METHOD FOR DETECTION OF VEHICLE MOVEMENT DURING WHEEL ALIGNMENT MEASUREMENT

• US 20060112573A1
• Filed: 12/01/2004
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
• Original Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
• Inventors: Voeller, David A., Hillman, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,040,029 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/203
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/275 for testing wheel alignment
• 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

Abstract

A method for use with a vehicle wheel alignment system to detect vehicle roll or elevation change during a vehicle wheel alignment procedure requires the steps of observing individual vehicle wheels, and detecting a substantially simultaneous changes in position or rotational movement associated with each observed wheel. Responsive to detected changes, vehicle rolling movement or a vehicle elevation change is identified, enabling the vehicle wheel alignment system and/or operator to respond accordingly.

Claims

1. A method for detecting rolling movement of a vehicle undergoing a vehicle wheel alignment procedure, comprising:

acquiring an initial measurement of a rotational position about a horizontal axis of rotation for at least two vehicle wheels;

during a current procedure, acquiring at least one subsequent measurement of said rotational position for each of said at least two vehicle wheels;

comparing each subsequently acquired measurement of said rotational position with a corresponding previously acquired measurement of said rotational position; and

identifying a change in said rotational position for each of said at least two vehicle wheels corresponding to vehicle wheel rotational movement.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of providing an indication of vehicle wheel rotational movement responsive to said identified change exceeding a predetermined tolerance.

3. The method of claim 1 further including the step of completing said current procedure.

4. The method of claim 1 further including the step of compensating at least one wheel alignment angle measurement acquired during said current procedure for said identified vehicle wheel rotational movement.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said current procedure is restarted responsive to said identified vehicle wheel rotational movement.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one vehicle wheel alignment angle measurement acquired during said vehicle wheel alignment procedure is invalidated responsive to said identified vehicle wheel rotational movement.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said current procedure is continued with at least one previously acquired valid vehicle wheel alignment angle measurement.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said current procedure is a vehicle wheel steering procedure.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of identifying a change in said rotational position for each of said at least two vehicle wheels corresponding to vehicle wheel rotational movement is responsive to said comparisons indicating a change in each subsequent measurement of said rotational position for each vehicle wheel from said corresponding previously acquired measurement of said rotational position exceeding a predetermined tolerance.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein each of said measurements of a rotational position for each vehicle wheel are acquired from images of a plurality of identifiable features associated with each vehicle wheel.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said plurality of identifiable features associated with each vehicle wheel are disposed on optical targets secured to each vehicle wheel.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least two vehicle wheels are transversely disposed on opposite sides of said vehicle.

13. (canceled)

16. The improved vehicle wheel alignment system of claim 13 wherein said central processor is configured to provide an indication of rolling movement of the vehicle to an operator.

14. An improved vehicle wheel alignment system having a central processor configured with a vehicle wheel alignment software application for processing data received from a plurality of sensors to facilitate at least one vehicle wheel alignment procedure, the improvement comprising:

the central processor further configured with a vehicle wheel alignment software application for processing data received from the plurality of sensors to detect rolling movement of a vehicle;

wherein said vehicle wheel alignment software application is configured to compare at least two acquired measurements of wheel rotational positions for at least two vehicle wheels; and

wherein said central processor is configured to identify a change in said wheel rotational position for each of said at least two vehicle wheels.

15. The improved vehicle wheel alignment system of claim 14 wherein said vehicle wheels are steered vehicle wheels.

17. A method for detecting rolling movement of a vehicle undergoing a steered wheel alignment procedure, comprising:

acquiring an initial measurement of a rotational position for each steerable vehicle wheel;

steering said steerable vehicle wheels from an initial steered position;

returning said steerable vehicle wheel to within a predetermined tolerance of said initial steered position;

acquiring a second measurement of said rotational position for each steerable vehicle wheel;

comparing each second measurement of said rotational position for each steerable vehicle wheel with said initial measurement of said rotational position for each steered vehicle wheel; and

identifying from said comparison, a vehicle steerable wheel rotational movement resulting from said steering movements.

18. The method of claim 17 further including the step of providing an indication of vehicle steerable wheel rotational movement responsive to said identified vehicle steered wheel rotational movement.

19. The method of claim 17 further including the step of completing said steered wheel alignment procedure.

20. The method of claim 17 further including the steps of acquiring at least one wheel alignment angle measurement, and compensating said at least one wheel alignment angle measurement for said identified vehicle steered wheel rotational movement.

21. The method of claim 17 further including the steps of acquiring at least one caster angle measurement, and compensating said at least one caster angle measurement for said identified vehicle steered wheel rotational movement.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein at least one vehicle wheel alignment angle measurement acquired during said vehicle steered wheel alignment procedure is invalidated responsive to said identified vehicle steered wheel rotational movement.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said steered wheel alignment procedure is restarted responsive to said identified vehicle steered wheel rotational movement.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein said steered wheel alignment procedure is continued with at least one previously acquired valid vehicle wheel alignment angle measurement.

25. The method of claim 17 further including the steps of acquiring at least one wheel alignment angle measurement, and wherein each vehicle wheel alignment angle measurement acquired during said steered wheel alignment procedure is invalidated responsive to said identified vehicle steered wheel rotational movement.

26. The method of claim 17 further including the step of providing an indication of vehicle steered wheel rotational movement responsive to said identified vehicle steered wheel rotational movement exceeding a predetermined tolerance.

27. The method of claim 17 wherein each of said measurements of a rotational position for each steered vehicle wheel are acquired from images of a plurality of identifiable features associated with each steered vehicle wheel.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said plurality of identifiable features associated with each steered vehicle wheel are disposed on optical targets secured to each steered vehicle wheel.

29. A method for detecting the condition of a vehicle brake system and a set of rear wheel slip plates supporting the rear wheels of a vehicle undergoing a steered wheel alignment procedure, comprising:

acquiring an initial measurement of a rotational position for each vehicle wheel;

steering said steered vehicle wheels from an initial steered position;

returning said steered vehicle wheels to within a predetermined tolerance of said initial steered position;

acquiring a second measurement of said rotational position for each vehicle wheel;

comparing each second measurement of said rotational position for each vehicle wheel with said initial measurement of said rotational position for each vehicle wheel;

responsive to an absence of detected rotational movement in each of said steerable vehicle wheels from said comparison, identifying said vehicle brake system in an unlocked condition;

responsive to detected rotational movement in each of said steered vehicle wheels from said comparison, identifying a rotational direction associated with each of said steered vehicle wheels, and

responsive to each of said steered vehicle wheels rotating in the same direction, identifying said vehicle brake system in the unlocked condition;

responsive to each of said steered vehicle wheels rotating in opposite directions, and responsive to detected rotational movement in each of said rear vehicle wheels from said comparison, identifying at least one of said rear wheel slip plates in a locked condition.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein each of said measurements of a rotational position for each vehicle wheel are acquired from images of a plurality of identifiable features associated with each vehicle wheel.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said plurality of identifiable features associated with each vehicle wheel are disposed on optical targets secured to each vehicle wheel.

32. A method for detecting a locked/unlocked condition of a vehicle brake system of a vehicle undergoing a steered wheel alignment procedure, comprising:

acquiring an initial measurement of a rotational position for each steerable vehicle wheel;

steering said steered vehicle wheels from an initial steered position;

returning said steered vehicle wheels to within a predetermined tolerance of said initial steered position acquiring a second measurement of said rotational position for each steerable vehicle wheel;

comparing said initial measurements with said second measurements for each steerable vehicle wheel to detect rotational movement; and

evaluating a direction of rotation for each of said steered wheels to identify a vehicle brake system locked/unlocked condition.

33. The method of claim 32 further including the step of restarting said steered wheel alignment procedure responsive to said identification of said vehicle brake system in an unlocked condition.

34. The method of claim 32 further including the step of invalidating at least one acquired wheel alignment data value responsive to said identification of said vehicle brake system in an unlocked condition.

35. The method of claim 32 further including the step of providing an indication to an operator responsive to said identification of said vehicle brake system in an unlocked condition.

36. A method for detecting a locked/unlocked condition of a set of rear wheel slip plates supporting the rear wheels of a vehicle undergoing an alignment procedure, comprising:

acquiring an initial measurement of a rotational position for at least each rear vehicle wheel;

steering said steered vehicle wheels from an initial steered position;

returning said steered vehicle wheels to within a predetermined tolerance of said initial steered position acquiring a second measurement of said rotational position for at least each rear vehicle wheel;

comparing each second measurement with said initial measurement; and

responsive to detected rotational movement in each of said rear vehicle wheels from said comparison, identifying at least one of said rear wheel slip plates in a locked condition.

37. The method of claim 36 for detecting the condition a set of rear wheel slip plates wherein said initial measurements and said second measurements are additionally acquired for each of said steered vehicle wheels;

responsive to detected rotational movement in each of said steered vehicle wheels from said comparison, identifying a rotational direction associated with each of said steered vehicle wheels; and

wherein said step of identifying at least one of said rear wheel slip plates in a locked condition is further responsive to each of said steered vehicle wheels rotating in an opposite direction.

38. The method of claim 36 further including the step of restarting said steered wheel alignment procedure responsive to said identification of said rear wheel slip plates in a locked condition.

39. The method of claim 36 further including the step of invalidating at least one acquired wheel alignment data value responsive to said identification of said rear wheel slip plates in a locked condition.

40. An improved vehicle wheel alignment system having a central processor configured with a vehicle wheel alignment software application for processing data received from a plurality of sensors to facilitate at least one vehicle wheel alignment procedure, the improvement comprising:

the central processor further configured with a vehicle wheel alignment software application for processing data received from the plurality of sensors to detect a condition of a vehicle brake system and a condition of a set of rear wheel slip plates supporting the rear wheels of a vehicle undergoing a steered wheel alignment procedure.

41. An improved vehicle wheel alignment system having a central processor configured with a vehicle wheel alignment software application for processing data received from a plurality of sensors to facilitate at least one vehicle wheel alignment procedure, the improvement comprising:

said central processor configured to compare at least two acquired measurements of steered wheel rotational positions for each of at least two steered vehicle wheels; and

wherein said central processor is further configured to respond to a change in said steered wheel rotational positions by evaluating a direction of rotation for each of said steered wheels to identify a vehicle brake system state.

42. An improved vehicle wheel alignment system having a central processor configured with a vehicle wheel alignment software application for processing data received from a plurality of sensors to facilitate at least one vehicle wheel alignment procedure, the improvement comprising:

the central processor further configured with a vehicle wheel alignment software application for processing data received from the plurality of sensors to detect a condition of a set of rear wheel slip plates supporting the rear wheels of a vehicle undergoing a steered wheel alignment procedure.

43. The improved vehicle wheel alignment system of claim 42 wherein said central processor is further configured to respond to an evaluation of a direction of rotation for each of said steered wheels identifying each steered wheel rotating in an opposite direction by comparing at least two acquired measurements of rear wheel rotational positions for at least two rear vehicle wheels to identify a rear wheel slip plate condition.

44. A method for detecting an elevation change of a common axle of a vehicle during a vehicle wheel alignment procedure, comprising:

acquiring an initial set of measurements representative of spatial positions of vehicle wheels on opposite ends of the common axle;

during a current procedure, acquiring at least one subsequent set of measurement of said spatial positions for said vehicle wheels;

comparing each subsequently acquired set of measurements with said initial set of measurements of said spatial positions; and

determining a change in vertical position for each of said vehicle wheels from said comparisons.

45. The method of claim 44 further including the step of providing an indication of an elevation change associated with the common axle responsive to said determined change in vertical position for each of said vehicle wheels.

46. The method of claim 44 further including the step of completing said current procedure.

47. The method of claim 44 further including the step of compensating at least one wheel alignment angle measurement acquired during said current procedure for said determined change in vertical position.

48. The method of claim 44 wherein said current procedure is restarted responsive to said determined change in vertical position.

49. The method of claim 44 wherein at least one vehicle wheel alignment angle measurement acquired during said current procedure is invalidated responsive to said determined change in vertical position.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein said current procedure is continued with at least one previously acquired valid vehicle wheel alignment angle measurement.

51. The method of claim 44 further including the step of evaluating at least one alignment angle measurement responsive to said determined change in vertical position.

52. The method of claim 51 further including the step of providing an indication of an elevation change associated with the common axle responsive to said evaluation of said at least one alignment angle identifying a change in said at least one alignment angle exceeding a predetermined tolerance.

53. The method of claim 44 wherein said determined change in vertical position is associated with an axle jacking action.

54. The method of claim 53 further including the step of presenting an operator with at least one additional procedure responsive to said axle jacking action.

55. The method of claim 44 wherein each of said measurements of a spatial position for each vehicle wheel are acquired from images of a plurality of identifiable features associated with each vehicle wheel.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein said plurality of identifiable features associated with each vehicle wheel are disposed on optical targets secured to each vehicle wheel.

57. An improved vehicle wheel alignment system having a central processor configured with a vehicle wheel alignment software application for processing data received from a plurality of sensors to facilitate at least one vehicle wheel alignment procedure, the improvement comprising:

the central processor further configured with a vehicle wheel alignment software application for processing data received from the plurality of sensors to detect an elevation change of at least one common axle of a vehicle during a vehicle wheel alignment procedure.

58. The improved vehicle wheel alignment system of claim 57 wherein said vehicle wheel alignment software application is configured to compare at least two acquired measurements of wheel spatial positions for at least two vehicle wheels;

and

wherein said central processor is configured to respond to said comparisons identifying a corresponding change in elevation for each of said at least two vehicle wheels by providing an elevation indication associated with said an common axle of said at least two vehicle wheels.

59. The improved vehicle wheel alignment system of claim 57 wherein said elevation change of at least one common axle of a vehicle is responsive to a jacking procedure for said at least one common axle.

60. The improved vehicle wheel alignment system of claim 57 wherein said central processor is further configured with a vehicle wheel alignment software application for processing data received from the plurality of sensors to detect an elevation change of a vehicle during a measurement procedure.

61. The improved vehicle wheel alignment system of claim 57 wherein the central processor is further configured with a vehicle wheel alignment software application for processing data received from the plurality of sensors to detect an elevation change of each common axle of a vehicle during a measurement procedure;

and

wherein said elevation change of each common axle is responsive to a vehicle lift movement.

62. A method for detecting elevation changes associated with a vehicle having a set of vehicle wheels during a vehicle wheel alignment procedure, comprising:

establishing an initial reference plane associated with the initial spatial positions of the vehicle wheels;

subsequently determining at least one current reference plane associated with the current spatial positions of the vehicle wheels during a current procedure;

comparing said current reference plane with said initial reference plane to detect a change in longitudinal orientation of said current reference plane from said initial reference plane; and

identifying an elevation change associated with a common axle of the vehicle.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein at least one of said reference planes is established relative to a point in three-dimensional space.

64. The method of claim 62 for detecting elevation changes associated with a vehicle wherein said comparing step further includes detecting an elevation change associated with a front axle of the vehicle;

and

wherein said identifying step includes identifying an elevation change associated with said front axle.

65. The method of claim 62 for detecting elevation changes associated with a vehicle wherein said comparing step further includes detecting an elevation change associated with a rear axle of the vehicle;

and

wherein said identifying step includes identifying an elevation change associated with said rear axle.

69. The method of claim 62 further including the step of completing the current procedure.

70. The method of claim 62 further including the step of compensating at least one wheel alignment angle measurement acquired during the current procedure for said detected elevation change.

71. The method of claim 62 wherein said current procedure is restarted responsive to said identified elevation change.

72. The method of claim 62 wherein each vehicle wheel alignment angle measurement acquired during said current procedure is invalidated responsive to said identification of an elevation change.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein said current procedure is continued with at least one previously acquired valid vehicle wheel alignment angle measurement.

74. The method of claim 62 wherein said elevation change is associated with an axle jacking action.

75. The method of claim 74 further including the step of presenting an operator with at least one additional procedure responsive to said axle jacking action.

76. The method of claim 62 wherein each of said spatial positions of the vehicle wheel are acquired from images of a plurality of identifiable features associated with each vehicle wheel.

77. The method of claim 76 wherein said plurality of identifiable features associated with each vehicle wheel are disposed on optical targets secured to each vehicle wheel.

78. The method of claim 62 for detecting elevation changes associated with a vehicle having a set of vehicle wheels during a vehicle wheel alignment procedure further including the step of detecting rolling movement of the vehicle;

and

responsive to detected rolling movement exceeding a predetermined tolerance concurrent with a detected change in said longitudinal orientation of said current reference plane from said initial reference plane, providing an indication of vehicle rolling movement.

79. The method of claim 62 for detecting elevation changes associated with a vehicle having a set of vehicle wheels during a vehicle wheel alignment procedure further including the step of detecting rolling movement of the vehicle;

and

responsive to detected rolling movement exceeding a predetermined tolerance concurrent with a detected change in elevation of said current reference plane from said initial reference plane, providing an indication of vehicle rolling movement.

80. The method of claim 62 wherein said comparing step further includes comparing said current reference plane with a predetermined point in said initial reference plane to detect a change in longitudinal orientation of said current reference plane from said initial reference plane.

81. The method of claim 62 wherein said comparing step further includes comparing said current reference plane with a predetermined point in said initial reference plane to detect a change in elevation of said current reference plane from said initial reference plane.

66. A method for detecting elevation chances associated with a vehicle having a set of vehicle wheels during a vehicle wheel alignment procedure, comprising:

establishing an initial reference plane associated with the initial spatial positions of the vehicle wheels;

subsequently determining at least one current reference plane associated with the current spatial positions of the vehicle wheels during a current procedure;

comparing said current reference plane with said initial reference plane to detect a change in longitudinal orientation of said current reference plane from said initial reference plane;

identifying an elevation chance associated with a common axle of the vehicle;

comparing said current reference plane with said initial reference plane to detect a substantially uniform elevation change between said current reference plane and said initial reference plane; and

responsive to a detected substantially uniform elevation change between said current reference plane from said initial reference plane, identifying the elevation change associated with the vehicle.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein said elevation change is associated with a change in a vehicle lift position.

68. The method of claim 66 further including the step of presenting an operator with at least one procedure associated with a current vehicle lift position.

82. An improved vehicle wheel alignment system having a central processor configured with a vehicle wheel alignment software application for processing data received from a plurality of sensors to facilitate at least one vehicle wheel alignment procedure, the improvement comprising:

the central processor further configured with a vehicle wheel alignment software application for processing data received from the plurality of sensors to detect rolling movement of a vehicle concurrent with an elevation change of at least one common axle of said vehicle during said vehicle wheel alignment procedure.

83. A method for detecting a locked/unlocked condition of a set of rear wheel slip plates supporting the rear wheels of a vehicle undergoing an alignment procedure, comprising:

acquiring an initial measurement of a position for at least each rear vehicle wheel;

steering said steered vehicle wheels from an initial steered position;

returning said steered vehicle wheels to within a predetermined tolerance of said initial steered position acquiring a second measurement of said position for at least each rear vehicle wheel;

comparing each second measurement with said initial measurement; and

responsive to an absence of detected translational movement in each of said rear vehicle wheels from said comparison, identifying at least one of said rear wheel slip plates in a locked condition.

84. The method of claim 83 for detecting the condition a set of rear wheel slip plates wherein said initial measurements and said second measurements are additionally acquired for each of said steered vehicle wheels;

responsive to detected rotational movement in each of said steered vehicle wheels from said comparison, identifying a rotational direction associated with each of said steered vehicle wheels; and

wherein said step of identifying at least one of said rear wheel slip plates in a locked condition is further responsive to each of said steered vehicle wheels rotating in an opposite direction.

85. The method of claim 83 further including the step of restarting said steered wheel alignment procedure responsive to said identification of said rear wheel slip plates in a locked condition.

86. The method of claim 83 further including the step of invalidating at least one acquired wheel alignment data value responsive to said identification of said rear wheel slip plates in a locked condition.

87. A method for detecting a locked/unlocked condition of a set of rear wheel slip plates supporting the rear wheels of a vehicle undergoing an alignment procedure, comprising:

acquiring an initial measurement of a position for at least each rear vehicle wheel;

steering said steered vehicle wheels from an initial steered position;

returning said steered vehicle wheels to within a predetermined tolerance of said initial steered position acquiring a second measurement of said position for at least each rear vehicle wheel;

comparing each second measurement with said initial measurement; and

responsive to an absence of detected translational movement in each of said rear vehicle wheels from said comparison, providing an indication to an operator.