Abstract: A compact, modular and versatile vehicle testing assembly for testing at least the brakes of an assembled vehicle comprises a pair of rollers adapted to support a tire of a tire and wheel assembly of a vehicle positioned on the testing assembly, with the pair of rollers being moveable relative to one another to alter the spacing there between. A drive system is connected to one of the rollers to operate as a drive roller for selectively imparting rotational motion to a tire of a vehicle tire and wheel assembly, with the other roller comprising a freewheeling roller to which rotational motion is imparted by a vehicle tire. A brake member is engageable with the freewheeling roller to selectively inhibit rotation of the freewheeling roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining wheel assembly alignment comprises a contact assembly, a light source, and a light beam receiving assembly. The contact assembly engages the wheel assembly to define a plane of orientation of the wheel assembly and the light source projects a beam of light with respect to the contact assembly. The light beam receiving assembly receives the light beam and forms an image of the light beam indicating the orientation of the wheel assembly with respect to a predetermined position. The receiving assembly may include a Fresnel lens for directing the received light beam to a target and a camera device for imaging the light beam on the target, with the camera device adapted to provide toe and camber information of the wheel assembly based on the location at which the light beam impinges upon the target. The contact assembly may be pressed against the wheel assembly without being secured thereto.

Abstract: A compact, modular and versatile vehicle testing assembly for testing at least the brakes of an assembled vehicle comprises a pair of rollers adapted to support a tire of a tire and wheel assembly of a vehicle positioned on the testing assembly, with the pair of rollers being moveable relative to one another to alter the spacing there between. A drive system is connected to one of the rollers to operate as a drive roller for selectively imparting rotational motion to a tire of a vehicle tire and wheel assembly, with the other roller comprising a freewheeling roller to which rotational motion is imparted by a vehicle tire. A brake member is engageable with the freewheeling roller to selectively inhibit rotation of the freewheeling roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining wheel assembly alignment comprises a contact assembly, a light source, and a light beam receiving assembly. The contact assembly engages the wheel assembly to define a plane of orientation of the wheel assembly and the light source projects a beam of light with respect to the contact assembly. The light beam receiving assembly receives the light beam and forms an image of the light beam indicating the orientation of the wheel assembly with respect to a predetermined position. The receiving assembly may include a Fresnel lens for directing the received light beam to a target and a camera device for imaging the light beam on the target, with the camera device adapted to provide toe and camber information of the wheel assembly based on the location at which the light beam impinges upon the target. The contact assembly may be pressed against the wheel assembly without being secured thereto.

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.

Abstract: A wheel centering device for use in a motor vehicle test platform employs mechanically synchronized centering rolls to position the driven wheel of a vehicle to be tested at the top center of the dynamometer roll. The centering rolls may be pivotally supported on a pair of lift brackets which are provided with toothed gear sections at their pivot ends for mechanical synchronization. Alternatively, the centering rolls may be supported on carriages disposed on opposite sides of the vertical centerline and movable on carriage tracks extending in upwardly sloping inclined planes disposed on opposite sides of the vertical centerline of the dynamometer roll. Movement of the carriages may be synchronized by means of a drive shaft consisting of two oppositely threaded ball screw sections and ball nuts, each attached to one of the carriages.