GB2309789A - Axle alignment systems - Google Patents
Axle alignment systems Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2309789A GB2309789A GB9601867A GB9601867A GB2309789A GB 2309789 A GB2309789 A GB 2309789A GB 9601867 A GB9601867 A GB 9601867A GB 9601867 A GB9601867 A GB 9601867A GB 2309789 A GB2309789 A GB 2309789A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- projector
- axle
- wheel
- contact arms
- support member
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
- G01B5/00—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques
- G01B5/24—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
- G01B5/25—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes for testing the alignment of axes
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
- G01B11/00—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques
- G01B11/26—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
- G01B11/27—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes for testing the alignment of axes
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)
Abstract
An axle alignment system for alignment of a vehicle axle comprises two wheel clamps 20 for fitting to wheels 40 mounted on two ends of the axle, and a projector guide frame 10 for extending between the wheel clamps 20 to support a projector 41 such that it projects a beam perpendicularly to the axle. Each of the wheel clamps 20 comprises a longitudinal support member 27 adapted to extend perpendicularly to the axle and parallel to the ground to one side of the associated wheel 40, and two retractable contact arms 28 for engaging forward and rearward regions of the outer peripheral surface of the wheel 40. The two contact arms 28 are mounted on the support member 27 and are coupled together by a rack and pinion assembly 33 so that movement of one of the contact arms 28 in one direction results in corresponding movement of the other contact arm 28 in the opposite direction. The coupling together of the contact arms 28 in this manner ensures that the contact arms 28 of each wheel clamp 20 are symmetrically positioned relative to the axle when engaged with the outer wheel surface, and hence that the guide frame 10 is located such that the projector beam extends perpendicularly to the axle at all times.
Description
"Axle Alignment Svstems" This invention relates to axle alignment systems and is concerned more particularly, but not exclusively, with systems for alignment of truck or trailer axles.
As is well known incorrect alignment of the axles of heavy goods vehicles and the like can lead to increased tyre wear and increased fuel consumption. As a result considerable savings can be made by haulage operators by ensuring that the vehicles within their fleets are at all times set up with the correct axle alignments, that is with the axles aligned so as to extend precisely perpendicularly to the centreline of the vehicle chassis. Furthermore it is convenient for such haulage operators to employ operators who are able to visit the site of the haulage depot to provide an on-site axle alignment service.
It is an object of the invention to provide an axle alignment system which can be utilised in such a service in a particularly convenient manner.
According to the present invention there is provided an axle alignment system for alignment of a vehicle axle, the system comprising two wheel clamps for fitting to wheels mounted on two ends of the axle, and a projector guide frame for extending between the wheel clamps to support a projector such that it projects a beam perpendicularly to the axle, wherein each of the wheel clamps comprises a longitudinal support member adapted to extend perpendicularly to the axle and parallel to the ground to one side of the associated wheel, and two retractable contact arms for engaging forward and rearward regions of the outer peripheral surface of the wheel, the two contact arms being mounted on the support member and being coupled together so that movement of one of the contact arms in one direction results in corresponding movement of the other contact arm in the opposite direction.
The coupling together ofthe contact arms in this manner ensures that the contact arms of each wheel clamp are symmetrically positioned relative to the axle when engaged with the outer wheel surface, and hence that the guide frame is located such that the projector beam extends perpendicularly to the axle at all times.
The projector, which is preferably a component part of the system, is most advantageously a laser projector for directing a laser beam towards a target on the chassis of the truck or trailer. The target, which is preferably in the form of a calibrated flag, may be detachably connectible to the kingpin on the centreline of the chassis. A centring gauge in the form of a slotted member may be detachably connectible to the chassis at a small distance from the projector in order to centre the projector relative to the chassis.
The contact arms are preferably mounted on the support member so as to be slidable along the support member between engaged and retracted poSitions.
Furthermore each contact arm may be provided with clamping means, such as a clamping screw, for securing the contact arm in a position on the support member in which the contact arm engages the outer peripheral surface of the wheel.
Preferably each of the contact arms is provided with a roller for engaging the outer peripheral surface of the wheel.
It is also preferred that each contact arm has a ground-engaging part which extends beneath the support member and which contacts the ground in use. The groundengaging part of each contact arm conveniently incorporates a roller for engaging the ground having an axis substantially perpendicular to the support member.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the contact aims are coupled together by a rack and pinion assembly.
Furthermore the support member may be provided at at least one end with a contoured end part for engagement with complementary parts of the guide frame when the guide frame is supported thereon.
The invention also provides an axle alignment system for alignment of a vehicle axle, the system comprising two wheel clamps for fitting to wheels mounted on two ends of the axle, and a projector guide frame for extending between the wheel clamps to support a projector such that it projects a beam perpendicularly to the axle, wherein the projector guide frame comprises two frame parts each of which is adapted to engage a respective one of the wheel clamps and which are detachably coupled together by connector means.
The frame can conveniently be broken down into its two parts for transport, and coupled together by the connector means in a straightforward manner to form a rigid assembly in use.
The frame parts are advantageously provided with cross members adapted to lie adjacent to one another in the assembled frame, the connector means being preferably constituted by a clamping member adapted to connect the two cross members together.
For example, the clamping member may be a screwthreaded clamping bolt extending through a bore in one of the cross members and engageable within a screwthreaded bore in the other cross member.
One or both of the frame parts may be provided with parallel side rails, and preferably also a projector support mounted between the side rails so as to position a projector supported on the support midway between the wheel clamps.
The invention also provides an axle alignment system for alignment of a vehicle axle, the system comprising the two wheel clamps for fitting to wheels mounted on two ends of the axle, and a projector guide frame for extending between the wheel clamps to support a projector such that it projects a beam perpendicularly to the axle, wherein the projector guide frame incorporates a projector support which is adapted to support the projector so as to permit the projector to be pivoted about a horizontal axis so as to vary the inclination of the beam from the projector relative to the ground.
The projector support preferably incorporates a horizontal mounting shaft for pivotally supporting the projector so that the inclination of the beam can be accurately adjusted in the plane midway between the wheel clamps without requiring any special calibration procedures.
The invention further provides a wheel clamp for an axle alignment system for alignment of an axle having wheels mounted at its ends, the wheel clamp being engageable with one of the wheels and comprising a longitudinal support member adapted to extend perpendicularly to the axle and parallel to the ground to one side of the wheel, and two retractable contact arms for engaging forward and rearward regions of the outer peripheral surface of the wheel, the two contact arms being mounted on the support member and being coupled together so that movement of one of the contact arms in one direction results in corresponding movement of the other contact arm in the opposite direction.
In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram;
Figures 2, 3 and 4 are perspective, plan and side views of a projector guide frame of the system;
Figure 5 is a side view of a wheel clamp of the system;
Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram of the system in use; and
Figure 7 is a front view of a calibrated flag forming part of the system.
Referring to Figure 1 the axle alignment technique utilised in the preferred system of the invention is capable of detecting the misalignment error E as a result of the actual axle axis 1 being misaligned from the correct axle axis 2 extending perpendicularly to the centreline 3 of the vehicle chassis. The technique makes use of the fact that such misalignment error E results in the beam projected from a projector perpendicularly to the axle following a path 4 producing an offset from the centreline 3 in the target plane 5. The misalignment error E is found by dividing the offset from the centre of the target by a value which is obtained by dividing half the axle width by the distance of the projector from the target.
In order to carry out this technique with the required accuracy the preferred system comprises a projector guide frame 10, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, and two wheel clamps 20, as shown in Figure 5, for supporting the guide frame 10 parallel to the axle. The guide frame 10 comprises two frame parts 11 and 12 which are detachably coupled together by a screwthreaded clamping bolt 13 rotatably passing through a bore 14 in a cross member 15 of the part 11 and engageable within a screwthreaded bore 16 in a cross member 17 of the part 12. The cross members 15 and 17 and the clamping bolt 13 can be seen in Figure 3 which shows the frame 10 broken into two parts, although these components are omitted from Figure 2 in order to render the figure easier to read.Furthermore each ofthe frame parts 11 and 12 comprises two parallel side rails 18 spaced apart by an end bar 19, the cross member 17 being secured between the side rails 18 ofthe part 12 and the cross member 15 being secured between side rails 18 of the part 11 by means of extension parts 21 fitted within the side rails 18.
In addition, as best seen in Figure 2, a projector support 22 comprises a cross member 23 fixed between the side rails 18 of the frame part 12, and a support plate 24 fixed to the cross member 23 and provided with a stainless steel mounting shaft 25 for pivotally mounting a laser beam projector (not shown). The projector support 22 serves to support the projector precisely midway along the guide frame 10, and the projector is mounted on the shaft 25 in such a manner that the projector remains at the angle at which it is set by frictional engagement with the shaft 25.As best seen in Figure 4 the outer ends ofthe side rails 18 ofthe parts 11 and 12 are provided with wear pads 26 which serve a dual function, that is to prevent damage to the frame 10 when it is laid on the ground and to serve as runners for engaging within grooves in end plates of the wheel clamps 20, as will be described in more detail below.
Referring to Figure 5 each wheel clamp 20 comprises a longitudinal support member 27 for extending perpendicularly to the axle and parallel to the ground in use and two retractable contact arms 28 for engaging forward and rearward regions of the outer peripheral surface of the tired wheel. The contact arms 28 are mounted on the support member 27 which extends through integral sleeve parts 29 of the contact arms 28, and are slidable therealong to engage the tire wheel surface from opposite directions, clamping screws 30 extending through the sleeve parts 29 being provided for clamping the contact arms 28 in their engaged positions. Furthermore each of the contact arms 28 is provided with an upper roller 31 for engaging the tire surface, and a lower roller 32 for engaging the ground, both rollers 31 and 32 being rotatable about an axis parallel to the axle.The contact arms 28 are coupled together by a rack and pinion assembly 33 comprising a centre plate 34 fixed to the support member 27 and respective racks 35 extending from the contact arms 28 into engagement with gear wheels 36 rotatably mounted within a guide sleeve 37 fixed to the centre plate 34. The rack and pinion assembly 33 ensures that movement of one ofthe contact arms 28 towards or away from the wheel outer surface results in corresponding movement of the other contact arm 28 in the opposite direction, thereby providing a robust and accurate means of ensuring that the contact arms 28 are symmetrically located on either side of the axle and therefore of ensuring that the guide frame 10 supporting the projector is accurately located parallel to the axle by the two wheel clamps 20.Each end of the support member 27 is provided with an end plate 38 provided with locating grooves 39 into which the wear pads 26 on the guide frame 10 fit.
Figure 6 diagrammatically shows the positioning of one of the wheel clamps 20 in use so that it extends along the ground immediately adjacent the outside of one of the wheels 40 on the axle after the contact arms 28 have been moved into, and clamped in, their positions engaging the outer peripheral surface of the tire of the wheel, a further wheel clamp 20 (not shown in the figure) being engaged with the wheel at the other end of the axle. Furthermore the projector guide frame 10 is shown supported by the end plates 38 of the two wheel clamps 20, and the projector 41 is shown mounted on the support 22 so that it is positioned precisely midway between the wheel clamps 20. A slotted self-centring gauge 42 is attached to the chassis of the vehicle so as to be in the range of 15cm to 50cm in front of the projector 41 just below axle height.In addition a target in the form of a calibrated flag 43 is suspended from the kingpin 44 on the centreline of the chassis. As shown in Figure 7 the calibrated flag 43 comprises a detachable connector 45 for connection to the kingpin, an extension bar 46 connected to the connector 45 by a pin 47 and having a centreline 48 marked thereon, and a calibrated scale 49 attached to the extension bar 46.
The mounting of the laser projector 41 on the support 22 by means of the mounting shaft 25 enables the projector 41 to be pivoted so as to direct the laser beam 50, as shown in Figure 6, either upwardly or downwardly, whilst ensuring that the beam 50 remains at right angles to the guide frame 10 at all times. Initially the projector 41 is targeted on the slotted gauge 42, so that the laser beam 50 passes through the slot in the gauge 42. Having centred the projector 41, the laser beam 50 is moved up and down relative to the target flag 43 and the extension bar 46 is pivoted about the pin 47 until the laser beam appears to be moving parallel to the centreline 48 of the flag 43.
Having appropriately adjusted the flag 43 the laser beam 50 is then positioned so as to impinge on the calibrated scale 49, and any offset of the resultant laser dot on the scale 49 relative to the centreline 48 will indicate that the axle is not square with the centreline of the chassis so that appropriate steps can be taken to calculate the degree of misalignment and to adjust the axle accordingly.
The above described alignment measuring system is designed for use on commercial vehicle trailing axles to establish the amount of misalignment which exists in relation to the king pin serving as the theoretical centreline of the chassis, and it will be appreciated that the system is particularly convenient to use and accurate in that it ensures that the laser beam is at all times perpendicular to the axle.
Claims (19)
1. An axle alignment system for alignment of a vehicle axle, the system comprising two wheel clamps for fitting to wheels mounted on two ends of the axle, and a projector guide frame for extending between the wheel clamps to support a projector such that it projects a beam perpendicularly to the axle, wherein each of the wheel clamps comprises a longitudinal support member adapted to extend perpendicularly to the axle and parallel to the ground to one side of the associated wheel, and two retractable contact arms for engaging forward and rearward regions of the outer peripheral surface of the wheel, the two contact arms being mounted on the support member and being coupled together so that movement of one of the contact arms in one direction results in corresponding movement of the other contact arm in the opposite direction.
2. A system according to claim 1, incorporating the projector which is a laser projector for directing a laser beam towards a target on the chassis of the truck or trailer.
3. A system according to claim 2, incorporating the target which is in the form of a calibrated flag and which is detachably connectible to the kingpin on the centreline of the chassis.
4. A system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a centring gauge in the form of a slotted member is detachably connectible to the chassis at a small distance from the projector in order to centre the projector relative to the chassis.
5. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the contact arms are mounted on the support member so as to be slidable along the support member between engaged and retracted positions.
6. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein each contact arm is provided with clamping means for securing the contact arm in a position on the support member in which the contact arm engages the outer peripheral surface of the wheel.
7. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein each ofthe contact arms is provided with a roller for engaging the outer peripheral surface of the wheel.
8. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein each contact arm has a ground-engaging part which extends beneath the support member and which contacts the ground in use.
9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the ground-engaging part of each contact arm incorporates a roller for engaging the ground having an axis substantially perpendicular to the support member.
10. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the contact arms are coupled together by a rack and pinion assembly.
11. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the support member is provided at at least one end with a contoured end part for engagement with complementary parts of the guide frame when the guide frame is supported thereon.
12. An axle alignment system for alignment of a vehicle axle, the system comprising two wheel clamps for fitting to wheels mounted on two ends of the axle, and a projector guide frame for extending between the wheel clamps to support a projector such that it projects a beam perpendicularly to the axle, wherein the projector guide frame comprises two frame parts each of which is adapted to engage a respective one of the wheel clamps and which are detachably coupled together by connector means.
13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the frame parts are provided with cross members adapted to lie adjacent to one another in the assembled frame, the connector means being constituted by a clamping member adapted to connect the two cross members together.
14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the clamping member is a screwthreaded clamping bolt extending through a bore in one of the cross members and engageable within a screwthreaded bore in the other cross member.
15. A system according to claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein one or both of the frame parts is provided with parallel side rails, and also a projector support mounted between the side rails so as to position a projector supported on the support midway between the wheel clamps.
16. An axle alignment system for alignment of a vehicle axle, the system comprising the two wheel clamps for fitting to wheels mounted on two ends of the axle, and a projector guide frame for extending between the wheel clamps to support a projector such that it projects a beam perpendicularly to the axle, wherein the projector guide frame incorporates a projector support which is adapted to support the projector so as to permit the projector to be pivoted about a horizontal axis so as to vary the inclination of the beam from the projector relative to the ground.
17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the projector support incorporates a horizontal mounting shaft for pivotally supporting the projector so that the inclination ofthe beam can be accurately adjusted in the plane midway between the wheel clamps without requiring any special calibration procedures.
18. A wheel clamp for an axle alignment system for alignment of an axle having wheels mounted at its ends, the wheel clamp being engageable with one of the wheels and comprising a longitudinal support member adapted to extend perpendicularly to the axle and parallel to the ground to one side of the wheel, and two retractable contact arms for engaging forward and rearward regions of the outer peripheral surface of the wheel, the two contact arms being mounted on the support member and being coupled together so that movement of one of the contact arms in one direction results in corresponding movement of the other contact arm in the opposite direction.
19. An axle alignment system for alignment of a vehicle axle, substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9601867A GB2309789A (en) | 1996-01-30 | 1996-01-30 | Axle alignment systems |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9601867A GB2309789A (en) | 1996-01-30 | 1996-01-30 | Axle alignment systems |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9601867D0 GB9601867D0 (en) | 1996-04-03 |
| GB2309789A true GB2309789A (en) | 1997-08-06 |
Family
ID=10787818
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9601867A Withdrawn GB2309789A (en) | 1996-01-30 | 1996-01-30 | Axle alignment systems |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2309789A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7391303B2 (en) | 2004-12-16 | 2008-06-24 | Ball Randell D | Object alignment device and method |
| CN115046778A (en) * | 2022-08-17 | 2022-09-13 | 宿迁市计量测试所 | Vehicle chassis detection device |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2060912A (en) * | 1979-10-12 | 1981-05-07 | Samefa Ab | Apparatus and the use thereof for checking the alignment of wheel axles |
| GB2153094A (en) * | 1984-01-24 | 1985-08-14 | Honda Motor Co Ltd | Measuring the orientation of automobile wheels |
| GB2245980A (en) * | 1990-07-05 | 1992-01-15 | Anzen Motor Car | Wheel examining apparatus |
| GB2272193A (en) * | 1992-11-04 | 1994-05-11 | Ernest Frederick Bennett | Wheel clamp |
| GB2285872A (en) * | 1993-12-08 | 1995-07-26 | Keith Lovesy | Wheel alignment apparatus |
-
1996
- 1996-01-30 GB GB9601867A patent/GB2309789A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2060912A (en) * | 1979-10-12 | 1981-05-07 | Samefa Ab | Apparatus and the use thereof for checking the alignment of wheel axles |
| GB2153094A (en) * | 1984-01-24 | 1985-08-14 | Honda Motor Co Ltd | Measuring the orientation of automobile wheels |
| GB2245980A (en) * | 1990-07-05 | 1992-01-15 | Anzen Motor Car | Wheel examining apparatus |
| GB2272193A (en) * | 1992-11-04 | 1994-05-11 | Ernest Frederick Bennett | Wheel clamp |
| GB2285872A (en) * | 1993-12-08 | 1995-07-26 | Keith Lovesy | Wheel alignment apparatus |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7391303B2 (en) | 2004-12-16 | 2008-06-24 | Ball Randell D | Object alignment device and method |
| CN115046778A (en) * | 2022-08-17 | 2022-09-13 | 宿迁市计量测试所 | Vehicle chassis detection device |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9601867D0 (en) | 1996-04-03 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |