Vehicle dimensional measuring system

• US 20080072444A1
• Filed: 09/20/2007
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elena Harrill, Mitchell C. Harrill
• Original Assignee: Elena Harrill, Mitchell C. Harrill
• Inventors: Harrill, Elena, Harrill, Mitchell C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,874,078 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/600
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/002 for measuring two or more coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/16 for measuring the deformation in a solid, e.g. optical strain gauge

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for viewing coordinates representative of points on a vehicle, which includes a portable gauge assembly (52) having a length of bar (62) graduations (64), an adjustable pointer mount (76) and adjustable pointer (78) for simultaneously setting coordinates representative of a height and width or height and length dimension of a point on the vehicle and an adjustable positioning means (66) for setting a coordinate representative of a baseline of light emitted relative to the vehicle. Positioning means (66) is further used for adjusting bar (62) level and perpendicular to the baseline when gauge (52) is spatially place relative to the point on the vehicle and the baseline, whereby the coordinates may then be viewed at pointer mount (76) or transferred a spatial location within the path of the baseline and viewed at positioning means (66).

Claims

1. A method for viewing points on a vehicle, comprising:

using a portable bar having a first adjustable means to set at least one coordinate selected from the dimension group of height, length, or width, which is representative of said point on said vehicle;

using a second adjustable means on said bar to set a coordinate which is representative of a baseline of light emitted relative to said vehicle;

using means on said bar for adjusting a spatial orientation of said bar when said bar is placed relative to said point and said baseline, whereby said coordinate is viewed at either said first means or transferred and viewed at said second means.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first means or said second means includes an adjustable pointer mount having means for positioning said mount along said bar to said dimension selected from the group of length or width, which is representative of said point on said vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said bar includes means for instructing a technician to align said bar horizontal or vertical according to earth'"'"'s gravity.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second means is used for adjusting said bar perpendicular to said baseline.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said bar includes means for instructing a technician to align said bar level and align said bar perpendicular to said baseline.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said bar includes graduations which enables a technician to adjust said first means to a coordinate along said bar representative of said length or said width dimension of said point on said vehicle and to adjust said second means along said bar to a coordinate representative of said baseline.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein said adjustable pointer mount supports a pointer which is perpendicularly adjustable to said bar for adjusting said pointer to said height dimension representative of said point on said vehicle.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said bar includes means for transferring said coordinate representative of said point from said vehicle to a spatial location within the path of said beam of light.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said positioning means includes at least one selected from the group of alignment sight, viewing window, graduation mark, photo or optical sensor, position sensitive detector, electronic sensor, electronic transmitter, encoder, digital measuring device, radiation emitter, electromagnetic detector, coded sensor, or reflective sensor.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said baseline of light is generated by at least one selected from the group of manual leveling or self leveling laser, CCD, or CMOS.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein said portable bar includes an articulated arm connecting a base plate or magnet for supporting said bar on a surface on or in proximity to said vehicle,

whereby said articulated arm allows said bar to be raised or lowered.

11. An apparatus for establishing a baseline of light emitted relative to a vehicle, comprising:

a modulated light source means mounted on a portable articulated mounting assembly, comprising an arm having a first mounting means to mount said arm on or in proximity to said vehicle; and

said arm having a second mounting means to mount said light source on or in proximity to said arm; and

said light source mounting means is positioned in a level orientation to earth'"'"'s gravity; and

said light source mounting means having a means to raise or lower the elevation of said light source mounting means in relation to said first mounting means without eliminating the level orientation of said light source mounting means;

said mounting means further includes means for rotating said light source in a horizontal plane on said light source mount while said arm is simultaneously rotated in the same or in an opposite direction of said light source without eliminating the level orientation of said light source,

whereby a baseline of light is emitted relative to said vehicle.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said modulated light source is coupled with a portable linear measuring means which is positioned within said baseline of light emitted from said modulated light source;

and said measuring means is placed along said baseline of light and aligned to said baseline using alignment sights located on said linear measuring means;

said linear measuring means has means for projecting a light beam perpendicular to said baseline from said linear measuring means to a first starting point located on said vehicle; and

said linear measuring means is moved along said baseline to an ending point located on said vehicle;

said linear measuring means includes means for determining a measured distance along said baseline between said first starting point and said ending point.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said modulated light source is coupled with at least two pivotal targets having attachment means and a hinge joint;

said target is attached horizontally to a vehicle'"'"'s outer body and in the path of a light beam emitted from said modulated light source;

said pivotal target includes a marker and means for positioning said marker to intersect said baseline of light, whereby said hinge joint allows said target to be pivoted to a positioned against said vehicle'"'"'s outer body.

14. An apparatus for adjusting an orientation of a length of bar to a baseline of light emitted relative to a vehicle, comprising:

a positioning means having an longitudinal body with opposite perpendicular sighting ends and is attached to said length of bar for aligning said orientation of said bar to said baseline of light; and

said positioning means includes means for leveling said bar and squaring said bar to said baseline,

whereby said bar is used in conjunction with a light beam for determining measurements or coordinates of points on a vehicle'"'"'s body, frame, or wheels.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said positioning means is further used for measuring or transferring a coordinate representative of a point on said vehicle to a spatial location within the path of said light beam.