Measuring and testing – Rotor unbalance – Dynamic
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-17
2004-01-06
Chapman, John E. (Department: 2856)
Measuring and testing
Rotor unbalance
Dynamic
Reexamination Certificate
active
06672158
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns a method and apparatus for balancing a vehicle wheel such as a motor vehicle wheel, more especially comprising a pneumatic tire and a disk wheel on which the tire is fitted.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a method and an apparatus for balancing a motor vehicle wheel, as can be found in DE 42 29 865 C2 or DE 44 32 016 A1, the motor vehicle wheel is clamped on a measuring spindle of a balancing machine. The geometrical data of the wheel are mechanically sensed and stored and an unbalance is ascertained in at least one measuring run. The procedure involves calculating therefrom a balancing vector for the balancing mass and the balancing position in accordance with a balancing program which is selected in dependence on the disk wheel type and material, in at least one balancing plane on the motor vehicle wheel, and at least one balancing weight is fixed to the motor vehicle wheel in dependence on the balancing vector to compensate for the ascertained unbalance.
Conventional balancing machines, for example the Geodyna 5000 or Geodyna 5500 machines, see the prospectus from Hofmann Werkstatt-Technik GmbH, Pfungstadt Germany, imprint 950210103.94, have various balancing programs. The positioning of the balancing weights on the disk wheel can be determined by such balancing programs. Usually there is a standard program or normal program for disk wheels consisting of steel and five selectable balancing programs for disk wheels comprising light metal or alloy, in particular aluminum or aluminum alloy. That ensures that, depending on the type of disk wheel involved, the balancing weights are positioned on the wheel in consideration of the requirements for optimum smoothness of operation and visual appearance of the wheel, when carrying out the unbalance compensating operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a method of balancing a motor vehicle wheel in which the operating comfort and convenience when setting the machine to the type of wheel to be balanced is improved.
Another object of the invention is to provide a wheel balancing method which affords a combined procedure that brings together a number of operational aspects involved in balancing the wheel, in a reliable and readily implementable fashion.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for balancing a motor vehicle wheel, which is of such a design as to facilitate the balancing operation and thus relieve operator stress.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for balancing a motor vehicle wheel, which permits the attainment of an enhanced degree of automation of operation.
In accordance with the invention, in regard to the method the foregoing and other objects are attained by a method of balancing a motor vehicle wheel comprising a pneumatic tire and a disk wheel, wherein the motor vehicle wheel is clamped on a measuring spindle of a balancing machine and the geometrical data of the wheel are sensed and stored. An unbalance of the vehicle wheel is ascertained in at least one measuring run and at least one balancing vector for the balancing mass and the balancing position is calculated in accordance with a balancing program selected in dependence on the disk wheel type and disk wheel material, in at least one balancing plane on the motor vehicle wheel. At least one balancing weight is fixed to the motor vehicle wheel in dependence on the balancing vector for compensation of the unbalance ascertained. When sensing the rim of the disk wheel, sensor means are used to detect whether a rim flange portion extending substantially perpendicularly to the measuring spindle is or is not present in the rim region being sensed; and in the rim-sensing operation detection of the material of the disk wheel is also effected, and a corresponding signal is produced. The balancing program is selected in dependence on the signals produced in the rim-sensing operation and the material-sensing operation.
In accordance with the invention in regard to the apparatus the foregoing and other objects are attained by apparatus for sensing a rim of a motor vehicle wheel which in operation of the apparatus is clamped on a measuring spindle of a balancing machine, comprising a sensing member which is mounted pivotably and extendably at the balancing machine and which has a sensing head. The sensing head carries a sensor responsive to a rim portion such as a rim flange which extends substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the measuring spindle.
Further in accordance with the invention and the apparatus aspect thereof the foregoing and other objects are attained by apparatus for balancing a motor vehicle wheel comprising a pneumatic tire and a disk wheel, including a measuring spindle for mounting the motor vehicle wheel, at least one sensing device for sensing geometrical data of the wheel, a storage means for storage of the geometrical data of the wheel, measuring means connected to the measuring spindle and operable in a measuring run to produce measuring signals are proportional to a wheel unbalance, an electronic machine system including an electronic evaluation arrangement and a plane computer and operable to calculate a balancing vector in dependence on the measurement values and the stored geometrical data of the wheel and a balancing program selected in dependence on the disk wheel type and disk wheel material, in at least one balancing plane on the wheel, wherein the sensing device includes at least one sensor by which a rim flange of the disk wheel can be detected and which is connected to the electronic evaluation arrangement, and wherein the electronic evaluation arrangement has a selection device operable to determine the balancing program in dependence on the sensed geometrical data of the wheel and the signal supplied by the sensor.
As will be seen in greater detail from the description hereinafter of preferred embodiments the invention provides that a rim of a disk wheel of a motor vehicle wheel is sensed by means of a preferably extendable sensing or feeler device. That involves ascertaining geometrical data such as radius or diameter and spacing of the rim in relation to the measuring shaft or spindle and measurement units which are influenced by the measuring spindle and which are connected to the electronic evaluation arrangement. Signals corresponding to the geometrical data ascertained in that way are passed to the electronic evaluation arrangement and possibly stored.
When mechanically sensing a rim region of the wheel, the axial spacing of which from the frame of the machine or the measurement units approximately corresponds to the axial spacing of a balancing plane, the procedure involves detecting by sensor means, for example by means of a sensor associated with the respective mechanical sensing or feeler device, whether a rim portion which extends at least substantially perpendicularly to the measuring spindle, in particular one of the two rim flanges, is or is not present in the rim region which is being sensed. In dependence on the signal obtained by the sensor means in that sensing operation, and the geometrical data ascertained in the mechanical sensing procedure, the balancing program is then selected or at least some of the programs which can be considered for the unbalance compensating operation are selected from the plurality of available balancing programs.
If the material of the disk wheel cannot be readily established, for example by visual inspection, then the mechanical sensing operation further involves detecting and recognising the material of the disk wheel and producing a corresponding signal, as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,717 (application Ser. No. 08/996,393), to which reference is accordingly directed for incorporation thereof. In dependence thereon and the result obtained in the rim region sensing operation, a further selection is then made in respect of the balancing programs available for compensating for unbalance, and the appropriate balancing program is selected. The el
Goebel Eickhart
Hoffmann Bernhard
Hollube Walter
Rothamel Karl
Chapman John E.
Hofmann Werkstatt-Technik GmbH
Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP
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