The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 29, 1992
Filed:
Mar. 12, 1991
M Stanley Merrill, Denver, CO (US);
Thomas B Chapin, Lakewood, CO (US);
Merilab, Inc., Englewood, CO (US);
Abstract
An improved wheel alignment system and method is disclosed. This invention is a kinetic alignment system combining a geometric wheel aligner which measures toe angle with reference to the sidewall of a tire, and a dynamic wheel aligner which measures toe and camber angles with reference to the tread of the tire in order to rapidly and simultaneously measure both the position of a vehicle's wheel and the roll of the tire associated with the wheel. The geometric aligner of this invention includes (a) an improved pivot assembly that reduces scrub and the corresponding false position readings that otherwise result from the scuffing of the geometric apparatus across the sidewall of the tire when the wheel's plane of rotation changes, and (b) an improved striker assembly so as better to strike the sidewall of a tire at the tire's center line and, where the exact center line is missed, to self-correct for the unbalanced tire forces resulting from the missed strike. The method of this invention is a way of using the new kinetic alignment system to perform a real time, production line audit of wheel position, vehicle tracking, and lateral tire forces which might alter the driveability of the vehicle.