System for determining the dynamic orientation of a vehicle wheel plane

• US 6,545,750 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2001
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valmet Technologies OY
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Roth, Vladimir, Stalnaker, David O., Turner, John L., Olesky, Stanley J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDREA, BRIAN K
• Application Number:
  US09/758,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20020089661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 356/139.09, 332/03, 332/031.6
• US Class Current: 356/139.09
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/2755 using photoelectric detection means

Abstract

A system (10) for measuring the dynamic orientation of the plane of a wheel (12) on a vehicle (14). The system (10) includes a test surface (16) which rotates with the wheel (12) and a orientation-determining device (18) which is unattached to the vehicle (14). The test surface (16) is positioned in a plane corresponding to the plane of the wheel (12) and the orientation-determining device (18) determines the orientation of the plane of the test surface (12) at a specific point of time while the vehicle is being driven. A processor (20) receives output signals from the orientation-determining device (18) and converts the output signals into data corresponding to the orientation of the wheel plane for the specific instant in time.

Claims

1. A system for measuring a dynamic orientation of a plane of a wheel on a moving vehicle, said system comprising:

a test surface which rotates with the wheel when the vehicle is being driven and which is positioned in a plane corresponding to the plane of the wheel; and

an orientation-determining device unattached to the vehicle which determines the orientation of the plane of the test surface at a specific point of time while the vehicle is being driven;

wherein the orientation-determining device comprises at least three transducers which emit respective beams of electromagnetic energy to three non-collinear points on the test surface and which detect respective beams reflected off of the test surface.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a processor which receives the signals from the orientation-determining device and converts the signals into output data corresponding to the orientation of the plane of the wheel for a specific point in time.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the orientation-determining device is stationary.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the orientation-determining device emits beams of energy onto the test surface.

5. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the transducers emit laser beams.

6. A method of measuring the dynamic orientation of the plane of a wheel on a moving vehicle with the system of claim 1, said method comprising the step of driving the vehicle past the orientation-determining device and activating the orientation-determining device to obtain data indicative of the orientation of the plane of the test surface.

10. A combination comprising the system of claim 1 and a vehicle including the wheel with which the test surface rotates.

11. A combination as set forth in claim 10, wherein the test surface is a disk secured to a hub of the wheel.

7. A method for measuring the dynamic orientation of the plane of a wheel on a vehicle, said method comprising:

providing a test surface which rotates with the wheel when the vehicle is being driven and which is positioned in a plane corresponding to the plane of the wheel;

driving the vehicle; and

determining, with an orientation-determining device unattached to the vehicle, the orientation of the plane of the test surface at a specific point of time while the vehicle is being driven;

wherein the orientation-determining device comprises at least three transducers which emit respective beams of electromagnetic energy to three non-collinear points on the test surface and which detect respective beams reflected off of the test surface.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said providing step comprises securing a test disk to a hub of the wheel.

9. A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said determining step is performed while the orientation-determining device is stationary.

12. A system for measuring an inclination angle of a wheel on a moving vehicle, said system comprising:

a test surface which rotates with the wheel when the vehicle is being driven and which is positioned in at an angle corresponding to the angle of the wheel; and

a device unattached to the vehicle which determines the inclination angle of the test surface at a specific point of time while the vehicle is being driven;

wherein the device comprises at least three transducers which emit respective beams of electromagnetic energy to three non-collinear points on the test surface and which detect respective beams reflected off of the test surface.

13. A system for measuring an inclination angle and a heading angle of a wheel on a moving vehicle, said system comprising:

a test surface which rotates with the wheel when the vehicle is being driven and which is positioned in a plane corresponding to the plane of the wheel; and

an orientation-determining device unattached to the vehicle which determines the inclination angle and the heading angle of the test surface at a specific point of time while the vehicle is being driven;

wherein the device comprises at least three transducers which emit respective beams of electromagnetic energy to three non-collinear points on the test surface and which detect respective beams reflected off of the test surface.