Bracket for wheel alignment control instruments for vehicle wheels

Abstract

A bracket for wheel alignment control instruments for vehicle wheels includes a central body having a center, an outer face and an opposing parallel inner face facing a wheel; three gripping arms, the ends of which are distal to the center, have grip members and are simultaneously slidingly mounted onto the central body to slide in radial directions, driven by a first drive system and guided by first guide devices between wheel gripping or releasing positions; spacers holding the bracket, parallel to one side of the wheel, which are simultaneously movable in radial directions relative to the center through adjustable abutment positions, the spacers being slidingly mounted onto the central body to slide independent of the arms, driven by a second drive system independent of the first drive system and guided by the first guide devices.

Claims

1. A bracket (1) for control instruments of wheel (R) alignment of a vehicle, comprising: a center body (2) having a center (C), an outer face (3e), and an opposing parallel inner face (3i) facing a wheel (R) in a use configuration of the bracket (1); a group of three grasp arms (7, 8, 9) having respective distal ends with respect of the center (C), said distal ends being equipped with grasping members (10), said arms being contemporarily slindingly mounted with respect of the center body (2) toward centrifugal or centripetal directions and reciprocally spaced, actuated by a first actuating system (17) and guided by first guiding devices (18) between grasping positions by said grasping members or releasing positions of the wheel (R); and leaning spacers (11, 12, 13) of the bracket (1) parallel to a side (F) of the wheel (R), which are contemporaneously movable according to radial directions with respect of said center (C) among adjustable leaning positions; wherein said leaning spacers (11, 12, 13) are mounted on said center body (2) to be independently sliding from said arms (7, 8, 9), movably actuated by a second actuating system (25, 26, 27, 28) independently from said first actuating system (17) and guided by said first guiding devices (18).

2. The bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein said center body (2) is made from a light material chosen from the group consisting of a synthetic material, a material having a tri-dimensional alveolar structure, aluminum, or alloys aluminum.

3. The bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein said leaning spacers comprise a group of three prismatic bumpers (11, 12, 13) having a same thickness (SP), in a mounted configuration on a wheel (R) of said bracket (1), said bumpers being fitted between said inner face (3i) of the center body (2) and said side (F) of a wheel (R).

4. The bracket as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first actuating system comprises: a center disk (21) rotatably supported concentrically with said center (C) on said outer face (3e) of the center body (2); a group of three first connecting rods (20) between the center disc (21) and respective arms (7, 8, 9), each connecting rod having their own ends hinged to respectively said center disc (21) and a proximal zone of a corresponding arm (7, 8, 9); a circular solidly rotatable rack (22) circularly obtained on said center disc (21); and a maneuvering sprocket (23) rotatably supported on said outer face (3e) of said center body (2), designed to be manually actuated to rotate said rack (22) and said center disc (21).

5. The bracket as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second actuating system comprises: a center plate (25) that is rotatably supported concentrically with said center (C) on said inner face (3i) of said center body (2), independently from said center disc (21); and a group of three second connecting rods (26, 27, 28) having ends hinged to said center plate (25) and to a proximal end (14) with respect of said center (C) of a respective tri-dimensional bumper (11, 12, 13).

6. The bracket as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first guiding devices comprise: a group of three pass-through rectilinear grooves (4, 5, 6) obtained in said center body (2); first transversal pins (19) slidingly engaged in said grooves (4, 5, 6) and associated with said group of three first connecting rods (20); second saddles (30) slidingly engaged in said grooves (4, 5, 6) and associated with said group of three second connecting rods (26, 27, 28).

7. The bracket as claimed in claim 3, wherein between said group of three arms (7, 8, 9) and tri-dimensional bumpers (11, 12, 13), second guiding devices (35) of the group of three arms (7, 8, 9) with respect to the tri-dimensional bumpers (1, 12, 13) are interposed.

8. The bracket as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second guiding devices comprise, for each arm, a pass-through seat (35) obtained in a corresponding thickness (SP) of a bumper, and wherein said arm is received in a sliding way with respect of the bumper.

9. The bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein said radial directions are reciprocally placed at 120.

10. The bracket as claimed in claim 5, wherein, between at least one of said group of three of said second connecting rods (26, 27, 28) and said inner face (3i) of the center body (2), a diameter pre-selection indicator is interposed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred, non-exclusive embodiment of a bracket for vehicle wheel alignment control instruments, which is shown as non-limiting example in the annexed drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a partially broken-away perspective view of a wheel with the bracket of the invention mounted thereto;

(3) FIG. 2 is a broken-away schematic view of the outer face of the bracket of the invention, in a wheel gripping configuration;

(4) FIG. 3 is a broken-away schematic view of the outer face of the bracket of the invention, in a wheel releasing configuration;

(5) FIG. 4 is a broken-away schematic view of the inner face of the bracket of the invention, in a non-abutment configuration relative to a wheel;

(6) FIG. 5 is a broken-away schematic view of the inner face of the bracket of the invention, in an abutment configuration relative to a wheel;

(7) FIG. 6 is an enlarged broken-away schematic view of a detail of FIG. 5.

(8) FIG. 7 is a broken-away schematic view of the inner face of the bracket of the invention, in which the ends of two brackets arms are shown;

(9) FIG. 8 is a broken-away schematic front view of the bracket of the invention, when mounted to a wheel;

(10) FIG. 9 is an enlarged broken-away view of a detail of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(11) Referring to the accompanying figures, numeral 1 generally designates a bracket for wheel alignment control instruments for vehicle wheels R, briefly referred to hereinafter as bracket 1.

(12) The bracket 1 comprises a central body 2, briefly referred to hereinafter as body 2, which preferably has the shape of an equilateral triangle, with slightly concave sides 2a, 2b, 2c.

(13) The body 2 is made of a light-weight material, such as aluminum, aluminum alloys or a synthetic material having a three-dimensional, possibly cellular structure, such as carbon or a honeycomb material, and a center C defined by the intersections of the bisectors B1, B2, B3 of the angles 1, 2, 3 of the three vertices V1, V2, V3, and coaxially coincident with the ideal axis of rotation of a wheel R, when mounted thereupon.

(14) The body 2 has a flat shape and two opposite and parallel faces, namely a face that faces outwards when the bracket 1 is mounted to the wheel R, referred to as outer face 3e and an opposite inner face 3i.

(15) As shown in the Figures, at the three bisectors B1, B2, B3, the body is formed with corresponding straight through slots 4, 5, 6, whose purpose will be explained below in greater detail.

(16) The body 2, namely its inner face 3i has three arms 7, 8, 9 mounted thereto, which radially extend out of the body 2, parallel to the inner face 3i to project out of the vertices V1, V2, V3 thereof with respective distal end portions 7a, 8a, 9a, which are bent at right angles away from the body 2 and have end segments 7b, 8b, 9b that form projecting crests 10.

(17) Also, three prismatic pads 11, 12, 13 with equal thicknesses SP are mounted to the inner face 3i, and form spacer means for abutment of the bracket 1 to the sides of the wheel R, namely the sides F of the tire P thereof.

(18) More in detail, each of the prismatic pads 11, 12, 14 has a base 14, a prismatic head 15 that forms a surface 15a designed for contact with the side F and an intermediate connecting section 16, which is preferably inclined to hold the base 14 apart from the wheel R when the support 1 is mounted to the wheel R.

(19) As shown in the Figures, the three arms 7, 8, 9 are all supported to be able to move relative to the body 2 by the action of drive means 17 and are guided by first guide means 18.

(20) The drive means comprise, for each of the arms, a shaft 19 that is transversely engaged in a respective through slot 4, 5, 6 and has both ends extending perpendicularly beyond the two faces 3i and 3e, namely with a head 19a extending out of the inner face 3i and a foot 19b extending in the opposite direction, i.e. out of the outer face 3e

(21) Each head 19a has a respected arm extending therethrough and fixed thereto, i.e. not able to slide.

(22) At each foot 19b the concurrent end of a first connecting rod 20 is hinged (a first triad of rods being formed), the connecting rod being parallel to the outer face 3e and having the opposite end hinged by a central disk 21 which is supported by the central body 2 to rotate in both directions and is also parallel to the outer face 3e.

(23) The disk 21 is peripherally equipped with a rack 22 which engages with a pinion 23 that forms the base of an operating knob 24, the latter being rotatably supported by the body 2 with an axis of rotation perpendicular thereto.

(24) The disk 21 with the rack 2 and the knob 24 with the pinion 23 form the drive means 17 for simultaneously driving the arms 7, 8, 9 and the through slots 4, 5, 6 are the guide means 18 therefor.

(25) A triangular plate 25 is rotatably arranged on the inner face Si, and is coaxial to the disk 21 but may be rotated independently of the latter in both directions according to the arrows RR.

(26) At the vertices of the triangular plate 25, corresponding ends of three second connecting rods 26, 27, 28 are hinged (a second triad of rods being formed, which moves independent of the first triad), such rods being hinged, at the opposite ends, to the bases 14 of the respective prismatic pads 11, 12, 13.

(27) The latter are mounted to their respective arms 7, 8, 9 to slide simultaneously, regardless of the position that the latter assume.

(28) In detail, as shown in the Figures, each of the prismatic pads 11, 12, 13 have a respective arm 7, 8, 9 longitudinally extending therethrough and are slidingly received in respective sliding seats 35 (FIG. 6) formed in the bases 14.

(29) The connecting rods 26, 27, 28 have their ends hinged to the bases 14 of their respective prismatic pads 11, 12, 13, which are also co-hinged to respective carriages 30, the latter being slidingly received in the slots 4, 5, 6 between the ends of the latter that face toward the center C and the pivots 19.

(30) In other words, the pivots 19 slide within the slots 4, 5, 6 between the carriages 30 and the ends of the slots that face toward the exterior of the body 2, whereas the carriages 30 slide between the pivots 19 and the opposite ends of the slots 4, 5, 6, which nevertheless face toward the center C.

(31) Thus, the slots 4, 5, 6 are guide means both for the pivots 19 and hence the ends of the first connecting rods 20 and for the carriages 30 and hence the ends of the second connecting rods 30.

(32) As shown in the Figures, the disk 21 has a coaxial hub 31 with an axial hole 32 which is designed to receive the shafts of standard supports of wheel alignment measuring instruments for vehicle wheels R.

(33) The operation of the bracket for vehicle wheel alignment control instruments of the invention is as follows:

(34) when an operator has to measure or correct the alignment of a wheel R of a vehicle, without removing it from the hub thereof upon which it is fixed, he/she will first rotate the triangular plate 25, thereby causing the three prismatic pads 11, 12, 13 to simultaneously radially slide along the slots 4, 5, 6 until they are arranged on an ideal circumference, corresponding to the circumference of the tire side P.

(35) For this operation to be exact, a graduated scale, e.g. in inches, corresponding to the units of the diameters of tires P, is provided on at least one of the second connecting rod, e.g. the second connecting rod 27 (see FIG. 7), and is interfaced with a fixed reference 34 to allow the user to read the exact position of the prismatic pads 11, 12, 13 which now slide along the arms 7, 8, 9, the latter being stationary.

(36) Then, the operator rotates the knob 24, which in turn rotates the disk 21, the latter causing the arms 7, 8, 9 to slide in the prismatic pads 11, 12, 13, i.e. outwards with respect to the body 2, guided by the pivots 19 that slide in the slots 4, 5, 6.

(37) Thus, the ends 7a, 8a, 9a will simultaneously move away from one another in the centrifugal direction, until they can entirely encircle the wheel R, lying over the tread of the tire P.

(38) In this position, the three prismatic pads 11, 12, 13 that have been previously positioned, abut the side F of the tire P in a proper position, such that the position of the body 2 with respect to the axis of rotation of the wheel R is well centered.

(39) Then, the operator turns the knob 24 again, but in an opposite direction, to move the ends 7a, 8a, 9a toward one another, until the latter abut the surface of the tread of the tire P and the projecting crests 10 engage in the groves thereof, referenced SC in the Figures for clarity, thereby stably fastening the bracket 1 to the wheel R.

(40) Now, the operator may introduce the measurement and control instruments into the hole 32 and have an exact reference for any check or adjustment to be made.

(41) It shall be noted that the body 2 has the characteristic of being made of a very light material, such as carbon, aluminum or alloys thereof or may have a so-called honeycomb structure, which make the bracket 1 very easy to handle, with not much effort being required even with repetitive use.

(42) The skilled person will understand that other materials having light-weight and high strength properties like those exemplarily mentioned above, may be used to form the bracket 1.

(43) The invention has been found to fulfill the intended objects.

(44) The invention so conceived is susceptible to changes and variants within the inventive concept.

(45) Also, all the details may be replaced by other technical equivalent elements.

(46) In its practical implementation, any material, shape and size may be used as needed, without departure from the scope as defined by the following claims.