US3758958A — Wheel aligning apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 161 words

Aligning apparatus for selectively measuring camber, toe, and caster including means adapted to be connected to a wheel, and a measuring circuit including a sensor movably mounted on said means to positions responding to the camber, caster, and toe conditions of the wheel, said sensor including means for variably passing current to produce an output signal in accordance with the position of said sensor, means for supplying alternating current voltage to said circuit, means in said circuit for measuring the output signal from said sensor, a camber resistor, a caster resistor in parallel electrical connection with said camber resistor, a toe resistor in parallel electrical connection with said camber resistor and said caster resistor, and switch means connected with said camber, cater, and toe resistors for selectively connecting any one of said camber, caster, and toe resistors in operative electrical connection with said sensor and for simultaneously disconnecting the other two of said camber, caster, and toe resistors from said sensor.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 161 words

Aligning apparatus for selectively measuring camber, toe, and caster including means adapted to be connected to a wheel, and a measuring circuit including a sensor movably mounted on said means to positions responding to the camber, caster, and toe conditions of the wheel, said sensor including means for variably passing current to produce an output signal in accordance with the position of said sensor, means for supplying alternating current voltage to said circuit, means in said circuit for measuring the output signal from said sensor, a camber resistor, a caster resistor in parallel electrical connection with said camber resistor, a toe resistor in parallel electrical connection with said camber resistor and said caster resistor, and switch means connected with said camber, cater, and toe resistors for selectively connecting any one of said camber, caster, and toe resistors in operative electrical connection with said sensor and for simultaneously disconnecting the other two of said camber, caster, and toe resistors from said sensor.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 68 words

Aligning apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a second means adapted to be mounted on another wheel and wherein said circuit includes a second sensor movably mountEd on said second means to positions responding to the camber, castor, and toe conditions of the other wheel and a second switch means for effecting alternate electrical connection of one of said first mentioned and second sensors in said circuit.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 53 words

Aligning apparatus in accordance with claim 2 including first and second indicating lights respectively associated with said first mentioned and second sensors and wherein said second switch means includes means for selectively illuminating said first and second lights in accordance with the connection of said first mentioned and second sensors in said circuit.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 74 words

Aligning apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a camber light, a caster light, and a toe light and wherein said first mentioned switch means includes a camber switch, a caster switch, and a toe switch and wherein said first mentioned switch means includes means operable upon connection of any one of said caster, camber, or toe resistors in said circuit to selectively illuminate the associated one of said camber, caster, and toe lights.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 68 words

Aligning apparatus in accordance with claim 4 including a second means adapted to be mounted on another wheel and wherein said circuit includes a second sensor movably mounted on said second means to positions responding to the camber, caster, and toe conditions of the other wheel, and a second switch means for effecting alternate electrical connection of one of said first mentioned and second sensors in said circuit.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 53 words

Aligning apparatus in accordance with claim 5 including first and second indicating lights respectively associated with said first mentioned and second sensors and wherein said second switch means includes means for selectively illuminating said first and second lights in accordance with the connection of said first mentioned and second sensors in said circuit.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 108 words

Aligning apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said first mentioned switch means also includes an off-on switch connected to said second switch means for affording current flow to said second switch means and wherein said first mentioned switch means includes means operable, upon actuation of any one of said camber, caster, and toe switches, to electrically connect the associated one of said resistors in said circuit, to close said off-on switch to energize said circuit, to illuminate one of said first and second lights in accordance with the operation of said second switch means, and to illuminate the associated one of said camber, caster, and toe lights.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 22 words

Aligning apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said caster resistor includes manually operable means for varying the resistance of said resistor.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 58 words

Aligning apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sensor comprises a transducer including a sealed cavity containing an electrolyte fluid, a center electrode, and two outer electrodes spaced from said center electrode, and wherein said measuring device is an d-c current meter in series connection with the parallel electrical connection of said camber, caster, and toe resistors.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 61 words

Aligning apparatus in accordance with claim 9 including a diode and a resistance electrically connected in series with said meter and with the parallel electrical connection of said camber, caster, and toe resistors, and further including a second resistance in parallel relation to the series connection between said meter and the parallel electrical connection of said camber, caster, and toe resistors.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 69 words

Aligning apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein one of said outer transducer electrodes is electrically connected in series with said first resistance and said meter and wherein said center transducer electrode is electrically connected to said means for supplying alternating current, and said other outer transducer electrode is connected to the series connection between said meter and the parallel electrical connection of said camber, caster, and toe resistors.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 110 words

Wheel aligning apparatus including a clamp aDapted to be connected to a wheel, a mounting arm, means for supporting said mounting arm from said clamp for pivotal movement of said mounting arm relative to said clamp about an axis transverse to the wheel axis, an electrical sensor including means for variably passing current to produce an output signal in accordance with the position of said sensor, and means supporting said sensor from said mounting arm for movement with said mounting arm and for rocking movement of such sensor relative to said mounting arm about another axis transverse to the axis of the wheel in response to the action of gravity.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 110 words

Wheel aligning apparatus including a clamp aDapted to be connected to a wheel, a mounting arm, means for supporting said mounting arm from said clamp for pivotal movement of said mounting arm relative to said clamp about an axis transverse to the wheel axis, an electrical sensor including means for variably passing current to produce an output signal in accordance with the position of said sensor, and means supporting said sensor from said mounting arm for movement with said mounting arm and for rocking movement of such sensor relative to said mounting arm about another axis transverse to the axis of the wheel in response to the action of gravity.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 44 words

Aligning apparatus in accordance with claim 12 including a block and means mounting said block from said clamp and adjacent to said mounting arm and for pivotal movement of said block relative to said clamp about an axis generally parallel to the wheel axis.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 23 words

Aligning apparatus in accordance with claim 13 including means on said block for adjustably displacing said mounting arm about said first-mentioned transverse axis.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 70 words

Aligning apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said means for adjustably displacing said mounting arm about said first-mentioned transverse axis comprises a void in said block open adjacent to said mounting arm, a ball at least partially located in said block and bearing against said mounting arm, and means for effecting movement of said ball toward said mounting arm and permitting movement of said ball from said mounting arm.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 49 words

Aligning apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said means for effecting and permitting movement of said ball includes an adjusting screw threadably received in said block for movement in a radial path relative to the block pivot axis and having a pointed end portion extending into said void.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 39 words

Aligning apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said means connecting said mounting arm and said clamp affords movement of said arm toward and away from said clamp and further including means biasing said mounting arm toward said clamp.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 60 words

Aligning apparatus in accordance with claim 12 including a support member to which said sensor is mounted, and wherein said mounting arm includes an arm portion, and means connecting said arm portion and said support member for affording pivotal movement of said support member and said attached sensor about about said second-mentioned axis transverse to the axis of the wheel.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 87 words

Aligning apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein said mounting arm further includes a foot and further including a plunger, means movably mounting said plunger on said foot for movement perpendicularly to said second mentioned transverse axis and for engagement with said support member to pivot said sensor about said second mentioned transverse axis, means biasing said support member into engagement with said plunger, and a stop member mounted on one of said mounting arm and said clamp and extending perpendicularly to said second mentioned transverse axis.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 45 words

Aligning apparatus in accordance with claim 19 and further including a frame upon which the wheel is supported, a toe bar, and means pivotally mounting said toe bar to said frame for movement into a position in engagement with said stop member and said plunger.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 63 words

A wheel aligning apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said clamp includes a pair of telescopically related sections each having first portions adapted to engage the side of a tire mounted on the wheel and end portions adapted to engage the circular periphery of the tire and means biasing said sections toward one another to grip the tire between the end portions.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 17 words

Wheel aligning apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said another axis is spaced from said sensor.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-09-17	1977-03-19	1977-09-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-09-17	1981-03-19	1981-09-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-09-17	1985-03-19	1985-09-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Wheel aligning apparatus

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