Wheel balancer with wheel rim runout measurement

Patent 6336364 Issued on January 8, 2002. Estimated Expiration Date:

May 13, 2019. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventors

Assignee

Hunter Engineering Company

Application

No. 311473 filed on 05/13/1999

US Classes:

73/462With electrical sensor and indicator

Examiners

Primary: Kwok, Helen

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Thompson Coburn LLP

Foreign Patent References

PCT/US87/03141 WO. 11/10/1987

International Class

G01M 001/22

Abstract

A wheel balancer has a shaft for receiving a wheel/tire assembly, a rotation sensor assembly for measuring rotation of the shaft about its longitudinal axis, a motor operatively connected to the shaft for rotating said shaft about its longitudinal axis, thereby to rotate the wheel/tire assembly, a vibration sensor assembly for measuring vibration of the wheel/tire assembly as the wheel/tire assembly is rotated, and a load roller for applying a generally radial force to the wheel/tire assembly during rotation of said wheel/tire assembly. Movement of the load roller is measured to determine loaded radial runout of the wheel/tire assembly while the force is applied thereto and a a tire stiffness value for the wheel/tire assembly is provided. A control circuit is responsive to the measured vibration of the wheel/tire assembly to determine wheel imbalance, and responsive to the determined imbalance, the measured loaded radial runout of the wheel/tire assembly, and the tire stiffness to determine the locations and magnitudes of correction weights to add to the wheel/tire assembly to reduce the vibration of the wheel/tire assembly when mounted on a traveling vehicle.