Method, system and apparatus for assessing wheel condition on a vehicle
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G01B-011/26
G01M-017/04
G01M-017/02
G01M-017/013
G01B-011/275
출원번호
US-0536411
(2014-11-07)
등록번호
US-9377379
(2016-06-28)
발명자
/ 주소
Lee, Keith
출원인 / 주소
Lee, Keith
대리인 / 주소
Millman IP Inc.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
2인용 특허 :
21
초록▼
A method of assessing a condition of a wheel on a vehicle involves contactlessly determining distance of a first location on the wheel from a fixed point not on the wheel at a first time while the vehicle is moving and contactlessly determining distance of a second location on the wheel from the fix
A method of assessing a condition of a wheel on a vehicle involves contactlessly determining distance of a first location on the wheel from a fixed point not on the wheel at a first time while the vehicle is moving and contactlessly determining distance of a second location on the wheel from the fixed point at a second time after the vehicle has moved. The two distances are compared to determine an offset between the first and second locations on the wheel. The offset provides an indication of tire wearing angle of the wheel while the vehicle is moving. The method can be used to assess wheel alignment and wheel suspension. An apparatus and system for effecting the method involves the use of a displacement sensor, especially an optical displacement sensor (e.g. a laser) for making the distance determinations. The system and apparatus is completely contactless and only one stationary displacement sensor is required to make the appropriate distance measurements to the wheel on a moving vehicle.
대표청구항▼
1. A method of assessing a condition of a wheel on a vehicle being driven past a sensor system, comprising: a) as the vehicle is being driven past the sensor system, contactlessly determining a distance to a first location on the wheel from a fixed point along a fixed axis at a first time, using a s
1. A method of assessing a condition of a wheel on a vehicle being driven past a sensor system, comprising: a) as the vehicle is being driven past the sensor system, contactlessly determining a distance to a first location on the wheel from a fixed point along a fixed axis at a first time, using a sensor as the wheel moves past the fixed axis;b) as the vehicle is being driven past the sensor system, contactlessly determining a distance to a second location on the wheel from the fixed point along the fixed axis at a second time, using the sensor as the wheel moves past the fixed axis;c) determining an indication of a tire-wearing angle for the wheel based on the distance to the first location and the distance to the second location; andd) outputting to a user the indication of the tire wearing angle for the wheel. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second locations are on a side of the wheel and are both physically within about a 90 degree swept angle on the wheel from each other. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second locations are on a side of the wheel and are both physically substantially the same location. 4. The method according to a claim 1, wherein the wheel is turning on an axle and the first and second locations are forward and rearward of the axle when the respective distance determinations are made. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second locations are on a sidewall of a tire that is part of the wheel. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the first and second locations are proximal to a point of maximum bulge on the sidewall. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is moving substantially perpendicular to the fixed axis. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein step c) includes comparing the distance to the first location to the distance to the second location to determine an offset between the first and second locations on the wheel. 9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising making independent distance determinations on a corresponding wheel on an opposite side of the vehicle and correlating the offsets from both wheels to correct for the vehicle not tracking perpendicular to the fixed axis. 10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising moving the vehicle forward and backward past the fixed point, determining offsets for the wheel when moving forward and when moving backward, and determining whether the offsets change sign, and indicating that a suspension problem may exist based at least in part on whether the offsets change sign. 11. A system for assessing a condition of a wheel on a vehicle being driven past the system, the system comprising: an apparatus including a stationary sensor configured to contactlessly determine a distance along a fixed axis; and,a control system programmed to:a) as the vehicle is being driven past the sensor, instruct the apparatus at a first time to measure a distance along the fixed axis to a first location on the wheel as the wheel moves past the fixed axis;b) as the vehicle is being driven past the sensor, instruct the apparatus at a second time to measure a distance along the fixed axis to a second location on the wheel as the wheel continues to move past the fixed axis;c) receive output signals from the apparatus in relation to the distances measured in steps a) and b) and determine a tire-wearing angle for the wheel based on the distances; andd) output data to a user indicative of the tire-wearing angle determined in Step c). 12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the two locations are first and second locations forward and rearward of an axle on which the wheel is rotating while the vehicle is moving. 13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the locations are on a sidewall of a tire on the wheel. 14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus comprises an optical laser displacement sensor for determining distances to the two locations. 15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the data outputted by the control system includes an offset based on a difference between the distances to the two locations. 16. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a suspension testing surface comprising at least first and second undulations which slant downwards laterally towards opposing sides from each other, wherein the control system is programmed to determine a first offset for the wheel at a point on the first undulation and a second offset for the wheel at a point on the second undulation, and to output data related to the first and second offsets. 17. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a second apparatus for generating output signals indicative of distances to two locations on a corresponding second wheel on another side of the vehicle at two different times while the vehicle is moving on the surface, the second apparatus not moving during operation, wherein the control system is configured to receive the output signals from the apparatus and to output data based on the distances to the two locations on the corresponding second wheel. 18. A method of assessing a condition of a first front wheel, a second front wheel, a first subsequent wheel aft of the front wheel and a second subsequent wheel aft of the front wheel on a vehicle being driven past a sensor system, comprising: a) as the vehicle is being driven past the sensor system, contactlessly determining a distance to a center of the first front wheel and distances related to an angle of the first front wheel from a first fixed point using a sensor as the first front wheel moves past the first fixed point;b) as the vehicle is being driven past the sensor system, contactlessly determining a distance to a center of the second front wheel and distances related to an angle of the second front wheel from a second fixed point using a sensor as the second front wheel moves past the second fixed point;c) as the vehicle is being driven past the sensor system, contactlessly determining a distance to a center of the first subsequent wheel and distances related to an angle of the first subsequent wheel from the first fixed point using a sensor as the first subsequent wheel moves past the first fixed point;d) as the vehicle is being driven past the sensor system, contactlessly determining a distance to a center of the second subsequent wheel and distances related to an angle of the second subsequent wheel from the second fixed point using a sensor as the second subsequent wheel moves past the second fixed point;e) deriving adjusted tire wearing angles for each of the first and second front wheels and each of the first and second subsequent wheels based on the distances related to the angles determined in steps a)-d) and based on the distances to the centers of the wheels determined in steps a)-d); andf) outputting to a user an indication of the adjusted tire wearing angles for the first and second front wheels and the first and second subsequent wheels. 19. A system for assessing a condition of a first front wheel, a second front wheel, a first subsequent wheel and a second subsequent wheel on a vehicle being driven past a sensor system, comprising: a first apparatus including a first stationary sensor configured to contactlessly determine a distance on a first side of the vehicle;a second apparatus including a second stationary sensor configured to contactlessly determine a distance on a second side of the vehicle; and,a control system programmed to:a) as the vehicle is being driven past the first stationary sensor, instruct the first apparatus to contactlessly determine a distance from the first stationary sensor to a center of the first front wheel and distances related to an angle of the first front wheel as the first front wheel moves past the first stationary sensor;b) as the vehicle is being driven past the second stationary sensor, instruct the second apparatus to contactlessly determine a distance from the second stationary sensor to a center of the second front wheel and distances related to an angle of the second front wheel as the second front wheel moves past the second stationary sensor;c) as the vehicle is being driven past the first stationary sensor, instruct the first apparatus to contactlessly determine a distance from the first stationary sensor to a center of the first subsequent wheel and an distances related to angle of the first subsequent wheel as the first subsequent wheel moves past the first stationary sensor;d) as the vehicle is being driven past the second stationary sensor, instruct the second apparatus to contactlessly determine a distance from the second stationary sensor to a center of the second subsequent wheel and distances related to an angle of the second subsequent wheel as the second subsequent wheel moves past the second stationary sensor;e) derive adjusted tire wearing angles for each of the first and second front wheels and each of the first and second subsequent wheels based on the distances related to the angles determined in steps a)-d) and based on the distances to the centers of the wheels determined in steps a)-d); andf) output to a user an indication of the adjusted tire wearing angles for the first and second front wheels and the first and second subsequent wheels. 20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the control system is programmed in step e) to determine a direction of travel for the vehicle using the distances to the centers of said wheels, and to derive the adjusted tire wearing angle for said each wheel based on the determined direction of travel for said each wheel.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (21)
Bartko Robert J. (Shelby Township MI) Rosen Jack H. (Farmington Hills MI), Intelligent sensor method and apparatus for an optical wheel alignment machine.
Guangjun,Zhang; Fuqiang,Zhou; Zhenzhong,Wei; Jie,Jiang, Method and apparatus for dynamic measuring three-dimensional parameters of tire with laser vision.
Waldecker Thomas J. (Ypsilanti MI) Dewar Robert (Troy MI) Wybo David R. (Novi MI) Woroniec Richard (West Bloomfield Township ; Oakland County MI), Vehicle wheel alignment apparatus and method.
Christian Donald J. (1672 Via Sombrio Fremont CA 94539) Dale ; Jr. James L. (9 Ridgewood Conway AR 72032) Rogers Steven W. (831 Nutter Chapel Dr. Apt. G14 Conway AR 72032), Wide angle wheel alignment system.
Golab, Thomas J.; Bernard, Bruce E.; Stieff, Michael T.; Cejka, Brian M., Method and apparatus for calibrating an inspection system for moving vehicles.
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