Apparatus for testing front wheel alignment of automotive vehicles

Claim 2

Apparatus for checking the alignment of the front wheel spindles of an automotive vehicle, comprising a pair of spaced charts, means for supporting the two front wheels of a vehicle for rotation about their spindles between said charts, a pair of shafts, a light source mounted in a recess in each shaft to project a beam of light outwardly from one end of said shaft, means for releasably clamping said shafts to said wheels of rotation therewith, and with the opposite ends of said sahfts pivotally mounted on the adjacent ends of the associated wheel spindles, and with said shafts positioned to project beams of light from said sources therein toward the adjacent charts, and said clamping means including means adjustably supporting each of said shafts intermediate its ends for pivotal movement about said opposite end thereof, when the shaft is clamped to one of said wheels, and means operable during the rotation of said shafts by said wheels selectively to adjust said adjustable supporting means thereby to pivot each of said shafts about said opposite ends thereof until the light beams from said sources project stationary points of light on said charts.

Claim 3

Apparatus for checking the alignment of the front wheel spindles of an automotive vehicle, comprising a pair of spaced charts, means for supporting the two front wheels of a vehicle for rotation about their spindles between said charts, a pair of shafts, a light source mounted in a recess in each shaft to project a beam of light outwardly from said shaft, means for releasably and adjustably clamping one of said shafts to each of said wheels with one end thereof pivotally mounted on the adjacent end of the associated wheel spindle, and with said shaft positioned to project a beam of light from said source therein toward the adjacent chart, and adjusting means operable during the rotation of said shafts by said wheels to pivot each of said shafts about said one end thereof until the light beams from said sources project stationary points of light on said charts, said supporting means comprising a pair of spaced, parallel rotatable rollers mounted between said charts to support said two front wheels rotatably, and said adjusting means comprising a pair of members mounted adjacent opposite ends, respectively, of said rollers for pivotal movement transversely of said rollers and into engagement with said shafts to apply pressure radially thereagainst, when said shafts are rotating with said wheels.

Claim 4

Apparatus for checking the alignment of the front wheel spindles of an automotive vehicle, comprising a pair of spaced charts, means for supporting the two front wheels of a vehicle for rotation about their spindles between said charts, a pair of shafts, a light source mounted in a recess in each shaft to project a beam of light outwardly from said shaft, means for releasably and adjustably clamping one of said shafts to each of said wheels with one end thereof pivotally mounted on the adjacent end of the associated wheel spindle, and with said shaft positioned to project a beam of light from said source therein toward the adjacent chart, and adjusting means operable during the rotation of said shafts by said wheels to pivot each of said shafts about said one end thereof until the light beams from said sources project stationary points of light on said charts, said supporting means comprising a pair of spaced, parallel rotatable rollers mounted between said charts to support said two front wheels rotatably, and said adjusting means comprising a pair of members mounted adjacent opposite ends, respectively, of said rollers for pivotal movement transversely of said rollers and into engagement with said shafts to apply pressure radially thereagainst, when said shafts are rotating with said wheels.

Claim 5

Apparatus for checking the alignment of the front wheel spindles of an automotive vehicle, comprising a pair of spaced charts, means for supporting the two front wheels of a vehicle for rotation about their spindles between said charts, a pair of shafts, a light source mounted in a recess in each shaft to project a beam of light outwardly from said shaft, means for releasably and adjustably clamping one of said shafts to each of said wheels with one end thereof pivotally mounted on the adjacent end of the associated wheel spindle, and with said shaft positioned to project a beam of light from said source therein toward the adjacent chart, and adjusting means operable during the rotation of said shafts by said wheels to pivot each of said shafts about said one end thereof until the light beams from said sources project stationary points of light on said charts, said clamping means comprising a pair of annular members, a plurality of straps fixed at one end to each said member and projecting from the associated member at angularly spaced points thereabout, releasable clamps on the opposite end of each strap engageable with the rim on one of said wheels releasably to support said members in spaced, confronting relation to the spindle of the associated wheel, and means on each annular member for releasably securing one of said shafts intermediate its ends in each annular member with the associated shaft seated in a centering recess in the associated wheel spindle, the last-named means including frictional coupling means supporting each shaft intermediate its ends for rotation with the associated annular member and wheel, and for limited movement radially of the bore in the associated annular member by said adjusting means.

Claim 6

Apparatus for checking the alignment of the front wheel spindles of an automotive vehicle, comprising a pair of spaced charts, means for supporting the two front wheels of a vehicle for rotation about their spindles between said charts, a pair of shafts, a light source mounted in a recess in each shaft to project a beam of light outwardly from said shaft, means for releasably and adjustably clamping one of said shafts to each of said wheels with one end thereof pivotally mounted on the adjacent end of the associated wheel spindle, and with said shaft positioned to project a beam of light from said source therein toward the adjacent chart, and adjusting means operable during the rotation of said shafts by said wheels to pivot each of said shafts about said one end thereof until the light beams from said sources project stationary points of light on said charts, said clamping means comprising a pair of annular members, a plurality of straps fixed at one end to each said member and projecting from the associated member at angularly spaced points thereabout, releasable clamps on the opposite end of each strap engageable with the rim on one of said wheels releasably to support said members in spaced, confronting relation to the spindle of the associated wheel, and means on each annular member for releasably securing one of said shafts intermediate its ends in each annular member with the associated shaft seated in a centering recess in the associated wheel spindle, the last-named means including frictional coupling means supporting each shaft intermediate its ends for rotation with the associated annular member and wheel, and for limited movement radially of the bore in the associated annular member by said adjusting means.

Claim 7

Apparatus for checking the alignment of the front wheel spindles of an automotive vehicle, comprising a pair of spaced charts, means for supporting the two front wheels of a vehicle for rotation about their spindles between said charts, a pair of shafts, a light source mounted in a recess in each shaft to project a beam of light outwardly from said shaft, means for releasably and adjustably clamping one of said shafts to each of said wheels with one end thereof pivotally mounted on the adjacent end of the associated wheel spindle, and with said shaft positioned to project a beam of light from said source therein toward the adjacent chart, and adjusting means operable during the rotation of said shafts by said wheels to pivot each of said shafts about said one end thereof until the light beams from said sources project stationary points of light on said charts, a normally-open switch mounted in each shaft and operative, when closed to energize the associated light source in the shaft, a centering pin mounted in said one end of each shaft for limited movement axially thereof, and having a pointed end projecting from said one end of the associated shaft for engagement in the centering recess in one of said spindles, a spring in each shaft urging the associated centering pin axially outwardly from said one end of the shaft to a first limit position, each pin being movable inwardly against the resistance of said spring to a second limit position in which it closes said switch, and said clamping means including means operative, when said shafts are clamped to said wheels, to hold said centering pins releasably in their second limit positions.

Claim 8

Apparatus for checking the alignment of the front wheel spindles of an automotive vehicle, comprising a pair of spaced charts, means for supporting the two front wheels of a vehicle for rotation about their spindles between said charts, a pair of shafts, a light source mounted in a recess in each shaft to project a beam of light outwardly from said shaft, means for releasably and adjustably clamping one of said shafts to each of said wheels with one end thereof pivotally mounted on the adjacent end of the associated wheel spindle, and with said shaft positioned to project a beam of light from said source therein toward the adjacent chart, and adjusting means operable during the rotation of said shafts by said wheels to pivot each of said shafts about said one end thereof until the light beams from said sources project stationary points of light on said charts, a normally-open switch mounted in each shaft and operative, when closed to energize the associated light source in the shaft, a centering pin mounted in said one end of each shaft for limited movement axially thereof, and having a pointed end projecting from said one end of the associated shaft for engagement in the centering recess in one of said spindles, a spring in each shaft urging the associated centering pin axially outwardly from said one end of the shaft to a first limit position, each pin being movable inwardly against the resistance of said spring to a second limit position in which it closes said switch, and said clamping means including means operative, when said shafts are clamped to said wheels, to hold said centering pins releasably in their second limit positions.

Claim 9

Apparatus for checking the alignment of the front wheel spindles of an automotive vehicle, comprising a pair of spaced, confronting charts, each having on its face a horizontal reference line, and a vertical reference line intersecting the horizontal line at right angles, a pair of spaced, parallel rollers for rotatably supporting the two front wheels of a vehicle between said charts with the spindles of said wheels facing said charts and the reference lines thereon, a pair of clamps releasably attachable to the rims of said wheels for rotation therewith, a pair of lamps, means adjustably supporting said lamps on said clamps for rotation therewith between said spindles and said charts, and for projecting rotating beams of light onto said charts when said wheels are rotated, and means operable during the rotation of said lamps for adjusting said adjustable supporting means, thereby to move said lamps relative to said wheels to position the beam of light from each lamp coaxial of the axis of the associated wheel spindle, whereby said beams form on said charts stationary points of light that are offset from the intersections of said reference lines in proportion to the camber and toe of said wheels, said adjustable supporting means being operative to support said lamps adjustably on said clamps for limited pivotal movement by said adjusting means universally of the axes of said spindles.

Claim 10

Apparatus for checking the alignment of the front wheel spindles of an automotive vehicle, comprising a pair of spaced, confronting charts, each having on its face a horizontal reference line, and a vertical reference line intersecting the horizontal line at right angles, a pair of spaced, parallel rollers for rotatably supporting the two front wheels of a vehicle between said charts with the spindles of said wheels facing said charts and the reference lines thereon, a pair of clamps releasably attachable to the rims of said wheels for rotation therewith, a pair of lamps, means adjustably supporting said lamps on said clamps for rotation therewith between said spindles and said charts, and for projecting rotating beams of light onto said charts when said wheels are rotated, and means operable during the rotation of said lamps for adjusting said adjustable supporting means, thereby to move said lamps relative to said wheels to position the beam of light from each lamp coaxial of the axis of the associated wheel spindle, whereby said beams form on said charts stationary points of light that are offset from the intersections of said reference lines in proportion to the camber and toe of said wheels, said adjustable supporting means being operative to support said lamps adjustably on said clamps for limited pivotal movement by said adjusting means universally of the axes of said spindles.

Claim 11

Apparatus as defined in claim 5, including driving means for rotating one of said rollers, means mounting the other of said rollers for rotation parallel to said first roller, and for tangential engagement with said wheels, whereby the rotation of said one roller is transmitted to said other roller by said wheels, and means for releasably locking said other roller against rotation.

Claim 12

Apparatus for checking the alignment of the front wheel spindles of an automotive vehicle, comprising a pair of spaced, confronting charts, each having on its face a horizontal reference line, and a vertical reference line intersecting the horizontal line at right angles, a pair of spaced, parallel rollers for rotatably supporting the two front wheels of a vehicle between said charts with the spindles of said wheels facing the charts and the reference lines thereon, a pair of lamps for projecting beams of light onto said charts, means for releasably mounting said lamps on said wheels for rotation thereby between the associated wheel spindle and the adjacent chart, and means operable during the rotation of said lamps for adjusting said lamps relative to said wheels to position the beam of light from each lamp coaxial of the axis of the associated wheel spindle, whereby said beams form on said charts stationary points of light that are offset from the intersections of said reference lines in proportion to the chamber and toe of said wheels, said mounting means comprising a pair of clamps releasably attachable to the rims of said wheels for rotation therewith, and releasably attachable to said lamps to support said lamps adjustably on said wheels for limited pivotal movement universally of the axes of said spindles, a plurality of spacer members removably insertable between said rollers to check the space therebetween, each of said members having a length corresponding to the desired distance between said rollers, and means for releasably supporting said lamps on said members with the beams thereof disposed coaxially and medially of the space between said rollers thereby to register with the vertical reference lines on said charts when the latter are properly positioned.

Claim 13

Apparatus for checking the alignment of the front wheel spindles of an automotive vehicle, comprising a pair of spaced, confronting charts, each having on its face a horizontal reference line, and a vertical reference line intersecting the horizontal line at right angles, a pair of spaced, parallel rollers for rotatably supporting the two front wheels of a vehicle between said charts with the spindles of said wheels facing the charts and the reference lines thereon, a pair of lamps for projecting beams of light onto said charts, means for releasably mounting said lamps on said wheels for rotation thereby between the associated wheel spindle and the adjacent chart, and means operable during the rotation of said lamps for adjusting said lamps relative to said wheels to position the beam of light from each lamp coaxial of the axis of the associated wheel spindle, whereby said beams form on said charts stationary points of light that are offset from the intersections of said reference lines in proportion to the chamber and toe of said wheels, said mounting means comprising a pair of clamps releasably attachable to the rims of said wheels for rotation therewith, and releasably attachable to said lamps to support said lamps adjustably on said wheels for limited pivotal movement universally of the axes of said spindles, a plurality of spacer members removably insertable between said rollers to check the space therebetween, each of said members having a length corresponding to the desired distance between said rollers, and means for releasably supporting said lamps on said members with the beams thereof disposed coaxially and medially of the space between said rollers thereby to register with the vertical reference lines on said charts when the latter are properly positioned.

Claim 14

Apparatus for checking the alignment of the front wheel spindles of an automotive vehicle, comprising a pair of spaced, confronting charts, each having on its face a horizontal reference line, and a vertical reference line intersecting the horizontal line at right angles, a pair of spaced, parallel rollers for rotatably supporting the two front wheels of a vehicle between said charts with the spindles of said wheels facing the charts and the reference lines thereon, a pair of lamps for projecting beams of light onto said charts, means for releasably mounting said lamps on said wheels For rotation thereby between the associated wheel spindle and the adjacent chart, and means operable during the rotation of said lamps for adjusting said lamps relative to said wheels to position the beam of light from said lamp coaxial of the axis of the associated wheel spindle, whereby said beams form on said charts stationary points of light that are offset from the intersections of said references lines in proportion to the camber and toe of said wheels, said mounting means comprising a pair of clamps releasably attachable to the rims of said wheels for rotation therewith, and releasably attachable to said lamps to support said lamps adjustably on said wheels for limited pivotal movement universally of the axes of said spindles, said supporting means for each lamp comprising a shaft having a pointed end insertable releasably into a centering recess in the end of a wheel spindle to guide the shaft for pivotal movement about the axis of the spindle, an electric bulb mounted in a recess in the opposite end of each shaft, a lens mounted in said opposite end of each shaft in spaced, coaxial relation to the bulb therein to focus light from the bulb into a beam directed toward one of said charts, a pair of rotatable supports mounted between said rollers for limited vertical movement selectively into and out of engagement with the undersides of the wheels supported on said rollers, selectively to support said wheels on said supports above said rollers, and a plurality of graduations on the faces of said charts adjacent opposite ends thereof for registry with said light beams to measure the turning radius of the associated wheel, when the latter is supported on said supports and turned in opposite directions by the steering wheel of the associated vehicle.

Claim 15

Apparatus for checking the alignment of the front wheel spindles of an automotive vehicle, comprising a pair of spaced, confronting charts, each having on its face a horizontal reference line, and a vertical reference line intersecting the horizontal line at right angles, a pair of spaced, parallel rollers for rotatably supporting the two front wheels of a vehicle between said charts with the spindles of said wheels facing the charts and the reference lines thereon, a pair of lamps for projecting beams of light onto said charts, means for releasably mounting said lamps on said wheels For rotation thereby between the associated wheel spindle and the adjacent chart, and means operable during the rotation of said lamps for adjusting said lamps relative to said wheels to position the beam of light from said lamp coaxial of the axis of the associated wheel spindle, whereby said beams form on said charts stationary points of light that are offset from the intersections of said references lines in proportion to the camber and toe of said wheels, said mounting means comprising a pair of clamps releasably attachable to the rims of said wheels for rotation therewith, and releasably attachable to said lamps to support said lamps adjustably on said wheels for limited pivotal movement universally of the axes of said spindles, said supporting means for each lamp comprising a shaft having a pointed end insertable releasably into a centering recess in the end of a wheel spindle to guide the shaft for pivotal movement about the axis of the spindle, an electric bulb mounted in a recess in the opposite end of each shaft, a lens mounted in said opposite end of each shaft in spaced, coaxial relation to the bulb therein to focus light from the bulb into a beam directed toward one of said charts, a pair of rotatable supports mounted between said rollers for limited vertical movement selectively into and out of engagement with the undersides of the wheels supported on said rollers, selectively to support said wheels on said supports above said rollers, and a plurality of graduations on the faces of said charts adjacent opposite ends thereof for registry with said light beams to measure the turning radius of the associated wheel, when the latter is supported on said supports and turned in opposite directions by the steering wheel of the associated vehicle.

Claim 16

A clamp for releasably securing a lamp to the front wheel of an automotive vehicle to check the alignment thereof, comprising: a first member having therethrough a central opening, a plurality of straps secured at one end to said first member at angularly spaced points thereabout and releasably attachable at their opposite ends to the rim of a wheel to support said first member in spaced registry with said wheel, a circular clutch plate having an outer, marginal, circumferential portion thereof frictionally seated in an annular recess formed in the bore of said first member coaxially thereof, and having an axially bored, central hub portion registering with the bore in said first member, a tubular chuck mounted in the bore of said clutch plate and having an external circumferential shoulder seated against one end of said hub portion, a spring interposed between said chuck and the opposite end of said hub portion resiliently to urge said external shoulder against said hub portion normally to support said chuck coaxially in the bore of said clutch plate, and means for releasably securing a lamp in the bore of said chuck coaxially thereof, said clutch plate having an outer diameter smaller than the diameter of said annular recess in said first member, whereby said plate is frictionally slidable radially in said annular recess, and said external shoulder having thereon a segmental spherical surface engaged with a corresponding surface on said one end of said hub portion of said clutch plate, whereby, said chuck has limited universal movement relative to said clutch plate.

Claim 17

A clamp for releasably securing a lamp to the front wheel of an automotive vehicle to check the alignment thereof, comprising: a first member having therethrough a central opening, a plurality of straps secured at one end to said first member at angularly spaced points thereabout and releasably attachable at their opposite ends to the rim of a wheel to support said first member in spaced registry with said wheel, a circular clutch plate having an outer, marginal, circumferential portion thereof frictionally seated in an annular recess formed in the bore of said first member coaxially thereof, and having an axially bored, central hub portion registering with the bore in said first member, a tubular chuck mounted in the bore of said clutch plate and having an external circumferential shoulder seated against one end of said hub portion, a spring interposed between said chuck and the opposite end of said hub portion resiliently to urge said external shoulder against said hub portion normally to support said chuck coaxially in the bore of said clutch plate, and means for releasably securing a lamp in the bore of said chuck coaxially thereof, said clutch plate having an outer diameter smaller than the diameter of said annular recess in said first member, whereby said plate is frictionally slidable radially in said annular recess, and said external shoulder having thereon a segmental spherical surface engaged with a corresponding surface on said one end of said hub portion of said clutch plate, whereby, said chuck has limited universal movement relative to said clutch plate.

Claim 18

A lamp unit adapted to be clamped releasably to the front wheel of an automotive vehicle for pivotal movement about the axis of the wheel spindle for testing the wheel alignment of the vehicle, comprising a tube, a lens mounted in one end of said tube, a centering pin mounted in the opposite end of said tube for limited axial movement, and having a pointed end projecting from said tube for engagement with a centering recess in the wheel spindle of an automotive vehicle, a spring in said tube urging said pin axially outwardly to a first limit position, said pin being movable inwardly to a second limit position against the resistance of said spring, when said lamp is clamped in operative position on a wheel, an electric light bulb mounted in said tube rearwardly of said lens and in registry therewith, an electric power source mounted in said tube, and means including a normally-open switch positioned in said tube to be closed by said pin upon movement of said pin to said second limit position, and operative to connect said bulb to said power source, when said switch is closed, to project light through said lens.

Claim 19

A lamp unit adapted to be clamped releasably to the front wheel of an automotive vehicle for pivotal movement about the axis of the wheel spindle for testing the wheel alignment of the vehicle, comprising a tube, a lens mounted in one end of said tube, a centering pin mounted in the opposite end of said tube for limited axial movement, and having a pointed end projecting from said tube for engagement with a centering recess in the wheel spindle of an automotive vehicle, a spring in said tube urging said pin axially outwardly to a first limit position, said pin being movable inwardly to a second limit position against the resistance of said spring, when said lamp is clamped in operative position on a wheel, an electric light bulb mounted in said tube rearwardly of said lens and in registry therewith, an electric power source mounted in said tube, and means including a normally-open switch positioned in said tube to be closed by said pin upon movement of said pin to said second limit position, and operative to connect said bulb to said power source, when said switch is closed, to project light through said lens.