Patent ID: 9228819
Filing Date: 2016-01-05
CPC Classification: G01B

Claim Text:
1. A wheel clamp for attaching to a vehicle wheel for performing a wheel alignment on the vehicle, the wheel comprising a tire and a rim, the wheel clamp comprising: a clamp body for supporting an apparatus used in performing the wheel alignment; three elongated arms, each mounted to the clamp body such that they extend outward from the clamp body, each elongated arm having a gripping portion for gripping a tread surface of the vehicle tire; a self-centering linkage mechanism comprising a plurality of gears rotatably mounted to the clamp body and engaged with each other, and connecting to the elongated arms such that when the gears are rotated, the elongated arms simultaneously proportionally move relative to the clamp body; and an attachment interface mechanically connected to the self-centering linkage mechanism and configured to be releasably engaged with a rotational actuator, such that when the rotational actuator is engaged with the attachment interface, activation of the rotational actuator causes the linkage mechanism to move the elongated arms to cause the gripping portions of the elongated arms to engage and grip the tire tread surface and tighten the clamp onto the tire.