WHEEL CAMBER AND CASTOR MEASUREMENT APPARATUS

INSTRUMENTS DE MESURE DE LA CHASSE ET DU CARROSSAGE DES ROUES

English Abstract

ABSTRACT
Apparatus for use in measuring the camber and castor
of a motor vehicle wheel comprising a main frame from which
extends two projections each with an extremity to engage a
part of a wheel assembly so that in use one extremity is
located above the other, and calibration means adapted so that
in use it indicates the amount of misalignment of said
extremities from a position of vertical alignment.
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Claims

Claims:
1. Apparatus for use in measuring the camber and
castor of a motor vehicle wheel comprising: a main frame;
two parallel generally co-extensive rods extending from and
at spaced locations on the main frame so as to be located
within a single generally vertical plane; clamp means select-
ively slidably attaching the rods to the main frame so that
said rods are movable along their longitudinal axes and in a
direction normal to the longitudinal axes of the rods so that
the rods are movable relative to each other to adjust the
spacing between the rods; abutment means on each rod at
adjacent ends of the rods, said abutment means each having a
planar end surface normal to the axes of the rods to engage a
suspension member of the vehicle; and calibrated means mounted
on the main frame to determine the inclination of the rods to
the horizontal when the rods are abutting a portion of the
vehicle from which the castor or camber may be determined,
wherein said calibration means includes an arm fixed to said
frame and extending generally within said plane defined by
said rods, and a spirit level means pivotally attached to said
arm to thereby enable measurement of the inclination thereof
and therefore the inclination of said rods.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the main frame
includes an elongated member to which the rods are slidably
attached at longitudinally spaced positions; and said clamp
means slidably engages the member to allow for the movement
to adjust the space between the rods.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the calibrated
means includes a spirit level.

Description

The present invention relates to apparatus for
wheel aligning motor vehicles and more particularly, but
not exclusively to apparatus for measuring the camber
and/or castor of motor vehicle wheels.
Apparatus usually employed to measure and/or
adjust the camber and castor of motor vehicle wheels is
usually complex and accordingly is expensive and time-
consuming to operate.
It is the object of the present invention to
provide an apparatus to be used for the adjusting of the
camber and/or castor of motor vehicle wheels, which
apparatus is simple to manufacture and easy to use.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention
there is provided apparatus for use in measuring the
camber and castor of a motor vehicle wheel comprising: a
main frame; two parallel generally co-extensive rods
extend1ng from and at spaced locations on the main frame
so as to be located within a single generally vertical
plane; clamp means selectively slidably attaching the rods
to the main frame so that said rods are movable along
their longitudinal axes and in a direction normal to the ,
longitudinal axes of the rods so that the rods are movable
relative to each other to adjust the,spacing between the ~ '
rods; abutment means on each rod at adjacent ends of the ~ -
rods, said abutment means each havlng a planar end surface ~ ,
normal to the axes of the rods to enyage a suspension
member of the vehicle; and calibrated means mounted on the
main frame to determine the inclination of the rods to the
horizontal when the rods are abutting a portion of the
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vehicle from which the castor or camber may be determined,
wherein said calibration means includes an arm fixed to
said frame and extending generally within said plane
defined by said rods, and a spirit level means pivotally
attached to said arm to thereby enable measurement of the
inclination thereof and therefore the inclination of said ; .
rods.
A preferred form of the present invention will ::
now be described by way of example with reference to the
accompanying drawing.
In the drawing the camber and castor indicating
means 10 has a frame comprising a generally "T" shaped ; :
member having portions 11 and 12. Attached to the portion ::
11 at spaced locations are clamps 13 and 14 which are ;
slidable on the portion 11 in a generally longitudinal :
direction and may be fixed to the portion 11 by means of
the rotation of nuts 18 and 19. Also slidable through the
clamps 13 and 14 are
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longitudinal members 15 and 16 which may be moved longitudin-
ally with respect to their longitudinal axes and may be ixed
relative to the portion ll again by rotation of nuts 18 and 19.
Pivotally attached to portion 11 by means of nut 17 is
indicator 20 to which is attached a spirit level 21, while
marked on the portion 12 is a scale 22.
In operation the camber and castor of a motor vehicle
wheel may be measured by adjusting the members 15 and 16 so
that their points 24 are equally spaced from their respective
clamp 13 or 14. Thereafter the points 24 are placed against
portions of the wheel assembly at generally vertically aligned
location, for instance, at upper and lowèr ball pivot points
which support the wheel assembly when measuring castor and at
disc or drum flange when measuring camber. Since the members
15 and 16 are parallel to the member 12 the adjustment of the
indicator 20, by means of spirit level 21, so as to extend in
a horizontal direction, indicates the camber or castor of the
wheel on the scale 2. . ;
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