WO2018034646A1

WO2018034646A1 - Automated leveling platform for mobile wheel alignment

Info

Publication number: WO2018034646A1
Application number: PCT/US2016/047032
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wesley Robert JOHNSON; Jeffery Ryan ANDERSON
Original assignee: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin
Priority date: 2016-08-15
Filing date: 2016-08-15
Publication date: 2018-02-22

Abstract

An apparatus for use in leveling a vehicle for aligning its wheels is provided that has first, second, third, and fourth platforms that each have a frame with a platform upper surface,and an adjusting mechanism that adjusts the pitch, roll, and height of the platform upper surfaces. The apparatus has four sensors, and each one of the sensors measures the pitch and roll of the platform upper surfaces. A controller receives measurement data from the sensors and sends adjustment instructions to the adjusting mechanisms to adjust the pitch and roll of the platform upper surfaces. The first laser emitter at the first platform emits a first laser towards the first laser target at the second platform. The controller sends adjustment instructions to the first and/or second adjustment mechanism to adjust the height of at least one of the first and second platform upper surfaces.

Description

AUTOMATED LEVELING PLATFORM FOR MOBILE WHEEL ALIGNMENT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The subject matter of the present invention relates to alignment of vehicle wheels.

More particularly, the present application involves an automated platform that is used with a vehicle in the field to adjust the pitch, roll, and heights of the wheels of the vehicle for purposes of aligning the wheels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Wheel alignment is a maintenance practice on automobiles and trucks that consists of the adjustment of wheels so that they are properly oriented as per the manufactures specifications or as otherwise desired. The adjustments include corrections to the camber or toe specifications that will cause the wheels to be properly angled with respect to the frame of the vehicle. Improperly aligned vehicles will have a tendency to drift to one side causing frustration to the driver and resulting in unevenly worn, and prematurely worn, tires.

[0003] To correct the alignment of a vehicle, the vehicle is taken into a service station that has a garage into which the vehicle is housed. The garage has a floor or other permanently located platform that is level with respect to the ground. The vehicle is driven onto the floor or platform so that the wheels are placed into a known location and position. A camera unit can be mounted onto the wheel that is in communication with a microprocessor and is capable of ascertaining the alignment orientation of the wheel. The alignment of the wheel of the vehicle may be adjusted as desired.

[0004] It may be desired to align the wheels of a vehicle at a location outside of the service station. For example, if a vehicle owner desires to have his or her tires replaced and wheels aligned at his or her house for purposes of convenience, a service station floor or other permanently located platform is not available. Alignment of the wheels of a vehicle at a location remote from the service station is more challenging due to this lack of leveling, and it may be the case that alignment is not performed when replacing the wheels and instead the error induced by the non-flat vehicle surface is simply accepted. However, if leveling outside of the service station is desired, one may manually shim the wheels of the vehicle until they are level, and then conduct the alignment procedure. In this regard, the wheels may rest upon turntables that are used in the vehicle alignment, and metal shims can be placed under the wheels or turntables to create a flat surface for use in the alignment protocol. [0005] Another device for leveling the wheels of a vehicle is found in motorsports applications that include a pad onto which the vehicle is located. Four adjustable feet are used to support the pad, and these feet can control the overall height as well as the pitch and roll angles of the pad. A digital protractor or bubble level can be placed onto the pad, and the four feet can be adjusted in a trial and error fashion in order to achieve a desired positioning of the vehicle. Although devices are known for adjusting the position of the vehicle for wheel alignment purposes, such devices are time consuming and are inaccurate and require a large amount of manual interaction. As such, room for variation and improvement exists in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:

[0007] Fig . 1 is a perspective view of a first platform.

[0008] Fig . 2 is a perspective view of a second platform.

[0009] Fig . 3 is a perspective view of a third platform.

[0010] Fig . 4 is a perspective view of a fourth platform.

[0011] Fig . 5 is a front view of the first platform tilted about a roll axis relative to a gravity vector.

[0012] Fig . 6 is a front view of the first platform of Fig. 5 leveled about a roll axis relative to the gravity vector.

[0013] Fig. 7 is a side view of the first platform tilted about a pitch axis relative to a gravity vector.

[0014] Fig. 8 is a top plan view of four platforms of the apparatus.

[0015] Fig. 9 is a side view of the first platform leveled about the roll axis at a different height relative to a second platform.

[0016] Fig. 10 is a side view of the first and second platforms of Fig. 9 leveled to the same height.

[0017] Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the apparatus with a vehicle and four wheels disposed thereon.

[0018] Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a first platform with a first turntable.

[0019] The use of identical or similar reference numerals in different figures denotes identical or similar features. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a third embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations.

[0021] An apparatus 10 is provided that is capable of providing a level platform for a vehicle 20 that is having its wheels 12, 14, 16 and 18 installed or changed. The level platform that is provided allows for wheel 12, 14, 16 and 18 balancing to be conducted and removes the need to have a service station or other remote facility used for leveling and subsequent balancing. The apparatus 10 is mobile in that it may be taken to the location of the driver's vehicle 20 and used at that point in order to level the vehicle 20 and allow for its wheels 12, 14, 16 and 18 to be aligned. The vehicle 20 can be moved onto the apparatus 10 so that the wheels 12, 14, 16 and 18 each rest onto an individual platform 24, 38, 52 and 66. The four platforms 24, 38, 52 and 66 that can each be locally leveled with respect to a gravity vector 130 so that their pitch and roll is level. Once locally aligned, the four platforms 24, 38, 52 and 66 are globally aligned with one another in that their heights are adjusted so that a single planar surface is defined by the four platforms 24, 38, 52 and 66 onto which the vehicle 20 is leveled and subsequently aligned. The apparatus 10 may not be used in repair shops and auto tire replacement facilities, but instead may be used in the mobile instillation of tires for passenger and light truck. For example, a consumer may purchase a new set of tires, and the apparatus 10 can be employed in the consumer's driveway or in the consumer's work parking lot in order to provide a level surface for alignment of the wheels 12, 14, 16 and 18 when they are installed.

[0022] Fig. 1 is an exemplary embodiment of a first platform 24 of the apparatus 10 shown sitting on ground 22. The ground 22 may be a driver' s driveway, a parking lot, actual Earth ground 22 onto which the vehicle 20 is located, or any other surface onto which the vehicle 20 may rest. The ground 22 is not level and can slope to the left for right, or may slope forward or backwards, or may slope in any combination of ways. The first platform 24 is positioned onto the ground 22, and in the embodiment illustrated has a first adjusting mechanism 30 that includes three air springs. The three air springs are arranged in a triangular like pattern with respect to the ground 22 and support a first frame 26 of the first platform 24. Each one of the air springs of the first adjusting mechanism 30 has a first string potentiometer 106 that measures the height of the particular air spring. Further, each one of the air springs of the first adjusting mechanism 30 can have an up solenoid valve 114 and a down solenoid valve 116 that can be actuated in order to cause the air spring to extend upwards or contract downwards towards the ground 22.

Knowledge of the length of the air spring via the string potentiometer 108 allows the apparatus 10 to adjust the height of the air spring via solenoid vales 114 and 116. The heights of the other two air springs can be adjusted, and in this manner the three springs function to tilt the supported first frame 26 about a pitch 32 axis and a roll axis 34, and can be raised or lowered the same amount to adjust the height 36. The use of a first adjusting mechanism 30 that has three air springs is only one possibility of adjusting the first platform 24 and other arrangements of the first adjusting mechanism 30 are possible. For example, four air springs could be used, or from 5-10, or from 11-20 air springs could be used in other embodiments. Still further, hydraulic cylinders, mechanical linkages, electric linear actuators, or other arrangements can be provided to move the first frame 26 in various directions as needed.

[0023] The first frame 26 can be generally rectangular in shape and has a first platform upper surface 28 that may be used as a reference point for purposes of determining adjustment of the first platform 24. A first origin 140 can be a reference point located at the first platform upper surface 28, and through this point a pitch 32 axis, a roll 34 axis, and a height 36 axis can extend. The first adjusting mechanism 30 renders the first platform upper surface 28 adjustable about the pitch 32 and roll 34 axes, and movable along the height 36 axis. The first platform upper surface 28 is not adjustable about the height 36 axis, but is only movable in along this axis. However, in some exemplary embodiments some twisting of the first platform upper surface 28 is possible so that some adjustment can in fact be made about the height 36 axis, which would in effect be spinning about the height 36 axis.

[0024] A first sensor 80 is located on the first platform upper surface 28, but could be inside of the first frame 26, or at any other portion of the first platform 24 in other exemplary embodiments. The first sensor 80 measures the pitch 32 and roll 34 of the first platform upper surface 28 so that its orientation along these two axes with respect to the ground 22 is known. This information can be used by the apparatus 10 in order to adjust he first platform upper surface 28 to a level orientation. The first sensor 80 may be an inertial measurement unit and may include an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

[0025] The first platform 24 also includes a first laser emitter 90 located on a back end of the first frame 26, and a fourth laser target 104 located on a right side of the first frame 26. The first laser emitter 90 can emit a first laser 148, and a fourth laser target 104 can receive a fourth laser 154. The first laser emitter 90 and the fourth laser target 104 are used in order to adjust the height of the first platform 24 relative to the other platforms 38, 52 and 66 in the apparatus 10 so that they can all be set at the same height as one another.

[0026] The second platform 38 is shown with reference to Fig. 1 and has a second adjusting mechanism 44 that includes three air springs that each have an up solenoid valve 118 and a down solenoid valve 120. Actuation of the up solenoid valvel l8 causes the height of the air spring to increase, and actuation of the down solenoid valve 120 causes the height of the air sprint to decrease relative to the ground 22. Each air spring also includes a string potentiometer that measures the height of the particular air spring so that the heights of all of the air springs of the second adjusting mechanism 44 are known.

[0027] The second platform 38 has a second frame 40 that carries a second sensor 82 on the second platform upper surface 42 of the second frame 40. The second sensor 82 is capable of measuring the orientation of the second platform upper surface 42 about a pitch 46 axis and a roll 48 axis of the second platform upper surface 42. The second platform 38 is oriented in the same direction as the first platform 24 in that the pitch 46 axis in the left/right or inboard/outboard direction of the vehicle 20, and in that the roll 48 axis extends in a forward/backward direction of the vehicle 20 when the vehicle 20 is supported by the apparatus 10. The roll 48 axis and the roll 34 axis are generally parallel to one another, and may be coaxial when the first and second platforms 24 and 38 are aligned and leveled relative to one another. The first platform 24 may be located at and support the front left wheel 12 of the vehicle 20, and the second platform 38 can support the back left wheel 14 of the vehicle 20. The various components of the second platform 38 can be configured the same way as their counterpart components of the first platform 24 and a repeat of this information is not necessary.

[0028] A second origin 142 may be located on the second platform upper surface 42 at its center, and the pitch 46 axis, roll 48 axis, and height 50 axis all extend through the second origin 142. The second platform upper surface 42 is adjustable about the pitch 46 and roll 48 axes so as to pivot about these two axes. The second platform upper surface 42 may not pivot about the height 50 axis but may be adjustable along its length. Although capable of pivoting about the pitch 46 and roll 48 axes, the second platform upper surface 42 may not move linearly along the lines of the pitch 46 and roll 48 axes. The adjustment of the second platform 38 with respect to the ground 22 can be the same as that of the first platform 24 previously discussed so that they may both pitch and roll, and subsequently raise and lower. A first laser target 92 is located at the front of the second platform upper surface 42 in the direction of the roll 48 axis, and a second laser emitter 94 is located on the right side of the second platform upper surface 42 and may in some instances be parallel to the pitch 46 axis. [0029] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a third platform 52 that is arranged in a manner similar to the first and second platforms 24 and 38 previously discussed. The third platform 52 has a third adjusting mechanism 58 located on the ground 22 that features three air springs each having a string potentiometer 110 to measure its individual length, and each having an up solenoid valve 122 to raise/extend the air spring and a down solenoid valve 124 to lower/contract the air spring. The third adjusting mechanism 58 supports a third frame 54 that in turn has a third platform upper surface 56 that includes a third origin 144 at its center. The pitch 60, roll 62 and height 64 axes extend through the third origin 144. The pitch 60 and roll 62 of the third platform upper surface 56 are adjustable about the pitch 60 axis and the roll 62 axis, and the height of the third platform upper surface 56 is adjustable along the length of the height 64 axis.

[0030] A third sensor 84 is carried by the third frame 54 and measures the pitch 60 and roll 62 of the third platform upper surface 56 with respect to the ground 22. The third platform 52 also carries a second laser target 96 at the left hand side of the third platform upper surface 56, and a third laser emitter 98 located at the front of the third platform upper surface 56. The various components of the third platform 52 can function as previously discussed with respect to the first and second platforms 24 and 38 and a repeat of this information is not necessary.

[0031] The apparatus 10 also includes a fourth platform 68 that again has a fourth adjusting mechanism 72 located on the ground 22 that includes three air springs. Each one of the air springs has a string potentiometer 112 associated therewith for measuring the length of the air spring, and associated up and down solenoid valves 126 and 128 for actuation in order to raise and lower respectively the air springs. The fourth adjusting mechanism 72 supports a fourth frame 68 that has a fourth platform upper surface 70 and that carries a fourth sensor 86. A fourth origin 146 is located on the fourth platform upper surface 70 and pitch 74, roll 76 and height 78 axes extend through the fourth origin 146. The pitch 74 and roll 76 orientation of the fourth platform upper surface 70 can be measured by the fourth sensor 86. Rotation about the pitch 74 and roll 76 axes can be adjusted via the fourth adjusting mechanism 72, and the height of the fourth platform upper surface 70 can be adjusted as well by the fourth adjusting mechanism 72.

[0032] A fourth laser emitter 102 is located on the fourth platform upper surface 70 on its left hand side, and a third laser target 100 is likewise on the fourth platform upper surface 70 but on its rearward side. The various components and functions of the fourth laser embitter 102 may be the same as those previously discussed with respect to the first platform 24, the second platform 38, and the third platform 52 and a repeat of this information is not necessary.

[0033] In use, the apparatus 10 is placed onto ground 22 that is uneven, and the vehicle

20 is driven onto the apparatus 10. Fig. 5 shows the first platform 24 with a first turntable 132 located on the first platform upper surface 28. The first turntable 132 is a component used in wheel alignments and the left front tire 12 is driven onto and located on the first turntable 132. The ground 22 is tilted so that the vehicle 20 will want to slide to its left. The height 36 of the first platform upper surface 28 measured in a direction perpendicular to the first platform upper surface 28 to the ground 22 is at an angle to the gravity vector 130. The first adjusting mechanism 30 is initially configured so that all of the air springs are at the same height, thus leading to a tilting of the first platform upper surface 28 with respect to the gravity vector 130. The inclination of the first platform 24 may be reported by the first sensor 80 to a controller 88 that is in communication with the first sensor 80. The controller 88 may have a control program that calculates the necessary spring length to achieve a zero degree pitch and roll angle relative to the gravity vector 130. The controller 88 can then send commands to the first adjusting mechanism 30 to extend or shorten the various lengths of the air springs, for example through the actuation of pneumatic valves to raise or lower each air spring, so that the first platform upper surface 28 is pivoted about the roll 34 axis.

[0034] Fig. 6 is a front view of the first platform 24 of Fig. 5 in which the air springs have been adjusted in order to cause the first platform upper surface 28 to roll and change orientation about the roll 34 axis from that in Fig. 5. To do this, some of the air springs can extend, some can contract, or there may be a combination of some extending and some contracting. The lengths of the air springs are changed via commands from the controller 88 to the up and down solenoid valves 114 and 116 while monitoring the first sensor 80 to determine the proper roll 34 orientation. The apparatus 10 may be configured to have the controller 88 make an adjustment calculation based upon data obtained from the first sensor 80 and the first adjusting mechanism 30. The controller 88 can then execute this adjustment to cause the first platform 24 to assume a level position with respect to the gravity vector 130. In other embodiments, once an adjustment is made, readings from the first sensor 80 can be taken to confirm leveling. Adjustments may be made automatically until the first sensor 80 indicates a proper roll 34 orientation.

[0035] The first platform 24 is adjusted in Fig. 6 so that the first platform upper surface

28 is perpendicular to a gravity vector 130, and so that the height 36 axis is parallel to the gravity vector 130. The first turntable 132 and the first wheel 12, which may be the front left wheel 12, are likewise placed into a known position for wheel alignment purposes. The second 38, third 52, and fourth platforms 66 can be adjusted in a similar manner so that their roll 48, 62 and 76 are likewise adjusted to the gravity vector 130. The platforms 38, 52 and 66 have counterpart sensors and adjusting mechanisms as previously described to achieve these adjustments. The apparatus 10 can be configured so that all of the roll 34, 48, 62 and 76 adjustments are simultaneously made, or the apparatus 10 may be made so that each one is adjusted one at a time in sequence. Still further, the apparatuslO may make the adjustment so that the front wheels 12 and 18 are first simultaneously adjusted with respect to their rolls 34 and 76, and then subsequently the rolls 48 and 62 of the back two wheels 14 and 16 are adjusted.

[0036] Fig. 7 shows a side view of the first platform 24 located on the ground 22 that is inclined relative to the gravity vector 130. The first tire wheel 12 on the first platform 24 is the front left hand wheel and the ground 22 is thus inclined so that the vehicle 20 is angled upwards relative to its forward direction of travel. The height 36 is angled relative to the gravity vector 130, and in order to make the first platform upper surface 28 perpendicular relative to the gravity vector 36, an adjustment of the pitch 32 of the first platform 24 needs to be executed. The orientation of the first platform upper surface 28 relative to the ground 22 can be changed by sending pitch 32 orientation data and air spring height data to the controller 88 that may in turn calculate the necessary adjustments of the height of the air springs so that the first frame 26 and hence the first platform upper surface 28 may be pivoted about the pitch 32 axis. This adjustment may be made at a single time and verified by the first sensor 80, and one or more subsequent adjustments can be executed and checked by the first sensor 80 to ensure the desired pitch 32 of the first platform upper surface 28 is achieved.

[0037] The pitch orientations of the second 38, third 52, and fourth 66 platforms may be adjusted in a similar manner until their height 50, 64 and 78 axes are parallel to the gravity vector 130 such that their upper surfaces 42, 56, and 70 are perpendicular to the gravity vector 130. The various pitch 32, 46, 60 and 74 adjustments can be made simultaneously, or may be made sequentially one after the other. Still further, all of the roll 34, 48, 62 and 76 adjustments can be made first, and then the pitch 32, 46, 60 and 74 can be made second. In other embodiments, this order is reversed so that the pitch 32, 46, 60 and 74 adjustments are made first and the roll 34, 48, 62 and 76 adjustments made second. In still further exemplary embodiments, the roll 34, 48, 62 and 76 adjustments and the pitch 32, 46, 60 and 74 adjustments are all made simultaneously. Fig. 9 shows the first platform 24 after the pitch 32 adjustment so that the first platform upper surface 28 is perpendicular to the gravity vector 130.

[0038] The mathematics used to locally level the upper surfaces 28, 42, 56 and 70 with respect to the pitch 32, 46, 60, 74 and roll 34, 48, 62, 76 may be geometry equations that make use of a working height of the upper surfaces 28, 42, 56, 70 that can be measured or selected by the system or operator. The geometry equations may also take into account the width and length of the upper surfaces 28, 42, 56 and 70, and the working height may be the height of the upper surfaces 28, 42, 56 and 70 at their center. One exemplary geometric equation used to calculate the height/length that one of the springs needs to be set at, assuming it is an adjusting mechanism employing four air springs, would be as follows:

[0039]

a tan & a tm φ

[0040] Here, L_Wh is the working height of the upper surface, a is the width/length of the square shaped upper surface, Θ is the roll angle, and ψ is the pitch angle. Putting the measured values into this equation yields an Li length of the front left air spring. The other three air spring lengths can be calculated using a similar geometric equation with the appropriate corrections making some components "-" instead of "+" as shown depending upon their positioning.

Further, other geometric equations can be used to calculate the necessary length of the air springs based upon the angle and length measurements.

[0041] The apparatus 10 is arranged so that all of the platforms 24, 38, 52 and 66 are locally leveled with respect to the ground 22. The various pitch 32, 46, 60 and 74 orientations and roll 34, 48, 62, and 76 orientations are adjusted so that the upper surfaces 28, 42, 56 and 70 are perpendicular with respect to the gravity vector 130. These adjustments can be made individually from one another so that each upper surface 28, 42, 56 and 70 are adjusted at separate times, or are adjusted simultaneously with one another. Once the upper surfaces 28, 42, 56 and 70 are oriented they can then be adjusted with respect to one another to achieve a global leveling of the apparatus 10 and production of a level surface for wheel alignment. Fig. 8 is a top view of the apparatus 10 after the upper surfaces 28, 42, 56 and 70 have been locally leveled. The apparatus makes use of lasers 148, 150, 152 and 154 to achieve global leveling of the various upper surfaces 28, 42, 56 and 70.

[0042] The first platform 24 carries a first laser emitter 90 on the first platform upper surface 28. The first laser emitter 90 may be located on any other portion of the first frame 26 in other embodiments. The first laser emitter 90 emits a first laser 148 directed towards the second platform 38. The first laser 148 may be emitted when the apparatus 10 begins to perform the global leveling function to ensure all of the platforms 24, 38, 52 and 66 are leveled with respect to one another. Referring back to Fig. 9, the first laser 148 is directed onto the second platform 38 and strikes the second wheel 14. This is because the first and second platforms 24 and 38 are not aligned with one another in the height directions 36, 50. The second platform 38 carries a first laser target 92 on the second platform upper surface 42. However, the first laser target 92 could be located at any other portion of the second frame 40 if desired. The first laser emitter 90 and the first laser target 92 are in communication with the controller 88, and when the first laser 148 is emitted and is not sensed by the first laser target 92, the controller 88 determines that the first platform upper surface 28 and the second platform upper surface 42 are not aligned in the height direction with respect to the ground 22. The controller 88 can then send instructions to the first adjusting mechanism 30 to lower the height of the first platform 24, or the controller 88 can send instructions to the second adjusting mechanism 44 to raise the second platform 38, or both sets of instructions can be sent. In the embodiment illustrated, the controller 88 sends instructions to the second adjusting mechanism 44 to raise, and this raising is shown with reference to Fig. 10. Once the second adjusting mechanism 44 raises the second platform 38 to a sufficient level, the first laser 148 strikes the first laser target 92. When this information is reported by the first laser target 92 to the controller 88, the controller 88 sends signals to the first adjusting mechanism 30 and/or the second adjusting mechanism 44 to stop further adjustments. The sensing of the first laser 148 by the first laser target 92 will indicate to the apparatus 10 that the first platform upper surface 28 is level with respect to the second platform upper surface 42.

[0043] The first laser target 92 could be arranged so that the first laser 148 strikes it at some point higher or lower than the position deemed to be where alignment occurs. The first laser target 92 thus receives the first laser 148 but indicates that it is hitting a portion of the first laser target 92 higher or lower than the level position. This information can be sent to the controller 88 and the controller 88 will know which direction to adjust the height of the second platform 38 and will know the amount of adjustment necessary to be made. The second platform 38 can then be adjusted until the correct portion of the first laser target 92 is engaged by the first laser 148. As such, it is to be understood that the first laser target 92 can be engaged by the first laser 148 even at portions that do not indicate a level position of the first and second platform upper surfaces 28 and 42.

[0044] The height 36 of the first platform upper surface 28 can be different than the height 50 of the second platform upper surface 42 when the surfaces 28 and 42 are aligned as shown in Fig. 10. This is because the slope of the ground 22 dictates the adjustment of the first and/or second upper surfaces 28, 42. To adjust the height of the second platform upper surface 42, the air springs of the second adjusting mechanism 44 can all be raised the same amount. As the pitch 46 and roll 48 are established, upward movement of the air springs at the same rate causes the second platform 38 to move upwards with respect to the ground 50 so that the height 50 axis is still parallel to the gravity vector 130.

[0045] With reference back to Fig. 8, the second platform 38 features a second laser emitter 94 that is directed at the second laser target 96 carried by the third platform 52 and located at the third platform upper surface 56. These components are used in order to align the height of the second platform upper surface 42 with the third platform upper surface 56. The second laser emitter 94 emits a second laser 150 directed at the second laser target 96. The arrangements of the second laser emitter 94, second laser target 96, and the second laser 150 may be the same as that previously discussed with respect to their counterpart components the first laser emitter 90, the first laser target 92, and the first laser 148, and a repeat of this information is not necessary. However, one difference is that since the first platform upper surface 28 and the second platform upper surface 42 are already aligned, the adjustment to align the second platform upper surface 42 and the third platform upper surface 56 will be made by sending commands to the third adjusting mechanism 58 to cause it to raise or lower so that the second laser emitter 94 is moved into alignment with the second laser beam 150. However, if the arrangement of the apparatus 10 on the ground 22 dictates that the third platform 52 cannot be raised or lowered, for instance it is already at its lowest possible position or at its highest possible position, the second platform 38 will instead be raised or lowered to cause the second laser emitter 94 and the second laser target 96 to align with one another. This adjustment will cause a corresponding adjustment of the first platform 24 to be made, and the first platform 24 can be raised or lowered the same amount as the second platform 38.

[0046] The third laser emitter 98 is located on the third platform upper surface 56 and emits a third laser beam 152 directed towards the third laser target 100 that is located on the fourth platform upper surface 70. The third laser emitter 98 and the third laser target 100 are used to align the second platform upper surface 42 with the fourth platform upper surface 70. The configurations of the third laser emitter 98, the third laser target 100, and the third laser beam 152 may be the same as those previously described with respect to their counterparts the first laser emitter 90, the first laser target 92, and the first laser beam 148 and a repeat of this information is not necessary. Again, one difference between the alignment of the third platform upper surface 56 and the fourth platform upper surface 70 lies in the fact that the first, second, and third upper surfaces 28, 42, and 56 are already aligned so one would not want to adjust the third adjusting mechanism 58, and instead the fourth adjusting mechanism 58 will be adjusted in order to cause the third and fourth platform upper surfaces 56 and 70 to be aligned. However, if the fourth adjusting mechanism 58 is at its highest or lowest point and no further adjustments are necessary, then the third, second, and first adjusting mechanisms 58, 44 and 30 can be simultaneously adjusted to achieve leveling of the third and fourth platform upper surfaces 56 and 70. [0047] The apparatus 10 may also be supplied with a fourth laser emitter 102 that emits a fourth laser beam 154 directed at a fourth laser target 104 on the first platform upper surface 28. These components allow the fourth platform upper surface 70 to be aligned with the first platform upper surface 28, and the components can be arranged in a similar manner as with their counterpart components on other platforms as previously discussed and a repeat of this information is not necessary. However, the fourth laser emitter 102, fourth laser beam 154, and fourth laser target 104 are not necessary in all embodiments of the apparatus 10 because by the time the fourth platform upper surface 70 is aligned with the third platform upper surface 56 all of the platform upper surfaces 28, 42, 56, and 70 will be in alignment. As such, it will not be necessary to have the fourth laser emitter 102, fourth laser beam 154, and fourth laser target 104 for alignment purposes because all of the platforms will be aligned at this point in time. The fourth laser emitter 102, fourth laser beam 154, and fourth laser target 104 could be used as a back-up to ensure that alignment has occurred, or could be present and substituted for one of the other alignments in instances where an obstacle blocks one of the laser beams 148, 150 or 152, or in instances where one of the laser beams 148, 150 or 152 strikes too far away from its intended laser target 92, 96, or 100 thus making the readings from the fourth laser target 104 more useful than the others and thus providing a better way to adjust the apparatus 10 into alignment.

[0048] Although described as having laser targets 92, 96, 100 and 104 located on different platforms, other embodiments are possible in which the laser emitters 90, 94, 98 and 102 include the laser targets 92, 96, 100 and 104. For example, the laser beams 148, 150, 152, and 154 could bounce off of a mirrors on the remote platforms and be directed back to the laser emitters 90, 94, 98 and 102 that each feature the laser target 92, 96, 100 and 104 that sense these reflected laser beams 148, 150, 152 and 154 and indicate alignment or non-alignment. All of the laser emitters 90, 94, 98, 102 and the laser targets 92, 96, 100 and 104 are in communication with the controller 88 that can use this data to make adjustments to globally level the platforms so that the platform upper surfaces 28, 42, 56 and 70 are all aligned with one another in the height direction and are located in the same plane.

[0049] Fig. 11 shows the vehicle 20 with a first left front wheel 12 located on a first turntable 132 carried by the first platform 24. The second left back wheel 14 is located on a second turntable 134 of the second platform 38. A third right rear wheel 16 is located onto a third turntable 136 of the third platform 52, and a fourth right front wheel 18 rests on a fourth turntable 138 of the fourth platform 66. The turntables 132, 134, 136, and 138 are components that are located on the platform upper surfaces 28, 42, 56 and 70 and as their locations are known and leveled, the turntables 132, 134, 136 and 138 themselves will be leveled to allow for a known positioning of the wheels 12, 14, 16 and 18 for wheel alignment purposes. The turntables 132, 134, 136 and 138 are used for wheel alignment.

[0050] Once the platforms 24, 38, 52 and 66 are globally leveled, an input by the operator may be made to cause all of the platforms, and hence the supported vehicle 20, to raise or lower at the same time while maintaining the zero degree pitch 32, 46, 60, 74 and roll 34, 48, 62, 76 angles. This allows an installer easier access to the vehicle 20 and to allow it to be removed from the apparatus 10 when desired. The apparatus 10 is used in the field away from a service station or other facility, and thus may be used on driveways 22 and parking lots 22 that are not level but that slope some amount left to right, and front to back relative to the vehicle 20.

[0051] The controller 88 may be in communication to receive data from the string potentiometers 106, 108, 110 and 112, and the sensors 80, 82, 84 and 86. The controller 88 may also send signals to, and in some cases may receive instructions from, the solenoid valves 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126 and 128. A level engage input switch may be in communication with the controller 88, and when actuated by the user cause the controller 88 to begin the global leveling process previously described. Alternatively, the global leveling may be automatically performed by the apparatus 10 and a level engage input switch is not needed. An up/down input switch may likewise be in communication with the controller 88 and can be actuated to cause the locally leveled platforms 24, 38, 52 and 66 to raise and lower in sequence with one another.

[0052] In use, the vehicle 20 may be first lifted with floor jacks and the four platforms 24,

38, 52 and 66 can be placed under the wheels 12, 14, 16 and 18 of the vehicle 20. The vehicle 20 may then be lowered so that the floor jacks are removed and the vehicle is completely supported and rests upon the four platforms 24, 38, 52 and 66. Next, the local leveling can be conducted in which the sensors 80, 82, 84 and 86 provide pitch 32, 46, 60, 74 and roll 34, 48, 62, 76 angles to the controller 88. The controller 88 then calculates the required spring or adjustment mechanism 30, 44, 58, 72 lengths for angle compensation, and raising or lowering commands are then sent to the springs or adjustment mechanisms 30, 44, 58, 72. Input from the string potentiometers 106, 108, 110, 112 is received by the controller 88 before the adjusting and after the adjusting in order to ascertain the lengths of the various springs or adjustment mechanisms 30, 33, 58, 72.

[0053] After local leveling, the user may then conduct global leveling of the apparatus

10. The user may visually identify the heights of the platform upper surfaces 28, 42, 56, and 70 by actuating the laser beams 148, 150, 152, 154 and seeing whether they strike the laser targets 92, 96, 100, 104. If they do not, the platforms 24, 38, 52, 66 may have height adjustment switches that can be manually actuated to cause the particular platform 24, 38, 52, 66 to move up or down. The user can actuate the heights of all or less than all of the platforms 24, 38, 52, 66 as needed in order to get the height alignment. Alternatively, the controller 88 can automatically make the height adjustments of the platforms 24, 38, 52, 66 based on sensor input without the need for the user to manually actuate the platforms 24, 38, 52, 66 to cause their heights to change. Once the platform upper surfaces 28, 42, 56, and 70 are aligned, the user can proceed with the vehicle 20 alignment checks. In some embodiments, the user can manually adjust the heights of the platform upper surfaces 28, 42, 56 and 70, individually or in combination with one another, to achieve and check for a global plane of levelness with all of the platforms 24, 38, 52, 66.

[0054] The number of laser emitters can be different in different embodiments, and laser emitters need not be present on all of the platforms 24, 38, 52, 66. In some instances, laser emitter 94 is present on the rear left second platform 38, and laser emitter 102 is present on the front right fourth platform 66, but laser emitters are not present on the front left first platform 24 and the rear right third platform 52. The laser emitter 94 can be used to achieve leveling between the rear platforms 38 and 52, and the laser emitter 102 can be used to achieve leveling between the front platforms 24 and 66. In these embodiments, the global leveling will be limited to just the front wheels, and then just the back wheels, but the fronts and backs will not be globally leveled in relation to each other. In other embodiments, the laser emitters can direct laser beams to more than one of the adjacent platforms so that two or three other platforms receive the emitted laser beam. In these embodiments, three or four platforms can be globally leveled by the use of a laser emitter at only one of the platforms.

[0055] Fig. 12 shows another embodiment of the first platform 24 that includes a first adjusting mechanism 30 that features four air springs with each air spring located at one of the four corners of the first frame 26. The first turntable 132 rests on the first platform upper surface 28, and the first origin 140 is again located at the center of the first platform upper surface 28. The first sensor 80 is located on the side of the first frame 26 and is not located on the first platform upper surface 28.

[0056] While the present subject matter has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments and methods thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing may readily produce alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to such embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is by way of example rather than by way of limitation, and the subject disclosure does not preclude inclusion of such modifications, variations and/or additions to the present subject matter as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An apparatus for use in leveling a vehicle for aligning the wheels of the vehicle, comprising:

a first platform that has a first frame that has a first platform upper surface, wherein the first platform has a first adjusting mechanism that adjusts a pitch, roll, and height of the first platform upper surface;

a second platform that has a second frame that has a second platform upper surface, wherein the second platform has a second adjusting mechanism that adjusts a pitch, roll, and height of the second platform upper surface;

a third platform that has a third frame that has a third platform upper surface, wherein the third platform has a third adjusting mechanism that adjusts a pitch, roll, and height of the third platform upper surface;

a fourth platform that has a fourth frame that has a fourth platform upper surface, wherein the fourth platform has a fourth adjusting mechanism that adjusts a pitch, roll, and height of the fourth platform upper surface;

a first sensor that measures the pitch and roll of the first platform upper surface;

a second sensor that measures the pitch and roll of the second platform upper surface; a third sensor that measures the pitch and roll of the third platform upper surface;

a fourth sensor that measures the pitch and roll of the fourth platform upper surface; a controller that receives measurement data from the first, second, third, and fourth sensors and sends adjustment instructions to the first, second, third, and fourth adjusting mechanisms to adjust the pitch and roll of the first, second, third and fourth platform upper surfaces;

a first laser emitter carried by the first platform; and

a first laser target carried by the second platform, wherein the first laser emitter emits a first laser towards the first laser target.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller sends adjustment instructions to at least one of the first adjustment mechanism and the second adjustment mechanism to adjust the height of at least one of the first and second platform upper surfaces.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claims 1 or 2, further comprising:

a second laser emitter carried by the second platform; a second laser target carried by the third platform, wherein the second laser emitter emits a second laser towards the second laser target, wherein the controller sends adjustment instructions to at least one of the second adjustment mechanism and the third adjustment mechanism to adjust the height of at least one of the second and third platform upper surfaces. a third laser emitter carried by the third platform;

a third laser target carried by the fourth platform, wherein the third laser emitter emits a third laser towards the fourth laser target, wherein the controller sends adjustment instructions to at least one of the third adjustment mechanism and the fourth adjustment mechanism to adjust the height of at least one of the third and fourth platform upper surfaces.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

a fourth laser emitter carried by the fourth platform;

a fourth laser target carried by the first platform, wherein the fourth laser emitter emits a fourth laser towards the fourth laser target, wherein the controller sends adjustment instructions to at least one of the fourth adjustment mechanism and the first adjustment mechanism to adjust the height of at least one of the fourth and first platform upper surfaces.

5. The apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1-4, wherein the pitch and roll of the first, second, third, and fourth platform upper surfaces is adjusted before the adjustment of the height of at least one of the first and second platform upper surfaces.

6. The apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1-5, wherein:

the first adjusting mechanism comprising at least three air springs that engage the first frame wherein each one of the air springs has an associated string potentiometer that measures the length of the associated air spring;

wherein the second adjusting mechanism comprising at least three air springs that engage the second frame wherein each one of the air springs has an associated string potentiometer that measures the length of the associated air spring;

wherein the third adjusting mechanism comprising at least three air springs that engage the third frame wherein each one of the air springs has an associated string potentiometer that measures the length of the associated air spring; and

wherein the fourth adjusting mechanism comprising at least three air springs that engage the fourth frame wherein each one of the air springs has an associated string potentiometer that measures the length of the associated air spring; wherein the adjustment instructions from the controller that are sent to the first, second, third, and fourth adjusting mechanisms to adjust the first, second, third, and fourth platform upper surfaces are sent to the air springs of the first, second, third, and fourth adjusting mechanisms.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

the first adjusting mechanism has four air springs;

wherein the second adjusting mechanism has four air springs;

wherein the third adjusting mechanism has four air springs; and

wherein the fourth adjusting mechanism has four air springs.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claims 6 or 7, wherein each one of the air springs has an up solenoid valve and a down solenoid valve, wherein actuation of the up solenoid valve causes the associated air spring to expand in length, wherein actuation of the down solenoid valve causes the associated air spring to contract in length.

9. The apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 6-8, wherein the string potentiometers send measurement signals to the controller.

10. The apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1-9, wherein:

the first sensor is an inertial measurement unit;

wherein the second sensor is an inertial measurement unit;

wherein the third sensor is an inertial measurement unit;

wherein the fourth sensor is an inertial measurement unit.

11. The apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1-9, wherein:

the first sensor is an orientation sensor;

wherein the second sensor is an orientation sensor;

wherein the third sensor is an orientation sensor;

wherein the fourth sensor is an orientation sensor.

12. The apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1-11, wherein the adjustment instructions to the first, second, third, and fourth adjusting mechanisms to adjust the pitch and roll of the first, second, third and fourth platform upper surfaces causes the pitch and roll of the first, second, third and fourth platform upper surfaces to be zero degree pitch and zero degree roll angles with respect to a gravity vector.

13. The apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1-12, further comprising:

a first turntable carried by the first platform;

a second turntable carried by the second platform;

a third turntable carried by the third platform; and

a fourth turntable carried by the fourth platform.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

a first wheel of the vehicle rests on the first turntable;

wherein a second wheel of the vehicle rests on the second turntable;

wherein a third wheel of the vehicle rests on the third turntable; and

wherein a fourth wheel of the vehicle rests on the fourth turntable.