GB2042195A - Improvements in or relating to a device for checking wheel alignment - Google Patents

Abstract

In a device for checking wheel alignment a vertically directed laser 55, an adjustable reflecting member 89 for directing the beam from the laser horizontally towards a wheel and a chart 125 for determining the deviation of the beam when reflected from a mirror (170) fitted to the wheel on to the chart, are mounted on a pivotable 32 cover 31 of an equipment housing. The equipment is held in an operative position when the cover is open (Figure 2) and is concealed in the housing when the cover is closed (Figure 1). Rotatable and laterally movable wheel supporting means 41 are also disposed in the housing to facilitate correct initial alignment of a vehicle. Such supporting means may include a scissor action elevating arrangement. An apparatus for checking the alignment of each front wheel of a vehicle comprises two such devices. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to a device for checking wheel alignment This invention relates to a device for checking wheel alignment and more particularly to a collapsible floor mounted device for checking the alignment of the front wheels of automotive vehicles and the like.

The invention also relates to an apparatus for use in checking the alignment of each of the front wheels of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising two such devices.

Most types of known alignment apparatus for aligning the front wheels of automotive vehicles are rather large and cumbersome, and usually take up a great deal of floor space, whether or not in use.

Moreover, in the case of more accurate and sophisticated apparatus of the type which utilizes reflected light beams for aligning purposes, care must be taken to prevent accidental jarring or bumping of the structures which support the light sources and charts that are employed for alignment purposes.

For example, in the case of certain prior proposed types of alignment apparatus, the front wheels of a vehicle are adapted to be positioned between two spaced light sources, such as lasers, which direct beams of light onto mirrors that are mounted on the front wheels of the vehicle to reflect beams of light back toward alignment charts that are positioned adjacent the light sources. For proper operation of such types of apparatus it is essential that the beams emanating from the two light sources be aligned horizontally and coaxially of one another. Any accidental bumping of the supporting devices for the beams, either when in use or not in use, may cause misalignment of the beams.As a consequence, it is necessary frequently to calibrate or adjust the equipment so that the light sources, charts, etc. are in proper positions before any alignment operations can be effected on the automotive vehicle.

It is an object of this invention, therefore to provide a compact device and apparatus for use in checking wheel alignment in which the disadvantages of prior proposed apparatuses are at least partly obviated.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a device for use in checking the alignment of the front wheels of automotive vehicles, said device comprising a housing adapted to be mounted on or in a recess in a garage floor, or the like, a light source mounted on said housing, a member for supporting a wheel of an automotive vehicle adjacent said light source and means for directing a beam of light from said source onto a wheel supported on said member whereby the alignment of such a wheel may be determined from the angle between the beam directed onto the wheel and the reflected beam, said wheel supporting member being mounted in a first section of said housing, and said light source and said beam directing means being mounted in a second section of said housing, at least said beam directing means being mounted for movement between an inoperative position in which it is located within said second section and an operative position in which it is supported above said housing to register approximately with the centre of a wheel diposed on said supporting member.

Advantageously the device is movable selectively between a collapsed position in which the light source, beam directing means and wheel support means are enclosed within a low housing positioned on the floor of a garage, or in a recess in the floor, and an erected position in which these elements are automatically located in a proper operating position, ready to check the alignment of the wheels of vehicles.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided an apparatus for use in checking the alignment of each of the front wheels of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising two devices as hereinabove described.

Advantageously the wheel support means comprise scissor-Wpe jack means whereby the front wheels of a vehicle may be supported in an elevated position to provide ready access to the wheels during adjustment thereof.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and so that further features may be appreciated, the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure lisa plan view of one of two equipment housings which form part of the apparatus made according to one embodiment of this invention, a portion of the housing being broken away and shown in section for purposes of illustration; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of this housing mounted in a recess in the floor of a garage, or the like, with one side of the housing cut away in part, and with a pivotal cover section of the housing shown in its elevated or operative position; Figure 3 is an end elevational view of this housing as shown in Figure 2, but with part of one end wall of the housing cut away and shown in section;; Figure 4 is an enlarged, elevational view of the pivotal cover section of this housing as it appears in its erected position as shown in Figure 2, but with portions of the cover cut away and shown in section; Figure 5 is an enlarged part cut away elevational view of an alignment chart and an inclined beam reflecting mirror that are carried on the upper end of the pivotal housing cover as seen when looking in the direction of arrows 5-5 in Figure 4; Figure 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows; Figure 7 is a schematic plan view showing how a pair of these housings are adapted to be employed during the alignment of the front wheels of an automotive vehicle, the four wheels of the vehicle being shown in phantom by broken lines in this figure; and Figure 8 is a front elevational view of a fixture which is adapted to be employed during the calibration of lasers which form part of the equipment.

Figure 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view of part of the housing shown in Figure 2, but showing a modified form of wheel supporting pad; nd Figure 70 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 10-10 in Figure 9 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings and first to Figures 1 to 3, 11 denotes generally a rectangular alignment housing, which is adapted to be mounted in a rectangular recess R in the floor F of a garage, or the like. The housing 11, which may be constructed of heavy gauge metal, comprises a plane bottom wall 13, spaced, parallel side walls 14 and 15, spaced, parallel end walls 16 and 17, and a cover section 18, which extends between side walls 14 and 15 adjacent end wall 16 of the housing. As shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 2, the cover section 18 covers only a small part of the top of housing 11.

Threaded into the bottom 13 of housing 11 area plurality (six in the embodiment illustrated) of adjustable levelling nuts 21, having enlarged, circular heads which rest on the bottom of recess R to support the housing horizontally. Additional adjusting nuts 22 are threaded into the side walls 14 and 15 (figure 3) of the housing for engagement with the sides of the recess R to secure housing 11 against leteral movement in the recess.

Slidably mounted on housing 11 adjacent the end remote from cover section 18 is a rigid plate 25, which has downwardly projecting side flanges 26 that slidably overlap opposite sides of the housing to guide plate 25 for sliding movement between a covering position as shown by solid lines in Figure 1 and by broken lines in Figure 2, and an open position to the left of its closed position as shown by solid lines in Figure 2. On its face, plate 25 has two, upstanding, parallel ribs 27 for a purpose to be explained hereinafter.

Mounted to pivot on housing 11 between plate 25 and the stationary cover section 18 is a combination cover and laser supporting plate 31 (figures 1-4 and 6), which is generally rectangular in configuration.

Cover 31 is hinged as at 32 along one edge to the stationary cover section 18, so that when plate 25 is in its closed position (Figure 1), cover 31 can be swung about its hinge 32 between a horizontal, closed position (Figure 1) in which its combines with cover section 18 and the plate 25 completely to close the top of housing 11, and an erected or operative position (Figures 2-4 and 6) in which it is diposed vertically. Cover 31 has opposed, side flanges 33, which overlap opposite sides of housing 11 when the cover is in its closed position. To fix the cover 31 in its upright position one or more locking members 34 (Figures 2 and 4) can be utilized.Each member 34 may comprise a pair of cylindrical rods having adjacent endsthereoftheaded into a turnbuckle 35, and having hooks on the opposite ends thereof which are engageable in openings formed in the side of housing 11, and the adjacent side flange 33 of the cover31.

Mounted in housing 11 to be positioned beneath the plate 25, when the latter is in its closed position, is a rotatable wheel support 41 (Figures 2 and 3), which is circular in configuration. On its underside support 41 has a circular groove in which are seated the upper portions of a plurality of roller bearings 42, the lower portions of which are seated in a registering, circular groove formed on the upper surface of a rectangular support plate 43, which extends transversely between opposite sides of housing 11. Plate 43 is supported along it marginal side edges on two sets of roller bearings 45, which are seated in parallel grooves formed along opposite sides of housing 11 by a pair of right angular brackets 47 that are secured to the inside surfaces of the housing walls 14 and 15.

This construction permits plate 43 to be shifted on the bearings 45 longitudinally of housing 11, or selectively toward the left or right in Figure 2.

Likewise the bearings 42 permit the wheel support 41 to be rotated relative to plate 43 in a horizontal plane, and about a vertical axis through the centre of plate 43.

Adjustably secured by a pair of U-shaped brackets 51 and 52 (Figures 2-4 and 6) against spacer plates 53 (Figure 4) which are fastened to the underside of the cover 31, is a laser 55. The legs of each bracket 51 and 52 are spaced from one another a distance slightly greater than the width of the laser 55, and on their inner ends the bracket legs have outwardly projecting flanges 56 and 57, respectively. Two pairs of adjusting bolts 58 and 59 extend through slots 60 and 61 (Figure 6) in flanges 56 and 57, respectively, and through registering openings in the cover plate 31, where nuts 62 and 63 (Figure 4) are secured over the terminal ends thereof to prevent their withdrawal from cover plate 31.Coiled compression springs 64 and 65 (Figure 4) surround the bolts 58 and 59, respectively, extend between the heads thereof and the associated flanges 56 and 57, thereby resiliently to urge the brackets 51 and 52 against the outer surface of the laser 55 so that the latter is held frictionally in place on the cover 31 against the spacer plates 53. To hold the laser 55 in a laterally adjusted position between the legs of brackets 51 and 52 four adjusting bolts 67 (Figures 4 and 6) are threaded through the bracket legs to engage opposite sides of the laser 55 at two spaced points along each side thereof.

Mounted above the upper end of laser 55 on the back of plate 31 is a right angular bracket having a first leg 71 (Figures 4 and 6) secured against the underside of cover plate 31 by a bolt 72, and having its other leg 73 projecting horizontally, as illustrated in Figures 2,3,4, and 6, above the upper edge end of laser 55. Bolt 72 passes through a vertical slot 74 (Figure 4) in the cover plate 31, and a horizontal slot 75 (Figure 6) in bracket leg 71, so that the bracket can be adjusted both vertically and horizontally relative to cover plate 31.

The bracket leg 73 is supported on the upper surface of an elongate leveling bar 76, opposite ends of which are supported on the upper ends of a pair of spaced adjusting nuts 77 (Figures 4 and 6) which are adjustably theaded through horizontally disposed legs 78 of a pair of right angular brackets 79 that are fastened to the underside of cover 31 beneath and adjacent opposite ends of the leveling bar 76.

Mounted on the upper surface of the bracket leg 73 is a pair of spaced, parallel rectangular supporting plates 81 and 82. A similarly shaped cover plate 83 is supported on the upper edges of plates 81 and 82.

The upper and lower edges of plate 82 are welded or otherwise secured, respectively, to the plate 83 and to the bracket leg 73, while the plate 81 is adjustably secured by a pair of elongate bolts 85 to plate 82, so that plate 81 can be moved towards or away from plate 82, between the bracket leg 73 and the overlying plate 83.

Mounted in confronting, circular recesses formed in the confronting faces of plates 81 and 82 are two, resilient, o- rings or bearings (not illustrated), which resiliently embrace opposite sides of a spherically shaped reflecting member 87. Member 87 has therein a diametrical slot 88, the bottom of which has thereon a reflecting or mirror surface 89 (Figures 4 and 6). Secured to and projecting from the outer, spherical surface of member 87, is a cylindrical adjusting stem 91,the axis of which extends through the centre of member 87 and lies on a plane which intersects the mirror surface 89 at an angle of 45".

Stem 91 projects upwardly through an axial bore formed in the centre of a hexagonally shaped plate 93, which is fastened on top of plate 83. Adjustably threaded through alternate sides of plate 93 are three adjusting screws 94, the inner ends of which are engageable with the stem 91 at intervals of 120" about its periphery.

One leg 96 of another right angular bracket is secured to the rear face of cover 31 above the bracket supporting the reflecting member 87 and has a horizontally disposed leg 97 (Figures 4 and 5), which extends, forwardly of the mounting apparatus for the reflecting member 87. Secured by a nut 98 to the underside of the bracket leg 97 to be suspended thereby in front of the reflecting member 87 is an inverted, generally U-shaped frame 100, which has a pair of spaced, parallel, downwardly projecting legs 101 and 102.

Adjustably mounted in a groove 104, which is formed completely around the inside surface of the U-shaped bracket, 100, is a rectangular, chart supporting plate, 106 which has in approximately the centre thereof a large circular opening 107 (Figure 4) that registers with the mirror reflecting surface 89.

Plate 106 is engaged along one side edge by a pair of set screws 108 and 109, which thread through leg 101 into engagement with the confronting side of plate 106, and along its opposite edge by the inner end of a single adjusting nut 111, which is threaded through the frame leg 102 approximately medially of its end. Plate 106 is also supported along its lower edge on the upper ends of two spaced, parallel supporting screws 112 and 113, which are adjustably threaded through a horizontally disposed support 114which extends along the bottom offrame 100.

Opposite ends of support 114 are bent upwardly as at 115, and are secured by screws 116 to the outer surfaces of the frame legs 101 and 102 at the lower ends thereof, whereby support 114 is suspended horizontally beneath frame 100.

Mounted on the face of plate 106 at its side remote from the mirror surface 89 is a spacer plate 118, which has in its upper half a large circular opening 119 which registers with, and has the same diameter as, the opening 107 in plate 106. Secured intermediate its ends by a plurality of screws 121 (four in the embodiment shown in Figure 5) against the face of spacer plate 118 is an elongate, sheet metal card holder 122, which is generally rectangular in configuration. Slidably mounted between rolled or curled edged 123 of the holder 122 is a conventional alignment chart of card 125 having on the face thereof the usual graduations for denoting toe in, toe out, camber, etc.In its centre, this card 125 has a small opening or hole H, which may be approximately 1.6mm (1/16 of an inch) in diameter, and which registers with the centres of the openings 107 and 119, in the plates 106 and 118, respectively, and consequently approximately with the centre of the inclined mirror surface 89.

Referring now to Figure 7, two devices of the type described are mounted in spaced recesses in the floor of a garage, or the like, so that the two cover sections 25 thereof, when closed, will be positioned to support thereon the two front tyres FT of an automotive vehicle. Each housing 11, of course, is properly mounted in its associated recess so that the cover sections 25 and 31 will be diposed horizontally and approximately at ground level when they are closed, and so that the charts 125 of the two devices will confront one another as shown in Figure 7, when the covers 31 are elevated to their operative positions.

Before any alignment operations are conducted, the lasers 55 and charts 125 must be properly oriented, so that when the beams from the two lasers 55 are directed vertically upwardly onto the respective inclined mirror surfaces 89, they will be reflected by these mirror surfaces toward one another long a common horizontal axis. This initial calibration can be effected by employing a pair of identical fixtures 130 (Figures 7 and 8), each consisting of a rigid plate having in an upper portion a small opening 131, and in its lower edge a pair of parallel slots 132 which are insertable over opposite sides of a housing 11, as shown for example by broken lines in Figure 7, to support the fixture vertically on the end of the housing opposite the chart 125 associated with that housing.When the fixtures 130 are in position (Figure 7) their openings 131 will be positioned on the horizontal line or axis along which it is desired coaxially to locate the two laser beams that are to be used for alignment purposes.

With the fixtures 130 in place, the laser beam adjusting nuts 58, 59 and 67 of each device are adjusted until the associated laser beam is directed upwardly and approximately onto the centre of the associated mirror surface 89, which is located above the laser in a plane that extends at approximately 45" to the vertical. Each beam should then be directed by the associated mirror surface laterally through the registering openings 107 and 119 in the adjacent card supporting plates 106 and 118, and through small hole H in the centre of the associated chart 125 toward the adjacent fixture 130. If a respective laser beam is properly aligned its beam, as reflected horizontally by the associated reflecting surface 89, should pass directly through the openings 131 in both fixtures 130. If one of the beams is not so located, its associated mirror surface 89 can be adjusted by loosening the bolt 72 to allow lateral adjustment of its bracket leg 71 horizontally as allowed by the slot 75, or vertical adjustment in slot 74 by the adjusting screws 77, until such time that the beam from the associated laser 55 is located approximately centrally of the mirror surface 89. If the reflected beam still does not pass through the fixture openings 131, the fine adjusting screws 94 for each mirror mount can be manipulated to swing the associated mirror surface 89 slightly in the necessary direction.

After the above adjusting or calibrating operations have been effected the bolts 85 of each mirror housing are tightened firmly to hold the associated reflecting member 87 against further movement therein. Also, if necessary the set screws 109 and the adjusting screws 111,112 and 113 can also be adjusted properly to align the small hole H in the associated chart 125 with the centre of the adjacent mirror reflecting surface 89. Moreover, the associated chart 125 can, if necessary, be shifted sightly longitudinally within its supporting frame 122. In any event, once these initial adjustments have been made to coalign the reflected laser beams, the apparatus is ready for use in wheel alignment operations. At this time, therefore, the fixtures 130 can be removed and stored for future use.

Referring now to Figure 7, to effect alignment of the front wheels of an automobile the auto is driven onto the floor F of a garage until its two front tyres FT are positioned on the rigid plates 25 between the associated ribs 27. The covers 31 are then swung upright, and the auto is elevated, for example by a one or two post-type lift L mounted telescopically in floor F, in order to lift the wheels off plates 25 so that they can be slid sideways to expose the associated wheel supports 41. The auto is then lowered until each of its front tyres FT comes to rest on one of the two supports 41. (See also for example, the tyre Tin Figure 2). It will be noted that the axes of supports 41 intersect the beams emanating from the lasers 55.

Also, when section 25 is in its open position (Figure 2) it provides a work platform upon which the operator of the equipment may stand during calibration, etc.

Mounted on the floor F of the garage adjacent one of the rear tyres RT of the vehicle is a pivotal alignment device comprising a pair of upright supports 161 and 162 (Figures 2 and 7), which are slidable at their lower ends on a track 163 in the floor F and extending in a direction normal to the axis of the laser beams. Pivotally connected to the upper ends of the supports 161 and 162 by a pair of rigid links 165 and 166, which are equal in length, is an elongate centering member 167. This member has a vertically disposed face 168, which is held by the links in a plane that extends at right angles to the above noted laser beams, and which is engageable with the outer peripheral surface of one of the rear tyres RT (the left rear tyre in Figure 7) of the vehicle when its front wheels are positioned on the supports 41.When the surface 168 on member 167 is seated flat against the outer peripheral surface of this tyre RT, the centre line of the automobile will be disposed approximately at right angles to the axis of the laser beams; but if the automobile is slightly off centre, the surface 168 will be inclined relative to the outer surface of the rear tyre RT with which it is engaged.

To correct this inclination, one need only push the front end of the vehicle either to the left ortho the right, as may be necessary, thereby causing the supporting plates 43 to shift laterally, and thus shifting the front end of the auto until the surface 168 lies flat against the outside of the engaged tyre RT as shown in Figure 7.

When the automobile is thus properly aligned, a mirror mounting device, such as the type shown for example in U.S. Patent No.3,758,213 is employed to attach a mirror or reflecting member 170 (Figure 7) to the outside surface of each of the two front tyres RT, so that the beams of light from the lasers 55 are reflected onto the respective associated charts 125.

From this point on each of the mirrors 170 is adjusted a known manner to place its reflecting surface in a plane that extends at right angles to the axis of rotation of the associated tyre FT. For this purpose it is necessary to elevate the front wheels of the vehicle, as for example by the lift L or some other conventional auto lift or jacking device, so as to enable the front wheels of the vehicle to be rotated about their respecitve spindles. Then, after each mirror 170 has been properly aligned with the axis of rotation of its associated wheel, the front wheels are lowered and the reflected laser beams can then be employed to read on the face of the charts 125 the necessary measurements relating to toe in, toe out, camber, etc.The front wheels can then be adjusted as desired, after which the automobile can be removed and the plate 25 and cover 31 of each housing 11 can be returned to their closed positions.

In order properly to adjust the front wheels of a vehicle it is often desirable to have the wheels elevated slightly, so that an operator or mechanic will have easier access to the fittings which require adjustment. For this reason the modified housing 11' shown in Figures 9 and 10 may be employed in place of housing 11. The modified housing 11' is similar in all respects to housing 11 except that its wheel support 41 is mounted for limited vertical movement between its usual or lowered position as shown in Figures 9 and 10, and an elevated position (broken lines in Figure 9) in which the support 41 is locked in a horizontal position some twelve to fourteen inches above its normal, lowered position.

Referring to Figures 9 and 10, the numeral 180 denotes generally a pneumatically controlled scissors jack comprising a pair of spaced, parallel, upper links 181, the upper surfaces of which are welded or otherwise secured to the underside of plate 43 adjacent the longtidinal side edges thereof. A first horizontal pin 182 is mounted at opposite ends thereof for reciprocation in a pair of elongate slots 183 formed in the registering ends of links 181 adjacent one end of plate 43; and the opposite ends of links 181 are connected by anelongate pin 184. A second, lower pair of spaced, parallel links 185, which are similar to links 181, are suspended horizontally beneath links 181 by two sets of links 186 and 187.A pin 188 is mounted at opposite ends for reciprocation in slots 189 in links 185 for reciprocation in a manner similar to pin 182; and the opposite ends of links 185 are connected by elongate pin 190. The two links 186 and 187 of each set thereof are pivotally connected intermediate their ends by pins 192; and adjacent each side of jack 180 the links 186 is pivotally connected at opposite ends to the pins 184 and 188, respectively, and the link 187 is pivotally connected at opposite ends to pins 182 and 190, respectively.

Each jack 180 is operated by an air cylinder 195.

which is fixed at one end to pin 190 intermediate its ends, and which has its reciprocable piston rod 196 secured at its free end to pin 188, so that when air pressure is applied to the cylinder, it retracts its rod 196, thereby drawing pin 188 to the right (Figure 9) in slots 189 in the links 185. This elevates plate 43 off the bearings 45 and into its elevated position as shown by broken lines in Figure 9. Two hook members 197, which are pivoted on links 181 and 185 adjacent the inner ends of slots 183 and 189, can then be swung into locking positions in which notches 198 in the free ends thereof engage over opposite ends of pins 182 and 188 to lock plates 41 and 43 in their elevated positions.

The above noted jack 180 is not intended to elevate the front end of a vehicle, but merely to hold it in an elevated position after it has been raised by a floor lift such as denoted at L in Figure 7. Thus when two such housings 11' are employed, and afterthe mirrors 170 have been properly trued or centered, the lift L is operated to elevate the vehicle, the jacks 180 and then operated to elevate supports 41 to their upper positions (broken lines in Figure 9) and the lift is then lowered just far enough to cause the front tyres FTto engage supports 41 with sufficient force to compress the front wheel springs. The necessary alignment adjustments may then be made.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the described embodiments of the invention provide a compact apparatus for effecting the static alignment of the front wheels of an automotive vehicle or the like. Since the housings 11 or 11' can be completely stored at a level beneath the surface of the floor F of a garage, when not in use, they are protected from damage resulting from jarring, bumping, or the like.

This means also that once the various elements are adjusted into their properly calibrated positions, they remain so in the absence of any accidental damage thereto during use. Moreover, not only are the steps for calibrating the laser beams relatively easy to effect, but also the adjusting devices are readily accessible when the cover 31 is in its operative position.

An additional and important advantage of the described wheel alignment indicating devices is that, unlike prior proposed devices in which a laser itself is aligned horizontally with an associated chart and wheel mounted reflecting surface, in which case the lasers had to be spaced outwardly from the chart holding devices at opposite sides of the installation, the lasers in the above described devices are positioned beneath the mirror surfaces 89, so that charts 125 are placed substantially closer to the lasers, thereby reducing the overall width of the installation.It should be noted also that the described devices include both coarse and fine adjusting features, as for example in the case of the respective housings for the reflecting members 87, which can be adjusted both by adjusting the supporting bracket leg 73, and by effecting fine adjustment through the rotation of the reflecting member 87 into its final position by the adjusting screws 94.

Furthermore, by employing apparatus which in corporatesthe elevating jacks 180, the mechanic has the additional advantage of being able to make alignment adjustments when the vehicle is elevated slightly above ground level. At this stage, assuming the lift L is employed, the frame of the vehicle will be resting on the now-slightly-elevated lift so that the rear wheels also will be off the floor, but the front wheels will be resting on the elevated supports 41.

With this construction, of course, the lasers 55 and their associated mirror surfaces 89 and charts 125 will be ajusted slightly vertically on their respective cover sections 31 properly to register with the elevated front wheels of the vehicle.

An advantageous feature of this modified structure, is that the lower links 185 of each jack are unloaded and are spaced slightly above the bottom of the associated housing 11', when the jack is collapsed or lowered, so that the plate 43 can be shifted laterally on bearings 45 to effect alignment of the reartyres of the vehicle with surface 168. Of course when the supports 41 are engaged by the wheels of a vehicle, the bottom of each jack 180 will be resting firmly on the bottom of its associated housing so that the jacks will not be movable relative to the housings, when being used.

While this invention has been described in connection with apparatus in which housings 11 are mounted in recesses within a garage floor, it will be apparent that the housings may be mounted directly on the surface of the floor, if desired, since in its collapsed or inoperative position, each housing has an extremely low profile. The height of each housing 11 could be reduced even further by eliminating the cylinder 195 and raising and lowering the jacks 180 manually rather than pneumatically.

Claims (17)

1. A device for use in checking the alignment of the front wheels of automotive vehicles, said device comprising a housing adapted to be mounted on or in a recess in a garage floor, or the like, a light source mounted on said housing, a member for supporting a wheel of an automotive vehicle adjacent said light source and means for directing a beam of light from said source onto a wheel supported on said member whereby the alignment of such a wheel may be determined, from the angle between the beam directed onto the wheel and the reflected beam, said wheel supporting member being mounted in a first section of said housing and said light source and said beam directing mean being mounted in a second section of said housing, at least said beam directing means being mounted for movement between an inoperative position in which it is located within said second section and an operative position in which it is supported above said housing to register approximately with the centre of a wheel disposed on said supporting member.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, including a first cover movable on said housing between a closed position in which it covers a portion of an opening in the top of said housing and an upright position in which its extends above said housing, said light source and beam directing means being mounted on said first cover to be supported thereby in inoperative positions when said first cover is closed, anKd to be supported thereby in operative positions when said first cover is in its upright position.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, including a second cover slidably mounted on said housing for movement between a first position in which it covers said wheel supporting member and a second position in which it uncovers said wheel supporting member and covers said first section of said housing when said first cover is in its upright position.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said wheel supporting member is mounted in said housing for limited reciprocable movement parallel to said beam of light and for rotation about a vertical axis which intersects the beam of light, said member being disposed to support a wheel of an automotive vehicle in the path of said beam when said second cover is in its second position.

5. A device as defined in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said first cover is hingedly connected along one edge of said housing to pivot between its closed and upright positions, said light source is mounted on one side of said first cover to be suspended from the underside thereof in said first section of the housing, when said first cover is in its closed position, and to direct a beam of light in a direction transverse to the horizontal, when said first cover is in its upright position, and wherein said beam directing mean comprises reflecting member mounted on said one side of said first cover and having thereon a reflecting surface positioned to reflect said beam in a horizontal direction when said first cover is in its upright position.

6. A device as defined in claim 5, wherein said light source is adjustably mounted on said first cover so as to direct a beam vertically when said first cover is in its upright position, said reflecting member is adjustably mounted on said first cover with its reflecting surface disposed in a plane inclined at approximately 45" to the vertical, when said first cover is in its upright position and a wheel aligment chart is carried by said first cover adjacent said reflecting surface, said chart having a small opening therethrough registering approximately with the centre of said reflecting surface for the beam of light reflected therefrom, said chart being disposed to face the wheel of the vehicle toward which said horizontal beam of light is to be directed.

7. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein said reflecting member comprises a spherically-shaped element having therein a diametral slot, the bottom of said slot being a plane surface having thereon said reflecting surface, and wherein said mounting means for said reflecting member includes a pair of ring bearing supports supporting said spherically shaped memerforuniversal rotational adjustment about its centre.

8. A device as defined in claim 7, including a member mounted on said first cover adjacent said reflecting member and having therethrough a vertic al bore diposed coaxially of said reflecting member, ) a cylindrical stem projecting from said relecting member through said bore in said ring in radially spaced relation to the wall of said bore, and a plurality of adjusting screws mounted in said ring and projecting radially at their inner ends into 5 contact with the periphery of said stem.

9. A device as defined in any one of claims 1 to 8, including means in said housing for elevating said wheel supporting member to an upper position above the top of said housing.

10. A device as defined in claim 9, wherein said elevating means comprises a scissors-type mechan ism connected to the underside of said wheel supporting member, and means on said mechanism for selectively moving said mechanism between 5 expanded and retracted positions, respectively, to raise and lower said wheel supporting member into and out of its upper position.

11. A device substantially as described herein, with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A device substantially as described herein, with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 as modified by Figures 9 and 10 of the accompany ing drawings.

13. An apparatus for use in checking the align ment of each of the front wheels of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising two devices as claimed in any of the preceding claims.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13 further comprising alignment means to facilitate correct alignment of a vehicle relative to said devices prior to checking the alignment of the front wheels.

15. An apparatus substantially as herein de scribed with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 5 1 to 8 ofthe accompanying drawings.

16. An apparatus substantially as herein de scribed with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 8 as modified by Figures 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.

17. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.