Wheel Alignment Optical Measurement System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for measuring vehicle wheel alignment are cumbersome, time-consuming, and less accurate, requiring complex and expensive equipment for indirect methods, and are prone to placement errors in direct methods.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method using a contact assembly with a light source and a light beam receiving assembly, where the contact assembly engages the wheel to define a plane of orientation, and the light beam receiving assembly forms an image on a target indicating the wheel's orientation relative to a predetermined position, allowing for rapid and efficient determination of toe and camber settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If direct measurement methods are used with human operators or mechanisms to place measurement tools in contact with the vehicle, then measurement can be performed, but placement error and wear occur reducing accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based measurement tools with an optical system. A light source projects a light beam that reflects off the wheel assembly, and a detector captures the reflected light to determine wheel orientation. This substitution eliminates mechanical contact, thereby removing placement errors and wear issues while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a light beam as an intermediary between the measurement system and the wheel assembly. Instead of direct mechanical contact, the light beam serves as the medium that carries measurement information from the wheel to the detector, enabling non-contact measurement and eliminating mechanical wear and placement errors.
2Reliability
If indirect noncontact measurement methods are used with light projectors, then measurement can be performed without contact, but complex and expensive equipment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential function of noncontact measurement from complex projector systems. Instead of using elaborate light projectors and sophisticated calculation methods, the invention uses a simple light source that projects a light beam and a detector that captures the reflected light, eliminating unnecessary complexity while maintaining noncontact measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simple, inexpensive optical components rather than expensive, complex equipment. The light source and detector are basic optical elements that can be easily manufactured and replaced, providing a cost-effective alternative to sophisticated projector systems while achieving reliable noncontact measurement.
3Measurement precision
If complex light projectors and sophisticated calculation methods are used, then noncontact measurement can be achieved, but the system becomes expensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex computational methods with a direct optical measurement approach. The light beam reflection geometry directly provides wheel orientation information through simple trigonometric relationships, eliminating the need for sophisticated calculations and computer processing, thereby speeding up the measurement process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified optical copy of the wheel assembly's orientation information through light beam reflection. Instead of using complex projectors to create detailed images requiring sophisticated analysis, the system uses a light beam that directly encodes orientation data in its reflection angle, enabling rapid measurement without complex computation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid, accurate, and cost-effective measurement of vehicle wheel alignment with minimal operator labor, suitable for various wheel sizes, and reduces equipment wear, providing direct indications of toe and camber settings for proper alignment.
Implementation Method 1
a light source for projecting a beam of light and a light beam receiving assembly for receiving the light beam and forming an image of the light beam
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A
Figure 2
AI summary
An apparatus for determining wheel assembly alignment comprises a contact assembly (36), a light source (40), and a light beam receiving assembly (44). The contact assembly (36) engages the wheel assembly (38) to define a plane of orientation of the wheel assembly and the light source (40) projects a beam of light with respect to the contact assembly (36). The light beam receiving assembly receives the light beam and forms an image of the light beam (42) indicating the orientation of the wheel assembly with respect to a predetermined position. The receiving assembly (44) may include a Fresnel lens for directing the received light beam to a target and a camera device for imaging the light beam on the target (88), with the camera device adapted to provide toe and camber information of th wheel assembly based on the impingement location of the light beam upon the target.