Device for checking the chassis geometry of a chain- or belt-driven vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for checking the chassis geometry of a chain- or belt-driven vehicle, the device comprising a housing and means for emitting a first laser beam, said means being disposed in the housing. In order to provide a device according to the preamble that makes it possible to easily and quickly check the chassis geometry, according to the invention the housing comprises means for securing the device on a chain or a belt of the chain- or belt-driven vehicle. According to the present invention, the device is supported by the drive element of the chain- or belt-driven vehicle, i.e. by the chain or the belt. The housing is preferably mounted near the sprocket or pulley. The first laser beam exits the (for example, cylindrical) housing at an end of the housing and runs along the top side of the chain or belt on which the housing is mounted.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Device for checking the chassis geometry of a chain- or belt-driven vehicle

[0003] The invention relates to a device for controlling the chassis geometry of a chain- or belt-driven vehicle, wherein the device comprises a housing and means arranged therein for emitting a first laser beam.

[0004] EP 1 537 379 B1 describes a method and device for checking the chassis geometry of a chain- or belt-driven vehicle. Without disassembling any parts of the vehicle, the chain or belt alignment is determined using a laser module that is applied to the side surface of the sprocket or pulley, with its laser beam directed at the edge area of ​​the chain or belt.

[0005] The flat outer area of ​​the laser module is placed against the flat side surface of the sprocket or pulley, so that the laser beam is directed onto the edge of the chain or belt. If the chain or belt is properly aligned, this creates a series of laser points on the edge of the belt or chain over a large distance with a consistent edge distance. However, wheel alignment checks using such a laser line are only possible after prior inspection of the secondary drive. The axle position of the drive wheel must be aligned exactly at an angle of 90° to the direction of travel.

[0006] In modern vehicles and with the use of lightweight components, the installation of secondary drive measuring devices is becoming increasingly difficult and requires the time-consuming disassembly of vehicle components.

[0007] Magnetic mounts are unsuitable for modern lightweight components such as aluminum, magnesium, and carbon fiber. The object of the present invention is to create a device according to the generic term that enables simple and rapid control of the chassis geometry.

[0008] This object is achieved according to the invention in that the housing has means for securing the device on a chain or a belt of the chain- or belt-driven vehicle.

[0009] According to the present invention, the device is carried by the drive element of the chain- or belt-driven vehicle, i.e., the chain or belt. It is preferably placed near the chain or belt pulley. The first laser beam exits the (e.g., cylindrical) housing at one end of the housing and travels along the top of the chain or belt onto which the housing is placed.

[0010] To protect against falling, the means for securing the device on a chain or belt of the chain- or belt-driven vehicle are used.

[0011] In addition to the fact that no disassembly of parts of the vehicle is required, the invention has the further advantage that the user has both hands available for adjustment work on the chain or belt-driven vehicle.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the means for securing the device on a chain or a belt of the chain- or belt-driven vehicle are designed as magnets which are arranged on or in the housing.

[0013] The magnetic force acts on the mass of the steel chain pins, making the device suitable for vehicles with non-magnetic sprockets. An alternative embodiment of the present invention is that the means for securing the device to a chain or belt of the chain- or belt-driven vehicle are designed as a holding element for positively or non-positively fastening the device to a chain or belt of the chain- or belt-driven vehicle.

[0014] The holding element can, for example, be designed as a clamp.

[0015] A further embodiment of the invention consists in that the means for securing the device on a chain or belt of the chain- or belt-driven vehicle are designed as a recess in the housing into which the chain or belt wheel engages.

[0016] The device is then placed on the chain or belt in the area of ​​the chain or belt wheel and pushed towards the chain or belt wheel until the chain or belt wheel engages in the recess of the housing and thus secures the device.

[0017] Using such a holding element, the device can also be secured on non-magnetic chains or belts.

[0018] Of course, it is also possible for the device to have several of the above-described means for securing the device on a chain or belt, which can be combined with one another as desired.

[0019] A further embodiment of the invention consists in that the housing is divided into two parts, with one part of the housing being mountable on each side of the chain or belt wheel, and the two parts of the housing being connectable to each other. The connecting means simultaneously serve as a means for securing the device to a chain or belt of the chain- or belt-driven vehicle. A preferred development of the invention consists in that the device has means for adjusting the chain tension.

[0020] Preferably, the device has an L-shaped bracket on each side of the chain wheel, wherein the brackets extend in the assembled state from above the teeth of the chain wheel to below the chain and can be connected to one another below the chain, and wherein a rotatable adjusting screw for adjusting the chain tension is arranged in the region of the connection of the brackets.

[0021] This adjusting screw can be used to adjust the chain tension (or the desired chain slack) of a chain-driven vehicle.

[0022] A further development of the invention consists in that an attachment is provided which can be connected to the means for adjusting the chain tension and has the means for emitting a second laser beam.

[0023] This attachment can be connected to the chain tension adjustment device in a form-fitting or friction-locking manner, so that a second laser beam is emitted toward the front wheel at the level of the rear wheel rim. This laser light source can be used to assess wheel alignment and wheel cast via horizontal and vertical measuring scales arranged on the front wheel, preferably the front wheel rim.

[0024] In the following, embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to drawings.

[0025] It shows

[0026] Fig. 1 is a side view of a chain and a sprocket with a device according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a side view of a belt and a belt wheel with a device according to the invention,

[0027] Fig. 3 is a side view of a chain and a sprocket with means for

[0028] Adjusting the chain tension and an attachment for assessing the wheel alignment and wheel cast,

[0029] Fig. 4 a side view of a motorcycle with an attachment according to Fig.

[0030] 3 for assessing wheel alignment and wheel cast.

[0031] As shown in Fig. 1, the device according to the invention for checking the chassis geometry of a chain- or belt-driven vehicle comprises a housing 1 and means arranged therein for emitting a first laser beam 2. The device is, as shown, placed on the chain 3a of a chain-driven vehicle and secured to the chain 3a by means arranged on or in the housing for securing the device.

[0032] These means can - as is the case in Fig. 1 - be designed as magnets which are arranged on or in the housing 1 (here: in the housing, therefore not visible) and whose magnetic force acts on the steel bolts of the chain 3a.

[0033] In the example shown, the housing 1 is cylindrical and has the means for emitting the first laser beam 2a at one end. The device is arranged in the region of the sprocket 4a and preferably has a recess in the housing into which the sprocket 4a engages (as shown in Fig. 1).

[0034] The first laser beam 2a is emitted towards the front wheel and runs along the upper side of the chain 3a on which the housing 1 is placed.

[0035] The means 5 for securing the device on a chain or a belt of the chain- or belt-driven vehicle can also be designed as a holding element 5 for positively or non-positively fastening the device on a chain or a belt of the chain- or belt-driven vehicle, as shown in Fig.

[0036] 2 in the form of a clamp-shaped holding element 5b for attachment to a belt 3b. Here, too, the housing 1 has a recess 5a into which the belt pulley 4b engages. The first laser beam 2a runs along the belt 3b.

[0037] As can be seen from Fig. 3, the housing 1 can be divided into two parts, wherein a part of the housing 1 can be mounted on one side of the chain or belt wheel 4a or 4b and the two parts of the housing 1 can be connected to one another, wherein the connecting means simultaneously serve as means for securing the device on a chain or belt of the chain- or belt-driven vehicle.

[0038] In addition, the device shown in Fig. 3 has means 6 for adjusting the chain tension. In the example shown, the device has an L-shaped bracket 6a on each side of the chain wheel. In the assembled state, the brackets 6a extend from above the teeth of the chain wheel 4a to below the chain 3a and can be connected to one another below the chain 3a. In the region of the connection of the brackets, a rotatable adjusting screw 6b for adjusting the chain tension is arranged. In one leg (the upper one in the assembled state) of the L-shaped bracket 6a, the means for emitting the first laser beam 2a, which runs along the chain 3a, are arranged.

[0039] Furthermore, Fig. 3 shows an attachment part 7 which can be connected to the means 6 for adjusting the chain tension and has the means for emitting a second laser beam 2b which, in the mounted state, extends in the direction of the front wheel of the vehicle.

[0040] As shown in Fig. 4, measuring scales are arranged horizontally and vertically on the front wheel 8 of the chain- or belt-driven vehicle 9, preferably on the front wheel rim. These scales can be used to assess the wheel alignment and wheel cast using this second laser beam 2b. The vertical measuring scale is used to determine the camber, while the horizontal measuring scale is used to check the alignment of the front wheel in the straight-ahead position.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Device for checking the chassis geometry of a chain- or belt-driven vehicle, the device comprising a housing (1) and means arranged therein for emitting a first laser beam (2a), characterized in that the housing (1) comprises means (5) for securing the device on a chain (3a) or a belt (3b) of the chain- or belt-driven vehicle (9).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (5) for securing the device on a chain (3a) or a belt (3b) of the chain- or belt-driven vehicle (9) are designed as magnets which are arranged on or in the housing (1).

3. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the means (5) for securing the device on a chain (3a) or a belt (3b9 of the chain- or belt-driven vehicle 8)0 are designed as a holding element (5b).

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means (5) for securing the device on a chain or a belt of the chain- or belt-driven vehicle are designed as a recess (5a) in the housing (1) into which the chain or belt wheel (4a / 4b) engages.

5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (1) is divided into two parts, wherein one part of the housing (1) can be mounted on one side of the chain or belt wheel (4a / 4b) and the two parts of the housing (1) can be connected to one another, wherein the connecting means simultaneously serve as means (5) for securing the device on a chain (3a) or a belt (3b) of the chain- or belt-driven vehicle (9).

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that that the device has means (6) for adjusting the chain tension.

7. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the device has an L-shaped bracket (6a) on each side of the chain wheel (4a), the brackets (6a) extending in the assembled state from above the teeth of the chain wheel (4a) to below the chain (3a) and being connectable to one another below the chain (3a), and a rotatable adjusting screw (6b) for adjusting the chain tension being arranged in the region of the connection of the brackets (6a).

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that an attachment (7) is provided which can be connected to the means (6) for adjusting the chain tension and has the means for emitting a second laser beam (2b).

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