Misalignment sensor

• US 6,208,240 B1
• Filed: 12/07/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Ledesma, Ragnar H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US09/456,180
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/439, 340/440, 340/686.2, 340/686.3, 332/031.8, 332/031.3, 356/155, 734/57
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/255 for testing wheel alignment

Abstract

In a disclosed embodiment, a steering axle wheel assembly for a vehicle is provided with a system for actively sensing and alerting a vehicle user of wheel misalignment. The wheel assembly includes an elongated tie rod extending between two wheels and a rotatable knuckle system connecting each wheel to a respective end of the tie rod. A steer angle, that is, the angle of a wheel with respect to an axle, is monitored. When the steer angle is significant, result in a tensile or compressive force is provided on the tie rod. This force on the tie rod is small when the steer angle is small. The tie rod is provided with a system to measure the force. An alerting system is provided which alerts a vehicle user when significant tensile or compressive force on the tie rod is measured, and the steer angle is small. Thus, a vehicle user is actively alerted of wheel misalignment.

Claims

1. A steering axle wheel assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a connecting system for connecting two wheels;

said connecting system including an elongated tie rod extending between two wheels;

a rotatable knuckle system connecting each wheel to a respective end of said tie rod;

said rotatable knuckle system including a kingpin defining an axis, and a knuckle which may rotate about said axis; and

said connecting system being equipped with a system for sensing wheel misalignment including a sensing device in the rotatable knuckle system which reflects an angle of rotation of said knuckle about said kingpin axis.

2. An assembly for a vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tie rod is equipped with a sensor to measure tensile or compressive force.

3. An assembly for a vehicle as set forth in claim 2, wherein said tie rod sensor is only actuated when said sensing device in the rotatable knuckle system determines the magnitude of said angle of rotation is below a limit.

4. An assembly for a vehicle as set forth in claim 2, wherein said sensor to measure tensile or compressive force is connected to an alerting system to alert a vehicle user of wheel misalignment.

5. A steering axle wheel assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a connecting system for connecting two wheels,

said connecting system including an elongated tie rod extending between two wheels;

a rotatable knuckle system connecting each wheel to a respective end of said tie rod;

said rotatable knuckle system including a kingpin defining an axis, and a knuckle which may rotate about said axis,

a system for sensing wheel misalignment including a sensing device in the rotatable knuckle system which measures an angle of rotation of said knuckle about said kingpin axis;

said tie rod being equipped with a system to measure tensile or compressive force in response to said sensing device in the rotatable knuckle system and a control for determining if the magnitude of said measured force exceeds a predetermined amount when the magnitude of said measured angle is below a limit, and then indicating wheel misalignment.

6. An assembly for a vehicle as recited in claim 5, wherein said tie rod system is only actuated when said sensing device determines the magnitude of an angle of rotation is below a limit.

7. A method for actively sensing wheel misalignment of a vehicle comprising the steps:

sensing and measuring the magnitude of an angle of rotation of a rotatable knuckle system about a kingpin,

measuring a force on a tie rod and activating an alerting system which alerts a vehicle user of wheel misalignment if the magnitude of said force is above a limit when said magnitude of the measured angle of rotation is below a limit.