IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0064008
(2013-10-25)
|
등록번호 |
US-9228819
(2016-01-05)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Pruitt, Carl W.
- Gray, Brian K.
- Cox, David
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
14 |
초록
▼
A wheel clamp attaches to a vehicle wheel for performing a wheel alignment on the vehicle. The wheel clamp has a body for supporting a target or measuring head, and three elongated arms mounted to the body. Each arm has a gripping portion for gripping the tire's tread surface. A self-centering linka
A wheel clamp attaches to a vehicle wheel for performing a wheel alignment on the vehicle. The wheel clamp has a body for supporting a target or measuring head, and three elongated arms mounted to the body. Each arm has a gripping portion for gripping the tire's tread surface. A self-centering linkage has enmeshed gears that, when rotated, cause the elongated arms to simultaneously proportionally move relative to the clamp body. An attachment interface mechanically connected to the self-centering linkage is configured to engage with a rotational actuator. Alternatively, the wheel clamp includes an actuator mechanically coupled to the self-centering mechanism. Activation of the actuator causes the gripping portions of the arms to engage and grip the tire tread surface and tighten the clamp onto the tire.
대표청구항
▼
1. A wheel clamp for attaching to a vehicle wheel for performing a wheel alignment on the vehicle, the wheel comprising a tire and a rim, the wheel clamp comprising: a clamp body for supporting an apparatus used in performing the wheel alignment;three elongated arms, each mounted to the clamp body s
1. A wheel clamp for attaching to a vehicle wheel for performing a wheel alignment on the vehicle, the wheel comprising a tire and a rim, the wheel clamp comprising: a clamp body for supporting an apparatus used in performing the wheel alignment;three elongated arms, each mounted to the clamp body such that they extend outward from the clamp body, each elongated arm having a gripping portion for gripping a tread surface of the vehicle tire;a self-centering linkage mechanism comprising a plurality of gears rotatably mounted to the clamp body and engaged with each other, and connecting to the elongated arms such that when the gears are rotated, the elongated arms simultaneously proportionally move relative to the clamp body; andan attachment interface mechanically connected to the self-centering linkage mechanism and configured to be releasably engaged with a rotational actuator, such that when the rotational actuator is engaged with the attachment interface, activation of the rotational actuator causes the linkage mechanism to move the elongated arms to cause the gripping portions of the elongated arms to engage and grip the tire tread surface and tighten the clamp onto the tire. 2. The wheel clamp of claim 1, wherein the linkage mechanism comprises: an orbital gear rotatably mounted to the clamp body; anda worm gear engaged with the orbital gear and mechanically coupled to the attachment interface for rotating the orbital gear when the rotational actuator is activated. 3. The wheel clamp of claim 2, further comprising a clutch between the attachment interface and the worm gear to limit a torque applied by the rotational actuator to the worm gear to a predetermined maximum torque when the wheel clamp is tightened onto the tire. 4. The wheel clamp of claim 3, further comprising a knob attached to the worm gear for manually rotating the worm gear, wherein the attachment interface is disposed on the knob so as to be centered on a rotational axis of the knob and of the worm gear. 5. The wheel clamp of claim 1, wherein the attachment interface comprises at least one of a male hex tool and a female socket. 6. The wheel clamp of claim 5, wherein the rotational actuator releasably engages the attachment interface via a female socket or male hex tool complementary to the at least one of the male hex tool and the female socket. 7. The wheel clamp of claim 1, wherein the rotational actuator is a power screwdriver. 8. The wheel clamp of claim 7, wherein the rotational actuator is a battery-powered power screwdriver. 9. The wheel clamp of claim 1, wherein the rotational actuator is a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator. 10. A wheel clamp for attaching to a vehicle wheel for performing a wheel alignment on the vehicle, the wheel comprising a tire and a rim, the wheel clamp comprising: a clamp body;three elongated arms, each mounted to the clamp body such that they extend outward from the clamp body, each elongated arm having a gripping portion for gripping a tread surface of the vehicle tire;a self-centering mechanism comprising a plurality of gears rotatably mounted to the clamp body and engaged with each other, and connecting to the elongated arms such that when the gears are rotated, the elongated arms simultaneously proportionally move relative to the clamp body;a control interface configured to receive a command from an operator of the wheel clamp to tighten or release the wheel clamp; andan actuator mechanically coupled to the self-centering mechanism and configured to power the self-centering mechanism in response to the command received by the control interface to move the elongated arms such that the gripping portions of the arms engage and grip the tire tread surface and tighten the clamp onto the tire based on the operator command to tighten the wheel clamp. 11. The wheel clamp of claim 10, further comprising: a power source configured to provide operational power to drive the actuator; anda controller configured to receive the command of the operator of the wheel clamp from the control interface, to regulate the operational power provided from the power source to the actuator based on the command of the operator, and to control a direction of activation of the actuator based on the command of the operator. 12. The wheel clamp of claim 11, wherein the power source comprises a battery. 13. The wheel clamp of claim 11, wherein the actuator is an electric motor operative to rotate the plurality of gears of the self-centering mechanism. 14. The wheel clamp of claim 11, wherein the actuator is a pneumatic actuator operative to rotate the plurality of gears of the self-centering mechanism, and the power source comprises a pneumatic line for receiving compressed air. 15. The wheel clamp of claim 11, wherein the actuator is a hydraulic actuator operative to rotate the plurality of gears of the self-centering mechanism, and the power source comprises a hydraulic line for receiving compressed pressured hydraulic fluid. 16. The wheel clamp of claim 11, wherein the actuator is a rotational actuator, and a gear mounted on an axle of the rotational actuator is engaged with at least one of the plurality of gears of the self-centering mechanism.
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