Measuring and testing – Rotor unbalance
Patent
1997-03-10
2000-09-26
Moller, Richard A.
Measuring and testing
Rotor unbalance
73462, G01M 100
Patent
active
061229571
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns a method and a device for balancing a wheel.
In prior devices and methods for the balancing of automobile wheels, the nominal data of the wheel rim are computed as wheel specific data or are evaluated by means of a measuring device. A computer provided in the balancing device evaluates, thereafter, the positions and values of the balancing weights.
The nominal data, however, in many cases do not correspond to the positions in which the balancing weights may be mounted. Therefore, the balancing positions have to be evaluated through correction factors which, however, constitute only mean values for various rim types and sizes. By using such average values, differences originate between the calculated and the actual balancing positions which can lead to an insufficient result in balancing.
A method for compensating the lack of balance on a automobile wheel is known from the European patent application EPO 586 856 Al in which a pick-up device is provided in order to manually pick up or determine, respectively, the positions on the outline of the rim at which the balancing weights should be mounted according to the experience of the user. In doing so, the pick-up is brought to the so-called balancing planes where the balancing weights should be mounted later on. The deficiency of this known method is that the user decides during the picking-up in which areas the balancing weights should be arranged. Furthermore, the known method is only applicable with standardized wheel shapes (standard wheels, flat-base rims, steep shoulder wheels etc.) which may be characterized by means of a few pick-up values on the various balancing planes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to evaluate the optimal balancing values, as weight and positions for the balancing weights for any wheel forms without a user having to determine the balancing planes beforehand.
This object is met by a method for balancing a wheel by means of balancing weights, wherein the dimensions of the wheel rim are scanned and the scanning values are fed to a computer which evaluates the outline of the wheel from such scanning values, and wherein the optimal balancing values are determined from the evaluated outline in connection with a measurement of the level or degree to which the wheel is unbalanced.
In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the evaluated outline as well as the optimal balancing values as determined by the computer, in particular positions and values of the balancing weights, are graphically displayed on a display device at the corresponding positions of the outline.
In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the balancing positions shown on the outline may be manually moved by a user through an input console, and these movements are taken into account as boundary conditions in calculating the balancing values by the computer.
In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the scanning of the wheel comprises a picture detection in which pictures are converted into electrical signals, such that visible portion of the rim is displayed as a picture in the picture scanning unit. The resulting scanned picture is fed to the computer which evaluates the outline from the picture of the visible part of the rim.
In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the scanning of the wheel is effected by measuring the distance between a distance meter and addressed points on the outline of the wheel rim.
The above object is furthermore met by a device for balancing a wheel by means of balancing weights comprising an unbalance measuring unit for measuring the degree to which the wheel is unbalanced, a scanning device for scanning the wheel rim, and a computer being connected to the scanning device and the unbalance measuring device, wherein the scanning device is adapted to detect the outline of the wheel rim, and wherein the computer is constructed such that the
REFERENCES:
patent: 4489607 (1984-12-01), Park
patent: 4958290 (1990-09-01), Kendall et al.
patent: 5054918 (1991-10-01), Downing et al.
patent: 5365786 (1994-11-01), Douglas
patent: 5471874 (1995-12-01), Rothamel et al.
Bux Hermann
Ross Peter
Schommer Stefan
Worm Michael
Beissbarth GmbH
Moller Richard A.
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