US3579845A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dynamic wheel toe and tire pull testing apparatus
Assignee: Hunter Engineering Co
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Filing: 1969-03-27
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Granted: 1971-05-25
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Expires: 1989-03-27
Abstract
Abstract Dynamic testing apparatus for vehicle wheels for determining the wheel toe relationship and for measuring the extent of lateral pull or scuffing developed between the tire tread and the road surface. The apparatus includes adder-memory and subtractormemory circuits responsive to wheel toe signals generated by a dynamic wheel driving apparatus which rotates the wheels in forward and reverse directions to obtain wheel toe measurements independent of the lateral pull developed by the tire characteristics on the rotating surfaces and to obtain an indication of the tire pull characteristics of the tire.
Inventors
- 👤 Lee Hunter
- 👤 David A Senften
- 👤 Edwin W Logan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 16:02
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M17/00; G01M17/007; G01M17/06; G01M17/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
In testing apparatus for dynamically determining tire pull characteristics of a vehicle wheel, the combination which includes: a pair of rollers having a normal position in alignment opposite each other to support the tire thereon; a frame supporting said pair of rollers for rotation about parallel axes and for generally linear movement relative to said frame and to each other in a direction out of said normal alignment position along the axes of rotation of said rollers; means operably connected to one of said rollers to drive the same in forward and reverse directions and simulate vehicle road speeds, the drive on one roller effecting rotation of the other one of said pair through the tire supported on both said rollers; means supporting said frame for displacement in a generally horizontal plane to either side of an initial tire receiving position, said roller shift axially relative to each other causing said frame to be displaced toward a position in which said roller shift is reduced and returned toward said normal alignment position and said frame is established in a displaced position indicative of tire pull characteristics; means operably connected to said frame and frame supporting means to sense the direction and amount of displacement of said frame in the horizontal plane for forward and reverse tire rotation; and means operatively connected to said sensing means to make a visual display of the resulting frame displacement from forward to reverse tire rotation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
In testing apparatus for dynamically determining tire pull characteristics of a vehicle wheel, the combination which includes: a pair of rollers having a normal position in alignment opposite each other to support the tire thereon; a frame supporting said pair of rollers for rotation about parallel axes and for generally linear movement relative to said frame and to each other in a direction out of said normal alignment position along the axes of rotation of said rollers; means operably connected to one of said rollers to drive the same in forward and reverse directions and simulate vehicle road speeds, the drive on one roller effecting rotation of the other one of said pair through the tire supported on both said rollers; means supporting said frame for displacement in a generally horizontal plane to either side of an initial tire receiving position, said roller shift axially relative to each other causing said frame to be displaced toward a position in which said roller shift is reduced and returned toward said normal alignment position and said frame is established in a displaced position indicative of tire pull characteristics; means operably connected to said frame and frame supporting means to sense the direction and amount of displacement of said frame in the horizontal plane for forward and reverse tire rotation; and means operatively connected to said sensing means to make a visual display of the resulting frame displacement from forward to reverse tire rotation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The testing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensor means includes a potentiometer carried by said roller support frame, and means operably connected to said frame support means and to said potentiometer to effect adjustment of said potentiometer to generate a signal proportional to said roller support frame position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
The testing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing means is adapted to produce an electrical signal proportional to the angular position of the vehicle wheel; and said last-mentioned means connected to said sensing means includes adder-memory circuit means, a pair of signal storing means for forward drive of said roller means, switching means connected to said signal storing means, and control means operable to exclude one of said signal storing means upon reverse drive of said roller means to add said forward and reverse signal algebraically for said visual display means of tire pull information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
139 words
In vehicle wheel testing apparatus to determine tire pull characteristics, a pair of wheel cradling roller means, motor means driving said roller means in forward and reverse direction, frame means supporting said roller means and being free to move in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of the wheel being tested, said pair of roller means having a normal position and being capable of being shifted in said frame means along the axis of rotation relative to each other, said roller shift causing said frame means to move in a direction to restore the roller means to the normal position, means operably mounted in said frame means to generate an electrical signal proportional to the moved positions of said frame means in response to forward and reverse rotation, and signal analyzing means connected to said signal generating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
139 words
In vehicle wheel testing apparatus to determine tire pull characteristics, a pair of wheel cradling roller means, motor means driving said roller means in forward and reverse direction, frame means supporting said roller means and being free to move in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of the wheel being tested, said pair of roller means having a normal position and being capable of being shifted in said frame means along the axis of rotation relative to each other, said roller shift causing said frame means to move in a direction to restore the roller means to the normal position, means operably mounted in said frame means to generate an electrical signal proportional to the moved positions of said frame means in response to forward and reverse rotation, and signal analyzing means connected to said signal generating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The vehicle wheel testing apparatus of claim 4 wherein said signal analyzing means includes a pair of signal storing means for forward drive of said roller means, and control means operable to exclude one of said signal storing means upon reverse drive of said roller means to subtract said forward and reverse signals of said pair of storing means algebraIcally.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
143 words
In vehicle wheel testing apparatus to determine tire pull characteristics, roller means to cradle the vehicle wheels, carrier means supporting said roller means for movement in a horizontal plane and for allowing roller shift along the axis of rotation for relative motion between said rollers, motor means to rotate said roller means in forward and reverse directions selectively, electrical signal generating means in said apparatus responsive to the position of said carrier means for forward and for reverse wheel rotation, signal analyzing means connected to said signal generating means to electrically compare forward rotation signals with reverse rotation signals, means connected to said analyzing means to display the difference between the forward rotation signals and the reverse rotation signals, and control switch means connected to said signal analyzing means to sequentially activate said signal analyzing means for forward rotation and for reverse rotation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
143 words
In vehicle wheel testing apparatus to determine tire pull characteristics, roller means to cradle the vehicle wheels, carrier means supporting said roller means for movement in a horizontal plane and for allowing roller shift along the axis of rotation for relative motion between said rollers, motor means to rotate said roller means in forward and reverse directions selectively, electrical signal generating means in said apparatus responsive to the position of said carrier means for forward and for reverse wheel rotation, signal analyzing means connected to said signal generating means to electrically compare forward rotation signals with reverse rotation signals, means connected to said analyzing means to display the difference between the forward rotation signals and the reverse rotation signals, and control switch means connected to said signal analyzing means to sequentially activate said signal analyzing means for forward rotation and for reverse rotation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
In the testing apparatus of claim 6, said signal analyzing means includes capacitor elements and gang switching relays connecting said capacitors in series additive and series subtractive senses, and switch means to activate said relays, said switch means being connected into said display means to activate said display means for forward and reverse rotation conditions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3187440A
Cited
US3453740A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-24 | 1974-11-23 | 1975-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-24 | 1978-11-23 | 1979-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-24 | 1982-11-23 | 1983-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |