JP2016109464A - Wheel alignment adjustment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wheel alignment adjustment device and wheel alignment adjustment method for obtaining an appropriate steering angle even when wheel alignment is adjusted in a state where the posture of a vehicle is inclined.SOLUTION: A wheel alignment adjustment device 100 includes: a device (the first measurement instrument 1) for measuring the posture of a vehicle (an automobile A); a device (the second measurement instrument 2) for measuring wheel alignment; a device (the third measurement instrument 3) for measuring a steering angle; and a device (a computing unit 4) for calculating the correction amount Δθ of the wheel alignment on the basis of the measurement results of the respective devices (the first measurement instrument 1, the second measurement instrument 2, and the third measurement instrument 3). When the wheel alignment is adjusted in consideration of the correction amount Δθ, an appropriate steering angle is obtained even when the posture of the vehicle (the automobile A) is inclined.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a wheel alignment adjusting device.

  Conventionally, a device for measuring wheel alignment (alignment degree) is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Such equipment can measure the toe angle, camber angle, caster angle, etc. of each wheel.

  By the way, in the production process of the vehicle, there is a process of adjusting the wheel alignment. In this process, the wheel alignment is adjusted in a state where the steering angle is adjusted to the neutral position. However, when the wheel alignment is adjusted while the vehicle posture is inclined (see FIG. 4A), the steering angle deviates from the neutral position when the vehicle posture returns to the horizontal position (FIG. 4B). There was a problem. Therefore, there has been a demand for a technique that makes the steering angle appropriate even if the wheel alignment is adjusted while the vehicle is tilted.

JP 2010-48718 A

  Provided are a wheel alignment adjusting device and a wheel alignment adjusting method in which a steering angle is appropriate even if wheel alignment is adjusted in a state where the posture of the vehicle is inclined.

  The problems to be solved by the present invention are as described above. Next, means for solving the problems will be described.

The first invention is
A device for measuring the attitude of the vehicle;
Equipment to measure wheel alignment;
A device that measures the steering angle;
And a device that calculates a correction amount of the wheel alignment based on a measurement result by each of the devices.

The second invention is
Measuring the attitude of the vehicle;
Measuring wheel alignment;
Measuring the steering angle;
And a step of calculating a correction amount of the wheel alignment based on a measurement result of each of the steps.

  As effects of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

  The wheel alignment adjusting apparatus according to claim 1 calculates a correction amount of the wheel alignment from the attitude of the vehicle, the wheel alignment, and the steering angle. Therefore, if the wheel alignment is adjusted in consideration of such a correction amount, the steering angle is appropriate even if the vehicle is tilted.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the wheel alignment adjustment method calculates the correction amount of the wheel alignment from the attitude of the vehicle, the wheel alignment, and the steering angle. Therefore, if the wheel alignment is adjusted in consideration of such a correction amount, the steering angle is appropriate even if the vehicle is tilted.

The figure which shows a wheel alignment adjustment apparatus. The figure which shows the process of adjusting wheel alignment. The figure which shows the condition where a steering angle becomes appropriate. The figure which shows the condition where a steering angle is not appropriate.

  First, the wheel alignment adjusting device 100 will be described.

  The wheel alignment adjusting device 100 adjusts the wheel alignment of the automobile A. The wheel alignment adjusting device 100 includes a first measuring instrument 1, a second measuring instrument 2, and a third measuring instrument 3. Further, the wheel alignment adjusting device 100 includes a computing unit 4.

  The first measuring instrument 1 measures the attitude of the automobile A. The first measuring instrument 1 includes a spindle 11 that expands and contracts toward the chassis Ac of the automobile A, and a sensor 12 that detects contact of the spindle 11. Then, the first measuring instrument 1 transmits measurement information related to the height at a plurality of locations of the chassis Ac to the computing unit 4. Therefore, the computing unit 4 can grasp the attitude of the automobile A. The method for measuring the attitude of the automobile A is not limited. For example, the posture of the automobile A may be measured by a vehicle height sensor (such as a stroke sensor attached to the suspension).

  The second measuring instrument 2 measures wheel alignment. The second measuring instrument 2 includes a roller 21 that contacts the wheel Ah of the automobile A, and a sensor 22 that detects the rotational speed of the roller 21. And the 2nd measuring device 2 transmits the measurement information regarding the rotational speed of each wheel Ah to the calculator 4. Therefore, the calculator 4 can grasp the wheel alignment. In addition, it does not limit about the method of measuring wheel alignment.

  The third measuring instrument 3 measures the steering angle. The third measuring instrument 3 includes a stage 31 that is fixed to the steering wheel As of the automobile A, and a sensor 32 that detects the displacement of the stage 31. Then, the third measuring instrument 3 transmits measurement information regarding the angle of the steering As to the calculator 4. Therefore, the calculator 4 can grasp the steering angle. Note that the method for measuring the steering angle is not limited.

  The computing unit 4 calculates a wheel alignment correction amount Δθ (hereinafter referred to as “correction amount Δθ”). The arithmetic unit 4 includes an arithmetic processing unit (CPU) 41 that executes a program, a storage device (ROM) 42 that stores a program, and a storage device (RAM) 43 that stores a calculation result and the like. The computing unit 4 calculates the correction amount Δθ based on the attitude of the automobile A, the wheel alignment, and the steering angle.

  In addition, the wheel alignment adjusting device 100 includes a display 5.

  The display 5 displays wheel alignment adjustment values and other information. The display 5 is electrically connected to the computing unit 4 and displays various information transmitted from the computing unit 4.

  Next, the reason why the steering angle is appropriate will be described.

  FIG. 2 shows the process of adjusting the wheel alignment. FIG. 3 shows a situation where the steering angle is appropriate.

  In step S <b> 1, the computing unit 4 grasps the attitude of the automobile A based on the measurement information transmitted by the first measuring instrument 1. If it demonstrates concretely, the calculator 4 will grasp | ascertain the yaw angle, roll angle, and pitch angle of the motor vehicle A based on the measurement information which the 1st measuring device 1 transmitted. Note that the yaw angle, roll angle, and pitch angle are general parameters that represent the attitude of the automobile A, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  In step S <b> 2, the calculator 4 grasps the wheel alignment based on the measurement information transmitted by the second measuring instrument 2. More specifically, the computing unit 4 grasps the toe angle, camber angle, caster angle, and the like of each wheel Ah based on the measurement information transmitted by the second measuring device 2. Note that the toe angle, the camber angle, and the caster angle are general parameters representing the attitude of the wheel Ah, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  In step S <b> 3, the arithmetic unit 4 grasps the steering angle based on the measurement information transmitted by the third measuring device 3. More specifically, the computing unit 4 grasps the rotation angle of the steering As based on the measurement information transmitted by the third measuring device 3. In the step of adjusting the wheel alignment, the rotation angle of the steering wheel As is adjusted to the neutral position. For example, when the posture of the vehicle is horizontal, the steering As is also adjusted to be horizontal without tilting.

  In step S4, the calculator 4 calculates the correction amount Δθ. More specifically, the computing unit 4 calculates a correction angle for wheel alignment based on the attitude of the automobile A, the wheel alignment, and the steering angle. In the wheel alignment adjusting apparatus 100, the wheel alignment correction angle is calculated for all of the toe angle, camber angle, caster angle, and the like. Moreover, it calculates about all four wheels Ah.

  In step S <b> 5, the computing unit 4 displays various information on the display unit 5. More specifically, the computing unit 4 causes the display unit 5 to display wheel alignment adjustment values and the like. The wheel alignment adjustment value is determined in consideration of the correction amount Δθ calculated in step S4. The operator can recognize all information necessary for adjusting the wheel alignment by looking at the display 5.

  In step S6, the worker or the work machine adjusts the wheel alignment. More specifically, the worker or the work machine adjusts the wheel alignment in consideration of the correction amount Δθ. When the wheel alignment is adjusted in this way (see FIG. 3A), the steering angle deviates from the neutral position when the vehicle posture returns to the horizontal position (see FIG. 3B). Since the wheel alignment is adjusted in anticipation of this deviation, the steering angle is appropriate (see FIG. 3C).

  As described above, the wheel alignment adjusting device 100 calculates the correction amount Δθ of the wheel alignment from the attitude of the automobile A (vehicle), the wheel alignment, and the steering angle. Therefore, if the wheel alignment is adjusted in consideration of the correction amount Δθ, the steering angle becomes appropriate even if the posture of the automobile A (vehicle) is tilted.

  In addition, the above technical idea can also specify the invention as a method of adjusting the wheel alignment.

  That is, the wheel alignment adjustment method calculates the wheel alignment correction amount Δθ from the attitude of the automobile A (vehicle), the wheel alignment, and the steering angle. Therefore, if the wheel alignment is adjusted in consideration of the correction amount Δθ, the steering angle becomes appropriate even if the posture of the automobile A (vehicle) is tilted.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Wheel alignment adjustment apparatus 1 1st measuring device 11 Spindle 12 Sensor 2 2nd measuring device 21 Roller 22 Sensor 3 3rd measuring device 31 Stage 32 Sensor 4 Calculator 41 Arithmetic processing device 42 Storage device 43 Storage device 5 Display device A Automobile Ac Chassis Ah Wheel As Steering Δθ Wheel alignment correction amount

Claims (1)

A device for measuring the attitude of the vehicle;
Equipment to measure wheel alignment;
A device that measures the steering angle;
A wheel alignment adjustment device comprising: a device that calculates a correction amount of the wheel alignment based on a measurement result of each of the devices.

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