Disclosed is a device for assisting placement of the steering wheel of a vehicle in a neutral position of a trajectory and in a rectilinear position, device including a light source configured to project at least one light pattern defining at least one alignment direction and fixing unit adapted to allow temporary fixing of the device on the vehicle so that the light pattern is projected inside the circle delimited by the steering wheel.

Disclosed is a device for assisting placement of the steering wheel of a vehicle in a neutral position of a trajectory and in a rectilinear position, device including a light source configured to project at least one light pattern defining at least one alignment direction and fixing unit adapted to allow temporary fixing of the device on the vehicle so that the light pattern is projected inside the circle delimited by the steering wheel.

A wheel alignment detection system for a vehicle includes a plurality of sensors and a controller. Each of the plurality of sensors is configured to generate a signal. The controller is in communication with the plurality of sensors and is configured to: detect an external force exerted on the vehicle based on the signal from at least one of the plurality of sensors; determine whether the external force exerted on the vehicle has a magnitude that is between a first predetermined value and a second predetermined value; and command the vehicle to provide an alert in response to determining that the magnitude of the external force exerted on the vehicle is between the first predetermined value and the second predetermined value, wherein the alert is indicative that a wheel alignment check should be performed.

The subject matter of the invention is a method for detecting faults related to wheels of a motor vehicle in a driving situation, comprising: a step (S.sub.1) of automatically determining a first series of corrective steering wheel angles applied successively to force the vehicle to follow a path parallel to a first rectilinear portion of a traffic lane; a step (S.sub.2) of automatically detecting, from the corrective steering wheel angles of the first series, the presence of a fault affecting a pair of steering wheels of the vehicle; and, optionally: a step (S.sub.3) of estimating a type of fault associated with the detected fault, a step (S.sub.4) of identifying the steering wheel of the pair of wheels affected by the fault; and a step (S.sub.5) of generating a warning message for the attention of the driver of the motor vehicle, the message including the estimated type of fault and the wheel identified as having the fault.

A wheel clamp attaches to a vehicle wheel for performing a wheel alignment on the vehicle. The wheel clamp has a mechanism to mount on the studs of the wheel and to securely mount on the flat surface of the rim. The wheel clamp may have a retractable mechanism that while mounted on the wheel's stud, can slide along the length of the stud without the need to turn it using the threads of the stud. Different methods may be used to attach to the stud, such as by means of treading a device, using a contraction mechanism or magnetic attraction. The wheel clamp has a crossbar and mechanism for supporting a measuring sensor, head or target and can be accommodated to different sizes, shapes and patterns of wheels and studs in the automotive industry.

A wheel clamp attaches to a vehicle wheel for performing a wheel alignment on the vehicle. The wheel clamp has a mechanism to mount on the studs of the wheel and to securely mount on the flat surface of the rim. The wheel clamp may have a retractable mechanism that while mounted on the wheel's stud, can slide along the length of the stud without the need to turn it using the threads of the stud. Different methods may be used to attach to the stud, such as by means of treading a device, using a contraction mechanism or magnetic attraction. The wheel clamp has a crossbar and mechanism for supporting a measuring sensor, head or target and can be accommodated to different sizes, shapes and patterns of wheels and studs in the automotive industry.

A wheel holder (2) for fastening to a wheel (1), in particular to a wheel (1) of a motor vehicle, comprises at least two arms (22, 23, 24) extending outward from a center (28) of the wheel holder (2) in a radial direction; each of the arms (22, 23, 24) having at least one movable element (32, 33, 34) that is movable in the radial direction; a rotation element (40) that is arranged in the center (28) of the wheel holder (2) such that it can rotate; at least two coupling elements (52, 53, 54) each extending between one of the movable elements (32, 33, 34) and the central rotation element (40) such that the movable elements (32, 33, 34) are movable in the radial direction by rotation of the rotation element (40); and at least one drive device (63, 64) which is connected to one of the movable elements (32, 33, 34) via a force transmitting element (73, 74) and which is designed to apply, via the force transmitting element (73,74), a force to the movable element (32, 33, 34) that is directed towards the center (28) of the wheel holder (2).

A wheel holder for fastening to a wheel comprises at least two arms extending outward from a base plate of the wheel holder radially; each of the arms having at least one movable element that is movable radially; a central rotation element that is arranged in the center of the wheel holder such that it can rotate; and at least two coupling elements each extending between one of the movable elements and the central rotation element such that the movable elements are movable radially by rotation of the rotation element. The rotation element is attached to the base plate of the wheel holder via a freewheeling system. The freewheeling system has at least one operating state in which the rotation element is rotatable in a freewheeling direction and rotation of the rotation element in a blocking direction opposite to the freewheeling direction is blocked.

A wheel holder for fastening to a wheel comprises at least two arms extending outward from a base plate of the wheel holder radially; each of the arms having at least one movable element that is movable radially; a central rotation element that is arranged in the center of the wheel holder such that it can rotate; and at least two coupling elements each extending between one of the movable elements and the central rotation element such that the movable elements are movable radially by rotation of the rotation element. The rotation element is attached to the base plate of the wheel holder via a freewheeling system. The freewheeling system has at least one operating state in which the rotation element is rotatable in a freewheeling direction and rotation of the rotation element in a blocking direction opposite to the freewheeling direction is blocked.

A wheel clamp (2) for fastening to a wheel (1), in particular to a wheel (1) of a motor vehicle, comprises at least two arms (22, 23, 24) which extend outward from a center (28) of the wheel clamp (2) in a radial direction. Each of the arms (22, 23, 24) has at least one movable element (32, 33, 34) which is movable in the radial direction. The wheel clamp (2) comprises a locking member (82) which is designed such that the movable elements (32, 33, 34), by operation of the locking member (82), can be fixed such that the movable elements (32, 33, 34) are no longer movable in the radial direction. The wheel clamp (2) also comprises an unlocking member (84) which is designed such that a fixation of the movable elements (32, 33, 34) can be released by operation of the unlocking member (84).