Axle misalignment method for a vehicle
First Claim
1. A method of determining axle misalignment of a vehicle comprising:
- (a) monitoring a value applied to an axle while a vehicle associated with the axle is being driven and is in motion; and
(b) using said monitored value for identifying axle misalignment.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for determining axle misaligned and tire wear of a vehicle monitors lateral and vertical acceleration values. Lateral and vertical acceleration data for each axle is taken and this data is put into an equation. A ratio of the data for one axle divided by the data of another axle is calculated. If this ratio tends towards 1.0 the axles are more in alignment with respect to each other and there is likely less tire wear. As the ratio tends away from 1.0 the axles are more misaligned with respect to each other and there is likely more tire wear. The standard deviations of the vertical accelerations are also put into a ratio and can be used to predict how much wear the tires on one axle are experiencing as compared to the tires on the other axle. A gauge or monitoring device may be used to monitor the values to determine misalignment and predict tire wear. The monitoring device may send alignment and tire wear signals to a display, which indicates axle misalignment and tire wear of the vehicle.
17 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of determining axle misalignment of a vehicle comprising:
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(a) monitoring a value applied to an axle while a vehicle associated with the axle is being driven and is in motion; and
(b) using said monitored value for identifying axle misalignment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13)
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3. A method of determining axle misalignment of a vehicle comprising:
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(a) monitoring an acceleration value of an axle in motion; and
(b) using said monitored value for identifying axle misalignment.
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10. A method of determining axle misalignment of a vehicle comprising:
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(a) monitoring a vertical acceleration value of plural axles and a lateral acceleration value;
(b) calculating mean lateral acceleration values for each axle;
(c) a final standard deviations ratio being calculated by comparing computations on said monitored values of one axle to monitored values of a second axle; and
(d) said mean lateral acceleration ratio is multiplied by said standard deviations ratio to determine said final ratio, and using said ratio for identifying axle misalignment. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification