US3758213A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for testing front wheel alignment of automotive vehicles
Assignee: HILCO Inc
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Filing: 1971-07-27
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Granted: 1973-09-11
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Expires: 1991-07-27
Abstract
Abstract The front wheels of the vehicle are driven onto a pair of spaced, parallel rollers, one of which may be driven by an electric motor to effect rotation of the front wheels while the vehicle is standing motionless. The hubcaps are removed and a plane mirror is secured by a magnet to the hub of each front wheel to rotate therewith in a plane perpendicular to the associated spindle. A beam of light is shone onto each mirror through a small central hole in a chart that is positioned outwardly from the wheel, and this beam is reflected back onto the associated chart as a point of light which is offset horizontally and vertically from the hole in proportion to the toe and camber of the wheel. A removable fixture is provided for aligning the reference light beams and charts.
Inventors
- 👤 Pherson R Mac
- 👤 P Alsina
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 22:04
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/26; G01B11/275
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for simultaneously checking the alignment of the front wheels of an automotive vehicle, comprising positioning the vehicle so that its wheels, with the weight of the vehicle thereon, are disposed to rotate on their turning spindles between a pair of spaced targets that are disposed at opposite sides of the vehicle confronting the wheels, mounting a reflective surface on each wheel in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the wheel about its turning spindle and in confronting relation to the two targets, respectively, rotating said front wheels simultaneously about their respective turning spindles, and while said wheels are rotating, simultaneously projecting beams of light through axially aligned openings in the two targets onto the confronting reflective surfaces, respectively, to be reflected thereby back onto said targets.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for simultaneously checking the alignment of the front wheels of an automotive vehicle, comprising positioning the vehicle so that its wheels, with the weight of the vehicle thereon, are disposed to rotate on their turning spindles between a pair of spaced targets that are disposed at opposite sides of the vehicle confronting the wheels, mounting a reflective surface on each wheel in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the wheel about its turning spindle and in confronting relation to the two targets, respectively, rotating said front wheels simultaneously about their respective turning spindles, and while said wheels are rotating, simultaneously projecting beams of light through axially aligned openings in the two targets onto the confronting reflective surfaces, respectively, to be reflected thereby back onto said targets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
133 words
Apparatus for simultaneously checking the alignment of the front wheels of an automotive vehicle, comprising a pair of spaced targets, each having an opening therethrough, a pair of spaced parallel rollers for suppporting the two front wheels of a vehicle for rotation about their respeCtive spindles between said targets while the vehicle is motionless, and with the weight of the vehicle resting on said wheels, means for simultaneously rotating said rollers to effect simultaneous rotation of said front wheels, means for releasably mounting a reflective surface on each of said wheels for rotation thereby in confronting relation to one of said targets, and a pair of light sources for simultaneously projecting parallel beams of light horizontally through the openings in said targets and onto said reflective surfaces for reflection thereby onto said targets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
133 words
Apparatus for simultaneously checking the alignment of the front wheels of an automotive vehicle, comprising a pair of spaced targets, each having an opening therethrough, a pair of spaced parallel rollers for suppporting the two front wheels of a vehicle for rotation about their respeCtive spindles between said targets while the vehicle is motionless, and with the weight of the vehicle resting on said wheels, means for simultaneously rotating said rollers to effect simultaneous rotation of said front wheels, means for releasably mounting a reflective surface on each of said wheels for rotation thereby in confronting relation to one of said targets, and a pair of light sources for simultaneously projecting parallel beams of light horizontally through the openings in said targets and onto said reflective surfaces for reflection thereby onto said targets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
128 words
Apparatus for checking the alignment of the front wheels of an automotive vehicle comprising a pair of spaced targets, each having an opening there-through, means for rotating the to front wheels of a vehicle between said targets while the vehicle is motionless, means for releasably mounting a reflective surface on each of said wheels for rotation thereby in confronting relation to one of said targets, and a pair of light sources for projecting parallel beams of light horizontally through the openings in said targets and onto said surfaces for reflection thereby onto said targets, said rotating means comprising a pair of spaced, parallel rollers for rotatably supporting the two front wheels of a vehicle, and each of said targets being mounted for reciprocable adjustment parallel to said rollers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
128 words
Apparatus for checking the alignment of the front wheels of an automotive vehicle comprising a pair of spaced targets, each having an opening there-through, means for rotating the to front wheels of a vehicle between said targets while the vehicle is motionless, means for releasably mounting a reflective surface on each of said wheels for rotation thereby in confronting relation to one of said targets, and a pair of light sources for projecting parallel beams of light horizontally through the openings in said targets and onto said surfaces for reflection thereby onto said targets, said rotating means comprising a pair of spaced, parallel rollers for rotatably supporting the two front wheels of a vehicle, and each of said targets being mounted for reciprocable adjustment parallel to said rollers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said targets has on its face a horizontal reference line corresponding to zero camber for a wheel, and a vertical reference line intersecting said horizontal reference line and corresponding to zero toe for a wheel, and said opening in each of said targets registers with the intersection of said reference lines.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus for checking the alignment of the front wheels of an automotive vehicle, comprising a pair of spaced, confronting targets having therethrough registering central openings, a pair of spaced light sources mounted adjacent said targets to project horizontal beams of light coaxially through said openings and toward one another, a pair of spaced, parallel, horizontally disposed rollers rotatably mounted between said targets to support the two front wheels of a vehicle, and means for releasably attaching a reflecting member to each of said wheels to reflect said beams of light onto the confronting faces of said targets to determine the camber and toe of said wheels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus for checking the alignment of the front wheels of an automotive vehicle, comprising a pair of spaced, confronting targets having therethrough registering central openings, a pair of spaced light sources mounted adjacent said targets to project horizontal beams of light coaxially through said openings and toward one another, a pair of spaced, parallel, horizontally disposed rollers rotatably mounted between said targets to support the two front wheels of a vehicle, and means for releasably attaching a reflecting member to each of said wheels to reflect said beams of light onto the confronting faces of said targets to determine the camber and toe of said wheels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5, including means for mounting said light sources so that the horizontal beams therefrom lie in a vertical plane that bisects the space between said rollers, and means mounting said targets for reciprocable horizontal adjustment toward and away from the adjacent ends of said rollers while maintaining the central openings therein coaxial of said beams.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein each of said targets has on its face a horizontal reference line corresponding to zero camber for a wheel, and a vertical reference line intersecting said horizontal reference line and corresponding to zero toe for a wheel, and said opening in each of said targets registers with the intersection of said reference lines.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7, having also vertical graduations, disposed at opposite sides of said vertical reference line, for measuring the turning radius of the front wheels of the vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8, having additionally horizontal graduations, which intersect the last-named vertical graduations, for measuring the caster of the wheels.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
124 words
A device for calibrating front wheel alignment apparatus of the type including a pair of spaced, parallel rollers for rotatably supporting the front wheels of a vehicle between a pair of spaced targets, and spaced light sources disposed to direct coaxial beams of light through registering openings in said targets toward said wheels, comprising a pair of fIxtures releasably attachable to opposite ends, respectively, of said rollers, and having therein registering openings disposed to be positioned coaxially of a horizontal axis located medially of the space between said rollers, when said fixtures are attached thereto, whereby said registering openings in said fixtures properly align the openings in said targets with the beams from said light sources, and vice versa, properly to calibrate the apparatus.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
124 words
A device for calibrating front wheel alignment apparatus of the type including a pair of spaced, parallel rollers for rotatably supporting the front wheels of a vehicle between a pair of spaced targets, and spaced light sources disposed to direct coaxial beams of light through registering openings in said targets toward said wheels, comprising a pair of fIxtures releasably attachable to opposite ends, respectively, of said rollers, and having therein registering openings disposed to be positioned coaxially of a horizontal axis located medially of the space between said rollers, when said fixtures are attached thereto, whereby said registering openings in said fixtures properly align the openings in said targets with the beams from said light sources, and vice versa, properly to calibrate the apparatus.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-10 | 1977-03-12 | 1977-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-10 | 1981-03-12 | 1981-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-10 | 1985-03-12 | 1985-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |