Self-calibrating wheel aligner with improved portability

• US 11,073,381 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2019
• Issued: 07/27/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Rogers, Steven W., Jackson, David A., Brown, Adam C., Swayne, Ronald D., Gray, Brian K., Minor, Bryan C., Harrell, James Rodney
• Primary Examiner(s): Sosanya, Obafemi O
• Application Number:
  US16/587,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20200041266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 5/00 Servicing, maintaining, repairing, or refitting of vehicles vehicles adapted to carry a workshop for servicing or maintenance B60P3/14; servicing rail locomotives B61K
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 17/00 Means on vehicles for adjusting camber, castor, or toe-in
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/275 for testing wheel alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/2755 using photoelectric detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/12 Method or fixture for calibrating the wheel aligner
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/14 One or more cameras or other optical devices capable of acquiring a two-dimensional image
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/26 Algorithms, instructions, databases, computerized methods and graphical user interfaces employed by a user in conjunction with the wheel aligner
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/30 Reference markings, reflector, scale or other passive device
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/013 Wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30164 Workpiece; Machine component
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0004 Industrial image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/60 Analysis of geometric attributes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/73 using feature-based methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/00 Scenes; Scene-specific elements control of digital cameras H04N23/60
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/22 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A portable vehicle alignment system has a vertical central column with a carriage movable along its length, and a pair of camera arms pivotably attached to the carriage, each with a camera pod. The camera pods each have a camera for capturing image data of a respective vehicle-mounted target. One pod also has a calibration target disposed in a known relationship to its camera, and the other pod has a calibration camera disposed in a known relationship to its camera for capturing images of the calibration target. The camera arms pivot between an extended position where the cameras are disposed to capture image data of the vehicle targets and the calibration camera is disposed to capture images of the calibration target, and a folded position where the aligner has a width smaller than the width between the camera pods.

Claims

1. A vehicle alignment system, comprising:

a column having a carriage mounted to move along a length of the column; and

a pair of camera arm assemblies, each camera arm assembly being movably attached to the movable carriage;

wherein a first one of the camera arm assemblies comprises a first camera for capturing image data relating to a first portion of a vehicle, and a calibration target disposed in a known relationship to the first camera;

wherein a second one of the camera arm assemblies comprises a second camera for capturing image data relating to a second portion of the vehicle different from the first portion of the vehicle, and a calibration camera disposed in a known relationship to the second camera for capturing images of the calibration target; and

wherein the camera arm assemblies are movable between an extended position where the first and second cameras are respectively disposed to capture image data relating to the first and second portions of the vehicle, the calibration camera is disposed to capture images of the calibration target, and there is a first distance between the two cameras, and a retracted position where there is a second distance smaller than the first distance between the cameras.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein in the retracted position, the carriage is disposed proximal a lower portion of the central column.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein in the retracted position, the cameras are disposed proximal to the column.

4. The system of claim 1, comprising a wireless communication hub, wherein at least one of the first and second camera arm assemblies comprises a wireless communication device for communicating with the wireless communication hub.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a base for supporting the column;

wherein the column is rigidly attached to the base; and

wherein the base has at least one wheel engageable with a floor surface for moving the base column assembly.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the base has a shelf for supporting a keyboard.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the keyboard shelf is further configured to support a printer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the column has a bracket for supporting a monitor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the column has a bracket for supporting a keyboard.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a base for supporting the column;

wherein the column is rigidly attached to the base; and

wherein the base comprises at least one clamp hanger structure for supporting a clamp hanger bracket for removably holding a vehicle wheel clamp and target assembly.

11. The system of claim 4, comprising a mobile console for supporting at least one of a display device, a printer, and a user input device for communicating with the wireless communication hub.

12. The system of claim 4, wherein the wireless communication hub is for connecting to and communicating with an external network.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a base for supporting the column;

wherein the column is rigidly attached to the base; and

wherein the mobile console is engageable with the base, and has a power source to supply power to the at least one of a display device, a printer, and a user input device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein one of the mobile console and the base has a magnet for removably engaging the mobile console and the base.

15. The system of claim 1, comprising a display device and an adjustable mount for movably mounting the display device such that a height of the display device is adjustable between a first height and a second height proximal to a floor surface, whereby the display device is visible to a user of the system from underneath the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the adjustable mount comprises one or more pivoting arms.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the adjustable mount comprises a rail for slidably mounting the display device for motion between the first and second heights.

18. A vehicle alignment system, comprising:

a column having a carriage mounted to move along a length of the column; and

a pair of camera arm assemblies, each camera arm assembly being movably attached to the movable carriage;

wherein a first one of the camera arm assemblies comprises a first camera for capturing image data relating to a first portion of a vehicle;

wherein a second one of the camera arm assemblies comprises a second camera for capturing image data relating to a second portion of the vehicle different from the first portion of the vehicle; and

wherein the camera arm assemblies are movable between an extended position where the first and second cameras are respectively disposed to capture image data relating to the first and second portions of the vehicle and there is a first distance between the two cameras, and a retracted position where there is a second distance smaller than the first distance between the cameras.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein in the retracted position, the carriage is disposed proximal a lower portion of the central column.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein in the retracted position, the cameras are disposed proximal to the column.

21. The system of claim 18, comprising a wireless communication hub, wherein at least one of the first and second camera arm assemblies comprises a wireless communication device for communicating with the wireless communication hub.

22. The system of claim 18, further comprising a base for supporting the column;

wherein the column is rigidly attached to the base; and

wherein the base has at least one wheel engageable with a floor surface for moving the base column assembly.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the base has a shelf for supporting a keyboard.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the keyboard shelf is further configured to support a printer.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the column has a bracket for supporting a monitor.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the column has a bracket for supporting a keyboard.

27. The system of claim 18, further comprising a base for supporting the column;

wherein the column is rigidly attached to the base; and

wherein the base comprises at least one clamp hanger structure for supporting a clamp hanger bracket for removably holding a vehicle wheel clamp and target assembly.

28. The system of claim 21, comprising a mobile console for supporting at least one of a display device, a printer, and a user input device for communicating with the wireless communication hub.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein the wireless communication hub is for connecting to and communicating with an external network.

30. The system of claim 28, further comprising a base for supporting the column;

wherein the column is rigidly attached to the base; and

wherein the mobile console is engageable with the base, and has a power source to supply power to the at least one of a display device, a printer, and a user input device.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein one of the mobile console and the base has a magnet for removably engaging the mobile console and the base.

32. The system of claim 18, comprising a display device and an adjustable mount for movably mounting the display device such that a height of the display device is adjustable between a first height and a second height proximal to a floor surface, whereby the display device is visible to a user of the system from underneath the vehicle.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the adjustable mount comprises one or more pivoting arms.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the adjustable mount comprises a rail for slidably mounting the display device for motion between the first and second heights.