Floor Supported, Wheel Contacting Patents (Class 33/203.15)
  • Patent number: 11137750
    Abstract: A time-series data processing device (10) includes: a protruding data extracting unit (2) for extracting, from time-series data (1) which is a sequence of values obtained from sequential observation with the elapse of time, protruding data including an ascending leg a value of which continuously rises with respect to time and a descending leg a value of which continuously drops with respect to time; an occurrence pattern defining unit (3) for defining an occurrence pattern of protruding data in the time-series data (1); and an occurrence pattern detecting unit (4) for detecting, as a segment (5), one or more pieces of protruding data matching the occurrence pattern defined by the occurrence pattern defining unit (3), from among a set of pieces of protruding data extracted by the protruding data extracting unit (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Imamura, Takaaki Nakamura, Norio Hirai
  • Patent number: 11060941
    Abstract: In a method for determining an equivalent modal unbalance for the first bending characteristic form of a shaft-elastic rotor, which unbalance is to be compensated for, a rotor model is created describing the geometric shape and material properties of the shaft-elastic rotor. The magnitude of compliance of the rotor model is calculated at a measurement point and at the center of gravity of the rotor at an assumed speed. The shaft-elastic rotor is received in a rotatable bearing and accelerated to the assumed speed which is below its first critical speed. Subsequently, the magnitude of outward deflection at the measurement point of the shaft-elastic rotor rotating at the assumed speed can be measured. The equivalent modal unbalance for the first bending characteristic form of the shaft-elastic rotor, which unbalance is to be compensated for, can be calculated from the magnitudes of the calculated compliance and the measured outward deflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Schenck RoTec GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Wanke, Matthias Hartnagel
  • Patent number: 11009335
    Abstract: A wheel adapter for fastening on a wheel, in particular on a wheel of a motor vehicle, includes at least two arms which extend in a radial direction starting from a central area of the wheel adapter Each of the arms includes at least one movable element which is movable in the radial direction in order to vary the length of the arm in the radial direction. The movable elements of at least two arms are mechanically coupled to one another in such a way that a movement of one movable element of a first arm results in a corresponding movement of a least one movable element of a second arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Beissbarth GmbH
    Inventors: Vikranth Kambhaluru, Stefanie Peters, Trendafil Ilchev
  • Patent number: 10634924
    Abstract: A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to determine a vehicle ride height, determine an angle of a display projector in a vehicle instrument panel based on the ride height, and actuate a motor to move the display projector to the projector angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Panagis, Christopher Melgar, Peter Lazarevski
  • Patent number: 10184792
    Abstract: A device and method for determining parameters for adjusting the directions of travel of two steerable axles of a vehicle relative to each other is disclosed, wherein one measuring unit for measuring the individual toe angle of a vehicle wheel associated with the measuring unit is present on each side of the vehicle such that a first measuring unit is assigned to the wheel of the first of the steerable axles on the vehicle's left side and the second measuring unit is assigned to the wheel of the second of the steerable axles on the vehicle's right side, wherein the output signals from the measuring units are supplied to an evaluating unit, wherein the difference in the directions of travel of the two steerable axles is determined in the evaluating unit from the signals supplied from the measuring units and is provided as an output signal from the evaluating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas Tentrup, Christoph Meyers
  • Patent number: 10139213
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for adjusting the wheel alignment parameters of the wheels of a vehicle, wherein at least one vehicle axle is gripped by one gripping device per wheel axle, near the wheel flanges of the corresponding axle. According to the present invention, the gripping devices are moved by means of controllable drive means in such a way that the wheel alignment parameters of the wheels are adjusted via the orientation of the gripping devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: DÜRR Assembly Products GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Herrmann, Joel Grub, Kurt Ismail, Gerhard Heiduczek
  • Patent number: 9476800
    Abstract: An apparatus is mounted to a vehicle for obtaining a camber angle measurement. The apparatus includes a lower elongated member, a vertical elongated member, and an upper elongated member. The apparatus further includes a lower coupling that connects the lower elongated member to the vertical elongated member. The lower coupling allows the vertical elongated member to rotate about an axis, and prevents the lower elongated member from rotating about its longitudinal axis. The apparatus also includes an upper coupling that connects the vertical elongated member to the upper elongated member. A lower connector is connected to the lower elongated member, and is configured to be connected to a wheel of a vehicle. An upper connector is connected to the upper elongated member, and is configured to be connected to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Stanley J. Olesky, Vladimir Roth, John L. Turner
  • Patent number: 8069576
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel alignment measuring method and apparatus capable of measuring wheel alignment of a vehicle body with high accuracy without wheels mounted in an assembly line. A dummy wheel (10) is mounted on a wheel mounting portion (6) on which a wheel is not mounted. Subsequently, with a vehicle body supported, a wheel mounting portion elevating means (8) elevates the wheel mounting portion (6) via the dummy wheel (10). Thereafter, an alignment measuring means (9) measures wheel alignment for the wheel mounting portion (6) on which the dummy wheel (10) is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideari Kamachi, Kiyonobu Hara, Yushi Aoki, Kenichiro Ono, Hiroshi Saito
  • Patent number: 7779544
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for adjusting the steering wheel of a motor vehicle. The aim of the invention is to enable an automatic adjustment of the steering wheel in the steering clearance center by ‘stabilizing’ or carrying out a steering hysteresis measurement, and the subsequent adjustment of the steering wheel, in a simple, rapid and cost-effective manner. To this end, the invention relates to a method for adjusting the steering wheel of a motor vehicle in the steering wheel clearance center, the method being characterized by the following steps: the floating plates of the vehicle geometry test bed, on which the front wheels of the motor vehicle are arranged, are rotated when the wheels are stopped in order to cause the rotation of steering wheel; the steering wheel angle is determined according to the triggered steering wheel movement; and the steering wheel clearance center is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Dürr Assembly Products GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Tentrup, Andre Deutsch, Christoph Meyers
  • Patent number: 7661198
    Abstract: A toe angle measuring instrument comprising a measurement unit having a seating table seating a hub of a vehicle on a seating stand and movable in the lateral direction of the vehicle and in a rotating direction in plan view relative to a second base member. The toe angle measuring instrument further comprising a measured member having a vertical measurement surface extending from the seating table to the outside and non-contact distance sensors installed oppositely to the measurement surface with reference to the second base member and measuring distances (x1) and (x2) up to the measurement surface from two positions apart a distance (y1) from each other. The measurement surface is set to face in a direction forming an acute angle relative to a lateral direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyonobu Hara
  • Patent number: 7637021
    Abstract: The invention provides a vehicle confronting apparatus and a vehicle confronting method for a vehicle, which enables to confront a vehicle surely for a short while. A vehicle confronting apparatus 1, comprises: a guide-type confronting device 2 guiding a wheel of a vehicle 7 entering to a confronting position, and regulating both sides of the wheel of the vehicle; a run-out-type confronting device 4 rotationally driving the wheel of the vehicle reaching the confronting position; and a control device 6 controlling motions of the guide-type confronting device 2 and the run-out-type confronting device 4. The control device 6 cancels the regulation of the wheel by the guide-type confronting device 2 within a period between a time of starting of the rotational driving of the wheel of the vehicle 7 and a time when the rotation speed of the wheel reaches a predetermined run-out speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutsugu Suita, Keiichiro Fujita
  • Publication number: 20090000133
    Abstract: A toe angle measuring instrument comprising a measurement unit having a seating table seating a hub of a vehicle on a seating stand and movable in the lateral direction of the vehicle and in a rotating direction in plan view relative to a second base member. The toe angle measuring instrument further comprising a measured member having a vertical measurement surface extending from the seating table to the outside and non-contact distance sensors installed oppositely to the measurement surface with reference to the second base member and measuring distances (x1) and (x2) up to the measurement surface from two positions apart a distance (y1) from each other. The measurement surface is set to face in a direction forming an acute angle relative to a lateral direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kiyonobu Hara
  • Patent number: 7278215
    Abstract: There is provided a method and a device for measuring wheel alignment of an automobile that can quickly and precisely measure wheel alignment of the automobile without applying the same load to a wheel installation portion as that applied thereto in a finished vehicle state to improve productivity and can quickly reflect the result of wheel alignment measurement in a process of assembly of a suspension unit to the automobile. An automobile body 2 is supported in such a manner that a wheel installation portion 5 can be lifted and lowered, and the wheel installation portion 5 is lifted to a predetermined vertical position. During lift, a position of the wheel installation portion 5 and the toe angle and camber angle thereof at the position are measured. The toe angle and the camber angle are corrected based on a thrust angle and an attitude angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyonobu Hara
  • Patent number: 7065887
    Abstract: A device for supporting the wheels of vehicles in general during their attitude check, comprising a horizontal plate (8) which is supported in such a manner as to enable it to undergo rotation and translation within the plane in which it lies, about a position known as the zero position, and means able to disable the mobility of said plate, said means comprising a lower central appendix (11) which is rigid with the plate, and with which there is associated an automatic centering, retention and release system, which is activated and deactivated by a remote command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Corghi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giacomo Gallese
  • Patent number: 6836970
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the wheel alignment of a vehicle on a production line. In the measuring method, a wheel hub (55) having a plurality of hub bolts (56) for mounting a wheel to is rotated while displacements of the hub bolts are measured with measuring sensors (73, 74). The wheel alignment is measured by calculating an angle of inclination (0) of the wheel hub on the basis of the measured displacements of the hub bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Hirano
  • Patent number: 6810593
    Abstract: A method of reducing an n-order component of a radial run out (RRO) of a wheel rim is disclosed, wherein an average Y of RRO Y1 and RRO Y2 of the bead seats is obtained around the wheel rim; the peak-to-peak amplitude X of the n-order component of the average Y is obtained; minimum position(s) at which the n-order component becomes minimum is found to determine deep position(s) P on the wheel rim corresponding to the minimum position(s); a corrective tape having a thickness t of 0.1 to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20040045177
    Abstract: A method of reducing an n-order component of a radial run out (RRO) of a wheel rim is disclosed, wherein an average Y of RRO Y1 and RRO Y2 of the bead seats is obtained around the wheel rim; the peak-to-peak amplitude X of the n-order component of the average Y is obtained; minimum position(s) at which the n-order component becomes minimum is found to determine deep position(s) P on the wheel rim corresponding to the minimum position(s); a corrective tape having a thickness t of 0.1 to 0.5 mm is applied to the bead seat(s) at each deep position P, wherein the length L of the corrective tape is determined by the following precision expression (1) or alternatively simplified expression (2) 1 L0 = R π × n × arcsin ⁡ ( X t × a × 1.3 ) ( 1 ) L0 = 100 × R × X 360 × t × a × n ⁢   ⁢ where ⁢   ⁢ 0 < L0 R < 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20030159298
    Abstract: A wheelless alignment device for a multiple-wheeled vehicle, wherein each of the wheels bears a portion of the vehicle's weight, has a rigid support member affixable to a wheel hub after its wheel has been removed. The rigid support member bears the portion of the weight of the vehicle normally borne by the removed wheel without substantial deformation, and has at least three reference surfaces that mate with corresponding reference surfaces of a sensor head frame. The reference surfaces are in spaced nonlinear relationship to each other. At least one affixation member attaches the head frame to the rigid support member at locations spaced from the registered reference surfaces, so that after registration the spatial relationship between the wheel hub and the sensor head is unchanged by variances in tightening. This arrangement produces greater accuracy in wheel alignment measurement and adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventor: James A. Mieling
  • Patent number: 6564461
    Abstract: A wheel alignment adjusting device is provided in which loading portions, on which wheels of a vehicle are loaded, can be positioned with high accuracy. Front and rear tire driving devices 118 at a vehicle transverse direction left side are fixed to a loading stand 18. Front and rear tire driving devices 118 at a vehicle transverse direction right side are mounted to a first sliding base 34R. The first sliding base 34R is movable in a vehicle transverse direction with respect to the loading stand 18. When a vehicle transverse direction distance between the tire driving devices 118 is to be changed in accordance with a tread base of the vehicle, the first sliding base 34R is moved. Only the tire driving devices 118 at one vehicle transverse direction side are moved, rather than the tire driving devices 118 at both vehicle transverse direction sides. Thus, a structure of the wheel alignment adjusting device is simplified because a number of driving devices for moving the tire driving devices 118 is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Yutaka Naruse
  • Patent number: 6490800
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a procedure for measuring the wheel angle on steerable vehicles. When determining large course angles, such as maximum wheel deflection, the course angle itself, which is difficult to measure, is not measured directly. Instead, the wheel camber (or turning) is measured and this angle is then utilized to calculate the course angle sought, with the aid of known values of straight course angles of the wheel and gradient of the kingpin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignees: Optab Optronikinnovation AB, Josam Lastbilsteknik AB
    Inventor: Lars-Erik Skagerlund
  • Patent number: 6405445
    Abstract: A tool for indicating whether a measured ride height of a vehicle is within a tolerance range for a specified ride height is provided. The measured ride height is equal to a vertical distance between a reference surface of the vehicle, such as a vehicle frame rail at a suspension centerline, and a rotational axis of a vehicle wheel. The tool has a support member, a first measurement member, and a second measurement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Paccar INC
    Inventor: David B. Ford
  • Patent number: 6374159
    Abstract: A wheel angle of a wheel is adjusted in accordance with the characteristics of tire of the wheel such that a steering characteristics of the vehicle is substantially neutral steer. The wheel angle of a reference wheel of the vehicle (for example, a rear wheel) is adjusted. Next, the reference wheel and a non-reference wheel (for example, a front wheel) are rotated on the tire driving surface of an endless track on which are formed a plurality of plate-like protrusions of a predetermined height. The longitudinal and lateral forces generated in the tire are then measured. On the basis of the wave forms of the rate of change measured in the longitudinal force, a predetermined period is determined from the time when the tire is deformed as the wheel passes over the upward step of the protrusion until the tire is deformed as the wheel passes over the downward step of the protrusion, and data of the lateral force measured within the predetermined period is extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Naruse, Yozo Hattori
  • Patent number: 6256894
    Abstract: A method in which the alignment of a wheel can be easily adjusted in accordance with the characteristics of the tire, and in which a running stability appropriate for an actual road surface is obtained and a reduction in one-sided wear is achieved. A plurality of plate-like protrusions of a predetermined height are formed on the outer surface of an endless track at a predetermined distance apart in the direction of the rotation on which is rotated a wheel. When the endless track is rotated, the wheel is rotated on the tire driving surface and travels from the top surface of plate section over a step up climbing up onto the top surface of the protrusion. Next, from the top surface of the protrusion, the wheel travels over a step and descends back down onto the top surface of the plate section. This action is repeatedly executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Naruse, Yozo Hattori
  • Patent number: 6170324
    Abstract: A method for minimizing the radial runout of a tire and rim assembly 10 having the steps of locating the position of maximum radial runout and measuring the amount of maximum radial runout; loosening the threaded fasteners 24 attaching the rim 20 and disk 22; and moving the disk 22 radially toward the location of the maximum radial runout a distance one-half the measured runout amount and then retightening the threaded fasteners is disclosed. The method minimizes first harmonic vibrations caused by the normal assembly of these components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: David Thomas Reese, Ronald Simon Roethlisberger