JPH0584842B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to a wheel facing device for directly facing the wheels of a vehicle with respect to a predetermined reference line.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a wheel alignment device that aligns the rear wheels of two-wheeled vehicles such as motorcycles along a predetermined reference line. More specifically, the present invention relates to a wheel alignment device that uses the rear wheel of a two-wheeled vehicle, in particular, to directly orient the two-wheeled vehicle to a predetermined reference line when performing a headlight test or other tests on a two-wheeled vehicle such as a motorcycle. It is.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, when testing a two-wheeled vehicle such as a motorcycle, for example, measuring the illumination axis of a headlight, it is necessary to directly face the two-wheeled vehicle with respect to a predetermined reference line. In such a case, as shown in Figure 1, typically the front wheel WF of the motorcycle M is inserted between a pair of guide plates E set on the floor of the test site, while the rear wheel WR is Place it on plate F. As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of clamp members D and D are arranged on both sides of the plate F, and each clamp member D is fixed to the tip of a rod C that can move forward and backward from the cylinder actuator B. There is. Further, each cylinder actuator is provided on a base A fixed on the floor of the test site. Therefore, after placing the rear wheel WR on the plate F, the left and right cylinder actuators B, B
is operated to project the respective rods C and C, and clamp both sides of the rear wheel WR with the clamp members D and D.
In this way, by pressing and holding the rear wheel WR from both sides with a pair of clamp members D and D, the rear wheel WR
is aligned with a reference line set in advance at the test site, and the two-wheeled vehicle M is positioned accordingly. Therefore, the positioning for testing motorcycle M is based on the rear wheel.
This is done by clamping the WR from both sides with clamp members D, D.

In this case, when positioning the two-wheeled vehicle M to be inspected, the rear wheel WR is not always located at the center position on the plate F, but is often located shifted to the left and right positions on the plate F. If the rear wheel WR is positioned off to the left or right in this way, one of the clamp members D, D will come into contact with the rear wheel WR before the other, and therefore the rear wheel
WR will be pressed by the clamp member D only from one side for a while. In this case,
There is relatively large friction between the rear wheel WR and the plate F, so when the rear wheel WR is pressed from only one side like this, a moment is applied to the rear wheel WR, causing it to fall slightly sideways. . This state is shown in FIG. That is, in Fig. 3, the rear wheel
Because the WR was positioned closer to the right side of the plate F, the right clamp member D came into contact with the side of the rear wheel WR before the left clamp member D, and the rear wheel WR
is pushed to the left, so the left and right clamp members D,
When D contacts both sides of the rear wheel WR, the rear wheel WR is tilted sideways to the left by an angle θ. This inclination of the rear wheel WR will not be corrected even if the left and right clamp members D and D are pressed.
This is a cause of a decrease in the facing accuracy.

Purpose The present invention was made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a facing device that can eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art as described above and that can face a vehicle squarely with high precision. shall be. Another object of the present invention is to provide a wheel alignment device that uses the rear wheels of a two-wheeled vehicle such as a motorcycle to directly align the two-wheeled vehicle with a predetermined reference line. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a wheel facing device capable of clamping/unclamping a wheel using a pair of clamp members using a single cylinder actuator. .

Configuration According to the present invention, the slide plate on which the wheel is placed is provided so as to be movable in the horizontal direction, particularly in the width direction of the wheel, over a predetermined range. Therefore, even if the wheel is offset to either the left or right position of the slide plate, if either of the left or right clamp members comes into contact with the wheel first, the slide plate on which the wheel is placed will move. Since the wheels are moved, it is avoided that the wheels are deformed or tipped over. Further, in a preferred embodiment, the slide plate is rotatably held around its center, making it possible to correct the rotational direction of the wheels placed on the slide plate.

Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment, the pair of left and right clamp members that abut on the left and right side surfaces of the wheel are held slidably in the vertical direction, so that the left and right clamp members abut on the side surfaces of the wheel. When pushing the wheel, the clamp member can absorb the reaction force received from the side surface of the wheel, thereby avoiding excessive force acting between the clamp member and the wheel. Further, the top of the center shaft is fixed to the center of the slide plate, and a locking member is provided so as to be freely engageable and detachable from the center shaft. The locking member is reciprocally movable between a forward position in which it engages with the center shaft to maintain the center shaft in an immovable state and a retracted position in which it disengages from the center shaft and allows the center shaft to move freely. In a preferred embodiment, an engaging portion having a rectangular cross section is formed at the lower end of the center shaft, and a V-shaped groove formed at the tip of the locking member engages with this engaging portion to immobilize the center shaft. maintain the condition.

A connecting member is provided that moves the pair of left and right clamp members in the same manner to move them closer to the wheel on the slide plate, and the left and right clamp members are moved closer to the wheel by means of a driving means through this connecting member. Let them separate and position. In a preferred embodiment, this connecting member is comprised of a link mechanism, which moves the left and right clamp members toward and away from both sides of the wheel simultaneously. Since this connecting member is provided, it is possible to operate the left and right clamp members simultaneously by providing a single cylinder actuator as a driving means.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 4 is a principle diagram schematically showing the principle of the wheel facing device of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the wheel facing device according to the present invention is provided with a slide plate F that is horizontally movable at least in the width direction, and this slide plate F is placed on a plurality of rollers R. ing. In a preferred embodiment,
The slide plate F is held so as to be horizontally movable over a predetermined range in the width direction of the wheel WR, and is provided rotatably over a predetermined range. A pair of clamp members D, D are provided on the left and right sides of the slide plate F, and each clamp member D is attached to a rod C that is provided so as to be able to move forward and backward.
It is slidably attached to the elastic absorbing member G via the elastic absorbing member G. Each elastic absorbing member G has a pair of upper and lower elastic members, and the corresponding clamp member D is normally positioned at the center position of these upper and lower elastic members. When the clamp member D comes into contact with the side surface of the wheel WR and receives a vertical reaction force therefrom, the clamp member D slides in the vertical direction against the elastic force of the vertical elastic member until it balances with the elastic force. move in a specific direction. Therefore, when the clamp member D comes into contact with the side surface of the wheel WR and presses it, an unreasonable force may act between the clamp member D and the wheel WR, causing an error in the alignment of the wheel WR. Avoided.

Further, the left and right rods C, C are operatively connected by a connecting member H, so that the left and right rods C, C and the left and right clamp members D, D are connected to the wheel WR.
When moving toward or away from the object, these members move toward or away from each other at the same time. Therefore, it is sufficient to connect a single driving means such as a cylinder actuator to this connecting member H. Therefore, the left and right clamp members D pressed against the left and right sides of the wheel WR,
Since D is driven by the same drive source, the operations are symmetrical and the accuracy of the point center positioning operation is improved.

Next, referring to FIG. 5 to FIG.
A wheel facing device constructed based on an embodiment will be described in detail. The present wheel facing device has a frame 1 having a generally rectangular shape, and a bridge portion 1a projecting upward is provided at the center of the frame 1. A through hole 1b is formed in the center of the bridge portion 1a,
The center shaft 2 is inserted into the through hole 1b.
1 has been extended. The top of the center shaft 21 is fixed to the center of the flat slide plate 15. A rotary bearing 22 is provided at the intermediate portion of the center shaft 21, and the rotary bearing 22 is slidably disposed between a pair of guide plates extending in the lateral direction of the bridge portion 1a. .
A support plate holder 27 is attached to the upper surface of the bridge portion 1a, and this support plate holder 2
A generally rectangular center hole 27a is bored in the center hole 27a, and the lateral side portions of the center hole 27a engage with the center shaft 21 to limit the range of lateral movement of the center shaft 21. That is, by the rotation bearing 22 attached to the center shaft 21,
The center shaft 21 is rotatable around its longitudinal axis, and the rotation bearing 22 is maintained slidably in the lateral direction by a pair of guide plates 23, 23, so that the center shaft 21 can be rotated within a predetermined range. It can be moved laterally.

Furthermore, although the center shaft 21 has a generally cylindrical shape, an engaging portion 21a having a generally rectangular cross section is formed at its lower end. The engaging portion 21a of the center shaft 21 can engage with a V-shaped portion 24a formed at the tip of a lock plate 24 fixed to a control plate 17 forming a part of a link mechanism to be described later. That is, the lock plate 24 is provided so as to be able to reciprocate in the direction of its longitudinal axis, and when the lock plate 24 is positioned at the forward position, the V-shaped portion 24a at its tip engages with the engaging portion 21a of the center shaft 21. and maintains the center shaft 21 in a non-rotating and immobile state. On the other hand, when the lock plate 24 is placed in the retracted position, the V-shaped portion 24a at the tip thereof is connected to the engaging portion 24a.
1a, and therefore the center shaft 21
is set to be rotatable and movable left and right.

As mentioned above, the top of the center shaft 21 is fixed to the center of the slide plate 15,
Therefore, when the lock plate 24 is in the retracted position, the slide plate 15 can freely move horizontally over a predetermined range in the left and right direction as shown by arrow B. Furthermore, the slide plate 15 is rotatable over a predetermined angle in a horizontal plane about its center to which the center shaft 21 is fixed. On the other hand, the lock plate 24 is in the forward position and the engaging portion 21a of the center shaft 21
When engaged, the slide plate 15 is held immovably in a predetermined position, ie, a reference position where the center line of the slide plate 15 is aligned with the reference line of the device. Therefore, when a two-wheeled vehicle to be faced is set in the device or when the two-wheeled vehicle is removed from the device, the slide plate 15 is kept in a locked state.

A pair of bearing pedestals 26 are provided at both ends of the support plate pedestal 27, and each bearing pedestal 26 supports the corresponding end of the slide plate 15 from below via a thrust bearing 20. There is. Therefore, each end of the slide plate 15 is supported by the thrust bearing 20 so as to be rotatable not only in the left and right direction but also in relation to rotation around the center shaft 21. Further, the upper surface of the slide plate 15 is configured to be able to place wheels to be faced directly, and wheel positioning protrusions 14, 14 are provided at both front and rear ends of the slide plate 15.
is provided to protrude upward. Therefore, when the wheel is placed on this slide plate 15, it is placed on the slide table 15 by climbing over one protrusion 14, and when the wheel is removed from this slide table 15, it is placed on the slide table 15 by climbing over the other protrusion 14.
Get over it and escape.

On the top surface of the roughly rectangular frame mentioned above,
Two pairs of linear way rails 2, 2 and 30, 30 intersecting in a roughly cross shape are fixedly provided. A pair of vertical rails 2, 2 are arranged in alignment with the longitudinal axis direction of the device, that is, the direction in which the two-wheeled vehicle enters and climbs, while the other pair of horizontal rails 30, 30 are arranged in the longitudinal direction. It is arranged perpendicular to the rails 2, 2. Linear way bearings 29, 29 are slidably provided on the pair of lateral rails 30, 30, respectively, and an actuating arm 28 is fixed onto each linear way bearing 29. Therefore, the left and right operating arms 2
8, 28 are a pair of linear way bearings 29,
29 so as to be movable laterally. Furthermore, a support 31 is erected at one end of the frame 1, and a bracket 10 is attached to the tip of the support 31. One end of the cylinder actuator 8 is connected to the bracket 10 via the rotation shaft 9.
The tip of a rod 12, which is rotatably supported by the cylinder actuator 8 and can move forward and backward from the cylinder actuator 8, is fixed to one of the operating arms 28 via a nut 32. Therefore, when the cylinder actuator 8 is operated to move the rod 12 forward or backward, the actuating arm 28 connected thereto also moves laterally. The movement path of the actuating arm 28 in this case is determined by the rail 30 and the bearing 29.

As mentioned above, the pair of operating arms 28, 28 are disposed extending on both sides of the slide plate 15, and both ends of each operating arm 28 are connected to the first
They are connected to link levers 4, 4 via connection shafts 7, 7, respectively, and the other ends of these link levers 4, 4 are connected to second connection shafts 18, 4, respectively.
18 and the control plates 17, 17 via bearings 19, 19. A linear way bearing 3 is attached to the bottom of each control plate 17, and the linear bearing 3 is slidably engaged with the corresponding linear way rail 2. Furthermore, as mentioned above, a lock plate 24 is fixed to each control plate 17.
Therefore, the lock plate 24 is provided so as to be movable along the longitudinal axis of the device simultaneously with the control plate 17. In this way, a link mechanism is formed by the first connecting shaft 7, the first connecting shaft 18, the actuating arm 28, the link lever 4, and the control plate 17, and one actuating arm 2
8 is a rod 1 of a single cylinder actuator 8
2, but simply by operating this cylinder actuator 8, a pair of actuating arms 28, 28 and a pair of control plates 17,
It is possible to simultaneously control the proximity movement position of 17. In this case, the operating arms 28, 28
The movement direction is laterally regulated by the lateral rails 30, 30, and the control plates 17, 1
Since the moving direction of 7 is vertically restricted by the vertical rails 2, 2, the pair of actuating arms 2
8, 28 move closer to each other, the pair of control plates 17, 17 are moved away from each other, and conversely, the pair of actuating arms 28, 2
When the control plates 8 are controlled to move in a direction away from each other, the pair of control plates 17, 17 are controlled to move in a direction toward each other.

Each first connecting shaft 7 is rotatably supported at its lower end via a bearing by one end of the operating arm 28, and extends vertically a predetermined distance. 1st
A pair of spring assemblies are fitted above the connecting shaft 7, and a ball bush 16 is fitted between the pair of spring assemblies.
The lower spring assembly includes spring receivers 13', 13' disposed above and below the coil spring.
Similarly, the upper spring assembly is composed of a coil spring 35 and spring receivers 13 disposed above and below the coil spring 35. The upper spring receiver 13 of the upper spring assembly is fixed to the upper end of the first connecting shaft 7 via a nut 11. The ball bush 16 is slidably fitted onto the first connecting shaft 7, and receives elastic force from the upper and lower spring assemblies, and is normally located at an intermediate position where the upper and lower elastic forces are balanced. It is located in Therefore, the ball bush 16 can move up and down within a predetermined range against the elastic force of the upper and lower spring assemblies. The lower spring receiver 13' of the lower spring assembly is also supported on the upper surface of the actuation arm 28. Further, a bearing is fixed at a predetermined position by a nut 33 at the lower end of the first connecting shaft 7.

As mentioned above, the ball bush 16 is slidable up and down along the first connecting shaft 7, and the ball bush 16 is fixed to one end of the clamp member 6. The clamp member 6 has an elongated shape extending in the longitudinal axis direction of the device, and is long enough to come into contact with the sides of the wheel placed on the slide plate 15 and clamp the wheel from the left and right sides. It is set to Therefore, when the clamp member 6 is pressed against the side surface of the wheel placed on the slide plate 15, the vertical component of the reaction force from the wheel is appropriately absorbed by the upper and lower spring assemblies via the ball bush 16. Therefore, unreasonable force is prevented from acting between the clamp member 6 and the wheel. According to this configuration, when the wheel is positioned offset from the center line of the slide plate 15 in either the left or right direction and the pair of left and right clamp members 6, 6 are moved close to each other, Even if one of the clamp members 6 comes into contact with the wheel first, it is possible to avoid applying excessive force between the clamp member 6 and the wheel, thereby preventing the wheel from falling sideways. Ru. Furthermore, even if the wheel is positioned on the slide plate 15 off its center line, the slide plate 15 itself is movable laterally and rotatable around its center, so the slide plate 15 can be moved as appropriate. The wheel that is moved in the direction and placed on it is accurately positioned with the center line that is the reference line of the device. Therefore, it is possible to use the rear wheels of the two-wheeled vehicle to accurately position the rear wheels and the two-wheeled vehicle itself on the reference line.

Effects As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the slide plate is movable, so even if the wheel placed on it is placed off the center of the slide plate, the wheel can be accurately positioned at a predetermined position. It is possible to position along the reference line. Furthermore, since the pair of clamp members are configured to operate simultaneously via a link mechanism, it is possible to operate the left and right clamp members simultaneously from a single drive source, allowing extremely accurate alignment. It is possible to do so. In addition, the left and right clamp members are provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction and normally biased to a predetermined position by elastic force, so that when the clamp comes into contact with a wheel and receives a reaction force from the wheel, the clamp member This prevents excessive force from acting between the wheel and the wheel, and as a result, the wheel is prevented from falling sideways. Furthermore, the slide plate, which can be moved (including rotation), can be locked as appropriate to make it immobile, or unlocked to make it freely movable, and the wheels can be placed on the slide plate or moved there. It is easy to work when escaping from.

Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention should not be limited only to these specific examples, and various modifications may be made without departing from the technical scope of the present invention. Of course, it is possible. For example, in addition to a coil spring, it is also possible to use a plate spring or an elastic body such as rubber as a means for urging the clamp members to face each other in the vertical direction.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1 to 3 are explanatory diagrams showing the prior art, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram explaining the principle of the present invention, and FIGS. 5 to 8 are diagrams constructed based on one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a wheel facing device. Explanation of symbols, 6... Clamp member, 8... Cylinder actuator, 15... Slide plate, 17... Control plate, 21... Center shaft, 24... Lock plate, 28... Operating arm.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A slide plate that is horizontally movable within a predetermined range and on which a wheel can be placed; a wheel that is movable toward and away from both sides of the wheel placed on the slide plate; a pair of clamp members that can clamp both sides of the clamp member, a connecting member that operatively connects the pair of clamp members to operate simultaneously, and a driving means that moves the pair of clamp members closer to each other via the connecting member. Each of the clamp members has an elongated shape and is maintained with its longitudinal direction horizontal and movable in the vertical direction, and the connecting member has two pairs of support shafts spaced apart in the front and rear direction. Each pair of support shafts slidably holds substantially both ends of the corresponding clamp member, and each shaft is fitted with a pair of springs. A sliding portion of the clamp member relative to the shaft is clamped, the slide plate is fixed to the top of the center shaft, and the center shaft is freely moved laterally by a predetermined distance by a guide provided in the base. The center shaft is held movably by the guide via a rotary bearing, and the slide plate is rotatable around the central axis of the center shaft, and a locking member can be freely engaged with and disengaged from the center shaft. The locking member is provided so as to be movable between a forward position and a retracted position, and when the locking member is in the forward position, the locking member engages with the center shaft. and maintaining the slide plate in an immovable state via the center shaft, and when the lock member is placed in the retreated position, the lock member separates from the center shaft and makes the slide plate movable. A wheel facing device featuring: 2. In claim 1, the drive means has a cylinder actuator, and by operating the cylinder actuator, the pair of clamp members are connected to the wheels via the connection member. A wheel facing device characterized by being positioned close to and away from a wheel.