IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0380704
(2006-04-28)
|
등록번호 |
US-7383636
(2008-06-10)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Chief Automotive Technologies, Inc.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Spencer Fane Britt & Browne LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
4 인용 특허 :
9 |
초록
▼
A tracking attachment (10) adapted and operable to facilitate measuring the alignment characteristics of the rear suspension of a vehicle, including tracking (thrust angle), offset, toe-in and toe-out, and length characteristics. The tracking attachment (10) broadly comprises an adjustment component
A tracking attachment (10) adapted and operable to facilitate measuring the alignment characteristics of the rear suspension of a vehicle, including tracking (thrust angle), offset, toe-in and toe-out, and length characteristics. The tracking attachment (10) broadly comprises an adjustment component (12); a bar component (14); one or more target components (16); an alignment component (18); one or more attachment components (20); a centering component (22); and a locking component (24).
대표청구항
▼
Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: 1. A tracking attachment for measuring an alignment characteristic of a vehicle, the tracking attachment comprising: (a) an adjustment compon
Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: 1. A tracking attachment for measuring an alignment characteristic of a vehicle, the tracking attachment comprising: (a) an adjustment component; (b) a bar component fixedly coupled with the adjustment component, and having one or more target mounts for supporting one or more targets for making the desired measurement of the alignment characteristic; (c) an alignment component movably coupled with the adjustment component so as to allow for independently positioning the adjustment component and the bar component; (d) one or more attachment components for maintaining the tracking attachment in position relative to the vehicle; (e) a centering component for centering the tracking attachment relative to a drum component of the vehicle; and (f) a locking component for locking the adjustment component and the bar component in position relative to the alignment component once the adjustment component and the bar component have been positioned. 2. The tracking attachment as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tracking attachment allows for measuring tracking, offset, toe-in and toe-out, and length characteristics of the vehicle. 3. The tracking attachment as set forth in claim 1, wherein the adjustment component is an adjustment ring including a partial disk presenting an arcing portion and a straight portion. 4. The tracking attachment as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bar component is an elongated tubular structure presenting first and second opposite ends, one of the one or more target mounts at each end, and a bubble level. 5. The tracking attachment as set forth in claim 1, wherein the alignment component is an alignment ring including a full disk presenting elongated leg adjusting slots on inwardly projecting tabs for coupling with the one or more attachment components, and an elongated ring and bar adjusting slot for coupling with the adjustment component. 6. The tracking attachment as set forth in claim 1, wherein the one or more attachment components are legs, with each leg including a housing and a magnet. 7. The tracking attachment as set forth in claim 1, wherein the centering component is a pin including a cone end and a pointer end. 8. The tracking attachment as set forth in claim 7, wherein the pin is slideably insertable through the bar component and the adjustment component. 9. The tracking attachment as set forth in claim 1, further including the one or more targets for making the desired measurement of the alignment. 10. The tracking attachment as set forth in claim 9, wherein the one or more target components are retroreflective bar-coded targets. 11. A tracking attachment for measuring an alignment characteristic of a vehicle, the tracking attachment comprising: (a) an adjustment ring; (b) a bar fixedly coupled with the adjustment component and having first and second ends; (c) first and second target mounts for supporting, respectively, first and second targets for making the desired measurement of the alignment characteristic, with the first and second target mounts being located, respectively, at the first and second ends of the bar; (d) an alignment ring movably coupled with the adjustment ring so as to allow for independently positioning the adjustment ring and the bar; (e) one or more attachment components for maintaining the tracking attachment in position relative to the vehicle; (f) a centering pin for centering the tracking attachment relative to a drum component of the vehicle, wherein the centering pin is slideably insertable through the bar and the adjustment ring; and (g) a locking component for locking the adjustment ring and the bar in position relative to the alignment ring once the adjustment ring and the bar have been positioned. 12. The tracking attachment as set forth in claim 11, wherein the tracking attachment allows for measuring tracking, offset, toe-in and toe-out, and length characteristics of the vehicle. 13. The tracking attachment as set forth in claim 11, wherein the bar further includes a bubble level. 14. The tracking attachment as set forth in claim 11, wherein the alignment ring includes a full disk presenting elongated leg adjusting slots on inwardly projecting tabs for coupling with the one or more attachment components, and an elongated ring and bar adjusting slot for coupling with the adjustment ring. 15. The tracking attachment as set forth in claim 11, wherein the one or more attachment components are legs, with each leg including a housing and a magnet. 16. The tracking attachment as set forth in claim 11, wherein the centering pin includes a cone end and a pointer end. 17. The tracking attachment as set forth in claim 11, further including the one or more targets for making the desired measurement of the alignment. 18. The tracking attachment as set forth in claim 17, wherein the one or more target components are retroreflective bar-coded targets. 19. A tracking attachment for measuring tracking, offset, toe-in and toe-out, and length characteristics of a vehicle having a drum component, the tracking attachment comprising: (a) an adjustment ring; (b) a bar fixedly coupled with the adjustment ring and having first and second ends and a bubble level; (c) first and second target mounts located, respectively, at the first and second ends of the bar; (d) first and second targets for making the desired measurements of the characteristics, wherein the first and second targets are coupled, respectively, with the first and second target mounts; (e) an alignment ring movably coupled with the adjustment ring for independently positioning the adjustment ring and the bar, including leveling the bar, wherein the alignment ring includes a full disk presenting a plurality of elongated leg adjusting slots on inwardly projecting tabs, and an elongated adjusting slot; (f) a plurality of legs for maintaining the tracking attachment in position relative to the vehicle, wherein each leg is coupled with a respective one of the elongated leg adjusting slots of the alignment ring, and wherein each leg includes a magnet for magnetically coupling with the drum component of the vehicle; (g) a centering pin for centering the tracking attachment relative to the drum component of the vehicle, wherein the centering pin presents a cone end and a pointer end and is slideably insertable through the bar and the adjustment ring; and (h) a locking component coupled with the adjustment ring and the elongated adjusting slot of the alignment ring for locking the adjustment component and the bar component in position relative to the alignment component once the adjustment component and the bar component have been positioned. 20. The tracking attachment as set forth in claim 19, wherein the one or more targets are retroreflective bar-coded targets. 21. A method of measuring an alignment characteristic of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a tracking attachment on the vehicle; (b) centering the tracking attachment over a center of a wheel drum component of the vehicle; (c) installing one or more target components on the tracking attachment; (d) leveling the tracking attachment; (e) locking the leveled tracking attachment in position; (f) positioning one or more base targets at specific reference points on the vehicle; (g) generating one or more laser beams which are reflected by the one or more target components and the one or more base targets; (h) deriving position data from the reflected one or more laser beams, wherein the position data identifies a position of each of the one or more target components and each of the one or more base targets; and (i) determining the alignment characteristic of the vehicle based on the position data derived from the reflected laser beams.
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