JP4609905B2 - Method and apparatus for measuring vehicle wheel alignment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring vehicle wheel alignment.

  An automobile is provided with a camber angle in order to ensure steering performance during traveling, and a toe angle is provided in the wheel in order to prevent a decrease in straight running stability due to the provision of the camber angle. And, in order to adjust the alignment of the wheels so as to obtain good running stability, it is necessary to measure the angle and position of each wheel with high accuracy. Such wheel alignment measurement is generally performed on a complete vehicle with wheels mounted. In this case, for example, the wheel alignment is determined from the position and posture of the sidewalls of the wheels (tires and wheels). Measurement will be performed. For this reason, there is a possibility that the measurement result may be distorted due to the elastic deformation of the tire, the mounting state of the wheel, and the like, and accurate wheel alignment cannot be adjusted from this measurement result.

  On the other hand, conventionally, in an assembly line for assembling an automobile body, wheel alignment is measured via a wheel attachment portion without attaching a wheel, thereby improving automobile productivity (Patent Document 1). Or refer to Patent Document 2). In other words, in an automobile body assembly line, a load corresponding to the vehicle weight is applied to the wheel mounting portion by raising the wheel mounting portion with the wheels not mounted after the steering device and the suspension device are assembled relative to the vehicle body. The wheel alignment is measured by detecting the position and posture of the wheel mounting portion. According to this, since the position and posture of the wheel mounting portion are detected without passing through the wheel, it is possible to obtain a measurement result that is not affected by the elastic deformation of the wheel or the mounting state.

However, since the wheel alignment measurement performed on the wheel mounting part where the wheel is not mounted is a measurement in a grounding state or a load applied state different from the wheel mounting part where the wheel is mounted, sufficiently high measurement accuracy It was not enough to get.
Japanese Patent No. 2938984 Japanese Patent No. 3881287

  In view of the above points, the present invention provides a vehicle wheel alignment measurement method capable of measuring wheel alignment without attaching a wheel in an assembly line for assembling an automobile body, and obtaining a highly accurate measurement result of wheel alignment, and its It is an object to provide an apparatus.

  The present invention relates to a wheel mounting portion raising step in which a wheel mounting portion provided on an axle of an automobile is freely movable up and down to support a vehicle body on a support portion, and a wheel mounting portion in which a wheel is not mounted is raised, and the wheel mounting portion. In the vehicle wheel alignment measurement method, comprising a measurement step of measuring wheel alignment based on the position and orientation of a predetermined measurement location set in advance in the wheel attachment portion that is raised by the raising step, the wheel attachment portion raising step Prior to providing a wheel simulation body mounting step of mounting a wheel simulation body in a state where the wheel mounting portion is in a state where the wheel is mounted in a simulated manner with the wheel mounting portion exposed in the state where the measurement location of the wheel mounting portion is exposed, In the wheel mounting portion raising step, the wheel mounting portion is raised through the wheel simulation body, and in the measurement step, the measurement is performed on the measurement point exposed from the wheel simulation body. And wherein the Ukoto.

  According to the measuring method of the present invention, the wheel mounting portion in which the wheel is not mounted is lifted by the wheel mounting portion raising step while the vehicle body is supported by the support portion, and the wheel alignment of the wheel mounting portion is performed by the measuring step. taking measurement. In the measurement step, the wheel alignment is measured with respect to the wheel mounting portion in which the wheel is not mounted. Therefore, the wheel alignment can be measured with respect to the unfinished vehicle body in the assembly line for assembling the automobile body. In addition, the measurement location is preset in the wheel attachment part, and the measurement result of wheel alignment is obtained from the position and orientation of this measurement location in the measurement process. As the said measurement location, a part of each components which comprise wheel attachment parts, such as a side surface of a brake device, can be mentioned, for example. In addition, since the wheel simulation body in the present invention simulates a wheel, it corresponds to the wheel offset dimension of the wheel mounting portion of the vehicle body to be measured, and the power point of the axial load applied to the axle of the wheel mounting portion. However, it shall have the shape which corresponds to the state which actually attached the wheel.

  Further, in the present invention, the measurement step is performed in a state where the wheel simulation body is mounted on the wheel mounting portion by the wheel simulation body mounting step. In order for the wheel simulated body to be in a state in which the wheel is mounted on the wheel mounting portion in a simulated manner, a ground contact state equivalent to a case where the wheel is mounted on the wheel mounting portion and a load applied state to the wheel mounting portion are formed. This makes it possible to dramatically improve the wheel alignment measurement system. In addition, since the wheel simulation body is attached to the wheel attachment portion with the measurement point of the wheel attachment portion exposed, the wheel alignment measurement in the measurement process is performed on the wheel attachment portion, and the wheel is actually attached. A highly accurate measurement result can be obtained from the position and posture of the wheel mounting part with no wheel mounted while reproducing the state.

  Further, the measuring step in the method of the present invention may be configured such that the vehicle body is detached from the support portion through the wheel simulated body in the wheel mounting portion raising step, and the vehicle wheel is stationary in a state where the vehicle weight is received by the wheel simulated body. A static alignment measurement step for measuring alignment is provided. Thus, the vehicle weight is received by the wheel simulation body, and the static alignment of the wheel mounting portion can be measured in the same state as when the wheel is mounted.

  Further, in the method of the present invention, in the wheel mounting portion raising step, the wheel is supported while the vehicle body is supported by the support portion so as not to be lifted, and the wheel mounting portion is raised relative to the vehicle body via the wheel simulation body. A load measuring step for measuring the load on the mounting portion; and a lift stopping step for stopping the rising of the wheel mounting portion when the load on the wheel mounting portion measured in the load measuring step reaches a preset load. The measuring step includes a static alignment measuring step of measuring the wheel alignment in a stationary state where the ascent is stopped by the ascending / stopping step and the vehicle weight is received by the wheel simulation body. In this case, as a load for stopping in the ascending / stopping process, for example, a load of a wheel mounting portion in a grounded state in a completed vehicle is set as a preset load (in a completed vehicle, a wheel is attached to the wheel mounting portion). Therefore, the weight obtained by subtracting the weight of the wheel and the mounting nut for mounting the wheel on the wheel mounting portion is used as the set load). Thereby, the vehicle weight equivalent to the completed vehicle is given to the wheel simulation body whose ascent is stopped, and the static alignment of the wheel mounting portion can be measured in the same state as when the wheel is mounted.

  The measuring step in the method of the present invention supports the vehicle body on the support portion so as not to be lifted, and the wheel mounting portion is raised relative to the vehicle body via the wheel simulated body by the wheel mounting portion raising step. And a dynamic alignment measuring step of measuring the wheel alignment while performing. At this time, in the dynamic alignment measurement step, the change in the position of the wheel attachment portion and the change in the wheel alignment in the ascending range of the wheel attachment portion due to the wheel attachment portion ascent step are measured during vehicle body design. A change curve of the posture angle (toe angle or camber angle) can be obtained based on the vehicle height.

  Further, in the method of the present invention, the wheel mounting portion has a brake disc assembled to a hub that connects the wheels, and the wheel simulated body is connected to the hub of the wheel mounting portion to connect a plurality of disc surfaces of the brake disc. A location is exposed as the measurement location, and the measurement step performs the measurement through a disc surface of a brake disc exposed from the wheel simulation body. The brake disc is assembled to the wheel mounting portion with high accuracy so that the disc surface is perpendicular to the axle, and the disc surface is flat over the entire circumference. By setting the measurement location on the disc surface of such a brake disc, for example, the measurement accuracy is high and extremely high compared to when measurement is performed using a sidewall of a wheel (tire and wheel) as a measurement location. Accuracy can be measured by wheel alignment.

  Further, the present invention is a measuring apparatus for realizing the above method, and a support portion for supporting a vehicle body so that the vehicle body can not be raised or raised by making a wheel mounting portion provided on an axle of the vehicle freely movable up and down, and a wheel. Is a wheel simulation body that is detachably mounted on the wheel mounting portion in a state where a predetermined measurement point set in advance on the wheel mounting portion that is not mounted is exposed, and the wheel mounting portion is in a state in which the wheel is mounted in a simulated manner. A wheel mounting portion raising means for raising the wheel attachment portion via the wheel simulated body, and measuring the wheel alignment based on the position and posture of the measurement location of the wheel attachment portion raised by the wheel attachment portion raising means. And measuring means.

  According to the present invention, since the measurement by the measuring means is performed in a state in which the wheel simulated body is mounted on the wheel mounting portion, the wheel with respect to the wheel mounting portion in a state as if the wheel mounting portion is mounted. Alignment can be measured. Therefore, even when the wheel is not mounted on the wheel mounting portion in the assembly line of the vehicle body, the wheel alignment can be measured with high accuracy.

  Furthermore, in the apparatus of the present invention, if the support portion supports the vehicle body so that the vehicle body can be raised, the vehicle body is separated above the support portion by raising the wheel attachment portion by the wheel attachment portion raising means, so that the wheel simulation body is The static alignment can be easily measured in a state of receiving. Further, if the support portion supports the vehicle body so as not to be raised, the wheel attachment portion is raised by the wheel attachment portion raising means, and the dynamic alignment in the ascent range can be easily measured.

  The wheel mounting portion in the apparatus of the present invention has a brake disc assembled to a hub that connects wheels, and the wheel simulated body includes a connecting portion that connects to the hub of the wheel mounting portion, and a disc surface of the brake disc. And a plurality of open portions exposing the plurality of locations as the measurement locations, and a grounding portion provided at a predetermined distance below the wheel mounting portion. According to this, the wheel alignment can be measured with respect to the disk surface of the high-precision brake disc exposed from the open portion, and the grounding portion can be brought into the same grounding state as the wheel mounting portion on which the wheel is mounted. A highly accurate measurement result by the measuring means can be obtained.

  Moreover, the apparatus of this invention WHEREIN: It is preferable that the said wheel attachment part raising means is equipped with the load measurement means which measures the load of the wheel attachment part at the time of a raise via the said wheel simulation body. According to this, in particular, when measuring the static alignment, the load applied to the wheel simulation body from the wheel mounting portion can easily correspond to the load of the wheel mounting portion in the grounded state in the completed vehicle, The static alignment of the wheel mounting portion can be accurately measured in the same state as when the wheel is mounted.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory side view showing a schematic configuration of an alignment measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a wheel mounting portion raising means and an alignment measuring means, FIG. 3 is an explanatory perspective view of a wheel simulation body, and FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory sectional view of the wheel simulation body, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the main part of the measuring means.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the wheel alignment measuring device 1 according to the present embodiment is provided on a conveyance path of a vehicle body 2 in an assembly line of an automobile body 2. The vehicle body 2 is supported by a hanger 3 (indicated by phantom lines) and conveyed along a conveyance path. When the vehicle body 2 is positioned directly above the wheel alignment measurement device 1, the vehicle body 2 is received by the wheel alignment measurement device 1 below it. The vehicle body 2 conveyed immediately above the wheel alignment measuring device 1 is assembled with a suspension device 4 (a part of which is shown in FIG. 2) on the upstream side, and the position of the steering (not shown) is adjusted to the neutral position. As shown in FIG. 2, a wheel attachment portion 6 for attaching a wheel is provided at the shaft end of the axle 5 connected to the suspension device 4, and the wheel is still attached to the wheel attachment portion 6. It is said that it is not done.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the wheel alignment measuring apparatus 1 includes a vehicle body support means 7 (support portion) that supports the vehicle body 2 by detaching the vehicle body 2 from the hanger 3 and a vehicle body supported by the vehicle body support means 7. The wheel attachment part raising means 8 for raising the wheel attachment part 6 which can be raised in a state of hanging from 2 and the alignment for detecting the displacement of the wheel attachment part 6 and measuring the posture angle (toe angle and camber angle). A measuring unit 9 (measuring unit), and a wheel simulation body 10 that is mounted on the wheel mounting portion 6 and is in a state in which the wheel is mounted in a simulated manner.

  The vehicle body support means 7 includes a mounting portion 12 for placing the mounting portion 12 on a jackup bracket 11 provided on the vehicle body 2 by abutting from below and clamping the vehicle body 2 so as to be releasable. And a vehicle body lifter 13 for raising the vehicle body 2 through the vehicle body 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the wheel attachment portion raising means 8 is provided corresponding to each of the four wheel attachment portions 6, and a support plate 14 that supports the wheel attachment portion 6 via the wheel simulation body 10. When the vehicle length direction is the front-rear direction and the vehicle width direction is the left-right direction, the elevating table 15 that connects the support plate 14 movably in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, and the elevating device 16 that elevates the elevating table 15 It has.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the lift table 15 supports a support plate 14 via a first movable plate 17 and a second movable plate 18, and the first movable plate 17 is supported by a rail 19 on the lift table 15. Guided in the left-right direction, the second movable plate 18 is guided in the front-rear direction by the rail 20 on the first movable plate 17. Further, the first movable plate 17 is moved in the left-right direction by a driving device 21 provided on the lifting table 15, and the amount of movement in the left-right direction from the original position is detected by an encoder (not shown). Similarly, the second movable plate 18 is moved in the front-rear direction by a drive device (not shown) provided on the first movable plate 17, and the amount of movement from the original position in the front-rear direction is detected by an encoder (not shown). . Although not shown, the lifting table 15 is provided with a load measuring means 14 a for measuring a load received from the wheel mounting portion 6 via the support plate 14.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the wheel simulation body 10 includes a connecting portion 22 that is connected to the wheel mounting portion 6, an open portion 23 that exposes a later-described measurement location of the wheel mounting portion 6, and a lower portion of the wheel mounting portion 6. And, more specifically, an attachment member 25 that is a part of the connection part 22 attached to the wheel attachment part 6 and the other part of the connection part 22. The first frame 27 has a connecting means 26 and is detachably connected to the mounting member 25, and the second frame 28 is connected to and supports the first frame 27 so as to be swingable.

  The second frame 28 includes the grounding portion 24 at the lower end thereof, and the grounding portion 24 is rotatably connected to the support plate 14 via a rotating shaft 29 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of vertical arms 30 extending upward are connected to both sides of the grounding portion 24 in the front-rear direction. The first frame 27 includes a holding portion 31 that holds the connecting means 26 so as to be movable forward and backward toward the wheel attachment portion 6, and a pair of horizontal arms 32 that are connected to both sides of the holding portion 31 in the front-rear direction. Both horizontal arms 32 extend to the front and rear sides of the wheel mounting portion 6, and are rotatably connected to both vertical arms 30 via a rotation shaft 33. By such a connecting structure of the horizontal arm 32 and the vertical arm 30, the space between the first frame 27 and the second frame 28 is opened to form the opening portion 23. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the mounting member 25 includes a connecting shaft 34 that extends coaxially with the wheel mounting portion 6, and a fixing portion 35 that projects in a hook shape on the outer periphery of the connecting shaft 34. Is attached to the hub 36 of the wheel attachment portion 6 by a wheel fixing bolt 37. The attachment work of the attachment member 25 to the wheel attachment portion 6 is performed on the upstream side of the wheel alignment measuring device 1 in the assembly line of the vehicle body 2. A brake disc 38 is assembled on the outer periphery of the hub 36 of the wheel attachment portion 6, and the attachment member 25 is formed in a size that does not cover the disc surface of the brake disc 38.

  The connecting shaft 34 of the attachment member 25 is formed with a connecting hole 39 that gradually increases in diameter toward the tip of the connecting shaft 34, and a locking groove 40 is formed on the inner surface side of the connecting hole 39.

  The connecting means 26 includes a taper shaft 41 that can be inserted in correspondence with the connecting hole 39 of the mounting member 25. The taper shaft 41 is provided with a sliding member 42 that slides along the axis thereof. The tip of the sliding member 42 is urged in the protruding direction by the spring member 43 with respect to the sliding member 42. A contact member 44 is provided. A cylinder 45 that drives the sliding member 42 is provided at the base end of the sliding member 42. Further, the claw member 47 is held by the sliding member 42 via the cam groove 46, and the claw member 47 guided by the cam groove 46 from the outer periphery of the taper shaft 41 when the sliding member 42 slides in the distal direction. The claw member 47 that protrudes and is guided in the cam groove 46 is recessed from the outer periphery of the taper shaft 41 when the sliding member 42 slides in the proximal direction. As a result, the taper shaft 41 of the connecting means 26 is inserted into the connecting hole 39 of the mounting member 25 and the sliding member 42 is slid toward the proximal end by the cylinder 45, so that the claw member 47 is engaged with the locking groove 40. The mounting member 25 is coupled by being latched. At this time, the contact member 44 contacts the back end of the coupling hole 39 and biases the sliding member 42 toward the proximal end side, so that the state in which the claw member 47 is locked in the locking groove 40 is maintained. be able to. Further, when the taper shaft 41 is inserted into the connection hole 39, the large diameter side of the connection hole 39 guides the small diameter side of the tip of the taper shaft 41. Even if there is an axial misalignment with the connecting hole 39, it is possible to reliably connect and match the axis.

  Further, the connecting means 26 is fixed to the holding portion 31 at a position corresponding to the wheel offset dimension of the wheel mounting portion 6, and is connected to the axle 5 of the wheel mounting portion 6 so as to match the state where the wheel is actually mounted. The rotating shaft 29 of the ground contact portion 24 is positioned directly below the force point f of the applied axial load. Thereby, it can be set as the state which attached the wheel to the wheel attachment part 6 in simulation, without attaching a wheel to the wheel attachment part 6, only by connecting the wheel simulation body 10 to the wheel attachment part 6. In addition, when the vehicle type used as a measuring object is changed, the attachment member 25 corresponding to the vehicle type is attached to the wheel attachment part 6. At this time, for example, the attachment member 25 having the extension dimension of the connecting shaft 34 that matches the wheel offset dimension of each vehicle type may be prepared for each vehicle type. By doing so, the force point f of the axial load of the wheel mounting portion 6 can be obtained simply by connecting the mounting member 25 to the connecting means 26 without changing the shape of the first frame 27 or the second frame 28 in accordance with the change of the vehicle type. The rotating shaft 29 of the grounding portion 24 can be positioned immediately below the ground.

  In the wheel simulation body 10, the grounding portion 24 is rotatable with respect to the support plate 14 via the rotation shaft 29, and the horizontal arm 32 is freely rotatable (swinging) with respect to the vertical arm 30 via the rotation shaft 33. It is configured to follow the posture of the wheel mounting portion 6 when it is connected to the wheel mounting portion 6, but when it is not connected to the wheel mounting portion 6, the posture of the horizontal arm 32 is also configured. And an orientation of the vertical arm 30 is provided with an original position return mechanism (not shown) in which the connecting means 26 returns to the original position facing the mounting member 25.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the alignment measuring means 9 includes a columnar frame 48 erected adjacent to the wheel mounting portion raising means 8, a sensor unit 49 facing the wheel mounting portion 6, and a sensor unit 49 and a columnar shape. And a support mechanism 50 that is interposed between the frame 48 and supports the sensor unit 49.

  The support mechanism 50 is provided on the side wall of the columnar frame 48 and is movable up and down along a rail 51 extending in the vertical direction. The support mechanism 50 is provided on the vertical wall of the lift frame 52 and extends in the front-rear direction (vehicle length direction). A sliding frame 54 slidable along the extending rail 53, and two advancing and retracting frames slidable in the advancing and retracting direction toward the wheel mounting portion 6 along the rail 55 provided on the side wall of the sliding frame 54. (First advance / retreat frame 56, second advance / retreat frame 57). The sensor unit 49 is connected to the leading edge of the first advance / retreat frame 56. The second advancing / retracting frame 57 is connected to the support plate 14 of the wheel mounting part raising means 8 by a connecting arm 58, and the tip of the connecting arm 58 is supported via a ball joint 59 which is a bendable joint. It is connected to.

  The columnar frame 48 is provided with an assist cylinder 60 for causing the support mechanism 50 to follow up and down of the support plate 14 via the up-and-down frame 52. In addition, the second advance / retreat frame 57 rotates the ball screw 61 that moves the first advance / retreat frame 56 following the movement of the first movable plate 17 and the ball screw 61 according to the movement amount of the first movable plate 17. Drive motor 62 is provided. Note that the sliding frame 54 is slidable along the rail 51 of the elevating frame 52, thereby following the movement of the second movable plate 18.

  The alignment measuring means 9 follows the height and the front / rear / left / right movement of the wheel mounting portion 6 on the support plate 14 via the connecting arm 58 by the above-described configuration, and the support plate 14 further loads the wheel mounting portion 6. Even if the support plate 14 is distorted or inclined, the distortion or inclination of the support plate 14 is absorbed by the bending of the ball joint 59, and the distortion or inclination is prevented from spreading to the sensor unit 49.

  The sensor unit 49 includes three laser sensors (a first sensor 63, a second sensor 64, and a third sensor 65) as shown in FIG. The first sensor 63, the second sensor 64, and the third sensor 65 are respectively opposed to three points a, b, and c (measurement points) set on the disk surface of the brake disk 38 assembled to the wheel mounting portion 6. To do. The first sensor 63 measures the distance to point a of the brake disc 38, the second sensor 64 measures the distance to point b of the brake disc 38, and the third sensor 65 measures the distance to point c of the brake disc 38. Then, the vertical displacement between the point a and the central point between the points b and c is measured from the difference in distance measured by the first sensor 63, the second sensor 64, and the third sensor 65. Detect the camber angle. Further, the horizontal displacement between the point b and the point c is measured from the difference in distance measured by the second sensor 64 and the third sensor 65, and the toe angle is detected from this displacement. Since these three points a, b, and c (measurement points) are exposed by the opening 23 of the wheel simulation body 10, the wheel simulation body is measured when the sensor unit 49 measures the toe angle and the camber angle. 10 does not get in the way. Moreover, since the disc surface of the brake disc 38 is formed smoothly and with high accuracy, the measurement results of the toe angle and the camber angle are obtained by setting three points a, b, and c as measurement locations on the disc surface. It can be obtained with extremely high accuracy.

  Next, a method for measuring wheel alignment by the wheel alignment measuring apparatus 1 having the above configuration will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the vehicle body 2 supported by the hanger 3 is conveyed directly above the wheel alignment measuring device 1, the vehicle body support means 7 is raised to place the jackup bracket 11 portion of the vehicle body 2. It abuts on the part 12. At this time, the attachment member 25 of the wheel simulation body 10 is previously attached to the wheel attachment portion 6 on the upstream side. Then, the vehicle body 2 is further lifted by the vehicle body lifter 13 of the vehicle body support means 7 so as to be separated from the hanger 3, and the vehicle body 2 is clamped by the mounting portion 12 so as not to be lifted.

  Next, the support plate 14 is raised by the wheel attachment portion raising means 8, and the connecting portion 22 of the wheel simulation body 10 provided on the support plate 14 is connected to the attachment member 25 by the connection means 26. Thereby, on the support plate 14, the wheel simulation body 10 is attached to the wheel mounting portion 6 (wheel simulation body mounting step), and even if the wheel is not mounted on the wheel mounting portion 6, the wheel simulation body 10 causes the wheel to move. It will be in the same state as it is installed. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, the sensor unit 49 faces the wheel mounting portion 6 via the wheel simulation body 10. When connecting the connecting means 26 of the wheel simulated body 10 to the mounting member 25, the sensor unit 49 is moved backward in a direction away from the wheel mounting portion 6, and the connecting means 26 of the wheel simulated body 10 is connected to the mounting member 25. When it is done, it advances toward the wheel mounting portion 6 to have a predetermined distance, and faces the wheel mounting portion 6 in a non-contact state.

  Subsequently, the wheel mounting portion 6 is lifted by the wheel mounting portion lifting means 8 via the support plate 14 (wheel mounting portion lifting step), and the toe angle and camber angle are measured by the sensors 63, 64, 65 of the sensor unit 49. Is performed (measurement process). At this time, each of the sensors 63, 64, 65 performs measurement on each measurement location (a, b, c) set on the disk surface of the brake disk 38 exposed from the wheel simulation body 10. Thereby, for example, measurement results with extremely high accuracy can be obtained as compared with the case where the sidewalls of the wheels (tires and wheels) are used as measurement locations.

  Here, in the measurement process, the wheel alignment can be measured in a stationary state in which the vehicle weight is received by the wheel simulation body (static alignment measurement process), and the wheel mounting portion is moved through the wheel simulation body. It is also possible to measure wheel alignment while raising it relative to the vehicle body (dynamic alignment measurement step).

  When the static alignment measurement step is performed, after the clamp of the jack-up bracket 11 on the mounting portion 12 of the vehicle body support means 7 is released, the wheel attachment portion is moved by the wheel attachment portion raising means 8 via the support plate 14. 6 is raised. At this time, in the four wheel attachment part raising means 8, all the support plates 14 are raised while maintaining the same height position. Then, when the vehicle body 2 is disengaged above the vehicle body support means 7 (the jack-up bracket 11 is separated from the mounting portion 12), the vehicle body 2 is stopped from rising, and at this position, the wheel alignment with respect to the wheel mounting portion 6 is stopped. Measure. Since the wheel simulation unit 10 is mounted on the wheel mounting portion 6, a load is applied to the wheel mounting portion 6 in the same state as the wheels are mounted. As a result, the wheel alignment can be measured in a state that is very close to a completed vehicle (a vehicle body that is actually fitted with wheels), and a highly accurate static alignment measurement result can be obtained.

  As another static alignment measurement step, the static alignment can be measured in a state where the jackup bracket 11 is clamped by the mounting portion 12 of the vehicle body support means 7. That is, the jack-up bracket 11 is clamped by the mounting portion 12 of the vehicle body support means 7, and the wheel attachment portion 6 is raised via the support plate 14 by the wheel attachment portion raising means 8 in a state where the vehicle body 2 cannot be raised. . At this time, the load received from the wheel mounting portion 6 in the ascending process is measured by the load measuring means 14a (load measuring step). Then, when the load measured by the load measuring means 14a becomes a preset load, the ascent of the wheel mounting portion 6 is stopped (a rise stopping process). The set load at this time is a load collected in advance from a completed vehicle (a vehicle body that is actually attached to a wheel and in a grounded state). The weight obtained by subtracting the weight of the mounting nut for mounting the wheel to the wheel mounting portion is the set load). And the wheel alignment with respect to the wheel attachment part 6 in which the ascent is stopped is measured. Since the wheel simulation unit 10 is mounted on the wheel mounting portion 6, a load is applied to the wheel mounting portion 6 in the same state as the wheels are mounted. As a result, the wheel alignment can be measured in a state extremely approximate to the completed vehicle, and a highly accurate static alignment measurement result can be obtained.

  When performing the dynamic alignment measurement process, the jack-up bracket 11 is clamped to the mounting portion 12 of the vehicle body support means 7, and the support plate 14 is moved by the wheel mounting portion raising means 8 in a state where the vehicle body 2 cannot be raised. Via which the wheel mounting portion 6 is raised. At this time, the ascending range of each support plate 14 in the four wheel attaching part raising means 8 is a range extending from below to above with reference to the position of the wheel attaching part 6 corresponding to the vehicle height set at the time of vehicle body design. . And in this ascending range, while changing the wheel mounting portion relative to the vehicle body, the change in the toe angle and the change in the camber angle of the wheel mounting portion 6 in the process is measured. Since the wheel mounting unit 6 is mounted with the wheel simulation body 10, the wheel mounting unit 6 behaves the same as when the wheel is mounted. As a result, the wheel alignment can be measured in a state that is very close to a completed vehicle (a vehicle body that is actually fitted with wheels), and a highly accurate static alignment measurement result can be obtained.

  Note that either the static alignment measurement step or the dynamic alignment measurement step may be performed first. Moreover, you may perform only any one of a static alignment measurement process and a dynamic alignment measurement process as needed.

  In the present embodiment, the sensor unit 49 of the alignment measuring means 9 is connected to the support plate 14 of the wheel mounting portion raising means 8 via the connecting arm 58. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The sensor unit 49 may be provided on the support plate 14 as long as sufficient rigidity is obtained in the support plate 14 of the wheel mounting portion raising means 8 and other portions so that distortion and inclination can be prevented. According to this, a structure becomes simple and it can comprise compactly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Explanatory side view which shows schematic structure of the alignment measuring apparatus of one Embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing of a wheel attachment part raising means and an alignment measurement means. An explanatory perspective view of a wheel simulation object. Explanatory sectional drawing which shows a connection state with the wheel attachment part of a wheel simulation body. Explanatory sectional drawing which shows the unconnected state to the wheel attachment part of a wheel simulation body. Explanatory drawing which shows the principal part of a measurement means.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Wheel alignment measuring apparatus, 5 ... Axle, 6 ... Wheel attaching part, 7 ... Car body support means (support part), 8 ... Wheel attaching part raising means, 9 ... Alignment measuring means (measuring means), 10 ... Wheel simulation body , 14a ... load measuring means, 22 ... connecting part, 23 ... opening part, 24 ... grounding part, 36 ... hub, 38 ... brake disc, a, b, c ... measurement points.

Claims (8)

The wheel mounting part provided on the axle of the automobile can be moved up and down, the automobile body is supported by the support part, and the wheel mounting part ascending process for raising the wheel mounting part where the wheel is not mounted is raised by the wheel mounting part raising process. In a wheel alignment measurement method for an automobile, comprising a measurement step of measuring wheel alignment based on the position and orientation of a predetermined measurement location set in advance on the wheel mounting portion to be
Prior to the wheel mounting part ascending step, a wheel simulation in which a wheel simulation body is mounted on the wheel mounting part in a state where the wheel mounting part is simulated and the wheel is mounted in a state where the measurement location of the wheel mounting part is exposed. Establish a body wearing process,
In the wheel mounting portion raising step, the wheel mounting portion is lifted through a wheel simulation body, and in the measurement step, the measurement is performed on the measurement portion exposed from the wheel simulation body. Alignment measurement method.   In the measuring step, static alignment is performed in which the vehicle body is detached from the support portion via the wheel simulated body in the wheel mounting portion raising step, and the wheel alignment is measured in a stationary state in which the vehicle weight is received by the wheel simulated body. The method for measuring wheel alignment of an automobile according to claim 1, further comprising a measuring step. The wheel mounting portion raising step is a load for measuring the load of the wheel mounting portion while supporting the vehicle body to the support portion so as not to rise and raising the wheel mounting portion relative to the vehicle body via the wheel simulated body. A measuring step, and a rising stop step for stopping the rising of the wheel mounting portion when the load of the wheel mounting portion measured in the load measuring step becomes a preset load,
2. The automobile according to claim 1, wherein the measuring step includes a static alignment measuring step of measuring the wheel alignment in a stationary state in which the rising is stopped by the rising and stopping step and the vehicle weight is received by the wheel simulation body. Wheel alignment measurement method.   In the measuring step, the vehicle body is supported by the support portion so as not to be lifted, and the wheel mounting portion is lifted relative to the vehicle body via the wheel simulated body in the wheel mounting portion lifting step to measure wheel alignment. 4. The vehicle wheel alignment measurement method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a dynamic alignment measurement step. The wheel mounting portion has a brake disc assembled to a hub that connects the wheels,
The wheel simulation body is connected to a hub of a wheel mounting portion to expose a plurality of locations on the disc surface of the brake disc as the measurement location,
5. The vehicle wheel alignment measurement method according to claim 1, wherein the measurement step performs the measurement via a disc surface of a brake disc exposed from a wheel simulation body. 6. A measuring device for measuring the wheel alignment of an automobile,
A support part for supporting the automobile body so that the vehicle body can not be raised or raised by making the wheel mounting part provided on the axle of the automobile freely movable up and down;
Wheel simulation in which the wheel mounting part is detachably mounted on the wheel mounting part in a state where a predetermined measurement point set in advance on the wheel mounting part to which the wheel is not mounted is exposed, and the wheel mounting part is in a state where the wheel is simulated. Body,
A wheel attachment part raising means for raising the wheel attachment part via the wheel simulation body;
A wheel alignment measuring device for an automobile, comprising: measuring means for measuring wheel alignment based on the position and orientation of the measurement location of the wheel mounting portion raised by the wheel mounting portion raising means. The wheel mounting portion has a brake disc assembled to a hub that connects the wheels,
The wheel simulation body has a predetermined distance below a connecting portion that connects to a hub of a wheel mounting portion, a plurality of open portions that expose a plurality of locations on a disc surface of a brake disc as the measurement location, and a lower portion of the wheel mounting portion. The vehicle wheel alignment measuring device according to claim 6, further comprising a grounding portion provided.   8. The wheel alignment measuring apparatus for an automobile according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the wheel mounting part raising means includes load measuring means for measuring the load of the wheel mounting part at the time of ascending through the wheel simulated body.

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