein said wheel contacting element is a ball stud. 14. The adaptor assembly of claim 12, wherein a height of said wheel contacting element with respect to said plate member can be adjusted using said flange nuts. 15. The adaptor assembly of claim 9, further comprising a rim protector affixed to said plate member and located to reside between said plate member and said wheel during engagement of said wheel. 16. A method for securing a wheel alignment device to a vehicle wheel during a wheel alignment procedure, said alignment device having a plurality of extension arms, each extension arm having an adaptor pin extending therefrom and defining a rotation axis, said method comprising: providing a collar of some length and having a first end and a second end, said collar having an adaptor pin receiving bore extending from said first end, said second end of said collar adapted for connection to a plate member; attaching a plate member along a first side thereof to said second end of said collar; providing a slot through said plate member, said slot extending along a length thereof and provided to receive a first end of a separate wheel contacting element; passing said first end of said wheel contacting element through said slot in said plate member, and securing said wheel contacting element thereto, said wheel contacting element having a second end for contacting an inner wall of said wheel; installing an adaptor assembly on each extension arm of said wheel alignment device by sliding said collar over said adaptor pin, engagement of said adaptor pin with said collar permitting rotation of said wheel contacting element about said rotation axis upon contact with said wheel; initially mating said wheel alignment device to said wheel and using a portion of each plate member to maintain the position of said wheel alignment device above said wheel through contact therebetween; and subsequently causing an outward movement of said extension arms with respect to a center of said wheel, thereby forcing each wheel contacting element into contact with an inner wall of said wheel and securing said wheel alignment device thereto. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein said collar is removably retained on said adaptor pin by frictional contact therebetween. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing an o-ring that increases frictional contact between said adaptor pin and said retention collar. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein said first end of said wheel contacting element is threaded and passes through said slot in said plate member, said wheel contacting element secured to said plate member with a pair of flange nuts. 20. The method of claim 16, wherein said wheel contacting element is a ball stud. 21. The method of claim 16, wherein a height of said wheel contacting element with respect to said plate member is adjusted using said flange nuts. 22. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing a rim protector affixed to said plate member and located to reside between said plate member and said wheel during engagement of said wheel by said wheel alignment device. 23. The method of claim 16, wherein said adaptor assembly is attached to an adaptor pin of a known wheel alignment device. 24. The method of claim 16, wherein said adaptor assembly is used to secure said wheel alignment device to a substantially flangeless wheel. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein said substantially flangeless wheel is a Michelin짰 PAX짰 System vehicle wheel. 26. An adaptor assembly for use in securing a wheel alignment device to a wheel during a wheel alignment procedure, said alignment device providing an adaptor pin defining a rotation axis, said adaptor assembly comprising: a collar, said collar having an opening therein for receiving said adaptor pin, a first end and a second end, said collar having a length extending from said first end to said second end; a plate member, said plate member having a first side and a second side, said collar attached at its second end to the first side of said plate member, said plate member further adapted for engagement with a wheel contacting means; a slot through said plate member and running along the length thereof; and a ball stud secured to said plate member with a pair of flange nuts, said ball stud having a first end and a second end, said first end being threaded and passing through said slot in said plate member, said second end adapted to contact a portion of said wheel; wherein, when said collar is engaged with said adaptor pin, said ball stud and a portion of said plate member cooperate to effectively engage said wheel; and wherein engagement of said adaptor pin and said collar permits rotation of said ball stud about said rotation axis upon contact with said wheel rim.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (24)
Warkotsch Dirk,DEX, Apparatus affixing a wheel-alignment sensor on a motor-vehicle wheel rim.
Healy Donald A. (457 Highway 286 East Conway AR 72032) Dale ; Jr. James L. (9 Ridgewood Conway AR 72032), Clamping device for vehicle wheel alignment equipment.
Michael T. Stieff ; Timothy A. Strege ; James W. McClenahan, Method and apparatus for calibration of no-compensation and universal wheel adapters utilized in vehicle wheel alignment procedures.
Maioli Franco,ITX ; Ferrari Gino,ITX, Universal self-centering device for heads or sensors for checking the trim of the wheels of motor vehicles in general.
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