Pneumatic device for adjusting wheel camber

• US 6,234,500 B1
• Filed: 10/30/1998
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steven E. Aufrance
• Original Assignee: Steven E. Aufrance
• Inventors: Aufrance, Steven E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US09/183,477
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 280/86.751
• US Class Current: 280/86.751
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/0035 for motor-vehicles wrenches for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/003
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/1242 on a damper, e.g. MacPerson strut
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/44 Centering or positioning means

Abstract

A pneumatic device for adjusting wheel camber includes an air bladder operatively connected with an air supply valve and an air release button via an air hose. The device facilitates adjustment of vehicle wheel camber and is adapted to be connected with a compressed air supply. The air supply valve and air release button control the delivery and release of compressed air into and from the air bladder. The air bladder is placed between the strut and the tire-wheel assembly of a vehicle, and the camber adjustment bolts are loosened. The air bladder is then selectively inflated, thus compressively moving the tire-wheel assembly in relation to the strut, until the correct camber setting is achieved. The camber adjustment bolts are then tightened, the compressed air contained in the air bladder is released therefrom, and the device is removed from the vehicle.

Claims

1. A tool for adjusting camber of a vehicle wheel adjacent a strut when used with a source of pressurized fluid, said tool comprising:

an expansion member, said expansion member positionable between said vehicle wheel and said strut adapted to expand when fluid is supplied to said expansion member from the source of pressurized fluid; and

said expansion member fabricated from a durable material capable of holding fluid pressurized to a degree whereby the camber of the vehicle wheel may be adjusted by selectively pressurizing the expansion member with fluid from said source of pressurized fluid.

2. The tool as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a fluid supply valve operatively connected with said expansion member.

3. The tool as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a fluid release valve operatively connected with said expansion member.

4. The tool as set forth in claim 3 further comprising an air hose operatively connected with said expansion member.

5. The tool as set forth in claim 3 in which said expansion member comprises an inner bladder and an outer covering.

6. The tool as set forth in claim 5 in which said expansion member operates pneumatically.

7. A tool for adjusting camber of a vehicle wheel adjacent a strut when the tool is used with a source of compressed air, said tool comprising:

an expansion member having an inner bladder and an outer covering, said inner bladder and outer covering fabricated from a durable material capable of holding pressurized air to a degree whereby the camber of the vehicle wheel may be adjusted by selectively pressurizing the expansion member with fluid from said source of pressurized fluid;

said expansion member positionable between said vehicle wheel and said strut and adapted to expand in response to compressed air supplied from the compressed air source;

an air inlet port attached to said inner bladder and extending through said outer covering;

an air hose connected to said air inlet port and adapted to connect to the source of compressed air;

a lever-operated air supply valve operatively connected with said air hose between said air inlet port and the source of compressed air;

an air release valve operatively connected with said air hose between said air inlet port and said air supply valve;

said air release valve operable manually; and

said air release valve also operable automatically in response to excessive air pressure in said expansion member.

8. The tool as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a three-way block formed with three apertures in fluid communication with one another, said air supply valve, said air release valve, and said air hose operatively attached to said three-way block.

9. The tool as set forth in claim 7 in which said outer covering includes a selectively openable opening sized to allow said inner bladder to be installed into and removed from said outer covering.

10. A tool for adjusting vehicle wheel camber when used with a source of pressurized fluid, said tool comprising:

an expansion member, said expansion member adapted to expand when fluid is supplied to said expansion member from the source of pressurized fluid;

said expansion member fabricated from a durable material capable of holding fluid pressurized to a degree whereby the camber of the vehicle wheel may be adjusted with the expansion member;

a fluid supply valve operatively connected with said expansion member;

a fluid release valve operatively connected with said expansion member;

a fluid hose operatively connected with said expansion member; and

a three-way block formed with three apertures in fluid communication with one another, said air supply valve, said air release valve, and said fluid hose operatively attached to said three-way block.

11. The tool as set forth in claim 10 in which said expansion member comprises an inner bladder and an outer covering.

12. The tool as set forth in claim 11 in which said outer covering includes a selectively openable opening sized to allow said inner bladder to be installed into and removed from said outer covering.

13. The tool as set forth in claim 10 in which said expansion member operates pneumatically.

14. The tool as set forth in claim 10 in which said vehicle wheel which is adjacent a strut and the expansion member is positionable between said vehicle wheel and said strut.

15. The tool as set forth in claim 14 in which the camber of the vehicle may be adjusted by expanding the expansion member by providing fluid from said source of pressurized fluid to the expansion member.

16. A tool for adjusting vehicle wheel camber when the tool is used with a source of compressed air, said tool comprising:

an expansion member having an inner bladder and an outer covering, said inner bladder and outer covering fabricated from a durable material capable of holding pressurized air to a degree whereby the camber of the vehicle wheel may be adjusted with the expansion member;

said expansion member adapted to expand in response to compressed air supplied from the compressed air source;

an air inlet port attached to said inner bladder and extending through said outer covering;

an air hose connected to said air inlet port and adapted to connect to the source of compressed air;

a lever-operated air supply valve operatively connected with said air hose between said air inlet port and the source of compressed air;

an air release valve operatively connected with said air hose between said air inlet port and said air supply valve;

said air release valve operable manually;

said air release valve also operable automatically in response to excessive air pressure in said expansion member; and

a three-way block formed with three apertures in fluid communication with one another, said air supply valve, said air release valve, and said air hose operatively attached to said three-way block.

17. The tool as set forth in claim 16 in which said outer covering includes a selectively openable opening sized to allow said inner bladder to be installed into and removed from said outer covering.

18. The tool as set forth in claim 16 in which said vehicle wheel is adjacent a strut and the expansion member is positionable between said vehicle wheel and said strut.

19. The tool as set forth in claim 18 in which said vehicle wheel is adjacent a strut and the expansion member is positionable between said vehicle wheel and said strut.

20. A tool for adjusting vehicle wheel camber when used with a source of pressurized fluid, said tool comprising:

an expansion member comprising an inner bladder and an outer covering, said expansion member adapted to expand when fluid is supplied to said expansion member from the source of pressurized fluid;

said expansion member fabricated from a durable material capable of holding fluid pressurized to a degree whereby the camber of the vehicle wheel may be adjusted with the expansion member;

a fluid supply valve operatively connected with said expansion member;

a fluid release valve operatively connected with said expansion member;

a fluid hose operatively connected with said expansion member; and

said outer covering of the expansion member including a selectively openable opening sized to allow said inner bladder to be installed into and removed from said outer covering.

21. The tool as set forth in claim 20, further comprising a three-way block formed with three apertures in fluid communication with one another, said air supply valve, said air release valve, and said air hose operatively attached to said three-way block.

22. The tool as set forth in claim 20 in which said expansion member operates pneumatically.

23. The tool as set forth in claim 20 in which said vehicle wheel is adjacent a strut and the expansion member is positionable between said vehicle wheel and said strut.

24. The tool as set forth in claim 23 in which the camber of the vehicle may be adjusted by expanding the expansion member by providing fluid from said source of pressurized fluid to the expansion member.

25. A tool for adjusting vehicle wheel camber when the tool is used with a source of compressed air, said tool comprising:

an expansion member having an inner bladder and an outer covering, said inner bladder and outer covering fabricated from a durable material capable of holding pressurized air to a degree whereby the camber of the vehicle wheel may be adjusted with the expansion member;

said expansion member adapted to expand in response to compressed air supplied from the compressed air source;

an air inlet port attached to said inner bladder and extending through said outer covering;

an air hose connected to said air inlet port and adapted to connect to the source of compressed air;

a lever-operated air supply valve operatively connected with said air hose between said air inlet port and the source of compressed air;

an air release valve operatively connected with said air hose between said air inlet port and said air supply valve;

said air release valve operable manually;

said air release valve also operable automatically in response to excessive air pressure in said expansion member; and

said outer covering includes a selectively openable opening sized to allow said inner bladder to be installed into and removed from said outer covering.

26. The tool as set forth in claim 25 in which a three-way block formed with three apertures in fluid communication with one another, said air supply valve, said air release valve, and said air hose operatively attached to said three-way block.

27. The tool as set forth in claim 25 in which said vehicle wheel is adjacent a strut and the expansion member is positionable between said vehicle wheel and said strut.

28. The tool as set forth in claim 27 in which said vehicle wheel is adjacent a strut and the expansion member is positionable between said vehicle wheel and said strut.

29. A tool for adjusting camber of a vehicle wheel when used with a source of pressurized fluid, said tool comprising:

an expansion member, said expansion member positionable adjacent said vehicle wheel and said strut adapted to expand when fluid is supplied to said expansion member from the source of pressurized fluid; and

said expansion member fabricated from a durable material capable of holding pressurized fluid whereby the camber of the vehicle wheel may be adjusted by selectively pressurizing the expansion member with fluid from said source of pressurized fluid.