United S ta tes Pa tent [ 1 9 1

[ 1 1 ] Pa tent N u m b er : 4 , 5 4 6 , 5 4 8
B u l l o c k , S r . [ 4 5 ] D a te o f Pa tent: O c t. 1 5 , 1 9 8 5
[ 5 4 ] D EVICE AN D METHO D FO R MEAS URIN G 3 , 2 3 4 , 6 5 6 2 / 1 9 6 6 Ma c Mil l a n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 / 2 0 3
S TEERIN G AXIS IN CLIN ATIO N O R A 3 , 9 5 6 , 8 3 0 5 / 1 9 76 Ma c Mil l a n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 / 2 0 3 . l 8
S TEERAB LE WHEEL FO REIGN PATEN T D O CUMEN TS
[ 75 ] Inv ento r : . l l l a l m es K . B u l l o c k , S r . Wa ds wo r th 6 8 6 5 4 7 5 / 1 9 6 4 Ca na da . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 / 3 3 6
_ ' _ Pr im a r y Exa m iner -Wil l is Littl e
[ 73 ] As s ig nee: il k nm m c o To o l s , Inc . , N o r th Chic a g o , Atto r ney, Ag ent, o r Fir m -Edm o nd T. Pa tna u de
' [ 5 7] AB S TRACT
[ 2 1 ] Appl . N o . : 5 5 9 , 6 2 7 _ _
_ A dev ic e a nd m etho d f o r m ea s u r ing the s teer ing a xis
[ 2 2 ] Fl l ed: D ec 8 1 9 8 3 inc l ina tio n o f a s teer a b l e wheel is dis c l o s ed. The dev ic e
[ 5 1 ] Int. Cl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GO l B 5 / 2 5 5 inc l u des a n a da pto r f o r m o u nting a c a s ter -c a m b er g a u g e
[ 5 2 ] US . Cl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 / 2 0 3 ; 3 3 / 3 3 6 ; to the wheel in a pl a ne per pendic u l a r to the a xis o f
3 3 / 2 0 3 . l 8 ; 3 3 / D IG. l r o ta tio n o f the wheel . The m etho d inc l u des the s teps o f
[ 5 8 ] Fiel d o f S ea r c h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 / 2 0 3 , 2 0 3 . 1 2 , 2 0 3 . 1 4 , m o v ing the wheel b etween a to e-in po s itio n wher ea t the
3 3 / 2 0 3 . 1 8 , 2 0 3 -1 9 , 3 3 6 , 3 3 7. 1 3 1 6 - 1 g a u g e is c a l ib r a ted, a nd a to e-o u t po s itio n wher ea t the
[ 5 6 ] Ref er enc es Cited s teer ing a xis inc l ina tio n o f the wheel is deter m ined f r o m
the g a u g e.
U. S . PATEN T D O CUMEN TS
2 , 72 9 , 8 9 6 l / l 9 5 6 Ro s enb l u m . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 / 3 3 6 9 Cl a im s , 3 D r a wing Fig u r es
l l l l l l l l l l l l
u s ; Pa tent O c t. 1 5 , 1 9 8 5 4 , 5 4 6 , 5 4 8
4 , 5 4 6 , 5 4 8
1
D EVICE AN D METHO D FO R MEAS URIN G
S TEERIN G AXIS IN CLIN ATIO N O R A
S TEERAB LE WHEEL
B ACK GRO UN D O F THE IN VEN TIO N
This inv entio n r el a tes to the m ea s u r em ent o f s teer a b l e
wheel g eo m etr y. Mo r e pa r tic u l a r l y the inv entio n r e
l a tes to a dev ic e a nd m etho d f o r m ea s u r ing the s teer ing
a xis inc l ina tio n o f a s teer a b l e wheel , a nd in s til l g r ea ter
pa r tic u l a r ity the inv entio n r el a tes to a dev ic e a nd
m etho d f o r expa nding the c a pa b il ities o f a c a s ter -c a m
b er m ea s u r ing g a u g e f o r m ea s u r ing s teer ing a xis inc l ina
tio n.
Va r io u s dev ic es ha v e b een dev is ed f o r m ea s u r ing the
indiv idu a l s teer a b l e wheel g eo m etr ic r el a tio ns hips
k no wn a s c a s ter a nd c a m b er . O ne s u c h dev ic e to whic h
the pr es ent inv entio n a ppl ies is dis c l o s ed in U. S . Pa t.
N o s . 3 , 5 2 0 , 0 6 4 a nd 4 , 1 1 4 , 2 8 3 . The l a tter pa tent dis c l o s es
v a r io u s im pr o v em ents to the g a u g e o f the f o r m er pa
tent. The g a u g es dis c l o s ed in thes e pa tents , a nd in pa r
tic u l a r the g a u g e o f U. S . Pa t. N o . 4 , 1 1 4 , 2 8 3 , a r e c o m
pa c t, a c c u r a te, ea s y to u s e g a u g es . Ho wev er , neither o f
thes e g a u g es a r e, in the a b s enc e o f the inv entio n dis
c l o s ed her ein, c a pa b l e o f m ea s u r ing the r el a tio ns hip
k no wn a s s teer ing a xis inc l ina tio n. S teer ing a xis inc l ina
tio n is the til t o f the s pindl e s u ppo r t a r m a l o ng a v er tic a l
pl a ne pa r a l l el to the s pindl e a nd per pendic u l a r to a
pl a ne pa r a l l el with the wheel , a nd is a n im po r ta nt r el a
tio ns hip f o r pr o per o per a tio n o f the v ehic l e in whic h
the s teer a b l e wheel a r r a ng em ent is u til iz ed. In g ener a l ,
f o r m o der n a ppl ic a tio ns , the s teer ing a xis inc l ina tio n is a
? xed no n-a dj u s ta b l e r el a tio ns hip tha t either f a l l s in o r
o u t o f a pr edeter m ined r a ng e o f per m is s ib l e v a l u es .
N o r m a l l y, if a f ter a dj u s ting the v a r ia b l e r el a tio ns hips
c a m b er a nd c a s ter , the s teer ing a xis inc l ina tio n do es no t
f a l l within the per m is s ib l e r a ng e, ther e is a n indic a tio n
tha t s tr u c tu r a l da m a g e to a s teer ing m em b er is pr es ent.
Mo s t o f ten the da m a g e is to the s pindl e s u ppo r t a r m
its el f . Witho u t m ea ns f o r m ea s u r ing s teer ing a xis inc l i
na tio n, s er io u s s tr u c tu r a l da m a g e c a n g o u ndetec ted
r es u l ting in im pr o per o per a tio n o f the v ehic l e, a nd in
m o r e extr em e c a s es , the v ehic l e c a n b e u ns a f e to o per
a te.
D ev ic es a nd m etho ds f o r m ea s u r ing the s teer ing a xis
inc l ina tio n exis t, ho wev er they m o s t o f ten u s e s ens itiv e
a nd b u l k y o ptic a l a nd l ig ht pr o j ec tio n s ys tem s tha t r e
q u ir e ? ne a nd pr ec is e c a l ib r a tio n, c a r e a nd ha ndl ing b y
s er v ic e per s o nnel . Ther e is a need f o r a dev ic e a nd
m etho d tha t a l l o ws s teer ing a xis inc l ina tio n to b e m ea
s u r ed ea s il y, f a s t, a c c u r a tel y a nd with m inim u m m a nip
u l a tio n o f eq u ipm ent b y per s o nnel .
S UMMARY O F THE IN VEN TIO N
The pr es ent inv entio n o v er c o m es the s ho r tc o m ing s
o f the pr io r a r t b y expa nding the m ea s u r ing c a pa b il ities
o f the exis ting c a s ter -c a m b er g a u g e m entio ned her ein
a b o v e. The inv entio n pr o v ides f o r a m a g netic dev ic e
tha t o r ienta tes the c a s ter -c a m b er g a u g e per pendic u l a r
to the wheel s pindl e ins tea d o f in its her eto f o r e no r m a l
po s itio n pa r a l l el to the wheel s pindl e. The g a u g e in
c l u des inter l o c k ing , r o ta b l e indic a ting wheel s c a l ib r a ted
to no r m a l l y r ea d a ng l es o f c a s ter a nd c a m b er when
m o u nted pa r a l l el to the s pindl e. B y m o u nting the g a u g e
per pendic u l a r to the wheel s pindl e, a nd m o v ing the
wheel a nd g a u g e thr o u g h a pr edeter m ined a r c , the
2 5
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 5
2
s teer ing a xis inc l ina tio n o f the s pindl e s u ppo r t c a n b e
r ea d dir ec tl y f r o m the c a s ter s c a l e o n the g a u g e.
The inv entio n wil l b ec o m e b etter u nder s to o d to tho s e
s k il l ed in the ? el d a f ter r ea ding the f o l l o wing deta il ed
des c r iptio n in c o nj u nc tio n with the a c c o m pa nying
dr a wing s .
B RIEF D ES CRIPTIO N O F THE D RAWIN GS
FIG. 1 is a per s pec tiv e v iew o f a wheel with the
pr ef er r ed em b o dim ent o f the a da pto r o f the pr es ent
inv entio n in pl a c e.
FIG. 2 is a to p v iew o f the pr ef er r ed em b o dim ent
s ho wing the c a s ter -c a m b er g a u g e a s s em b l ed o nto the
a da pto r .
FIG. 3 is a v er tic a l l o ng itu dina l c r o s s -s ec tio na l v iew
o f the c a s ter -c a m b er g a u g e a nd a da pto r o f FIG. 3 .
D ETAILED D ES CRIPTIO N O F THE
PREFERRED EMB O D IMEN T
S ho wn in FIG. 1 , is a v ehic l e 1 0 ha v ing a s teer a b l e '
wheel 1 2 r es ting o n a tu r nta b l e 1 3 u nder g o ing a l ig n
m ent. A s teer ing a xis inc l ina tio n a da pto r 1 4 o f the pr es
ent inv entio n is s ho wn m o u nted to the wheel s pindl e in
pl a c e f o r r ec eiv ing a c a s ter -c a m b er g a u g e 1 6 . The
g a u g e is s ho wn m o u nted to the s teer ing a xis inc l ina tio n
a da pto r in FIG. 2 a nd deta il s o f its c o ns tr u c tio n a r e
s ho wn in FIG. 3 . The des c r iptio n to f o l l o w inc l u des
o nl y tho s e deta il s o f g a u g e 1 6 tha t a r e nec es s a r y f o r
c a r r ying o u t the m etho d o f the pr es ent inv entio n a nd
f o r a n u nder s ta nding o f its o per a tio n. The c o m pl ete
deta il ed des c r iptio n o f a l l f ea tu r es o f the pr ef er r ed
g a u g e is f o u nd in the a b o v e c ited U. S . Pa t. N o .
4 , 1 1 4 , 2 8 3 , a nd tha t dis c l o s u r e is to b e c o ns ider ed inc o r
po r a ted into the dis c l o s u r e her ein.
Ref er r ing to FIGS . 2 a nd 3 , a nd a s b es t s ho wn in
FIG. 3 , g a u g e 1 6 inc l u des a ho u s ing 1 8 ha v ing a m a g
netic m o u nting a s s em b l y 2 0 tha t inc l u des a tu b u l a r
m em b er 2 2 s ec u r ed to ho u s ing 1 8 b y a thr ea ded f a s tener
2 4 . A per m a nent m a g net 2 6 is hel d ins ide o f tu b u l a r
m em b er 2 2 b y thr ea ded f a s tener 2 8 . Ma g net 2 6 extends
o u t f r o m m em b er 2 2 f o r c o nta c ting pl a na r m a g netic
m o u nting s u r f a c e 3 0 o f a m a g netic m em b er 6 1 tha t is
a tta c hed to o ne l eg 5 6 o f the a da pto r pl a te m em b er 3 2 ,
s ee FIG. 2 .
Ref er r ing to FIG. 3 , a s ha f t 3 4 ha v ing a ta per ed s u r
f a c e 3 6 extends thr o u g h b o dy m em b er 2 2 a nd is po s i
tio ned o n the l o ng itu dina l a xis o f m a g net 2 6 . S ha f t 3 4 is
thr ea ded o n o ne end 2 3 s o a s to a l l o w the s ha f t to m o v e
l o ng itu dina l l y within the g a u g e. A b u b b l e l ev el 3 8 ,
piv o ta b l e a b o u t a n a xis 4 0 , is m o u nted a t o ne end o f
ho u s ing 2 2 s u c h tha t o ne end 4 1 ther eo f c o nta c ts ta
per ed s u r f a c e 3 6 . The l ev el is b ia s ed b y s pr ing 4 3
thr o u g h pin 4 2 s o a s to m a inta in c o nta c t with ta per ed
s u r f a c e 3 6 . _
S u r r o u nding a r edu c ed dia m etr ic a l s u r f a c e 4 4 o f tu
b u l a r m em b er 2 2 is a c a s ter wheel 4 6 c a l ib r a ted in de
g r ees o f c a s ter , a s b es t s ho wn in FIG. 2 . Ca s ter wheel 4 6
r o ta tes a r o u nd the l o ng itu dina l a xis o f m a g net 2 6 a nd
s ha f t 3 4 o n s u r f a c e 4 4 . A c a m b er wheel 4 8 is c a l ib r a ted
in deg r ees o f c a m b er a nd is s ec u r ed to s ha f t 3 4 a dj a c ent
to , b u t independent f r o m , c a s ter wheel 4 6 . Ca m b er
wheel 4 8 r o ta tes s ha f t 3 4 a s pr o v ided b y f a s tener 5 0 ,
whic h s ec u r es c a m b er wheel 4 8 to a n a xia l r ing 5 2 tha t
s u r r o u nds s ha f t 3 4 . Ring 5 2 , in tu r n, is c o nnec ted to
s ha f t 3 4 thr o u g h k ey 3 5 . It c a n b e s een tha t c a m b er
wheel 4 8 tu r ns s ha f t 3 4 c a u s ing the s ha f t to extend o r
r etr a c t to wa r d o r a wa y f r o m l ev el end 4 1 . As s ha f t 3 4
extends a nd r etr a c ts , l ev el end 4 1 r ides a l o ng s u r f a c e 3 6
4 , 5 4 6 , 5 4 8
3
c a u s ing the l ev el to piv o t a b o u t a xis 4 0 in a dir ec tio n
c o r r es po nding to the dir ec tio n o f m o v em ent o f s ha f t 3 4
a nd c a m b er wheel r o ta tio n. Ca m b er wheel 4 8 pr o v ides
f o r po s itio ning the l ev el a t a r ef er enc e po s itio n to indi
c a te tha t the g a u g e is in a ho r iz o nta l pl a ne. In this po s i
tio n the c a m b er wheel is a l s o po s itio ned a t a r ef er enc e
po s itio n 5 5 o n ho u s ing 1 8 indic a ting the g a u g e is in the
ho r iz o nta l pl a ne. Ca m b er wheel 4 8 inc l u des a r ef er enc e
m a r k 5 4 a dj a c ent the c a s ter s c a l e a nd no r m a l l y is u s ed
to indic a te deg r ees o f c a s ter , b u t, a s dis c l o s ed her ein
b el o w, is u s ed to indic a te deg r ees o f s teer ing a xis inc l i
na tio n when the g a u g e is u s ed to c a r r y o u t the m etho d
o f the pr es ent inv entio n.
It ha s b een deter m ined tha t this c a s ter -c a m b er g a u g e
c a n b e u s ed to m ea s u r e s teer ing a xis inc l ina tio n b y
m o u nting the g a u g e to the wheel hu b o r s pindl e s o tha t
the piv o t a xis o f the l ev el is o r ienta ted pa r a l l el to the
a xis o f r o ta tio n o f the wheel , r a ther tha n per pendic u l a r
ther eto , a s when m ea s u r ing c a s ter a nd c a m b er , a nd
m a nipu l a ting the c a s ter a nd c a m b er s c a l e wheel s , a nd
the v ehic l e wheel s , in a pr edeter m ined s eq u enc e.
S ho wn in FIGS . 1 a nd 2 is a da pto r 1 4 ha v ing a pl a te
m em b er 3 2 m a de u p o f two f l a ng es 5 6 , 5 8 o r ienta ted a t
r ig ht a ng l es to o ne a no ther . In the em b o dim ent s ho wn
in FIG. 2 , the a da pto r ha s a m a g netic m em b er 6 1 f o r
de? ning a pl a na r m a g netic m o u nting s u r f a c e 3 0 o n the
ins ide s u r f a c e 6 0 o f ? r s t ? a ng e 5 6 . A per m a nent m a g net
6 2 ha v ing a c o n? g u r a tio n a c c epta b l e f o r b eing r ec eiv ed
o nto the hu b o f the v ehic l e wheel is s ec u r ed to o u ter
s u r f a c e 6 4 o f s ec o nd ? a ng e 5 8 a nd s ec u r es the a da pto r
to the wheel hu b .
Ma g net 6 2 a nd m a g netic m em b er 6 1 a r e s ec u r ed to
r es pec tiv e f l a ng es 5 6 , 5 8 b y c o nv entio na l tec hniq u es ,
s u c h a s b y thr ea ded f a s tener s o r a dhes iv es . Fl a ng es 5 6 ,
5 8 c a n b e m a de o f s teel s o a s to de? ne the pl a na r m a g
netic m o u nting s u r f a c e 3 0 witho u t the need f o r a s epa
r a te m a g netic m em b er if des ir ed. Ho wev er , the pr e
f er r ed m a ter ia l f o r pl a te m em b er 3 2 is a l u m inu m whic h
pr o v ides f o r a l ig ht-weig ht a da pto r .
PREFERRED MO D E O F O PERATIO N
In u s e, the v ehic l e wheel s a r e po s itio ned o n the tu r n
ta b l es a nd the wheel c a m b er a nd c a s ter is m ea s u r ed a nd
a dj u s ted to their des ig ned s etting s . To c hec k f o r s u s
pec ted da m a g e, s u c h a s to the s pindl e s u ppo r t, the s teer
ing a xis inc l ina tio n is m ea s u r ed. The wheel s a r e pl a c ed
in their s tr a ig ht a hea d s teer ing po s itio n a nd the s teer ing
a xis inc l ina tio n a da pto r is m o u nted to the end o f the
wheel s pindl e b eing c hec k ed b y pl a c ing the per m a nent
m a g net a g a ins t the wheel hu b . The a da pto r is o r ienta ted
s o tha t the pl a na r m a g netic m o u nting s u r f a c e l ies in a
v er tic a l pl a ne pa r a l l el to the a xis o f wheel r o ta tio n a nd
f a c es to the r ea r o f the v ehic l e.
The c a s ter -c a m b er g a u g e is then m o u nted to the m a g
netic m o u nting s u r f a c e o f the a da pto r with the l ev el
po s itio ned u pwa r dl y a nd to wa r d the r ea r o f the v ehic l e,
ther eb y o r ienta ting the l ev el s piv o t a xis pa r a l l el to the
a xis o f r o ta tio n o f the wheel . With the g a u g e s o po s i
tio ned, the wheel b eing c hec k ed is m o v ed to a pr edeter
m ined to e-in po s itio n f r o m the s tr a ig ht a hea d, f o r exa m
pl e, 1 0 deg r ees . The g a u g e a nd a da pto r a r e then a d
j u s ted to a r ef er enc e po s itio n b y r o ta ting the c a m b er
a nd c a s ter wheel s s o a s to o r ienta te the z er o deg r ee
m a r k s o f ea c h s c a l e o ppo s ite the r es pec tiv e r ef er enc e
m a r k s , a nd then, witho u t dis tu r b ing the z er o r ef er enc e
s etting s , the a da pto r a nd g a u g e a r e r o ta ted a s a n a s s em
b l y o n the wheel hu b u ntil the l ev el indic a tes tha t the
g a u g e is in the ho r iz o nta l po s itio n. Al ter na tel y, if de
2 0
2 5
3 5
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 5
4
s ir ed, the a da pto r a nd g a u g e c a n b e m o u nted to the
wheel a f ter ? r s t po s itio ning the wheel a t the to e-in
po s itio n. B ec a u s e the g a u g e a nd a da pto r a r e s et to the
r es pec tiv e r ef er enc e s etting s a t the to e-in po s itio n, it is
no t im per a tiv e tha t they b e initia l l y m o u nted with the
wheel in the s tr a ig ht a hea d po s itio n. The wheel is then
po s itio ned a t a to e-o u t po s itio n f r o m the s tr a ig ht a hea d
a n a m o u nt eq u a l to the deg r ee o f to e-in pr ev io u s l y per
f o r m ed. The c a m b er wheel 4 8 o n the g a u g e is then
r o ta ted independentl y, a nd witho u t m o v ing the c a s ter
wheel , u ntil the l ev el a g a in indic a tes tha t the g a u g e is in
the ho r iz o nta l po s itio n. The s teer ing a xis inc l ina tio n is
then r ea d f r o m the c a s ter s c a l e o ppo s ite the r ef er enc e
m a r k o n the c a m b er s c a l e.
Fo r the g a u g e des c r ib ed her ein, a nd f o r the pr edeter
m ined a ng l e' o f 1 0 deg r ees , it ha s b een f o u nd tha t the
a ng l e o b ta ined f r o m the c a s ter s c a l e is r epr es enta tiv e o f
the s teer ing a xis inc l ina tio n, a nd to o b ta in the tr u e a ng l e
the r ea ding f r o m the c a s ter s c a l e m u s t b e inc r ea s ed b y a
f a c to r o f 2 . It is o f c o u r s e po s s ib l e to pr o v ide f u r ther
g a u g es with a thir d s teer ing a xis inc l ina tio n s c a l e c a l i
b r a ted to r ea d the s teer ing a xis inc l ina tio n dir ec tl y.
Al s o , exis ting g a u g es o f the type des c r ib ed her ein m a y
b e r etr o ? tted with s c a l es c a l ib r a ted dir ec tl y in deg r ees
o f s teer ing a xis inc l ina tio n. Ho wev er , b ec a u s e the c o r
r ec tio n f a c to r is a n ev en m u l tipl e, it is no t c o ntem pl a ted
tha t s er v ic e per s o nnel wil l enc o u nter dif f ic u l ty in c a l c u
l a ting the a c tu a l s teer ing a xis inc l ina tio n a ng l e a f ter
per f o r m ing the s teps s et o u t.
Ha v ing des c r ib ed the pr ef er r ed em b o dim ent o f the
inv entio n, tho s e s k il l ed in the a r t ha v ing the b ene? t o f
the des c r iptio n a nd a c c o m pa nying dr a wing s c a n r ea dil y
dev is e o ther em b o dim ents a nd m o di? c a tio ns , ther ef o r e,
s a id o ther em b o dim ents a nd m o di? c a tio ns a r e to b e
c o ns ider ed within the s c o pe o f the a ppended c l a im s .
Wha t is c l a im ed:
1 . A m etho d o f m ea s u r ing the s teer ing a xis inc l ina tio n
o f a s teer a b l e wheel m o u nted o n a s pindl e with a c a s ter
g a u g e ha v ing a dj u s ta b l e m ea ns o per a tiv el y a s s o c ia ted
with a c a s ter s c a l e f o r deter m ining the a ng l e o f the
s pindl e f r o m the ho r iz o nta l within a v er tic a l pl a ne c o m
pr is ing the s teps o f :
m a g netic a l l y m o u nting to the hu b o f the wheel a n
a da pto r ha v ing a pl a na r m a g netic m o u nting s u r f a c e
l ying pa r a l l el to the a xis o f r o ta tio n o f the wheel ;
m o v ing the wheel to a ? r s t pr edeter m ined a ng u l a r
po s itio n to o ne s ide o f a s tr ig ht a hea d po s itio n;
m a g netic a l l y m o u nting s a id c a s ter g a u g e to s a id pl a
na r m a g netic m o u nting s u r f a c e in a ho r iz o nta l
pl a ne per pendic u l a r to the s pindl e;
a dj u s ting the a ng l edeter m ining m ea ns to a r ef er enc e
po s itio n;
m o v ing the wheel to a s ec o nd pr edeter m ined po s itio n
to the o ppo s ite s ide o f the s tr a ig ht a hea d po s itio n;
a dj u s ting the a ng l e deter m ining m ea ns to deter m ine
the m a g nitu de o f v er tic a l a ng u l a r m o v em ent o f the
s pindl e b etween the ? r s t a nd s ec o nd po s itio ns ;
deter m ining f r o m the c a s ter s c a l e the a m o u nt o f
m o v em ent o f the a ng l e deter m ining m ea ns whic h
ef f ec ted s a id deter m ina tio n o f the m a g n tu de o f
v er tic a l a ng u l a r m o v em ent o f the s pindl e; a nd,
c a l c u l a ting the s teer ing a xis inc l ina tio n u s ing s a id
deter m ined a m o u nt o f m o v em ent o f the a ng l e de
ter m ining m ea ns .
2 . The m etho d a s de? ned in c l a im 1 wher ein
the ? r s t a nd s ec o nd pr edeter m ined po s itio ns a r e a n
g u l a r l y s pa c ed f r o m the s tr a ig ht a hea d po s itio n.
4 , 5 4 6 , 5 4 8
5
3 . A m etho d o f m ea s u r ing the s teer ing a xis inc l ina tio n
o f a s teer a b l e wheel u s ing a c a s ter -c a m b er g a u g e ha v ing
a n a dj u s ta b l e c a s ter s c a l e a nd a n a dj u s ta b l e c a m b er
s c a l e o per a tiv el y c o nnec ted to a piv o ta b l e l ev el a nd
o per a tiv el y a s s o c ia ted with the c a s ter s c a l e c o m pr is ing
the s teps o f :
m a g netic a l l y m o u nting to the hu b o f the wheel a n
a da pto r ha v ing a pl a na r m a g netic m o u nting s u r f a c e
l ying pa r a l l el to the a xis o f r o ta tio n o f the wheel ;
m a g netic a l l y m o u nting the c a s ter g a u g e to the pl a na r
m a g netic m o u nting s u r f a c e;
s teer ing the wheel to a ? r s t pr edeter m ined a ng u l a r
po s itio n to o ne s ide o f the s tr a ig ht a hea d s teer ing
po s itio n;
a dj u s ting the c a m b er s c a l e to a r ef er enc e po s itio n
de? ning a ho r iz o nta l o r ienta tio n o f the l ev el ;
a dj u s ting the c a s ter s c a l e to a r ef er enc e po s itio n r el a
tiv e to the c a m b er s c a l e;
a dj u s ting the a da pto r in r el a tio n to the wheel s o a s to
po s itio n the l ev el in the ho r iz o nta l po s itio n;
s teer ing the wheel to a s ec o nd pr edeter m ined a ng u l a r
po s itio n to the o ppo s ite s ide o f the s tr ig ht a hea d
s teer ing po s itio n;
a dj u s ting the c a m b er s c a l e to r epo s itio n the l ev el in
the ho r iz o nta l po s itio n; _
deter m ining f r o m the c a s ter s c a l e the a ng u l a r m o v e
m ent o f the c a m b er s c a l e r eq u ir ed to r epo s itio n the
l ev el in the ho r iz o nta l po s itio n; a nd
c a l c u l a ting the s teer ing a xis inc l ina tio n o f the wheel
u s ing the a m o u nt o f c a m b er s c a l e m o v em ent a s
deter m ined f r o m the c a s ter s c a l e.
4 . A m etho d o f m ea s u r ing the s teer ing a xis inc l ina tio n
o f a s teer a b l e wheel u s ing a c a s ter g a u g e ha v ing a dia l
f o r a dj u s ting the a ng l e o f a piv o ta b l e l ev el c o m pr is ing
the s teps :
m a g netic a l l y m o u nting to the hu b o f the wheel a n
a da pto r ha v ing a pl a na r m a g netic m o u nting s u r f a c e
l ying pa r a l l el to the a xis o f r o ta tio n o f the wheel ;
m a g netic a l l y m o u nting the c a s ter g a u g e to the pl a na r
m a g netic m o u nting s u r f a c e;
s teer ing the wheel to a ? r s t pr edeter m ined a ng u l a r
po s itio n to o ne s ide o f the s tr a ig ht a hea d s teer ing
po s itio n o f the wheel ;
a dj u s ting the dia l to a r ef er enc e po s itio n f o r pl a c ing
the l ev el in the ho r iz o nta l po s itio n;
a dj u s ting the a da pto r r el a tiv e to the wheel to po s itio n
the pl a na r m a g netic m o u nting s u r f a c e in the v er ti
c a l pl a ne a nd with the piv o t a xis o f the l ev el in
pa r a l l el r el a tio ns hip with the a xis o f r o ta tio n o f the
wheel ;
1 5
2 5
3 5
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 5
6
s teer ing the wheel to a s ec o nd pr edeter m ined a ng u l a r
po s itio n to the o ppo s ite s ide o f the s tr a ig ht a hea d
s teer ing po s itio n o f the wheel ;
a dj u s ting the po s itio n o f the dia l to r epo s itio n the
l ev el in the ho r iz o nta l po s itio n;
deter m ining the a m o u nt o f m o v em ent o f s a id dia l
whic h ef f ec ted the r epo s itio ning o f the l ev el in the
ho r iz o nta l po s itio n; a nd,
c a l c u l a ting the s teer ing a xis inc l ina tio n o f the wheel
u s ing the a m o u nt o f m o v em ent o f the dia l .
5 . The m etho d a s de? ned in c l a im 4 f u r ther c o m pr is
ing the s tep:
m ea s u r ing the c a m b er o f the wheel with the g a u g e
pr io r to m o u nting the a da pto r to the wheel .
6 . The m etho d a s de? ned in c l a im 5 wher ein
the c a s ter g a u g e inc l u des a per m a nent m a g net f o r
m o u nting the g a u g e to the pl a na r m a g netic m o u nt
ing s u r f a c e o f the a da pto r ; a nd,
the a da pto r inc l u des a per m a nent m a g net f o r m o u nt
ing the a da pto r to the hu b o f the wheel .
7. An a da pto r f o r expa nding the m ea s u r em ent c a pa ~
b il ities o f a c a s ter -c a m b er g a u g e to inc l u de m ea s u r e
m ent o f the s teer ing a xis inc l ina tio n o f a s teer a b l e wheel
c o m pr is ing :
a m em b er ha v ing a t l ea s t two s u r f a c es l o c a ted a t r ig ht
a ng l es to ea c h o ther ; '
a per m a nent m a g net a f ? xed to the ? r s t s u r f a c e f o r
m o u nting s a id m em b er to a pl a na r m a g netic m o u nt
ing s u r f a c e o n the wheel , with the s ec o nd s u r f a c e
l ying in a pl a ne pa r a l l el to the a xis o f r o ta tio n o f the
wheel ; a nd,
a pl a na r m a g netic m o u nting s u r f a c e a s s o c ia ted with
the s ec o nd s u r f a c e f o r m a g netic a l l y a tta c hing a
m a g net a f ? xed to the g a u g e to s a id m em b er ,
wher eb y the g a u g e is o r ienta ted with r es pec t to the
wheel f o r m ea s u r ing s teer ing a xis inc l ina tio n.
8 . The a da pto r a s de? ned in c l a im 7 wher ein s a id
pl a na r m a g netic m o u nting s u r f a c e is a nnu l a r .
9 . The a da pto r a s de? ned in c l a im 7 wher ein s a id
m em b er c o m pr is es :
a ? r s t ? a ng e ha v ing a n inner a nd a n o u ter s u r f a c e;
a nd,
a s ec o nd ? a ng e ha v ing a n inner a nd a n o u ter s u r f a c e
a dj o ining s a id ? r s t ? a ng e a t r ig ht a ng l es ther eto ,
the o u ter s u r f a c e o f s a id ? r s t ? a ng e de? ning s a id
m em b er s ? r s t s u r f a c e to whic h s a id per m a nent
m a g net is a f ? xed, a nd the inner s u r f a c e o f s a id
s ec o nd ? a ng e de? ning s a id m em b er s s ec o nd s u r
f a c e to whic h s a id pl a na r m a g netic m o u nting s u r
f a c e is a s s o c ia ted.
il t i i i