IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0733629
(2007-04-10)
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등록번호 |
US-7746456
(2010-07-19)
|
우선권정보 |
EP-06007521(2006-04-10) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Snap-On Equipment SRL a Unico Socio
|
대리인 / 주소 |
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
2 인용 특허 :
5 |
초록
▼
An alignment measuring apparatus for 3D contactless measuring alignment of a wheel of an automotive vehicle, a system formed by several apparatuses for a total wheel alignment of all wheels of an automotive vehicle, and a respective method for carrying out 3D contactless wheel alignment in real time
An alignment measuring apparatus for 3D contactless measuring alignment of a wheel of an automotive vehicle, a system formed by several apparatuses for a total wheel alignment of all wheels of an automotive vehicle, and a respective method for carrying out 3D contactless wheel alignment in real time. The several embodiments provide a comprehensive diagnosis tool for the alignment operation of vehicle wheels by contactless scanning, in particular a real time measuring for total wheel alignment, and enable a respective hassle-free adjustment operation.
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. An alignment measurement apparatus for contactless measuring alignment of a vehicle wheel, the apparatus comprising: a support at which a carrier is rotatable mounted about a rotation point; at least one measuring unit mounted to the carrier such that the measuring unit
The invention claimed is: 1. An alignment measurement apparatus for contactless measuring alignment of a vehicle wheel, the apparatus comprising: a support at which a carrier is rotatable mounted about a rotation point; at least one measuring unit mounted to the carrier such that the measuring unit has a defined geometrical position and configured to measure distance data of a measurement point on the wheel from the respective measurement unit in a contactless manner, wherein the measuring unit being pivotable about an axis, parallel to a reference plane corresponding to a rotation plane of the carrier device about the mounting point and orthogonal to an radius from the rotation point to the measuring unit; control means configured to control rotation of the carrier device and pivoting of the at least one measuring unit such that a measurement point is on the wheel in the area of the bead of the rim; and processing means configured to calculate wheel alignment data from the provided measured distance data of at least three measurement points together with the respective geometrical position and a respective pivoting angle of the respective at least one measurement unit, and a respective rotation angle of the carrier. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a controllable carrier pivoting means at the support to which the carrier is operable mounted, the pivoting means being arranged such that the respective pivoting angle can directly be determined from a controlled pivoting of the carrier. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the carrier pivoting means is a step motor having at least one predetermined pivoting position as a reference position for the respective pivoting angle. 4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the carrier pivoting means is a motor provided with a pivoting sensor means configured to measure an actual pivoting angle of the carrier. 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measuring unit comprises an optical triangulation measuring device. 6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measuring unit comprises pivoting means arranged for determining the respective pivoting angle. 7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises three measuring units, which are arranged to each other with respect to a reference point in the reference plane such that respective two adjacent measuring units are spaced by an angle of 120 degree. 8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means are configured to control pivoting of the at least one measuring unit such that measurement data produced by the measuring unit during pivoting is evaluated by the processing means for detecting measuring points on the surface of rim of the wheel corresponding to the bead of the rim. 9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support is a stand and the carrier is mounted to the stand such that the reference plane is substantial orthogonal to a footprint of the stand. 10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means are configured to continuously adjust the pivoting of a measuring unit such that the respective measuring point on the surface of rim of the wheel at the bead of the rim is maintained. 11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises at least two additional optical angle-measuring units configured to track a relative orientation of the apparatus with respect to at least one another adjacent apparatus. 12. An apparatus for contactless measuring alignment of a vehicle wheel, the apparatus comprising: at least three measuring units arranged on a carrier such that their geometrical positions define a reference plane, each measuring unit being configured to measure distance data of a respective measurement point on the wheel from the respective measurement unit in a contactless manner; a support at which the carrier is mounted at a mounting point, wherein each measuring unit is pivotable about an respective axis, being parallel to the reference plane and orthogonal to an radius from a geometrical center of the geometrical positions of the at least three measuring units; and control means configured to control pivoting of each measuring unit such that a respective measurement point on the wheel is in the area of the bead of the rim; and processing means configured to calculate wheel alignment data from the provided measured distance data of the at least three measurement points together with the respective geometrical position and a respective pivoting angle of the respective measurement unit. 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the pivoting means is a step motor having at least one predetermined pivoting position as a reference position for the respective pivoting angle. 14. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the measuring unit comprises an optical triangulation measuring device. 15. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the measuring unit comprises pivoting means arranged for determining the respective pivoting angle. 16. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the apparatus comprises three measuring units, which are arranged to each other with respect to a reference point in the reference plane such that respective two adjacent measuring units are spaced by an angle of 120 degree. 17. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the control means are configured to control pivoting of the at least one measuring unit such that measurement data produced by the measuring unit during pivoting is evaluated by the processing means for detecting measuring points on the surface of rim of the wheel corresponding to the bead of the rim. 18. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the support is a stand and the carrier is mounted to the stand such that the reference plane is substantial orthogonal to a footprint of the stand. 19. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the control means are configured to continuously adjust the pivoting of a measuring unit such that the respective measuring point on the surface of rim of the wheel at the bead of the rim is maintained. 20. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the apparatus further comprises at least two additional optical angle-measuring units configured to track a relative orientation of the apparatus with respect to at least one another adjacent apparatus. 21. An alignment measurement system for contactless alignment of wheel of an automotive vehicle, the system comprising at least four alignment apparatuses according to claim 1. 22. System according to claim 21, wherein the alignment apparatuses are movable mounted to a lift for lifting a automotive vehicle the wheels the alignment of which to be adjusted, wherein the alignment apparatuses are movable mounted on the sides of the lift such that the position is adjustable to the position of the wheels of a vehicle on the lift. 23. System according to claim 21, wherein the alignment apparatuses of the system are connected to a central processing device configured to calculate respective optical angle angles of each wheel required for a total wheel alignment with respect to predetermined reference angles. 24. System according to claim 21, wherein each alignment measurement apparatus further comprises at least two additional angle measuring units configured to track a relative orientation of the respective apparatus with respect to another apparatus of the system. 25. An alignment measurement system for contactless alignment of wheel of an automotive vehicle, the system comprising at least four alignment apparatuses according to claim 12. 26. System according to claim 25, wherein the alignment apparatuses are movable mounted to a lift for lifting a automotive vehicle the wheels the alignment of which to be adjusted, wherein the alignment apparatuses are movable mounted on the sides of the lift such that the position is adjustable to the position of the wheels of a vehicle on the lift. 27. System according to claim 25, wherein the alignment apparatuses of the system are connected to a central processing device configured to calculate respective optical angle angles of each wheel required for a total wheel alignment with respect to predetermined reference angles. 28. System according to claim 25, wherein each alignment measurement apparatus further comprises at least two additional angle measuring units configured to track a relative orientation of the respective apparatus with respect to another apparatus of the system. 29. An alignment measurement method of determining alignment of a motor vehicle wheel, the method comprising the steps of: controlling a contactless measuring device to detect at least three different measurement points on the bead of the rim of the wheel and to measure respectively a distance and an angle from the measuring device to the respective measurement point; and calculating alignment of the vehicle wheel using the distances and angles of the at least three different measurement points. 30. Method according to claim 29, wherein the controlling of the contactless measuring device comprises continuous measuring of a distance of a measurement point on the rim of the wheel to provide real time alignment data during the alignment operation. 31. Method according to claim 29, wherein the controlling of the contactless measuring device further comprises a step of periodically performing quick rim scans in-between continuous measuring of the distance of the measurement point such that the location of the measurement point on the bead of the rim of the wheel is maintained. 32. Method according to claim 29, wherein the calculating step comprises calculation of respective inclination angles of each wheel required for a total wheel alignment with respect to predetermined reference angles. 33. Method according to claim 29, comprising contactless tracking of a relative orientation of alignment of all wheels of the vehicle with respect to each other; and calculating a total wheel alignment of all wheels of the vehicle.
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