Fmc Corporation

Raymond Titsworth

James L Dale, Jr

Jerry M Hill

Bryce L Mannen

Hanford D Monroe

J Tom Lipe

Steven W Rogers

Donald J Christian

Elizabeth Anne Downing

Melvin H Lill

Michael L Baird

An apparatus and method for determining the vertical distance between a point on a vehicle and a reference line comprises a linear measuring device, a fixture to aid in the taking of linear measurements of the point along two oblique angles, and a computer for calculating the vertical distance from these two measurements.

Vehicle ride height measurement apparatus and method

A structured light scanning system observes, interprets and provides structural feature size, position and movement data in automotive service equipment applications where such feature characteristics must be determined either preliminary to or ultimately for measurement of quantities affecting automotive performance, such as tire/rim assembly balance, runout and alignment or brake surface planarity and smoothness.

Light scanning system for measurement of orientation and physical

A wheel alignment system includes either four wheel mountable alignment heads or two alignment heads and two retroreflectors or two alignment heads alone together with a control console and display. A main processing unit is included in the console for performing calculations and for controlling systems function control components communications sequences. Each console function control component includes its own controller. The control console further includes a CRT display module and optional voice instruction and printer output modules. A bar code reader is available for quick specifications entry. Communications and decision making instructions are downloaded from the controller in each console function control component to the main processing unit at initialization. Communication between the heads and the console is accomplished either through the use of conducting cords or infrared transmission and reception. Each alignment head also includes a controller which controls collection of alignment data in parallel at each head as well as serial transmission from each head to the console during discrete transmission periods as required by the main processing unit.

Vehicle wheel alignment apparatus and method

A tire changer has a base on which is mounted a rim and tire assembly support table upon which tires are inflated through an air inflation hose. A rigid arm-like member is pivotally attached to the base of the tire changer in a position so that it may be pivoted between a safety position overlying the support table and a rim/tire assembly thereon and a stowed position away from the support table. In one embodiment the rigid arm pivots from an overhead position to the safety position and in another embodiment the rigid arm pivots from a lateral position to the safety position. The rigid arm carries the air inflation hose with a short length of the hose extending therefrom, so the arm must overlie the support table for the hose to reach the inflation valve on a tire supported on the table.

Tire Changer safety arm

Tire changer safety arm

A wheel alignment system includes either four wheel mountable alignment heads or two alignment heads and two retroreflectors or two alignment heads alone together with a control console and display. A main process unit is included in the console for performing calculations and for controlling systems function control components communications sequences. Each console function control component includes its own controller. The control console further includes a CRT display module and optional voice instruction and printer output modules. A bar code reader is available for quick specifications entry. Communications and decision making instructions are downloaded from the controller in each console function control component to the main processing unit at initialization. Communication between the heads and the console is accomplished either through the use of conducting cords or infrared transmission and reception. Each alignment head also includes a controller which controls collection of alignment data in parallel at each head as well as serial transmission from each head to the console during discrete transmission periods as required by the main processing unit.

An improved method, and apparatus for performing the method, is disclosed for measuring and correcting the individual toe of pairs of steerable and non-steerable wheels of a vehicle relative to a longitudinal centerline passing through the midpoints of the wheel pairs. The improved methods utilize aimable alignment heads which are alternately mounted on the non-steerable wheels and the steerable wheels and are sighted only once on targets on the other wheels thereby eliminating the need for resighting after each toe adjustment is made. Optical cross-toe paths of each head operate in a continuous mode and provide a running display of incremental toe angle adjustments of one wheel while the toe display value associated with the other wheel of the pair is frozen, which other wheel is not being adjusted for toe.

Growing community of inventors

Conway, AR, United States of America

Raymond Titsworth