Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100166255 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EVALUATING VEHICLE REFERENCE PLANES - A method and apparatus for comparing reference planes during a vehicle wheel alignment procedure using a machine vision vehicle wheel alignment system. The machine vision vehicle wheel alignment system is configured to acquire position and orientation data associated with at least one optical target disposed in a field of view, to establish a first reference plane associated with a surface on which a vehicle undergoing an alignment procedure is disposed. Positional information associated with each wheel of the vehicle is then acquired by the machine vision vehicle wheel alignment system, and utilized to establish a second reference plane associated with each wheel of the vehicle. Differences between an orientation of the first reference plane and an orientation of the second reference plane are determined and identified to an operator or utilized to characterize components of the vehicle or vehicle support surface. | 07-01-2010 |
20110051151 | Optical Targets For Machine Vision Vehicle Service System - An optical target for temporary application in non-determined placement on a surface of an object such as a vehicle wheel assembly within the field of view of an imaging sensor of a machine vision vehicle service system. The optical target consists of a flexible body which is relatively thin and generally flat, capable of conforming to the contours of a surface onto which it is secured in releasable manner by a means of adhesion. A set of visible optical elements are disposed on a front face of the target body for observation and imaging by the imaging sensors. | 03-03-2011 |
20130162422 | Integrated Tire Pressure Diagnostic System and Method - A computer-based vehicle service system, such as a wheel alignment system, is configured with a tire pressure monitoring system interface to acquire measurements of the air pressure directly from tire pressure monitoring system sensors installed in the tires of a vehicle undergoing a service procedure. The vehicle service system is further configured to utilize the acquired air pressure measurements to complete at least one vehicle diagnostic procedure. | 06-27-2013 |
20130271574 | Method And Apparatus For Contactless Data Acquisition In A Vehicle Service System - An improved vehicle service system having at least one pattern-projecting, machine-vision sensor for acquiring images of objects and surface during a vehicle service or inspection procedure, and which is configured to process acquired images to identify measurements and/or relative three-dimensional locations associated with the vehicle undergoing service or inspection, vehicle components, surface, or objects in the environment surrounding the vehicle. The improved vehicle service system is further configured to utilized the identified measurements and/or relative three-dimensional locations during a vehicle service or inspection procedure. | 10-17-2013 |
20140000363 | Method and Apparatus For Measuring Tire Rolling Resistance | 01-02-2014 |
20140025251 | System and Method For Wheel Assembly Acoustical Evaluation - A vehicle service or inspection system including a load roller for applying a radial load to a vehicle wheel assembly consisting of a tire mounted to a rim, with at least one sensor for acquiring measurements of acoustical energy generated by the wheel assembly during loaded rotational movement. The vehicle service or inspection system is configured with a programmed processor to evaluate the acquired measurements to provide a measure of tire road noise, identification of tire defects, and/or identification of sources of noise, vibrations, or acoustical energy on the tire surface such as tire flat spots, cupping, bubbles, embedded foreign objects, or other defects. The processor is further configured with software instructions to utilize the acquired measurements to provide a consumer with a figure of merit associated with the acoustics of the tire undergoing testing | 01-23-2014 |
20140166403 | Deflection Resistant Combination Turn Plate and Slip Plate - A deflection resistant combination slip plate and turn plate assembly for support the steered wheels of a vehicle on a precision planar surface resistant to deflection and distortion. The slip plate and the turn plate are supported on an underlying surface by bearing assemblies, and establish a upper planar surface with the turn plate disposed in a cutout region of the slip plate. Each plate is configured for limited translational movement relative to the base plate surface on which it is supported, while the turn plate is further configured for rotational movement about a central axis. Translational movement of the plates is synchronized. Spacing between the slip plate and turn plate is minimized, and supporting means are provided to maintain the slip plate and turn plate in vertical alignment under load. | 06-19-2014 |
20140253909 | Method and Apparatus for Multi-Axle Vehicle Alignment with Vehicle Frame Reference - A vehicle wheel service system including a plurality of sensors positioned in proximity to a heavy-duty multi-axle vehicle, to measure angles associated with three or more axles of the vehicle without repositioning the mounting of the sensors after initiating a measurement procedure. Additional sensors, associated with a vehicle reference, such as the vehicle frame axis, are disposed to provide vehicle reference measurement data which is communicated to a processing system. The processing system is configured with software instructions to evaluate the measurement data and to determine various vehicle wheel alignment angle measurements and/or necessary vehicle adjustments for each axle relative to the vehicle reference or to a fixed axle having a determined relationship to the vehicle reference. | 09-11-2014 |
20140278226 | Method for Characterization of Vehicle Support Surfaces - A method for characterizing the surface over which a vehicle is to be rolled during a rolling compensation procedure. A set of wheel alignment angle sensors are mounted to the rearmost fixed axle of a vehicle which is then backed onto the floor surface to be characterized, and rolled in reverse over the region of the floor surface generally traversed during a rolling compensation procedure. As the vehicle is rolled in reverse, a pair of wheel alignment angle sensors temporarily positioned at selected points on the floor surface measure a distance to the wheel-mounted alignment angle sensors, which in turn, are acquiring camber angle measurements. The resulting set of measurements is stored in an accessible data storage device, characterizing the camber altering contours of a path across the floor surface. | 09-18-2014 |
20150020583 | Method For Measuring Trailer Axle Alignment - A procedure for measuring and adjusting an alignment of each axle of a trailer or semi-trailer while the trailer or semi-trailer is coupled to a tow vehicle by a hitch, tow bar, kingpin, or fifth wheel hitch. Measurements of the alignment of each axle of the trailer or semi-trailer are acquired from wheel-mounted sensor means utilizing either directly or indirectly a reference line of the trailer and an established reference point on the tow vehicle. A thrust angle of a first trailer or semi-trailer axle is referenced directly to the established reference line, while scrub angles associated with additional trailer or semi-trailer axles are referenced either directly or indirectly to the first trailer or semi-trailer axle, and indirectly to the established reference point. Any necessary adjustments are made to the first trailer or semi-trailer axle to bring the axle thrust angle to within a specification tolerance, and then to the scrub angle of each additional axle. | 01-22-2015 |