Wheel balancer data acquisition arm

Details Wheel balancer data acquisition arm Wheel balancer data acquisition arm

2003-03-07

2004-04-06

Moller, Richard A. (Department: 2856)

Measuring and testing

Rotor unbalance

Dynamic

C073S487000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06715351

ABSTRACT:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a vehicle wheel balancer system or wheel vibration control system configured with an wheel data acquisition arm, and in particular to a wheel data acquisition arm configured with an extended range of motion to accommodate wheel rims of differing inner diameters.
Vehicle wheel assemblies, such as shown at
10
in
FIG. 1
, consist of a pneumatic tire
12
mounted to a wheel rim
14
. The size and configuration of the wheel rim
14
may vary greatly between different vehicle wheel assemblies. These variations may include the number of spokes
16
, the setback of the spokes from the inner edge
18
or outer edge
20
of the rim
14
, the width of the rim
14
, the diameter of the rim
14
, and the shape or contour of the rim
14
. Currently, the U.S. Department of Transportation has approved, for use on passenger cars and light trucks, a maximum wheel rim diameter of 24 inches, however, wheel rim diameters of 26″ or greater are likely to be approved for use in the United States in the near future.
Conventional vehicle wheel balancing systems or wheel vibration control systems, such as shown at
30
in
FIG. 2
, include a central processing unit
32
, such as a general purpose computer, digital signal processor, or other suitable logic circuit, configured with a software application to identify and correct forces and imbalances in vehicle wheel assemblies
10
. The central processing unit
32
receives input from a number of sources, including knobs
34
and keypads
36
for operator input, a memory
38
, and one or more imbalance force sensors
40
disposed in operative relationship to a motor driven spindle or shaft
42
upon which a wheel assembly
10
undergoing a balance procedure is mounted.
Imbalance and force measurements, together with other informational output from the central processing unit
32
are displayed to an operator on a video display
44
unit such as a CRT, LCD screen, or LED panel. In addition, the central processing unit
32
is configured to control a motor
46
or other drive unit to regulate the rotational movement and position of the shaft or spindle
42
upon which the wheel assembly
10
is mounted. In some wheel vibration control systems, such as the GSP 9700 Series system, manufactured by Hunter Engineering Co. of Bridgeton, Mo., and shown in
FIG. 3
, the central processing unit
32
is configured to control a load roller
50
to apply a load to a wheel assembly during rotational movement thereof. The central processor
32
receives feedback from one or more sensors associated with the load roller
50
, indicative of radial or lateral forces exerted by the rotating wheel assembly
10
.
One function of a vehicle wheel balancer or vibration control system is to identify, to an operator, the location on a wheel rim at which an imbalance correction weight should be applied to correct a detected imbalance in the wheel assembly. Conventionally, as shown in
FIG. 4
, a at least one multi-function wheel data acquisition arm
60
is utilized to facilitate the weight placement process. The wheel data acquisition arm
60
is disposed parallel to, and adjacent the shaft or spindle
42
upon which the wheel assembly
10
is mounted. A typical wheel data acquisition arm
60
consists of an extending and rotating shaft
62
, and a perpendicular rim contact arm
64
affixed to an end of the shaft
62
. Alternate designs, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,064 to Drechsler et al., utilize a single telescoping arm secured at a pivot point. A roller or ball
66
is disposed at the end of the rim contact arm
64
, and is configured to provide a known contact point between the wheel data acquisition arm
60
and the wheel rim
14
. Optionally included at the end of the rim contact arm
64
is an imbalance weight holder or clip, configured to hold an imbalance correction weight to aid in placement on a wheel rim
14
.
As seen in
FIG. 3
, some vehicle wheel balancer or vibration control systems
30
include a second, outer wheel data acquisition arm
61
configured with a roller or ball
63
. While the typical wheel data acquisition arm
60
contacts the inner wheel rim
20
, or wheel rim surfaces disposed adjacent the balancer or vibration control system
30
when the wheel rim is mounted to the shaft or spindle
42
, the second or outer wheel data acquisition arm
61
is disposed to contact the outer wheel rim lip
18
. Conventionally, the second or outer wheel data acquisition arm
61
is a fixed length structure capable of rotating through a large arc.
During use, with a wheel installed on the balancer shaft or spindle, the shaft
62
of the wheel data acquisition arm
60
is extended such that the perpendicular rim contact arm
64
is positioned within the center portion of the wheel rim
14
. Rotation of the wheel data acquisition arm
60
about the axis of the shaft
62
swings the rim contact arm
64
into contact with an inner surface of the wheel rim
14
, at a known angular position for wheel rims of known diameters. Axial movement of the wheel data acquisition arm
60
is tracked by a displacement sensor
68
, while rotational movement about the axis is tracked by a rotational sensor
70
, with may be either a relative rotational position sensor, or an absolute rotational position sensor. Analog signals from the sensors
68
and
70
are typically converted into digital form via a converter
72
, and routed to the central processing unit
32
.
When combined with computer controlled rotation of the wheel assembly
10
about the balancer shaft or spindle
42
, the movement of the wheel data acquisition arm
60
either delivers an imbalance correction weight carried by a weight holder or clip to a calculated angular position on a wheel rim
14
, or provides an operator with a clear visual indication of the weight placement location by contacting the roller or ball
66
at the intended weight placement location.
In addition, by tracking the axial movement of the shaft of the wheel data acquisition arm, and the rotational movement of the rim contact arm about the shaft axis, using sensors
68
and
70
, the central processing unit of a conventional wheel balancer system can determine the dimensions, contours, and runout parameters of a wheel rim mounted to the balancer shaft or spindle, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,274 to Douglas. Determining the dimensions, contours, and runout parameters of the wheel rim permits the central processing unit to identify optimal imbalance correction weight planes, and to present the operator with the best imbalance correction weight arrangement.
Using the determined dimensions, contours, and runout parameters of the wheel rim, the central processing unit
32
of the balancer
30
effectively has an infinite number of imbalance correction planes in which to place imbalance correction weights. The best plane locations, amount of weight, and even the number of weights, are calculated to result in a minimized residual static and dynamic imbalance while still using incrementally sized weights. The display
44
associated with the balancer system
30
is used to show the actual scanned contour of the wheel rim
14
, as well as the relative locations of the weights on the displayed wheel rim
14
, enhancing operator understanding and providing confidence that the measuring apparatus is working correctly. However, actual placement of the imbalance correction weights in the identified optimal balance correction planes, and at the ideal rotational positions, must still be done manually by an operator, guided by instructions displayed on the wheel balancer, and aided by the wheel data acquisition arm.
The use of a conventional wheel data acquisition arm
60
is, however, limited to wheel rims
14
having an inner diameter in a range between 10.0-22.0 inches, due to mechanical limitations. As seen in
FIG. 5
, the rim contact arm
64
ca

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