US3576372A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wheel aligner projector with damping mechanism
Assignee: FMC Corp
•
Filing: 1969-02-19
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Granted: 1971-04-27
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Expires: 1989-02-19
Abstract
Abstract A projector, which mounts on the front wheel of a vehicle, projects the image of a reference mark during alignment of the wheels. The reference mark is mounted on a pendulum which swings in front of a lamp to give, in conjunction with the projected image of reference indicia which is fixed in the projector, an indication of the tilt of the projector and the wheel on which it is mounted. The pendulum has an aluminum portion which swings through the magnetic field established by opposite, spaced apart, pole faces of a permanent magnet. The motion of the nonmagnetic, current-conducting pendulum portion through the magnetic field induces currents in the pendulum portion which damps the motion of the pendulum.
Inventors
- 👤 James W Baker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:03
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B5/00; G01B5/24; G01B5/255; G01B11/00; G01B11/26; G01B11/275
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A projector for projecting the image of reference indicia to indicate the alignment of the wheel of a vehicle, the projector comprising a housing for mounting on the wheel and including therewithin the combination comprising a lamp, an indicating member movable along a path in front of the lamp and having reference indicia thereon for projection, said indicating member having at least a portion made of electrical conducting material, and means establishing a magnetic field in the path of said portion of the indicating member to create eddy currents in said portion as said portion moves through the magnetic field to dampen the movement thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A projector for projecting the image of reference indicia to indicate the alignment of the wheel of a vehicle, the projector comprising a housing for mounting on the wheel and including therewithin the combination comprising a lamp, an indicating member movable along a path in front of the lamp and having reference indicia thereon for projection, said indicating member having at least a portion made of electrical conducting material, and means establishing a magnetic field in the path of said portion of the indicating member to create eddy currents in said portion as said portion moves through the magnetic field to dampen the movement thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The projector of claim 1 in which said indicating member is made of nonmagnetic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The projector of claim 2 in which said indicating member is made of aluminum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
108 words
A projector for projecting reference indicia to indicate the alignment of the wheel of a vehicle, the projector comprising a housing for mounting on the wheel and including therewithin the combination comprising a lamp to cast an image along a path, a magnet to produce a magnetic field, a pendulum having reference indicia in said path, said pendulum swingable with respect to the housing when the projector is tilted, said pendulum having a nonmagnetic, current-conducting portion in said magnetic field to carry eddy currents in said portion as said portion moves through the magnetic field to dampen the swinging movement of the pendulum with respect to the housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
108 words
A projector for projecting reference indicia to indicate the alignment of the wheel of a vehicle, the projector comprising a housing for mounting on the wheel and including therewithin the combination comprising a lamp to cast an image along a path, a magnet to produce a magnetic field, a pendulum having reference indicia in said path, said pendulum swingable with respect to the housing when the projector is tilted, said pendulum having a nonmagnetic, current-conducting portion in said magnetic field to carry eddy currents in said portion as said portion moves through the magnetic field to dampen the swinging movement of the pendulum with respect to the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The projector of claim 4 in which said magnet is a permanent magnet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The projector of claim 4 including means mounted in the housing to indicate in conjunction with the reference indicia on said pendulum the amplitude of the swinging movement of the pendulum relative to the housing as the projector is moved from one position to another.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
149 words
A projector for projecting reference indicia to indicate the alignment of the wheel of a vehicle, the projector comprising a housing for mounting on the wheel and including therewithin the combination comprising a lamp, a lens to direct light from the lamp along a path, a permanent magnet having opposite poles spaced apart in face-to-face relation to define a gap therebetween, a pendulum having reference indicia in said path, said pendulum swingable with respect to the housing when the projector is tilted from one position to another, said pendulum having a nonmagnetic, current-conducting portion received in said gap to carry eddy currents in said portion as said portion moves through the magnetic field to dampen the swinging movement of the pendulum, and an adjustable indicating member to indicate in conjunction with the reference indicia on said pendulum the extent of swinging movement of the pendulum relative to said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
149 words
A projector for projecting reference indicia to indicate the alignment of the wheel of a vehicle, the projector comprising a housing for mounting on the wheel and including therewithin the combination comprising a lamp, a lens to direct light from the lamp along a path, a permanent magnet having opposite poles spaced apart in face-to-face relation to define a gap therebetween, a pendulum having reference indicia in said path, said pendulum swingable with respect to the housing when the projector is tilted from one position to another, said pendulum having a nonmagnetic, current-conducting portion received in said gap to carry eddy currents in said portion as said portion moves through the magnetic field to dampen the swinging movement of the pendulum, and an adjustable indicating member to indicate in conjunction with the reference indicia on said pendulum the extent of swinging movement of the pendulum relative to said housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2347702A
Cited
US3055264A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-26 | 1974-10-26 | 1975-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-26 | 1978-10-26 | 1979-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-26 | 1982-10-26 | 1983-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |