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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8136259 | Wheel alignment device adapted to compensate for runout error Alignment device adapted to measure characteristic angles of the wheels and of the steering of motor vehicles, particularly camber, toe-in, caster, by way of arms provided with sensors to be fastened to the wheels. In particular, in the step for determining the moun... | 03/20/2012 |
| 8104185 | Lightweight wheel clamp for vehicle wheel alignment system A lightweight wheel clamp assembly is provided for attaching to a vehicle wheel for performing a wheel alignment on the vehicle. The assembly comprises a first bracket for engaging the vehicle wheel; a second bracket for engaging the vehicle wheel; a handle rotatabl... | 01/31/2012 |
| 8096057 | Method for the relative positioning of an object to be measured and of a motor vehicle to a measuring device, and measuring device and a device for measuring a chassis A method for the relative positioning of an object to be measured with respect to a measuring device, first of all the object to be measured is detected by the measuring device and the position of the object to be measured with respect to the measuring device is asc... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8033028 | Method and apparatus for vehicle service system optical target assembly A method and apparatus for determining the alignment of a vehicle wheel using an optical target attached to the vehicle wheel, the optical target having a dimensionally stable shape and a plurality of visible features defining target elements arranged in a known geo... | 10/11/2011 |
| 7937844 | Vehicle wheel alignment system and methodology A hybrid wheel alignment system and methodology use passive targets for a first pair of wheels (e.g. front wheels) and active sensing heads for another pair of wheels (e.g. rear wheels). The active sensing heads combine image sensors for capturing images of the targ... | 05/10/2011 |
| 7930834 | Method and apparatus for vehicle service system optical target assembly A method and apparatus for determining the alignment of a vehicle wheel using an optical target attached to the vehicle wheel, the optical target having a dimensionally stable shape and a plurality of target elements arranged in a known geometric and spatial configu... | 04/26/2011 |
| 7926189 | Customizable tool for mounting an alignment instrument for specific bolt patterns combined with a direct mount clampless hub adapter An all-in-one hand tool for the alignment of a vehicle wheel with predetermined lug bolt/nut patterns for specific manufacturers. The tool has pre-formed adapters that protrude from one side of the hand-held plate that attach to specific lug nut/bolt patterns on veh... | 04/19/2011 |
| 7913404 | Alignment tool and method of checking wheel alignment An alignment tool and method is disclosed for use in aligning wheels of trucks and truck trailers. The tool includes at least one self-leveling laser for checking wheel alignment. The self-leveling laser includes a body, an attachment member and a laser. The attachm... | 03/29/2011 |
| 7870677 | Lightweight wheel clamp for vehicle wheel alignment system A lightweight wheel clamp assembly is provided for attaching to a vehicle wheel for performing a wheel alignment on the vehicle. Examples include a wheel clamp having an upper sliding bracket for engaging the vehicle wheel, a lower sliding bracket for engaging the v... | 01/18/2011 |
| 7810244 | Vehicle wheel optical target mounting assembly A machine vision vehicle wheel alignment system optical target assembly which incorporates an adaptor for attachment of an optical target to a vehicle wheel assembly. The adaptor includes a circular sinusoidal edge for seating in a non-determined position against su... | 10/12/2010 |
| 7784191 | Tracking attachment A tracking attachment (10) adapted and operable to facilitate measuring the alignment characteristics of the rear suspension of a vehicle, including tracking (thrust angle), offset, toe-in and toe-out, and length characteristics. The tracking attachment (1... | 08/31/2010 |
| 7774946 | Method and device for non-contact measurement of the alignment of motor vehicle wheels The invention relates to a method for non-contact measurement of the alignment of the wheels of a motor vehicle. In practice, the method provides for the steps of: applying a plurality of markers to the wheels of the motor vehicle along a line approximately substant... | 08/17/2010 |
| 7703212 | Method and apparatus for vehicle service system optical target assembly A machine vision vehicle wheel alignment system optical target assembly incorporating an adaptor for attachment of an optical target to a vehicle wheel assembly. The adaptor includes at least three contact points for abutment against surfaces of a vehicle wheel asse... | 04/27/2010 |
| 7703213 | Vehicle wheel alignment system and methodology A hybrid wheel alignment system and methodology use passive targets for a first pair of wheels (e.g. front wheels) and active sensing heads for another pair of wheels (e.g. rear wheels). The active sensing heads combine image sensors for capturing images of the targ... | 04/27/2010 |
| 7681322 | Steering wheel level verification with alignment sensors attached A vehicle wheel alignment system may include wheel alignment sensors configured to measure toe angles of steerable wheels on the vehicle, a user interface configured to communicate information to a user, and a processing system. The processing system may be configur... | 03/23/2010 |
| 7676938 | Bicycle wheel and hub apparatus and method A bicycle wheel and hub apparatus capable of dynamically and precisely truing a bicycle wheel, and a method thereof, is provided. The bicycle wheel and hub apparatus includes a hub, including a hub body and a hub mounting plate, adaptable to a center hole of the bic... | 03/16/2010 |
| 7621054 | Apparatus and methods for determining alignment of vehicle-mounted wheel An apparatus for determining alignment of a wheel mounted to a vehicle includes a plate, a housing and a light source. The plate has a top surface, a bottom surface, and an outer perimeter. The bottom surface is substantially planar and the outer perimeter includes ... | 11/24/2009 |
| 7610685 | Apparatus for identification and simulation of vehicle wheel and tire dimensions An apparatus that identifies and simulates vehicle wheel and tire dimensions can be removably attached to a vehicle wheel hub and adjusted in radial and axial directions to determine the dimension of a wheel and tire that would fit the vehicle. ... | 11/03/2009 |
| 7578066 | Direct mount hub adapter An adapter that eliminates that need for a clamp during the alignment of vehicle wheels. The adapter is particularly useful in tires that have lipless wheels, rim-guard tires, stiffer sidewalls and larger diameter wheels, which have caused problems when using tradit... | 08/25/2009 |
| 7478482 | Mounting system for mounting an alignment instrument on a vehicular wheel adaptable to known bolt patterns A mounting system for mounting an alignment instrument onto a vehicular wheel which is to be used to align the wheel of the vehicle. The mounting system includes a mounting plate which has an engagement structure located directly adjacent the peripheral edge of the ... | 01/20/2009 |
| 7458165 | Vehicle wheel alignment system and methodology A hybrid wheel alignment system and methodology use passive targets for a first pair of wheels (e.g. front wheels) and active sensing heads for another pair of wheels (e.g. rear wheels). The active sensing heads combine image sensors for capturing images of the targ... | 12/02/2008 |
| 7451548 | Device and method for measuring the geometry of a wheel axle of a motor vehicle The invention relates to a device for measuring the geometry of a wheel axle of a motor vehicle, said device comprising a hub gripping element (20) for gripping and rotating a hub (50) of the wheel axle, and at least one measuring sensor (58). T... | 11/18/2008 |
| 7444753 | Camber/caster gauge A camber/caster gauge that is attachable to the axle of a wheeled vehicle. The device is simple to use by attaching the gauge to an automobile axle end and zeroing out the measurement dials. ... | 11/04/2008 |
| 7444754 | Wheel alignment apparatus and method for all-terrain vehicles An apparatus and method for aligning the wheels of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). The apparatus includes a wheel alignment fixture and a wheel position indicator adapted for releasable attachment to an all-terrain vehicle. The wheel alignment fixture and the wheel po... | 11/04/2008 |
| 7444752 | Method and apparatus for vehicle service system optical target A machine vision vehicle wheel alignment system optical target assembly incorporating an adaptor for attachment of an optical target to a vehicle wheel assembly. The adaptor includes at least three contact points for abutment against surfaces of a vehicle wheel asse... | 11/04/2008 |
| 7428779 | Endplay measurement tool and method A tool (10) and method for measuring endplay between an axle shaft (36) and an axle hub (34) of an axle assembly. A mounting plate (22) is fastened to the hub, and one end of a through-rod (16) whose ends protrude from opposite end... | 09/30/2008 |
| 7415771 | Apparatus onboard a vehicle for instructing axle alignment A method and apparatus that remains onboard a tractor and semi trailer vehicle for readily providing axle alignment instruction to an operator. The apparatus includes at least one indicator (28) for detecting an axle's thrust line relative to the vehicle's ce... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7415324 | Vehicle wheel alignment adjustment method A method for measuring and aligning front and rear wheels of a four wheel vehicle, including measuring alignment properties of the front wheels, and correcting alignment properties of the rear wheels if all of the measurements of the alignment properties of the fron... | 08/19/2008 |
| 7383636 | Tracking attachment A tracking attachment (10) adapted and operable to facilitate measuring the alignment characteristics of the rear suspension of a vehicle, including tracking (thrust angle), offset, toe-in and toe-out, and length characteristics. The tracking attachment (1... | 06/10/2008 |
| 7380344 | Device for determining the wheel and/or axle geometry of motor vehicles The present invention relates to a device for determining the wheel geometry and/or the axle geometry of motor vehicles in an inspection room, using an optical measuring apparatus having at least one image-taking device which records a marking device including at le... | 06/03/2008 |
| 7382913 | Method and apparatus for guiding placement of vehicle service fixtures A machine vision system is configured to facilitate placement of a vehicle service apparatus relative to an associated vehicle. The machine vision system is configured to utilize images of optical targets received from one or more cameras to guide the placement of t... | 06/03/2008 |
| 7373726 | Retro-reflective target wafer for a position determination system A target that is usable in a position determination system such as, for example, a wheel alignment system, is structurally stable over wide temperature ranges, protected from humidity and chemical contamination, and not subject to breakage. A layered target structur... | 05/20/2008 |
| RE40214 | Mounting system and method therefor for mounting an alignment instrument on a vehicular wheel A mounting system and method of mounting an alignment instrument onto a vehicular wheel which is to be used to align the wheels of a vehicle. The mounting system includes a mounting plate which has an engagement structure located directly adjacent the peripheral edg... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7353610 | Wheel component centering system for vehicle service devices A system and method for centered mounting of a rotating body upon a spindle shaft. The system includes a set of double low-tapers cones arranged and identified according to size. A guide is provided to identify an appropriate cone from the set for a given rotating b... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7347433 | Wheel and steering sensor system A steerable element angular sensor system may include a sensor having a sensing axis positioned along an axis of rotation of a knuckle, a connector connecting a yoke and a knuckle of a steering system. The sensor may detect rotation of at least one of the knuckle an... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7346994 | Adaptive cruise control sensor alignment tool and method An alignment tool for vehicular adaptive cruise control detection devices attaches with precision and repeatability to an adaptive cruise control sensor subassembly. Integral to this alignment tool is a low energy visible light laser that can be adjusted to point al... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7337548 | Device for measuring the geometry of a wheel axle of a motor vehicle The invention relates to a device for measuring the geometry of a wheel axle of a motor vehicle, said device comprising a clamping chuck (56) which is provided with clamping jaws (32, 34, 36) and is used to receive a hub of a wheel axle, and a drive fo... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7328124 | Apparatus and method for measuring and compensating steering-angle sensitive alignment measurements A method for measuring and compensating steered-angle sensitive wheel alignment angle and distance measurements for the effects of steering a wheel from a straight ahead position, thereby enabling an operator to carry out a vehicle wheel alignment angle adjustment w... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7313869 | Vehicle wheel alignment system and methodology A hybrid wheel alignment system and methodology use passive targets for a first pair of wheels (e.g. front wheels) and active sensing heads for another pair of wheels (e.g. rear wheels). The active sensing heads combine image sensors for capturing images of the targ... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7287334 | Locomotive wheel reference groove diameter measuring device A railroad wheel reference groove locating gauge for determining a measurement of an annular reference groove machined in a face of a railroad wheel spaced radially outwardly from an axle on which the wheel is mounted a predetermined distance indicative of the wheel... | 10/30/2007 |
