System for measuring points on a vehicle during damage repair

• US 20050131586A1
• Filed: 11/03/2004
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matrix Electronic Measuring Properties, LLC
• Original Assignee: Matrix Electronic Measuring L.P.
• Inventors: Day, Dwight, Srack, Robert W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,376,492 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/0025 Measuring of vehicle parts G01B5/003 takes precedence

Abstract

A carriage moves back and forth under a vehicle and three cameras or laser fixed along one axis pivot in a common plane, utilizing two cameras at time to locate a target fixed to a reference point on the undercarriage of the vehicle. Triangulation calculations, combined with the location of the cameras provide the location of the reference point in space in a three-dimensional coordinate system and compare that location with a stored designed location of the reference point prior to the crash, allowing the vehicle structure to be returned to its designed shape by other equipment.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring comprising:

a. a track assembly in a horizontal plane;

b. a measuring unit mounted on said track assembly;

c. means for moving said measuring unit along said track assembly.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for locating a target in a position remote from said measuring unit.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said target locating means further comprises at least two cameras mounted on said measuring unit.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 further comprising means for determining the distance and direction of displacement of said target from a desired position.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 further comprising means for rotating each said camera about an axis of each said camera within a single plane and means for measuring the angle of rotation of each said camera.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said target locating means further comprises means for measuring the distance from a single reference point to a remote point through triangulation.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 further comprising means for said target to signal to said at least two cameras.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for measuring the position of said measuring unit along said track assembly relative to a reference point.

9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 further comprising means for displaying information determined from said target locating means and said displacement distance and direction determination means to a user.

10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said target further comprises a bull'"'"'s eye comprising a center surrounded by a plurality of concentric bands.

11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a three said cameras and each said camera lying in a single plane.

12. An apparatus for measuring comprising:

a. a track assembly in a horizontal plane;

b. a measuring unit mounted on said track assembly;

c. means for moving said measuring unit along said track assembly mounted on said measuring unit;

d. at least one target placed at a location remote from said track assembly and from said measuring unit; and

e. means for locating said target relative to a reference point.

13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said target location means determines the location of said target relative to a particular reference point through a triangulation calculation.

14. An apparatus in accordance with claim 13 further comprising means for pivoting each said camera about an axis with each said camera pivotal in the same plane and means for determining the angle of rotation of each said camera.

15. An apparatus in accordance with claim 13 further comprising means for signaling from said target to each said camera and from a signal means mounted adjacent to each said camera to said target.

16. An apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said target further comprises a bull'"'"'s eye comprising a center surrounded by a plurality of concentric bands.

17. An apparatus for measuring comprising:

a. a track assembly in a horizontal plane;

b. a measuring unit mounted on said track assembly;

c. means for moving said measuring unit along said track assembly, said moving means mounted on said measuring unit;

d. means for measuring the position of said measuring unit relative to a reference point, said measuring means mounted on said measuring unit; and

d. at least one target placed at a location remote from said track assembly and from said measuring unit; and

e. means for locating said target.

18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17 further comprising means for determining a the location of a plurality of targets placed at selected locations and determining the distance and direction of each said target from a desired location.

20. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein said track assembly further comprises a ladder track assembly and said measuring unit further comprises an undercarriage measuring unit movable along said ladder track assembly.

19. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19 further comprising means for displaying the information acquired through said target location means and said distance and direction determination means.