Vehicle Wheel Alignment Inspection Method for Thrust Angle Diagnosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for inspecting wheel alignment in vehicles do not effectively address the root causes of abnormalities in camber and other angles, leading to insufficient running stability and uneven tire wear, as they only adjust for thrust angle differences without detailed analysis.
Innovation Solution
A method involving two alignment measurement steps and evaluations before and after toe adjustments to identify and correct thrust angle-related issues, while also assessing other potential causes such as steering and suspension device abnormalities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If wheel alignment is adjusted based on traditional inspection methods, then camber angle abnormalities are corrected, but running stability is not achieved and uneven tire wear persists
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection method is segmented into multiple distinct steps: first alignment measurement, toe adjustment, second alignment measurement, first evaluation, and second evaluation. This segmentation allows for separate assessment of thrust angle effects versus other potential causes, enabling more precise diagnosis and correction of wheel alignment issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The method performs preliminary toe adjustment to eliminate left-right differences in individual toes before conducting the second alignment measurement. This preliminary action isolates the effect of thrust angle from other factors, allowing for more accurate evaluation of whether camber abnormalities are caused by thrust angle or other issues such as steering or suspension device abnormalities.
2Device complexity
If wheel alignment inspection is performed without detailed cause analysis, then inspection process is simple, but root causes of alignment defects are not identified
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection method incorporates feedback loops where measurement results from the first alignment measurement are used to guide toe adjustment, and subsequent second alignment measurement results are used in the second evaluation to identify causes. This feedback mechanism ensures that information about alignment defects and their causes is preserved and acted upon, preventing loss of diagnostic information.
3Loss of time
If only first alignment measurement is performed, then inspection time is reduced, but accurate evaluation of alignment defects and their causes is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The method performs preliminary toe adjustment based on the first alignment measurement results before conducting the second alignment measurement. This preliminary action eliminates left-right differences in individual toes, allowing the second measurement to accurately reflect whether camber abnormalities are caused by thrust angle or other factors, thereby achieving precise defect evaluation without unnecessary time consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention makes it easy to link wheel alignment inspections to improving stability when traveling and to suppressing uneven tire wear. The straight running state of a vehicle is verified (S1), and the vehicle is placed on a tester in the straight running state (S2). The wheel alignment of the vehicle in the straight running state is measured using the tester (S3). The individual toe of each front wheel and each rear wheel is adjusted to eliminate differences between the left and right wheels (S4). The wheel alignment, such as the included angle, is measured again, and the causes of any wheel alignment failures are narrowed down on the basis of the measurement results (S5 to S7). Wheel alignment failures impacting steering pull or uneven tire wear are evaluated on the basis of the results of the measurements in S3 (S8).