Hunter Engineering Company

Other

Daniel B January

Nicholas J Colarelli, Iii

Leigh R Burns, Jr

Michael T Stieff

James M Grossman

Timothy A Strege

James W McClenahan

James R Gender

Dennis M Linson

Timothy A Larson

Dean O Grubbs

Matthew R Winslow, Sr

Douglas E Woolverton

An apparatus and method for controlling a mechanism for positioning video cameras for use in measuring vehicle wheel alignment includes optical targets for mounting to the wheels of a vehicle, at least one video camera for viewing said optical targets and producing at least one image thereof, a computer system for measuring said at least one image and for using said measurements to compute vehicle wheel alignment information, a positioning system for positioning said at least one video camera such that said optical targets are visible to said at least one video camera and such that said at least one video camera can produce said at least one image of said targets, and a controller for controlling said positioning system such that a user of said apparatus can cause said at least one video camera to be positioned in at least one desired position and such that said user can further cause said controller to remember said at least one desired position so that any user can, at a later time, cause said controller to recall said remembered position and move said at least one video camera to said remembered position.

Apparatus and method for controlling a mechanism for positioning video cameras for use in measuring vehicle wheel alignment

Apparatus and method for determining the alignment positions and orientations of vehicle wheels includes optical targets mounted on the wheels. A pair of cameras or other image sensing devices on each side of the vehicle are used to obtain images of the various optical targets and a computer is responsive to the images of the targets to determine values of wheel alignment parameters of the vehicle. The surface on which the wheels are disposed may be an automotive lift or a stationary runway. One camera on each side is directed at the target on the corresponding front wheel and the other camera on each side is directed at the target on the corresponding rear wheel. When used with a rack, the major axis of the field of view of each camera is disposed vertically. When used with a stationary runway, the major axis of the field of view of each camera is disposed horizontally.

Apparatus and method with improved field of view for determining vehicle wheel alignment measurements from three dimensional wheel positions and orientations

Apparatus and method for determining the alignment of a wheel of a vehicle includes mounting a known optical target to a wheel on the vehicle, the known optical target having a plurality of optical elements, each optical element having at least one straight edge disposed on a background, obtaining at least one video image of the optical target, estimating from the video image of the optical target the characteristics in said video image of a plurality of lines corresponding to projections onto the video image of the straight edges of the optical elements, and determining from the estimates of the characteristics the alignment of the wheel. A similar target for determining the position of a runway on which the vehicle is positioned is also disclosed.

Apparatus and method for determining vehicle wheel alignment measurements from three dimensional wheel positions and orientations

Wheel alignment errors are substantially eliminated by making a first set of wheel alignment measurements while a vehicle is disposed at a first position with substantially all lateral forces applied thereto being relieved while the vehicle remains supported by its wheels, and making a second set of wheel alignment measurements while the vehicle is disposed at a second position with substantially all lateral forces applied thereto being relieved while the vehicle remains supported by its wheels.

Rolling run-out measurement apparatus and method

An apparatus and method for determining the orientation parameters of a wheel-alignment optical target 10 affixed to a vehicle wheel 20 by a no-compensation wheel clamp 16. The wheel-alignment optical target includes a stub shaft 24 adapted for insertion within an axial bore 18 of the no-compensation wheel clamp after the wheel clamp is secured to the vehicle wheel. An optical imaging system observes the optical target and measures the orientation of the target face in a first position. The optical target is rotated partially about the longitudinal axis of the stub shaft, and the optical target is again observed and the orientation of the target face is again measured by the optical imaging system. By comparing the measured orientations of the optical target at the two rotational positions, a compensation vector Vc describing the alignment of the target face relative to the stub shaft is be determined and stored for subsequent uses of the optical target.

Method and apparatus for determining wheel alignment optical target

Apparatus and method for determining vehicle wheel alignment

Apparatus and method for determining the alignment positions and orientations of vehicle wheels includes optical targets mounted on the wheels and optical targets mounted in a fixed relationship with respect to the surface on which the wheels are disposed. Video cameras are used to obtain images of the various optical targets and a computer is responsive to the images of the targets to determine values of wheel alignment parameters of the vehicle relative to said surface on which the vehicle wheels roll. The surface on which the wheels are disposed may be an automotive lift, and apparatus is disclosed for keeping the optical targets in the same position in the field of view of the camera(s) whether the lift is in its rest or in an elevated or reclined position.

A vehicle alignment and inspection system is provided which uses context sensitive information from several sources to enable the user/operator to achieve a more efficient alignment or inspection than previous systems. Features include digital photographs responsive to point-and-click operations by the operator, drop-down menus allowing direct access to specific operations, a database of tools and parts required for the job, and a 'smart' alignment procedure.

Context sensitive vehicle alignment and inspection system

Apparatus and method for determining the alignment positions and orientations of vehicle wheels includes optical targets mounted on the wheels and optical targets mounted in a fixed relationship with respect to the surface on which the wheels are disposed. Video cameras are used to obtain images of the various optical targets and a computer is responsive to the images of the targets to determine values of wheel alignment parameters of the vehicle relative to said surface on which the vehicle wheels roll. Methods of calibrating such an apparatus and methods using such apparatus to determine the flatness of the surface on which the wheels roll are also disclosed.

Apparatus and method for calibrating vehicle wheel alignment instruments includes a pan constructed of stamped and formed sheet steel, into which has been welded two cylinders. Bearings are mounted into each end of the cylinders and rotatably carry shafts onto which wheel alignment sensors are mounted during the process of calibration. The pan rests on a pair of bases with stepped cams, such that the pan can be tilted to the left or right a known amount. The pan can be flipped left to right about its longitudinal axis or end to end about its narrow (transverse) axis. A long shaft is provided which can be set into notches in the ends of the pan. A calibration procedure is performed during which the wheel alignment sensors are mounted to the various shafts, the shafts are rotated to two positions 180 degrees apart, and the pan is flipped and tilted, such that the average position occupied by the transducers of the wheel alignment sensors is as if the sensors were perfectly mounted at the four corners of a perfect rectangle. Measurements stored during this procedure are averaged to produce high quality calibration data.

Apparatus and method for calibrating vehicle wheel alignment instruments

The system includes camber and toe sensing apparatus, a memory for storing camber and toe specifications for a plurality of vehicles, and a computer. The computer compares sensed camber and toe with corresponding specification of camber and toe, selects a shim from a plurality of standard shims and a shim orientation to attempt to correct both camber and toe in accordance with a preset priority, and determines residual camber error and residual toe error that would result from installation of the shim at the selected orientation. The user may select another orientation that attempts to correct both camber and toe in accordance with the manually requested desired priority. The user works with the system interactively, and can request various error priorities or allocation on the fly. The residual errors resulting from the selected priorities are displayed in substantially real time to provide visual feedback. The display includes a graphical representation of the shim to be inserted, shown in the installation orientation. The size of the representation of the shim may be made the same as the actual size of the shim. The user then places the actual shim up to the display and marks it appropriately for installation. This is especially useful for two piece shims which have parts movable with respect to each other to set shim taper. The actual size representation on the display facilitates orienting both parts of two part shims properly.

Shim adjustment system and method for wheel alignment apparatus

Toe of a pair of wheels on the same axle is adjusted by first measuring the toe of a first wheel of the axle. A specification value for the toe of the first wheel is then subtracted from the measured value of toe for that wheel, and the difference is stored as a first toe comparison value. The toe of a second wheel on that axle is adjusted until the total toe of the wheels on that axle minus a specification value for total toe for the wheels on that axle equals the first toe comparison value. The toe of the first wheel is subsequently adjusted until the total toe of the wheels on the axle is substantially equal to the specification value for the total toe for the wheels on that axle. Apparatus which performs the method is also disclosed.

Appartus and method for adjusting vehicle toe alignment angles

A system for measuring angular relationships of wheels of a vehicle includes a radiation source mounted with respect to a first wheel for providing a radiation signal, an image detector having an active array of pixels mounted with respect to a second wheel for receiving an image from the radiation source and for producing an output in response to the radiation signal, and a radiation detector disposed in the path of the radiation from the radiation source for detecting the presence of the radiation signal. A controller is responsive to the presence of the radiation signal to activate the image detector to receive the image from the radiation source and determine an alignment angle of a wheel of the vehicle from the output of the image detector. A mask is mounted between the radiation source and the detector for defining an image of the radiation source upon the detector, the mask preferably having at least three slits therein. The system also uses radiation signals and the active pixel array detector to electronically determine wheel base and/or track width and corrects alignment characteristic values for errors which are affected by wheelbase. The system also uses such radiation signals and detectors to electronically determine ride height and/or wheel offset distances.

Sensor for vehicle alignment system and apparatus using same

Apparatus and method for determining the alignment positions and orientations of vehicle wheels includes a pair of measurement transducers, each of which is mounted on separate vehicle wheels and each of which is capable of measuring the range and relative bearing to the other. Three such pairs of measurement transducers are mounted on the vehicle wheels in conventional locations. A computer is connected to the transducers and programmed to compute the toe alignment measurements in a conventional manner. The computer is further programmed to compute the coordinates of the wheels, in an arbitrary coordinate system, from the relative range and bearing measurements. The coordinate system may be transformed relative to the sensor center line, the vehicle thrust line, the vehicle frame or body center line, or any desirable reference frame, thereby providing measurements of the actual wheel positions and alignment angles in that transformed coordinate system. To facilitate determining a coordinate system relative to the body or frame, additional transducers may be used to determine the location of the body relative to the sensors.

Growing community of inventors

St. Peters, MO, United States of America

Daniel B January