JPH0431182A - Wheel alignment adjusting method for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To adjust toe-in for straight advancing property adjustment in dynamic condition by placing respective wheels on the rollers of roller units, and adjusting toe-in of one front wheel based on rear thrust angle, in the condition driving one front wheel and right and left rear wheels through rotation of the rollers. CONSTITUTION:When straight advancing property of an automobile is adjusted by the use of an alignment tester 1 at automobile maintenance, respective wheels are placed on respective roller units 2A - 2D. The roller units 2A, 2C, 2D corresponding to a left front wheel, a left rear wheel, and a right rear wheel are driven to rotate the wheels, toe-in is measured in dynamic condition. The toe-in adjustment is performed by adjusting the tie rod of the left front wheel, hereafter the roller units 2A, 2C, 2D are stopped. The roller units 2B, 2C, 2D corresponding to the right front wheel and both rear wheels are driven to rotate the wheels, and similarly toe-in of the right front wheel is adjusted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a method for adjusting wheel alignment of a vehicle such as an automobile.

(Prior Art) In general, the wheel alignment of an automobile is an indispensable and important element for stabilizing the running of the automobile, and it is required to accurately determine the illumination and adjust it to a required value.

Of these, the toe of a car refers to the inclination of the wheels relative to the direction of travel when the car is viewed from directly above. Toe adjustment is performed during the final stage of car maintenance, and the toe adjustment adjusts the camber angle and caster angle. We try to absorb and eliminate the effect on straightness. By the way, when measuring wheel alignment such as toe, static Δ is used when the wheel is stationary.
There are two types of measurement: JII constant measurement and dynamic measurement conducted with the wheels driving.
It is desirable to perform a J determination and adjust the wheel alignment in a dynamic state based on it.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) This dynamic measurement is performed by placing the left and right front wheels and rear wheels of a vehicle on the rollers of a roller unit, and rotating the rollers to drive the left and right front wheels and rear wheels. However, in vehicles such as trucks that cannot adjust the rear wheel toe, unlike passenger cars, the adjustment of the rear thrust angle is not possible at the stage of performing the dynamic 7111 adjustment as described above. There are cases where the rear thrust angle and the front total toe deviate significantly, and if dynamic measurement is performed, there is a risk that the vehicle will jump out from the roller unit during the dynamic Δ1 period.

Furthermore, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 57-53613, it is known that the wheel alignment of a vehicle is adjusted in a static state based on the dynamic state, but the adjustment is performed based on the actual driving state. Since these are performed in static conditions that are far apart from each other, sufficient accuracy cannot be expected.

The present invention can be applied even in vehicles where rear wheel toe adjustment is not possible.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a wheel alignment adjustment method for a vehicle that can perform toe adjustment for straightness adjustment in a dynamic state during final stage maintenance of the vehicle.

(Means for Solving the Problem) The invention of claim (1) places one front wheel and left and right rear wheels of a vehicle on rollers of a roller unit, and rotates the rollers to In the invention of claim (2), the toe adjustment of the one front wheel is performed based on the rear thrust angle while the left and right rear wheels are being driven. After the torque adjustment of one front wheel is completed, the roller is rotated to drive the other front wheel and the left and right rear wheels, and the torque of the other front wheel is adjusted based on the rear thrust angle. It is for making adjustments.

The invention according to claim (3) provides a method in which the front wheels and the rear wheels of the vehicle are respectively placed on the rollers of four roller units, and the one front wheel and the left and right rear wheels are driven by rotating the rollers. Toe-71P1 is determined for the one front wheel, and then, while the roller is rotated to drive the other front wheel and the left and right rear wheels, toe ap+ is determined for the other front wheel, and the toe IIpj is determined. The present invention is characterized in that the toe adjustment of one or both of the front wheels is performed based on the result of the above and the rear thrust angle.

(Function) According to the invention of claim (1), when the roller is rotated to drive one front wheel and the left and right rear wheels of the vehicle, the front center toe adjusts the rear thrust angle based on the rear thrust angle. Toe adjustment of the one front wheel is performed to match the angle. Furthermore, according to the invention of claim (2), after the toe adjustment of the one front wheel is completed, the roller is rotated to drive the other front wheel and the left and right rear wheels, and the rear thrust angle is adjusted based on the rear thrust angle. The toe of the other front wheel is adjusted so that the front center toe matches the rear thrust angle.

According to the invention of claim (3), the toe measurement of the one front wheel is performed with the roller being rotated to drive one front wheel and the left and right rear wheels of the vehicle, and then the roller being rotated. While driving the other front wheel and the left and right rear wheels, the door 11 of the other front wheel is fixed. Then, based on the toe measurement results of the left and right front wheels and the rear thrust angle, toe adjustment of one or both of the front wheels is performed so that the front center toe matches the rear thrust angle.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes an alignment tester, and four sets of roller units 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D are arranged in the front, rear, left, and right directions to respectively rotate four front and rear wheels T.

Each roller unit 2A (2B, 2C, 2C) consists of two parallel-extending front and rear rollers 3 and 4, and the roller 3
, 4 is a drive roller connected to a motor via a V-belt, and the other roller is an idle roller (only the V-belt 5 and motor 6 for roller unit 2C are shown in FIG. 2). . In addition, the front and rear rollers 3, 4
Lift means 7 is provided between them to facilitate vehicle entry and exit.

The above-mentioned roller units) 2A, 2C, 2B, and 2D are placed two each on the left and right base frames 8A and 8B, and the operator
, 8B, so that it can be positioned below the car W in the pit S, and the adjustment can be made from below the car W.

Of the roller units mentioned above, the right roller unit 2B for the front wheels is fixed, and the two left roller units for the front wheels are movable back and forth together with the left and right roller units 2C and 2D for the rear wheels. There is. By moving the remaining three roller units 3A, 3B, and 3C back and forth with this right roller unit 2B as a reference,
Each roller unit 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D depending on the car model
The relative position of can be adjusted. Reference numeral 9 denotes a cylinder for moving the rear roller units 2C, 2D in the front-back direction. For example, the rear roller unit 2C,
2D is 2 from the center of the front roller units 2A and 2B.
It can move between 200 and 2800 mm.

The nj constant of the toe and camber angles is determined by the three rollers 11 that are in contact with the outer surface of the wheel T connected to the plate 1 through the bracket 12.
The sensor unit 14 attached to the sensor unit 3 is configured to perform the detection.

The plate body 13 is connected to the rod 1 provided on the sensor frame 15.
6, and is pivoted to allow for free movement. The sensor frame 15 is moved forward and backward by a cylinder 17, and has a light sensor 18 on the front side that emits light (or a laser beam) toward the plate 13 that detects the toe direction and camber direction of the wheel. Three are provided at equal angular intervals. When the wheels of the vehicle are in a dynamic state of rotation, the plate body 13 is tilted via the rollers 11 due to the inclination of the wheels T, and the optical sensor 18 and the plate body 1 are
3, the toe or camber angle of the wheel T is calculated based on the distance, and the result is displayed in analog or digital form on a display (not shown). This display is hung from the ceiling in front of the device, for example, and is provided for the driver and in the pit S for the workers.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the right and left front wheels T, T are restricted from moving in the left and right direction by suppressing means 20 in a dynamic state.

This pressing means 20 includes a casing 21, a pressing rod member 23 whose tip roller 22 contacts the wheel T, and a pressing rod member 23 housed in the casing 21 that presses the pressing rod member 23 against the wheel T.
It has a spring 24 that is always biased toward the side. Note that a hydraulic cylinder can also be used as the suppressing means.

Further, a beam near gauge 25 is attached and fixed to the upper side of the casing 21, and the tip of the detection rod 25a is connected to the pressing rod member 23 via a connecting member 26.

A stroke detection means 27 for detecting the amount of movement of the pressing rod member 23 using a linear gauge 25 is configured.

A display 28 that converts the stroke amount into a current value and displays the stroke amount in analog or digital form is connected to the linear gauge 25.

Next, using the alignment tester 1, a description will be given of the adjustment of the straightness of the automobile, which is performed in the final stage of maintenance of the automobile.

First, the automobile is advanced onto the alignment tester 1 with the lift means 7 in the up position in order to make the entrance smooth. At this time, one front wheel T, T of the car is
Each roller is mounted on a fixed reference roller unit 2B, and by adjusting the relative position of the remaining three roller units 1-2A, 2C, and 2D in the longitudinal direction with respect to this reference roller unit 2B. Units 2A, 2B,
The wheel T is placed on 2C, and the lift means 7 is brought down.

Then, the sensor frame 15 is moved forward, and among the four roller units 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D, the roller unit 2A corresponding to the left front wheel and the left and right rear wheels, for example,
The rollers 2C and 2D are driven to rotationally drive one front wheel and the left and right rear wheels, and -all determination is performed in a dynamic state. In addition, the roller unit 2B corresponding to the front wheel on the right side
The rollers are at rest and the right front wheel is not rotating, so even if the rear thrust angle is not adjusted,
No cars will fly out.

The driver of the car then leveled the steering wheel, took into account the front center toe, and adjusted the tie rod of the left front wheel so that the front center toe matched the rear thrust angle based on the above toe measurement. Adjustments will be made. At this time, the right front wheel is stationary, so the car does not move and the steering wheel remains horizontal. Note that the toe dpj determination is also performed for the right wheel in a static state, a temporary toe in the static state is detected, and the front torque is calculated based on it.

After the toe adjustment of the left front wheel is completed in this way, the rollers of the roller units 2A, 2C, and 2D are stopped.

Then, the rollers of the roller units 2B, 2C, and 2D corresponding to the right front wheel and the left and right rear wheels are driven to rotationally drive the other front wheel and the left and right rear wheels. Note that the roller of the roller unit 2A corresponding to the left front wheel is in a stopped state, and the left front wheel is not rotating.

However, in the same way as for the left front wheel, calculate dl in advance.
The toe is adjusted by adjusting the tie rod of the right front wheel, taking into account the front center toe so that the front center toe matches the rear thrust angle.

After completing the toe adjustment of the right front wheel in this way,
The rollers of the roller units 2B, 2C, and 2D are stopped, and the sensor frame 15 is moved backward.

With the lift means 7 in the up state, the vehicle is exited,
The adjustment of the straightness of the automobile to absorb and minimize the influence of the camber angle and caster angle on the straightness by toe adjustment is completed.

In the above example, by adjusting the toe of the left and right front wheels in order, the influence of the camber angle and caster angle is absorbed and straightness is ensured, but toe adjustment of only one of them can have some effect. Of course, it is possible to ensure the
It is also possible to perform toe adjustment based on the results.

That is, the automobile is entered onto the alignment tester 1, and then the sensor frame 15 is advanced, and the four roller units 2A, 2B, 2C are moved forward.

Among 2D, for example, by driving the rollers of roller units 2A, 2C, and 2D corresponding to the left front wheel and the left and right rear wheels,
The left front wheel and the left and right rear wheels are rotationally driven, and in this state, the toe Δp1 of the left front wheel is determined. The roller is driven to rotate, and in this state, -Ap+ of the right front wheel is determined.

After the toe side adjustment of the left and right front wheels in a dynamic state is completed, the rollers of the roller units 2A, 2C, and 2D or the rollers of the roller units 2B, 2C, and 2D are driven to rotate the necessary wheels. The toe is adjusted by adjusting the tie rods of either or both of the left and right front wheels, taking into account the front center toe so that the front center toe matches the total thrust angle of M1.

After the front wheel toe adjustment is completed in this way, the roller units 2A, 2C, 2D or 2B, 2C.

The 2D roller is stopped and the sensor frame 15 is moved backward.

Thereafter, the lift means 7 is brought up, the vehicle is exited, and the adjustment of the straightness of the vehicle is completed.

(Effect of the invention) The invention of claim (1), as described above, adjusts the toe of the one front wheel based on the rear thrust angle while one front wheel and the left and right rear wheels are being driven. Since the,
Even for vehicles such as trucks in which rear toe adjustment cannot be performed, safety can be ensured and straightness adjustment can be performed in the final stage of maintenance of the vehicle. Claims (
According to the invention 2), following the toe adjustment of one front wheel, the toe adjustment of the other front wheel is also performed, so that the straightness can be adjusted with higher accuracy.

Further, according to the invention of claim (3), after measuring the toe of the left and right front wheels, the toe adjustment is performed based on the results, so that the straightness can be adjusted with high precision.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings illustrate an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 1 to 3 are a plan view, a front view, and a side view of the alignment tester, FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the left roller unit, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the left roller unit. W, which is the four surrounds of the stroke... Automobile T... Wheel ■... Alignment tester 2A to 2D... Roller unit 3.4...
... Theory of roller detection means ... Automobile T ... Wheel ■ ... Alignment tester 28 ~ 2D Launisoto 3.4 ... Loaf Fig. 3 ~

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) One front wheel and the left and right rear wheels of the vehicle are placed on the rollers of the roller unit, and the rollers are rotated to drive the one front wheel and the left and right rear wheels. Based on the rear thrust angle, A method for adjusting wheel alignment of a vehicle, comprising: adjusting the toe of one of the front wheels. (2) The other front wheel of the vehicle is also placed on the roller of the roller unit, and after the toe adjustment of one front wheel is completed, the roller is rotated to drive the other front wheel and the left and right rear wheels, The method for adjusting wheel alignment of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the toe adjustment of the other front wheel is performed based on the rear thrust angle. (3) Place the front wheels and rear wheels of the vehicle on the rollers of the four roller units, rotate the rollers to drive the one front wheel, and the left and right rear wheels. After that, while rotating the roller to drive the other front wheel and the left and right rear wheels, measure the toe of the other front wheel. Based on the toe measurement result and the rear thrust angle, calculate the toe of the front wheel. A vehicle wheel alignment adjustment method comprising performing one or both toe adjustments.