Abstract: A cross toe zero calibration system for use in an automotive vehicle wheel alignment system uses a calibration bar for receiving cross toe measuring head units. A first set of cross toe measurements are taken with the bar in a first position and a second set of cross toe measurements are taken with the bar in a second position. In the second position, the bar is rotated 180.degree. from the first position. The two sets of measurements are averaged to yield zone cross toe angle calibration factors. The combination of rotating the bar and averaging the two sets of measurements nulls out errors introduced into the calibration measurements due to deformities in the bar. The calibration bar is mounted on the main console of an automotive vehicle wheel alignment system. Switches are included which indicate the position of the bar.

Abstract: Toe adjustment apparatus for an alignment machine includes wheel position and body height sensors for providing input to a controller, and a power wrench carried by an adjustment mechanism for engaging and adjusting the vehicle tie rod under control of the controller. Power operated multi-axis actuators approximately align and couple the wrench head with the tie rod and multi-axis passive adjustments perfect registration of the head on the tie rod. The wrench head includes an open end socket configured to mate with a jam nut at one end and a tie rod hex portion at the other end so that both elements are selectively engaged by lateral shifting along the rod from one to the other for turning the jam nut and the rod as required for proper toe set. An encoder on the wrench produces pulses representing rotation increments and thus wheel adjustment increments.

Abstract: A method of measuring a vehicular frame to determine alignment, where measurements provided in the manufacturer's specifications are known. The method consists of the following steps. Firstly, establishing at least one reference point spaced from a vehicular frame. Secondly, triangulating the vehicular frame by measuring the angle from the reference point to one or more coordinate points provided in the manufacturer's specifications. One side of the triangle containing the reference points is a reference line of a known length. Thirdly, using the length of the reference line and the angular measurement from the reference points as a basis for trigonometric calculation.

Abstract: An improved claw for use in a wheel alignment rim clamp is disclosed. The claw as a curved bladelike tip which allows it to grip the rim of wheels including mag type wheels even when there is minimal clearance between the rim and its associated tire. The claw has a tip with a curved inner surface preferably of gradually increasing radii of curvature, and a beveled portion opposite the inner surface. The claw is shaped such that when its associated clamp is tightened, the bladelike tip tends to engage the rim more securely and the claw orients itself to grip the rim of a wheel firmly without damage thereto.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle wheel alignment system uses a light source and a linear CCD to measure angles. A mask having a slit through which light from the light source is projected onto the surface of the linear CCD is interposed between the light source and the linear CCD. A microprocessor controls the light source and the linear CCD and uses an output from the linear CCD to calculate an angle between the light source and the linear CCD. The microprocessor uses a search algorithm to locate the center of the image projected on the linear CCD. Calibration data for the linear CCD is stored in an EEPROM.

Abstract: A universal measuring bridge for determining the amount of misalignment of the datum points on a damaged vehicle, the bridge including a main beam formed from two extruded box beams, each box beam including a reference surface and an upper and lower track, the box beams being connected with the reference surfaces in a precise parallel spaced relation and the tracks also in a precise parallel spaced relation to each other and to the corresponding tracks on the other side, a slide arm having an upper and lower track and an upper and lower rail on each side and a fixed guide and a movable guide on the bottom for aligning the slide arm on the main beam and a cross slide mounted on each end of the slide arm, the cross slide including a pair of rollers positioned to ride on the lower track on each side of the slide arm and a compensating roller positioned to ride on the upper track, the rollers on the lower track being adjustable with respect to the lower track and movable into engagement with the inside of the rai

Abstract: A terminal alignment angle set part or end piece for use in a multi-Z-receptor or tower of an alignment bench comprising a frame constructed of sectional pieces on which are disposed one or more towers carrying a head piece thereon, the terminal alignment angle set part, or head pieces, being constructed such that at least two of the head pieces may be operatively connected for sliding and rotationable positioning and be fixed relative to one another and the tower to provide for the simultaneous locating or verification of two points on a motor vehicle body through a single tower or multi-Z-receptor.

Abstract: A headlamp assembly having a retainer member supporting a rectangular lamp unit and provided with a level device that is capable of being adjusted relative to the retainer member by a screw located between one of the sections of the retainer member and the level device.

Abstract: A device for measuring and determining the condition of wheel position and alignment in a unibody automobile, include wheel setback, toe-in, toe-out, front end squareness, camber, caster, wheel base, tram, and tracking in a simple single configuration tool. The basic instrument is a fixture that installs on each wheel within the perimeter of the wheel, and includes angle measuring and distance measuring arms that interplay geometrically to diagnose each required wheel/body condition. Simple mechanical rulers and levers are all that is necessary for use.

Abstract: An auto body repair gauge assembly comprises a frame or jig having a pair of spaced apart longitudinal bars supporting two or more lateral bars slidably mounted thereon for placing over the engine compartment of a motor vehicle whose body has been bent or otherwise damaged. Marking rods are slidably mounted on the lateral bars for positioning at the points indicating where a damaged part of the vehicle body should be adjusted to be back in its original correct position. The longitudinal and lateral bars have measurement indications marked on at least one side so the workmen can tell where to slide the marking rods. One lateral bar farthest to the rear is the reference bar and has its center lined up with the true longitudinal center line of the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus that enables simultaneous readings of the camber, caster and steering axis inclination of the steering components of a front wheel suspension of a vehicle; the apparatus comprises a C-shaped upright, the upper and lower extremities of which engage the upper and lower steering pivots of the component. A carriage, slidably mounted on the upright, supports a yoke member which is adapted to bear against the hub assembly of the vehicle wheel. A first gauge is mounted to the yoke member to give a camber reading of the strut while second and third gauges are mounted on the carriage to give a caster reading and a steering axis inclination reading.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for aligning the axles of a tractor, a trailer, or other vehicle and for detecting bends, bows, twists and other irregularities in vehicle frames, has a light source used to provide a reference plane from which measurements can be taken. Dual targets are attached to the underside of the vehicle frame and are used in conjunction with the light source to establish the reference plane. In certain embodiments, the light source is slidably arranged on a U-shaped frame and is positionable to project a light beam at the targets. Once a reference plane is established, a gauge can be used to measure irregularities in the vehicle frame by measuring the distance from the reference plane to the underside of the vehicle frame. The U-shaped frame is directly attached along the center axis of the wheel axle so that the horizontal bar on which a light support is arranged will be exactly parallel to the wheel axle and thus provide a more accurate measurement of misalignment.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for the diagnosis of the dimensioins of a motor vehicle body positioned on an alignment bench comprising a frame constructed of sections on which are arranged terminal alignment-angle sets. These sets are comprised of mechanical parts including end or head pieces which are disposed on columns longitudinally displaceable and fixable in guide supports fastened appropriately on the frame to function as multi-Z-receptors. The configuration of the end or head pieces are fabricated such that upon positioning on the column they will have already in them the desired or predetermined XYZ-values or dimensional coordinates of the points of the motor vehicle to be checked when in either a complete or partially disassembled state.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An improved measuring system for use in combination with vehicle repair equipment includes a pair of transverse bars mounted at a fixed position in space relative to the vehicle with a longitudinally extending and laterally movable bar assembly attached by sliding brackets to the transverse bars. Additional longitudinal bars are attached to the opposite ends of the transverse bars. Supplemental measuring equipment is attachable to all of the bars in order to effect point to point measurements on a vehicle in order that the point to point measurements may be compared with known standards.

Abstract: A headlamp aiming apparatus is provided for attachment to an automotive headlamp assembly which includes a frame member rigidly mountable to an automotive vehicle and a headlamp mounted to the frame member for pivotal motion about a horizontal and/or vertical axis of the headlamp for aiming the headlamp beam. The apparatus includes an aim-indicating arrangement having a housing mounted for movement in unison with a given surface of the headlamp so that the housing is movable with the headlamp during aiming. A headlamp adjusting assembly is operatively coupled with the housing for producing movement of both the housing and the headlamp relative to the frame member for achieving the aimed condition. An indicator adjusting assembly is provided for adjusting of the aim-indicating means to indicate an aimed condition of the associated headlamp and, in particular, while the headlamp is in a condition wherein the beam is aimed as desired responsive to adjustment by the headlamp adjusting assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vehicular headlamp which comprises a lamp housing having a front portion opened; a lens covering the opening of the front portion; a lamp bulb installed in the lamp housing for generating light when electrically energized; a light reflector installed in the lamp housing for reflecting the light from the lamp bulb toward the lens; an angular position adjustment mechanism for adjusting an angular position of the light reflector relative to the lamp housing; a spirit level fixed to an outer surface of the light reflector to move therewith; and a window structure defined by either one of the lens or the lamp housing, through which the level is viewed from the outside of the headlamp.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining or adjusting a projecting direction of a light beam emitted from an automobile headlight is provided. In a first aspect of the present invention, the peripheral region of a light beam is used in determining its projecting direction. In particular, a region definable in a light pattern of the projected beam having a proportionality relation between log S and I, where S indicates the value of an area having light intensity I or above, is determined and its outer contour or any predetermined point in the contour is used in determining the projecting direction. In a second aspect, apparatus for determining a projecting direction of a light beam emitted from an automobile headlight includes an indicator which automatically indicates a predetermined position of a light pattern of the light beam projected.

Abstract: A measuring bridge including extensible legs supporting the measuring bridge into position beneath a vehicle. The extensible legs each include a compression spring for upward movement into engagement with the bottom of a vehicle frame. The measuring bridge also includes apparatus for adjustably positioning the pointers of the measuring bridge to compensate for variations in the size of reference holes provided in the vehicle frame.

Abstract: A system and method are provided using a photodetector array for producing an output signal which is compensated for the effects of ambient light, photodetector bias, and the like, wherein the output signal contains information indicative of the position of the object. The preferred embodiment is useful for vehicular wheel alignment and includes left and right wheel units for coupling to respective left and right steerable wheels of a vehicle, and a central microcomputer and CRT display operably coupled with each wheel unit. Each preferred wheel unit includes a photodetector array operably connected to a wheel unit microcomputer and a laser beam source directing a laser beam toward the array of the other wheel unit.

Abstract: Noncontact sensors project fanned or structured light onto the tire, while the wheel is rotated, to illuminate at least two contour lines on the surface of the tire. the contour lines are read by video cameras, positioned offset from the optical plane of the structured light, to allow triangulation in determining the spatial position of the contour lines. Radially equivalent points are selected from each contour line by an algorithm which ignores the effects of any raised lettering on the tire sidewalls. Control of the video cameras and processing of the video data is performed by parallel processor-based computer system coordinated by sequencer circuit.

Abstract: A system for monitoring changes in shape of a structure employs a laser source attached to the structure and a set of beam splitters mounted at various locations on the structure and arranged to route portions of a laser beam produced by the laser source into various video cameras also mounted on the structure. Each video camera includes a photodetector array and produces an output signal indicating the intensity of light detected by each photodetector of the array, thereby indicating the beam intensity distribution in a corresponding plane of interest. The video output signal of each camera is digitized and stored as an intensity data array in the memory of a digital computer. The computer calculates from the intensity data array the position of the centroid of the beam with respect to a reference point on the plane of interest using a least squares fit of the intensity data to a two-dimensional Gaussian intensity distribution.

Abstract: In order to check four-wheel steering characteristics of a four-wheeled vehicle provided with a four-wheel steering system in which both the front wheels and the rear wheels are turned in response to operation of the steering wheel according to preset four-wheel steering characteristics, the steering wheel is turned to turn the front wheels and the rear wheels, and the actual turning angle of the front wheels and the actual turning angle of the rear wheels are measured, thereby detecting the actual relation between the turning angles of the front and rear wheels. Whether the actual four-wheel steering characteristics of the vehicle deviates from the preset four-wheel steering characteristics is determined through comparison of the actual relation between the turning angles of the front and rear wheels with the preset four-wheel steering characteristics.

Abstract: An optical toe/track measurement system includes a pair of toe gauge assemblies respectively mountable on the two wheels at one end of a motor vehicle and a pair of track scale assemblies respectively mountable on the other two wheels of the vehicle. Each toe gauge assembly includes an elongated tubular housing having toe and track projection systems for respectively projecting toe and track light beams from the opposite ends of the housing, the track beam being projected coaxially with the housing onto the track scale on the same side of the vehicle, while the toe beam is projected perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing onto a scale carried by the toe gauge assembly on the other side of the vehicle. Light is supplied respectively to the two toe gauge assemblies throught two fiber optic cables from a single remote light source.

Abstract: An accurate and high-speed measurement of the vehicle wheel alignment is achieved by an optoelectronic, non-contact measurement system. This system includes photoelectric sensors for detecting the distance between a reference vertical plane and a tire side surface of each wheel, and a stepping motor for adjusting the position of the sensors to follow-up the displacement of the wheel in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Operation of the stepping motor is controlled by a microcomputer on the basis of the updated distance data delivered from the sensor inputs. The microcomputer processes the input data to compute a toe-in or a camber of the wheel for the analog or digital display.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel alignment and checking apparatus for front and rear wheels in which the apparatus has active light beam projecting instruments mounted on the front wheels to project beams longitudinally and transversely between the wheels of the vehicle, passive wheel position instruments on the wheels for reflecting incident beams to the active instruments, a system of mirrors associated with the active and passive instruments and beam targets for utilizing the system of mirrors and targets to find the alignment information, and alignment data indicators responsive to the manipulation of the active instruments and responses from the passive instruments for visually revealing the alignment data and aiding in adjusting the wheels to specified alignment values.

Abstract: The disclosure is of apparatus and method for detecting and correcting malalignment in the drive train of a vehicle, especially a heavy-duty, load-carrying vehicle, which drive train comprises a drive shaft articulated by a universal joint and a rear end comprising a transverse axle adapted to drive wheels. Laser beam targets are affixed to the drive shaft in such an alignment that, when a laser beam is projected through them, deviations from the normal are revealed. The targets are semi-transparent members having opaque cross hairs thereon which are adjustable up and down and are mounted so that the vertical cross hairs are in line with a vertical diameter of the drive shaft. A prism-bearing target is affixed to the differential of the vehicle in alignment with the laser beam. The prism is adapted to refract the laser beam at 90.degree. and is mounted so that it can be set either at 0.degree. or 180.degree.

Abstract: A wheel alignment control system for a vehicle having at least one pair of rear road wheels opposing each other in the transverse direction of the vehicle, for changing and setting a wheel alignment factor of the wheels in relation to a current speed of the vehicle. The wheel alignment factor to be set by the control system is a camber angle of the rear wheels, a static toeing angle of the rear wheels, or a dynamic toeing angle of the rear wheels. The dynamic toeing angle of changed to be set by changing a stroke characteristic of each of a pair of suspenion units respectively supporting the rear wheels, on which the stroke characteristic of an associated one of the suspension units exerts an effect such that, in accordance with a stroke length thereof, the toeing angle of a corresponding one of the rear wheels is varied.

Abstract: A laser enhanced alignment apparatus for wheeled vehicles includes first and second laser generator assemblies, each mounted to one of the vehicle front wheels, and first and second reflector assemblies similarly mounted to the rear wheels. Each laser generator assembly includes an elongate laser tube permanently mounted within a tubular housing with an annular silicone jacket over a substantial portion of the laser tube length. Each of the laser generator and reflector assemblies includes a support member which adjustably mounts its associated assembly to compensate for the toe of its associated wheel.

Abstract: Proposed in accordance with the invention is a method of measuring the camber, KPI and caster wheel alignment angles in the front axle and suspension assembly of a motor vehicle without the need for recourse to a levelled surface or to any gravitation-sensing instruments for the purpose of the measurements. One front wheel at a time is measured, for which purpose the wheel is fitted with a projecting pin parallel to the wheel axle intended to support a laser beam machine which emits a beam perpendicular to the wheel axle. A screen marked with reference lines is positioned at a certain distance away from the wheel, initially in front of, and then alongside the wheel, with the direction of the reference lines corresponding to the direction of the reference plane of the vehicle.

Abstract: A rim engaging finger is configured to engage a wide variety of passenger vehicle and truck wheel rims, so that a wheel clamp upon which an array of three of the fingers are mounted may be attached to the wheel rims. The clamp is configured to carry a variety of wheel alignment devices. The rim engaging finger is rotatable in its position on the clamp so that its tip may be put in contact with the inside or the outside of the periphery of a vehicle wheel rim. Additionally, fallow grooves on the finger may be put in contact with the fallow of a vehicle wheel rim for supporting the clamp on the wheel. An inner knife edge is also included to provide contact with certain wheel rim configurations by the array of fingers for clamp mounting purposes.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for determining the positions of a set of points on a body and comparing those points to a set of reference points. The system includes a data acquisition apparatus comprised of emitters, receivers, and microprocessor controls. The emitters are mounted at various predetermined positions on the body, for example a vehicle body or frame, and are triggered in an optimal fashion by the microprocessors. Triggering generates a single acoustic burst signal from an emitter. An array of microphones acts as the receiver. After generation of the signal, the microprocessor initializes an external clock which measures the travel time of the signal from the emitter to the receivers. By repeating this process a number of times, data is acquired which yields the three-dimensional coordinates of a given point when processed by a microprocessor.

Abstract: The invention relates to the alignment of motor vehicle wheels and axles. A first embodiment is disclosed for an apparatus comprising a means to hook over an adjustable mounting shaft on a steer wheel providing at least partial rotation thereof, a transverse suspension member attached to the hanger with a light source retained in a bracket and rotatably mounted on a non adjustable mounting shaft at one end thereof and a counterweight at the other. The connections of the hook means and the light source bracket to their respective mounting shafts are such that the mounting shaft is held between a clamping means and two points on each side of the hook means and light source bracket respectively. The clamping means disclosed is a threaded member with a spring loaded ball in one end which engages a circumferential groove on the respective mounting shaft.

Abstract: A system for aircraft landing light alignment which includes a target of photocells distributed in a cross-like manner with a single photo detector centered about the common point of the cross-like distribution. A signal processing circuit coupled to the output of the target includes electronic readout devices distributed in a cross-like manner for indicating which way the beams should be directed to provide correct light adjustment. The aircraft landing light alignment system includes signal processing of photo detector derived signals which measures only the outer fringes of the Gaussian beam distribution.

Abstract: A headlamp aiming and leveling device is provided for attachment to an automotive headlamp to facilitate leveling and aiming of the headlamp beam relative to an automotive vehicle upon which the headlamp is installed. The device comprises: a level-indicating device including a housing. At least one, first part of the housing is affixed to a given surface of a headlamp, such that a remaining portion of the housing is movable relative to said affixed part for varying the inclination of the housing in such a fashion as to permit adjustment of the level-indicating device to indicate a level condition. An adjusting arrangement is operatively coupled with the housing at a second part thereof spaced from the part thereof affixed to the headlamp for moving the housing for achieving the level indication while the headlamp is held in a condition wherein the headlamp beam is level. A locking arrangement is provided for locking the adjusting arrangement in the position at which the level condition is indicated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for aligning axles with respect to the frame of a vehicle and for determining wheel camber thereof.

Abstract: A measuring location sensor for linear measuring devices having a probe tip of spherical configuration of a predetermined radius used for measuring the location of a hole or, in cooperation with an adaptor sleeve, a protruding element of a vehicle chassis, body or frame, irrespective of whether such hole or element is located on a horizontal surface or an inclined surface.

Abstract: A vehicle repair system for locating and defining predetermined points of vehicle components to ensure compliance with the vehicle specifications. The system utilizes a common base for interchangeably receiving any one of a plurality of control heads in order to enable the base portion of the system to be utilized in checking and verifying the position of vehicle components for any or a large number of vehicles. Each of the interchangeable control heads is specifically configured for use with a particular vehicle and for locating a component of that particular vehicle so that each of the specific control heads can be utilized in a standard system base eliminating the necessity of individual bases being formed as an integral portion of the position locating or verifying apparatus. In addition, the checking and verification system may be utilized to effect localized repairs or reforming of the automotive components to effect their correct positioning.

Abstract: Vehicle body measuring apparatus having first and second extendible members for positioning on opposed sides of a vehicle body. A longitudinal member is connectible between the upper ends of the first and second members. First and second pointers are slidably mountable on the longitudinal member. Connecting means are provided for pivotally connecting the first and second members relative to the vehicle body and clamping means are provided for clamping the first and second members in a fixed position relative to opposed sides of the vehicle body.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automotive wheel alignment in which a telescope is mounted with its axis precisely parallel with the end plane defined by the automotive wheel hub. A calibrated target is placed and centered directly in front of the telescope on its optical axis. This procedure is repeated for the wheel on the other side of the vehicle. The vehicle is then moved a distance, for example 50 feet, from the targets which are left in place. The telescope is again placed on the wheel hubs and the targets sighted. If both targets remain on the optical axis the wheels are in perfect alignment. If they are not, the calibrations on the target indicate the direction and extent of misalignment.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring linear displacement having three slides movable along orthogonal axes. Two slides each having a scale for measuring linear displacement which extends substantially parallel to the path of movement of its associated slide. The third slide has a movable scale for measuring linear displacement, with a portion extending at substantially a right angle to the path of movement of the third slide, so that the linear displacement along all three axes can be viewed and read on all three scales from the same position and in subtantially the same sighting direction.

Abstract: Noncontact sensors project fanned or structured light onto the tire, while the wheel is rotated, to illuminate at least two contour lines on the surface of the tire. The contour lines are read by video cameras, positioned offset from the optical plane of the structured light, to allow triangulation in determining the spatial position of the contour lines. Radially equivalent points are selected from each contour line by an algorithm which ignores the effects of any raised lettering on the tire sidewalls. Control of the video cameras and processing of the video data is performed by parallel processor-based computer system coordinated by sequencer circuit.

Abstract: YAn apparatus for and a method of adjustment, in the lateral direction, of the light beam of a vehicle headlight, in its low beam position. The light beam extends on one side of a cut-off line. At least two vertically extending, elongated photoelectric cells are placed in the light beam, in such a manner that the upper part of each photoelectric cell is not illuminated by the headlight and which the lower part is illuminated, regardless of the position of adjustment, in the vertical direction, of the headlight. When the headlight is at its position of correct lateral adjustment, the electrical signals supplied by the photoelectric cells have a specified ratio. In laterally adjusting the position of the headlight, the electrical signals supplied by the photoelectric cells are brought to the specified ratio.

Abstract: An improved measuring system for use in combination with vehicle repair equipment includes a pair of transverse bars mounted at a fixed position in space relative to the vehicle with a longitudinally extending and laterally movable bar assembly attached by sliding brackets to the transverse bars. Additional longitudinal bars are attached to the opposite ends of the transverse bars. Supplemental measuring equipment is attachable to all of the bars in order to effect point to point measurements on a vehicle in order that the point to point measurements may be compared with known standards.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the wheel alignment of the wheels of vehicles includes a target provided with a plurality of scales for accomplishing the measurements. The target is pivotally attached to a support shaft of a target support structure and can be positioned in arbitrary locations around the shaft. A line of sight from a sighting instrument can be directed to impinge on the respective scales of the target facing the instrument.

Abstract: A gauge which in its preferred form consists of two vertical members and two cross bars with means for relatively adjusting the relative position of the cross bars on the vertical members is disclosed. Each of the cross bars also carries a pair of threadable castings together with a reversely threaded screw which, on rotation, moves the threadable casting toward and away from the center of each cross bar. When a plurality of such gauges are employed, one located in each of preselected cross-sectional planes of a vehicular body, the dimensions of the boey relative to datum references and from the gauge can be determined and thereupon whether the vehicle be damaged or "true" and hence undamages. Such gauges avoid the use of prior art racks and frames upon which the vehicle was placed in order to measure the vehicle trueness.

Abstract: A wheel alignment system for measuring the angular values of the steerable and non-steerable wheels of a vehicle, including caster, camber, toe, set back and track, as computed from references taken from the chassis of the vehicle. The wheel alignment system includes apparatus comprised of one or more pairs of wheel unit sensor assembly units, each of a pair of which can be mounted via a wheel clamp assembly upon the parallelly disposed wheels of the vehicle, to measure the wheel alignment angles of the steerable and non-steerable wheels of the vehicle. These measurements can be progressively fed, as the alignment proceeds, into a microprocessor, or central processing unit of a computer, the computations displayed as a readout, suitably upon a video screen associated therewith, and these values compared with the manufacturer's specifications of the different wheel alignment settings of a given vehicle selected from the memory of the computer.

Abstract: A vehicle body-and-frame-alignment apparatus for use in realigning the front inner structures of damaged unitized or unibody constructed vehicles employing sliding strut-shock units as front-end suspension systems, wherein the apparatus is formed by a substantially rectangular adjustable frame gauge defined by upper and lower horizontal gauge bars adjustably interconnected to oppositely positioned vertical side gauge bars by coupling brackets, each gauge bar including a measuring tape disposed along the longitudinal length thereof. The frame gauge is adapted to be supported on the sliding strut-shock units by an adjustable pair of gauge-positioning members slidably mounted to the upper horizontal bar, the lower horizontal bar being provided with a fixed central indicator and a second pair of gauge-positioning members, each gauge-positioning member including a vertically adjustable reference pointer to indicate structural alignment or misalignment of the vehicle structure.

Abstract: Vehicle wheel alignment apparatus having active alignment determining means operatively mounted on the steerable and non-steerable wheels so as to be substantially insensitive to mechanical distortion of the vehicle wheels and operable in combination with wheel run out compensation means to produce wheel alignment results of improved accuracy, and utilizing the improved arrangement of alignment apparatus for supplying information which can be used for computing the important angular relationship of the wheels to a vehicle reference.