Abstract: An improved wheel alignment turntable for supporting a wheel of a vehicle. Embodiments include a turntable having a base, and a top plate for receiving the vehicle wheel, the top plate being mounted to an upper surface of the base for rotational and translational movement relative to the base. A pair of paddles, removably adjustably attachable to the base, engages a peripheral wall of the top plate for maintaining the top plate in a predetermined position relative to the base while the vehicle wheel is being positioned on the turntable. The paddles are easily removable when the wheel is supported on the turntable. A plurality of slide pads are removably mounted to a lower surface of the base, for enabling sliding motion between the turntable and a surface of a lift without damaging paint on the surface of the lift. The slide pads are stackable against one another for adjusting height of the turntable relative to the lift.

Abstract: In a vehicle alignment system an optical sensing mechanism is structurally coupled to a vehicle supporting lift for movement in unison with the lift so that the field of view of the sensing mechanism encompasses a wheel of a vehicle positioned on the lift during lift movement. Sensing modules may be selectively placed so that they are in correspondence with the vehicle wheel base. Modules may be deployed to extend outwardly from the lift, for viewing the wheel during an alignment procedure, or retract to a adjacent the lift for stowing. A protective cover extends above the sensing modules in the retracted position.

Abstract: A non-contact method and system for analyzing tire conditions. The system includes an emitter source for emitting radiation signals towards a tire having a treaded surface between two sidewalls. A detector is provided to receive signals reflected by the tire in response to the emitted radiation signals. A data processing system, coupled to the emitter source and the detector, obtains geometrical information, such as height, of a plurality points on the tire based on the signals received from the detector. The data processing system determines a condition of the tire by comparing geometrical information for a designated portion of the plurality points with other portion points on the tire. A color-coded surface profile showing a height distribution of the tire is also generated to assist diagnosis of the tire.

Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring and calculating wheel alignment angles are disclosed. The measuring methods include mitigating alignment error by compensating for wheel runout, and further include measuring wheel runout while the wheel maintains contact with an alignment surface.

Abstract: A diagnostic method and system for determining an operational status of a multiple-link steering system for steering an object attached thereto. The system includes a position determination system for obtaining positional signals related to a steering system, and a data processing system to calculate positional parameters of the steering system based on the positional signals. The data processing system includes a data processor for processing data and a data storage device for storing data. The data storage device bears instructions upon execution by the data processor causing the data processing system to receive a first, second and third positional signal of the steering system when the object being steered to a first, second and third steering angle respectively.

Abstract: A system for measuring caster trail of a wheel. The system comprises position sensing devices for sensing positional signals of the wheel and a data processing system configured to couple to the position sensing devices. The data processing system receives signals from the position sensing devices and determines spatial characteristics of a steering axis of the wheel, a reference plane and the center of a wheel. The system then determines the caster trail based on the spatial characteristics.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and system for determining symmetry and Ackermann geometry status of the steering system of a vehicle. A system according to the disclosure determines symmetry of the steering system based on toe angle differences of the steerable wheels. Thus, no specification is required for determining symmetry of the steering system. A system according to the disclosure determines symmetry of the steering system based on normalized toe angles. Consequently, the steerable wheel does not have to be positioned at a specific angle. Additionally, the present disclosure determines symmetry in the steering system of a vehicle without requiring turning steering wheels through a large angular range. Hence, technician efforts in steering the wheel are reduced. The disclosure also provides an improved alignment procedure that implements determination of symmetry of the steering system into the alignment procedure.

Abstract: A method and system for providing an improved camber adjustment technique. The method comprises the steps of: turning the steerable wheel to a first position in which the steerable wheel is either toe-in or toe-out, then turning the steerable wheel to a second position in which the steerable wheel is toe-out if the steerable wheel is toe-in in the first position, and in which the steerable wheel is toe-in if the steerable wheel is toe-out in the first position. Toe angles and camber angles during the turning of the steerable wheel from the first position to the second position are measured. An adjustment amount of camber at any toe angle is determined by the difference between the camber angle at zero toe and a specification camber angle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring a scrub radius of a wheel including determining at least one of a steering axis, a centerline and a ground plane of the wheel using computer-aided alignment, and determining the other of the steering axis, the centerline and the ground plane of the wheel not determined using computer-aided alignment. The method also includes determining an intersection between the steering axis and the ground plane of the wheel, determining an intersection between the centerline and the ground plane of the wheel, and determining a distance between the intersections, the distance being equal to the scrub radius of the wheel.

Abstract: A four sensor wheel aligner has a single omnidirectional angle sensor mounted on each of four vehicle support wheels. Each sensor is in optical communication with the other sensors. Data is produced from which toe, camber, caster and steering axis inclination angles are computed. No reference is made to vertical. Redundant data sets are produced which provide system reliability and error tracking features and maximum accuracy from available data sets. Frame distortion measurements are made to facilitate collision repair in coordination with wheel alignment.

Abstract: A four sensor wheel aligner has a single omnidirectional angle sensor mounted on each of four vehicle support wheels. Each sensor is in optical communication with the other sensors. Data is produced from which toe, camber, caster and steering axis inclination angles are computed. No reference is made to vertical. Redundant data sets are produced which provide system reliability and error tracking features and maximum accuracy from available data sets. Frame distortion measurements are made to facilitate collision repair in coordination with wheel alignment.

Abstract: In combination with a vehicle wheel aligner comprising at least one sensor for generating data indicative of the relative angular orientation of one or more wheels of a vehicle, a computer for calculating alignment values for the vehicle from the data and a video display for displaying the alignment values, the invention is the improvement comprising a digital memory for storing a plurality of vehicle attributes, a computer processor for causing two or more of the attributes to be displayed on the video display, an input device for allowing the operator to select the attributes relating to a subject vehicle, and a digital memory for storing the attributes relating to the subject vehicle which are selected by the operator, whereby a computer model of the subject vehicle is created.

Abstract: A clamping device for mounting an alignment head to the hub of a vehicle which comprises a frame; a shaft upon which the head is mountable connected to the frame; a first clamping member connected to the frame and comprising a first groove for engaging at least a first bolt of the hub; and a second clamping member movably connected to the frame and comprising a second groove for engaging at least a second bolt of the hub.

Abstract: An automotive service equipment system for measuring vehicle or vehicle component characteristics is disclosed which includes an expert system so that operators at all skill levels may operate the system efficiently and relatively error free. Such systems as vehicle wheel aligners, vehicle wheel balancers and vehicle brake lathes are described in conjunction with a corresponding expert system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring and automatically calibrating the primary sensors of a vehicle wheel aligner comprises secondary sensors for signaling the control means of the wheel aligner when the wheels are in known angular orientations. The outputs from the primary angle determining sensors of the wheel aligner are recorded when the secondary sensors signal the control means, and the control means calculates a calibration relationship between the outputs and the known angles to apply to future outputs of the primary sensors.

Abstract: A wheel alignment apparatus comprising eight sensors for measuring the toe angles of the wheels of a vehicle and a computer for calculating toe angle information from any six companion sensors and for comparing the toe angle information calculated using the six sensors with the toe angle information calculated using at least the remaining two sensors to determine if the wheel alignment apparatus is in calibration.

Abstract: A wheel alignment system is disclosed which measures the angles between the planes of the wheels on the same side, at the front and diagonally opposite on a four wheel vehicle. The measurements are processed to provide wheel toe, relative wheel plane orientation, front wheel offset and front and rear wheel setback relative to the vehicle frame to assist in damage assessment.

Abstract: The disclosure herein relates to apparatus and method for finding the orientation of a steering pivot axis for a wheel in a pair of steerable wheels in a vehicle suspension system, wherein arbitrary steering directions are imparted to the wheels and measurements are taken of the steering directions and the other steerable wheel alignment characteristics of interest. The measurements are transmitted to a computer which serves to calculate caster, steering axis inclination and the orientation of the steering pivot axis relative to a defined three dimensional alignment coordinate system.

Abstract: The disclosure herein relates to an alignment system and method which provides improved accuracy measurement of vehicle wheel alignment characteristics, guidance for an operator through known yet obscure adjustment procedures, an interface between system alignment sensors and the system controller which provides efficient handling of system generated data and system inputs and outputs, and live measurements and display of all alignment quantities so that interdependent changes between adjustable alignment quantities are observable.

Abstract: A wheel alignment process using manually operable alignment apparatus wherein all four wheels of a vehicle having a front steerable wheel pair and a rear nonsteerable wheel pair may be set in toe without turning the vehicle around part way through the process. The process provides for setting both front and rear toe relative to the chassis centerline in one aspect of the disclosure and for setting rear toe as close as practical to the chassis centerline and the front toe relative to the rear wheel rolling direction in another aspect of the disclosure. A lock is also disclosed which assures stability of the reference for the front and rear toe settings during the practice of the toe setting process.