Vision system for wheel alignment

• US 5,812,256 A
• Filed: 08/13/1996
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Merilab, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Merilab, Inc.
• Inventors: Merrill, M. Stanley, Chapin, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorbroske, George M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FELBER, JOSEPH LEON
• Application Number:
  US08/700,766
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 33/203.12, 33/203.15, 33/203.16, 33/203.17, 356/139.09, 356/376, 356/155, 348/135, 348/161
• US Class Current: 356/139.09
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/275 for testing wheel alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/143 One or more cameras on each side of a vehicle in the main embodiment
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/286 Projecting a light pattern on the wheel or vehicle body

Abstract

A moving vision sensor scans the image of an object by moving the transducer to create a topographic image map of the object in three dimensions. In a preferred embodiment, the vision sensors are disposed in a preset camber, caster, toe wheel alignment station within a vehicle assembly line. A first moving vision sensor maps the plane of the wheel in space for toe and camber audit and adjustment. A second moving vision sensor maps the axis of the king pin ball joint in space for caster audit and adjustment.

Claims

1. A system for auditing and adjusting the camber, caster and toe of a wheel in a vehicle assembly line, comprising:

(a) an axle receiving station in communication with the vehicle assembly line for receiving and storing an axle subassembly, the axle subassembly having a left wheel and a right wheel, and each wheel having a king pin assembly,

(b) a camber, caster, and toe station (C/C/T station) in communication with the axle receiving station for accepting the axle subassembly from the axle receiving station,

(c) an off-loading station in communication with the C/C/T station for accepting the axle subassembly from the C/C/T station and then returning the axle subassembly to the vehicle assembly line, and

(d) within the C/C/T station;

(i) an elevator for raising the axle subassembly to working level,

(ii) a preloading mechanism to preload the axle subassembly to a specified load,

(iii) a first moving vision sensor having a field of view exposed to the outside of the left wheel, a first mechanism for moving the field of view of the first vision sensor upon a surface of the outside of the left wheel,

(iv) a second moving vision sensor having a field of view exposed to the outside of the right wheel, a second mechanism for moving the field of view of the second vision sensor upon a surface of the outside of the right wheel,

(v) a third moving vision sensor having a field of view exposed to the inside of the left wheel, a third mechanism for moving the field of view of the third vision sensor upon the inside of the left wheel,

(vi) a fourth moving vision sensor having a field of view exposed to the inside of the right wheel, a fourth mechanism for moving the field of view of the fourth vision sensor upon the inside of the right wheel,

(vii) a processor for processing and mapping a series of cross sectional views from each of the first, second, third and fourth vision systems to produce a first, second, third a fourth topographical map,

(viii) an adjustment station for adjusting the toe and camber of the left wheel in response to the first topographical map;

adjusting the toe and camber of the right wheel in response to the second topographical map;

adjusting the caster of the right wheel in response to the third topographical map; and

adjusting the caster of the left wheel in response to the fourth topographical map.