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. 04, 2007
Filed:
Oct. 26, 2004
Jon D Lawrence, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Munir T Ozdemir, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Hilbrand J Sybesma, Plainwell, MI (US);
James R Lehman, Potterville, MI (US);
Jon D Lawrence, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Munir T Ozdemir, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Hilbrand J Sybesma, Plainwell, MI (US);
James R Lehman, Potterville, MI (US);
Burke E. Porter Machinery Company, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method is provided for measuring the caster angle of a steerable wheel assembly without contact with the vehicle. An image capture device, preferably a CCD type video camera or sensor, views a vehicle wheel mounting and steering assembly that is illuminated by a light source. Information from the captured image is transmitted to a computer based control, such as a computer or processor, that determines the angle of a preformed line or preselected physical features on the wheel assembly in the captured image, and determines the caster angle of the steering axis based on the fixed angular relationship of the line or physical features to the steering axis that is stored or accessed by the control. Preferably, the image capture device is mounted below the vehicle on a vehicle alignment machine that supports the vehicle.