Abstract: A gauge for measuring the fender well dimensions of an automobile is provided and includes a handle portion and a head portion. The head portion is used to measure well width so that one can determine the widest usable tire. The gauge is also used to calculate rim offset in a rim suitable for the selected wide tire.

Abstract: A car wash includes a roller-conveyor belt for driving a car through the car wash. A front wheel alignment device measures the alignment of the front wheels of the car after the car has been driven through the car wash. The measuring device is positioned at the end of the roller-conveyor belt so that the front wheels of the car are moved across the measuring device by the conveyor belt. A measurement of the wheel alignment is then displayed to the driver from a console located adjacent to the measuring device.

Abstract: A bicycle wheel rim straightener is provided in a single stand. Clamping devices for straightening the wheels in vertical and horizontal positions can be activated by foot and hand levers. The stand also serve as a single work station for spoke replacement and for general bicycle wheel repairs.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a vehicle wheel testing device for detecting the alignment of a vehicle wheel rotating at a testing position on support rollers. The device includes a base plate slidably mounted in the device for sliding toward and away from the vehicle wheel, a sensor member carried by the base plate and mounted to the base plate for moving relative to the base plate, an urging device operatively connected to the base plate for urging the sensor member toward the vehicle wheel, and a control device operatively connected to the urging device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for gauging railroad wheels for warpage and rotundity and tape size wherein each wheel is received in an upright posture, where it is weighed, and then turned and lowered to rest horizontally on cushioned rotatable supports where it is gauged while being rotated about its axis by projecting light across its surfaces.

Abstract: Mechanical perspective drafting device, characterized by a first drafting board which is fitted with a second drafting board with a fixed support which includes a universal joint through which a long member can slide and rotate freely, the long member being fitted with a drawing device ending with a point which can come in contact with the second drafting board, the line which is connecting the universal joint and the point is passing through an imaginary three dimensional figure and this causes the point to draw a perspective projection of the figure as it is seen from the position of the universal joint, the movement of the line through the figure is assisted by a tracing guide which guides the long member.

Abstract: A device and method for measuring the steering axis inclination of a steerable wheel is disclosed. The device includes an adaptor for mounting a caster-camber gauge to the wheel in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the wheel. The method includes the steps of moving the wheel between a toe-in position whereat the gauge is calibrated, and a toe-out position whereat the steering axis inclination of the wheel is determined from the gauge.

Abstract: On a truck comprising tandem flangeless wheels riding on a single rail and four guide rollers rotatable on vertical axes, two at each side of the rail, crabbing and turning misalignments of the wheels are diagnosed from information about which rollers rotate during truck movement in each direction along the rail. For obtaining that information, a small reflective spot is delineated at an eccentric location on the upper surface of each roller, and a photoelectric sensor for each roller, magnetically attached to the truck, has its optical axis aimed at the orbit of the spot to issue an electrical impulse for each roller rotation. A signal device connected to each sensor issues a perceptible signal for each impulse. The signal devices are at a single console to facilitate comparisons of the number of revolutions made by the several rollers during a truck movement.

Abstract: A fault detecting and automatic calibrating apparatus is provided for monitoring the position of a monitored apparatus. The calibrating apparatus detects errors and corrects the errors during its monitoring operation. In one embodiment, the monitored apparatus is a wheel alignment testing apparatus which checks a front wheel suspension system for proper alignment. The wheel aligner is simultaneously moveable about both a vertical axis and a horizontal axis. The movements of the wheel aligner are detected by transducers which provide angle signals corresponding to a toe angle and a camber angle of a wheel being tested. The calibrating apparatus checks the magnitude of the angle signals whenever a control circuit outputs a target pulse indicating that the toe angle or camber angle of the wheel is at predetermined angles. The predetermined angles are conveniently selected at zero degrees and a positive one degree.

Abstract: According to the invention an arrangement (10) is proposed for measuring and checking motorcycle frames, comprising a measuring beam (14) which is attached to one side of the motorcycle frame which is to be checked, parallel thereto and preferably at the so-called pivot-point of the frame. One or more uprights (16, 18) at right-angles to the beam (14) can be moved along the beam and themselves bear movable mountings (24, 28) with adjustable measuring points (26, 30). The latter can be made to seek out desired points on the frame, and with the aid of appropriate scales or calibrations the co-ordinates of the points relative to the pivot point can be determined. Two such measuring arrangements (10) placed one on each side of the motorcycle frame can be connected together by means of transverse bridges or the like to form a stable measuring stand.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring toe-in of front wheels of a motor vehicle. The apparatus includes units for measuring the inclination of corresponding wheels.The units are connected to a circuit displaying a value indicating lateral offset distance between the respective rear and front of each front wheel. Thus, equal distribution of toe-in to the right and left wheels is easily realized when the steering wheel is at the center position.

Abstract: An automatic calibrator is provided in combination with a wheel aligner used in determining the toe angle and camber angle of a wheel. A target is connected to the wheel aligner to move therewith. When the wheel aligner is at a predetermined angle, the target is used to provide a signal indicating that the wheel aligner is at the predetermined angle. A transducer output signal is then checked to determine if the transducer output signal accurately corresponds to the predetermined angle.

Abstract: According to the invention, simple measuring apparatus (10) is produced which is designed to ascertain if a so-called spring strut (50) appertaining to the front wheel suspension in a vehicle has been deformed or more specifically if it has been bent, the apparatus being designed to be used primarily on wheels equipped with disc brakes. The apparatus is used in situ, i.e. on a spring strut (50) mounted in place in the vehicle, and it is necessary only for the wheel to be removed, with the tire and rim, so that the disc brake (40) is exposed. The measuring apparatus consists of an upright (12) which is attached to a base part (14, 20) designed to be attached, preferably by means of permanent magnets (24, 26), to the outside of the brake disc (40).

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring and checking vehicle bodies comprises a bench with a co-acting measuring bridge. In a known way, a vehicle body can be clamped over the bench and selected points on the body can be located from underneath by means of slides with pointed measuring pins which form part of a known measuring bridge, for the accurate determination of the relative location of points on the body. An overhead measuring stand enables points located high up on the body to be measured from above in order to obtain reliable measurement values. By means of a special orientation device the position of the normal measuring bridge relative to the overhead measuring stand is determined so that both give corresponding measurement values. The measuring stand is preferably equipped with a telescopically extensible locating pin which is positioned in the plane of symmetry of the body and by means of which the symmetrical position of various points on the body can be checked.

Abstract: Four alignment housings are mounted on a garage floor adjacent a conventional lift, so that when a vehicle has been elevated by the lift each of its four independently suspended four wheels will register with an alignment chart that is adjustably mounted on the face of each housing. A beam of light is directed through registering openings in each housing and its attached chart toward a mirror releasably mounted on each vehicle wheel. The mirrors reflect the beams back onto the associated charts, which are calibrated to provide camber, caster and toe-in readings. In one embodiment each housing contains a light source (for example a laser) which directs a beam onto a reflecting surface which is inclined at 45.degree. to the horizontal, so that it projects the beam at right angles out of the housing toward the adjacent wheel.

Abstract: A vehicle alignment gauge has a controlling member affixed to the rocker panel of a damaged vehicle to define a reference for measurements of frame, body and wheel damage relative to the central portion of the vehicle and a U-shaped rotatable measuring member rotatively coupled to the controlling member. The rotatable measuring member may be angularly adjusted so as to define an external datum plane from which dimensional measurements of the front, back, sides, upper and lower surfaces of the vehicle may be made.

Abstract: A gauge for use in a wheel balancing machine for ascertaining the location of the plane of the inner edge of the wheel rim. The gauge includes a flat resiliently flexible plate which has an edge that is graduated in units of distance. Extending from the plate remote from the edge is a support bar and there is means for mounting the support bar for slidable movement along its longitudinal axis to permit positioning of the graduated edge adjacent to the inner edge of the wheel rim so that the position of the rim can be ascertained by comparing its location with that of the graduations.

Abstract: A comparison plate has an irregularly shaped hole which is used for comparison and matching with the cross-sectional size and configuration of the free end of the split-lock ring component of a multi-piece tire rim. The comparison plate for a two-piece rim has, at a portion of its peripheral edge, a contoured edge used for comparison and matching with the annular gutter and peripheral lip portion of the rim base of the multi-piece tire rim to determine whether the rim base and split-ring are mating components of the same multi-piece rim. The comparison plate for a three-piece tire rim also has, at an additional or second portion of its peripheral edge, a second contoured portion for matching and mating with the contoured surface of the non-split annular side ring.

Abstract: A manually operated alignment tool for the wheels of a motorcycle which, on making a two point contact with the tire sidewall of each wheel, assures alignment of the wheels. The tool includes a bar and, when necessary, a spacer disposed at one end of the bar and of a width equal to one-half of the difference in width between the front and rear tires. The tool is positioned to have the bar contact the sidewalls along a common side of the area and front tires or, if used, the spacer is brought into contact with the sidewall of the front tire. In the event all four points of contact are not made and indicative of misaligned wheels, the rear wheel axle if pivoted fore and aft until all four contact points are achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for bringing a holder for an indicating member, e.g. a mirror, scale etc. component of measuring means, into exact coaxiality with a rotatable body, such as a vehicle wheel or wheel shaft, for checking the axis position and direction of the body. The apparatus comprises three main parts, viz. (a) a base member attachable to the body to be checked, (b) an intermediate member displaceable on the base member, and (c) said holder, which is tiltably carried on the intermediate member. Displacement of the intermediate member on the base member supplemented by tilting of the holder on the intermediate member readily brings the axis of the holder with its indicating member into accurate alignment with the axis of the body.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for indicating and adjusting the toe-setting for a front axle assembly, including means for clamping against oppositely disposed brake backing plate mounting surfaces, with cooperating sensor means for indicating toe-in or toe-out before and during manual adjustment of the tie rod to establish a desired toe-setting.

Abstract: A tire wear measuring arrangement incorporates a measuring device adapted to be brought to the tire tread under test. The measuring device and an optical view-finder are so mounted on a swivel carrier that the measuring axis is arranged parallel to the optical axis and both axes are spaced equidistantly from the axis of rotation of the carrier.