Universal wheel-fixation frame for electronic alignment sensor
An alignment frame for affixing a sensor configured to measure one or more alignment angles to a wheel of a vehicle can include a pair of arms configured to contact a tire mounted on the wheel to support the alignment frame, a center base configured to receive a first bar, a second bar, and a third bar orthogonally aligned in a linear alignment such that the first bar is at ninety degrees from the horizontal axis defined by the second and the third bar, and a spacer positioned on each of the first, second, and third bars and configured to align the bars with a face of the rim so as to center the center base with respect to the rim of the wheel. The center base can receive a mounting portion of the sensor to center the sensor with the respect to the rim of the wheel.
1. A method of measuring a camber or a caster angle defined by a wheel of a vehicle, wherein measuring the camber or the caster angle includes:
affixing an alignment frame including a sensor to the wheel to locate vertical and horizontal axes of the alignment frame parallel to vertical and horizontal axes of the wheel, wherein affixing the alignment frame includes positioning a pair of arms adjustably coupled to the alignment frame on a tire of the wheel such that the pair of arms contacts and extends substantially along a section width of the tire and positioning a spacer of a first, second, and a third bar of the alignment frame on a rim of the wheel;
activating circuitry of a computer system operably coupled to the sensor to cause the sensor to generate data associated with a geospatial position of the wheel; and
operating a steering system of the vehicle to cause the wheel to move throughout a range of motion defined by the steering system;
wherein the computer system is configured to analyze the data generated by the sensor to determine and display the camber or the caster angle to a user on a display screen of the computer system.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer system is a mobile device, and wherein activating circuitry of the computer system includes one or more user inputs to a graphical user interface displayed on the display screen of the computer system.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the graphical user interface includes selectable icons for controlling sensor calibration, measurement initiation, and measurement report generation.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the graphical user interface is configured to display real-time camber and caster angle measurements.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the computer system is configured to store measurement reports including date, time, location, and environmental conditions.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein operating the steering system of the vehicle is performed in response to one or more visual or auditory alerts generated by the computer system.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes an inertial measurement unit configured to collect acceleration data to track the geospatial position of the wheel.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a gyroscope configured to generate rate of rotation data to provide orientation estimates.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer system is configured to store and display previously measured alignment angles for future reference.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer system is configured to generate visual or auditory alerts to guide a user through the measurement process.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein affixing the alignment frame includes configuring a linear distance between a proximal portion of each arm and an upper body based on the section width of the tire.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein affixing the alignment frame includes configuring a linear distance between an upper body and a center body based on a height of the wheel.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pair of arms includes a plurality of protrusions extending from an inner surface configured to engage the tire to inhibit distal translation.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the spacer includes translating at least one spacer along the vertical axis or horizontal axis of the alignment frame.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the spacer includes rotating at least one spacer at least partially around the vertical axis or horizontal axis of the alignment frame.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is detachably coupled to a center base of the alignment frame with a threaded fastener.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a mounting portion configured to rotate within a mounting bore under gravity to align with vertical and horizontal axes.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer system is configured to allow measurement of both right and left wheels without decoupling the alignment frame.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer system implements algorithms configured to track three-dimensional motion of the sensor.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer system is configured to calibrate the sensor by recording a fixed location point when a steering wheel is at a neutral orientation.