US3686955A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical wheel balancer
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-04-02
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Granted: 1972-08-29
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Expires: 1990-04-02
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for balancing a wheel mounted on a vehicle by visually observing its off-center movements upon rotation thereof. The apparatus includes an indicia applied to the wheel, a base supporting a housing, a variable strobe lamp connected to the housing and directed toward the indicia, an optical unit enclosed within the housing, the unit including a first lens focused upon the indicia and a second lens adapted to transmit the image of the indicia from the first lens to an observer, and an indicator disposed between the first and second lenses to relate to the observer the off-center movements of the rotating wheel and thereby indicate both the amount of weight required to balance the wheel and the location for the placement thereof. A bail and stylus pivotally connected to the housing may be included to form the indicia on the wheel. Also an integral part of the invention is the method of optically balancing a wheel mounted on a vehicle including the steps of (1) suspending the wheel above the ground; (2) marking a reference point on the wheel; (3) rotating the wheel, (4) synchronizing a strobe lamp to conform to the speed of rotation of the wheel and thereby provide a motionless appearance to the reference and wheel; (5) observing the position of the reference when the wheel is at its lowest vertical position; (6) stopping the wheel and manually rotating the wheel to position the reference in substantially the same location as previously observed; and (7) applying appropriate counter-weights to the wheel.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis L Butler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:54
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M1/00; G01M1/14; G01M1/16; G01M1/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
Apparatus for observing vibration of a mounted wheel while it is being spun comprising: strobing light means directed to said wheel to illuminate an indicia applied to the center thereof, said indicia having an arrow to indicate the rotative position of said wheel, said strobing light means including strobing light control means adjustable in frequency to synchronize said strobing light means with the rotation of the wheel to stop visually the rotation of said indicia, a first lens, a reference indicator, means for supporting said first lens and said reference indicator spaced apart at respective predetermined distances frOm said indicia where it is to be observed during rotation of said wheel to project an image of said indicia on said reference indicator, said strobing light control means being further adjustable in phase to show maximum amplitude of vibration of said projected image of said indicia in a predetermined direction on said reference indicator to indicate maximum radial departure of said wheel in a predetermined direction from its balanced center position at a particular instant during each revolution of said wheel and the direction of said arrow of the image of said indicia showing simultaneously the rotative position of said wheel at said particular instant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
Apparatus for observing vibration of a mounted wheel while it is being spun comprising: strobing light means directed to said wheel to illuminate an indicia applied to the center thereof, said indicia having an arrow to indicate the rotative position of said wheel, said strobing light means including strobing light control means adjustable in frequency to synchronize said strobing light means with the rotation of the wheel to stop visually the rotation of said indicia, a first lens, a reference indicator, means for supporting said first lens and said reference indicator spaced apart at respective predetermined distances frOm said indicia where it is to be observed during rotation of said wheel to project an image of said indicia on said reference indicator, said strobing light control means being further adjustable in phase to show maximum amplitude of vibration of said projected image of said indicia in a predetermined direction on said reference indicator to indicate maximum radial departure of said wheel in a predetermined direction from its balanced center position at a particular instant during each revolution of said wheel and the direction of said arrow of the image of said indicia showing simultaneously the rotative position of said wheel at said particular instant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus for balancing a mounted wheel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said first lens and said reference indicator is a housing, said strobing light means includes a strobe light and said control means mounted to said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
marking a reference character with an arrow on the wheel; 30 rotating the wheel mechanically;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
marking a reference character with an arrow on the wheel; 30 rotating the wheel mechanically;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus for balancing a mounted wheel as defined in claim 2 wherein a second lens is mounted in said housing and spaced apart from said first lens and adapted to visually transmit the image of the indicia from said lens to the operator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus for balancing a mounted wheel as defined in claim 3 wherein said indicator includes a transparent member disposed between said first lens and said second lens, said transparent member including an indicating member inscribed thereon, the image of the indicia visually appearing upon said indicating member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
synchronizing a strobe lamp directed toward the wheel to conform to the speed of rotation of the wheel to provide a motionless appearance to the wheel and said reference character where said reference character appears to be in its farthest position from the center of the wheel in a predetermined radial direction;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
synchronizing a strobe lamp directed toward the wheel to conform to the speed of rotation of the wheel to provide a motionless appearance to the wheel and said reference character where said reference character appears to be in its farthest position from the center of the wheel in a predetermined radial direction;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
observing visually the direction said arrow is aimed when said reference character is at its farthest position from the center of the wheel in said predetermined radial direction;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
observing visually the direction said arrow is aimed when said reference character is at its farthest position from the center of the wheel in said predetermined radial direction;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus for balancing a mounted wheel as defined in claim 4 wherein said transparent member further includes a plurality of horizontal lines inscribed upon said indicating member, whereby the position of the indicia relative to said lines indicates the amount of weight required to balance the wheel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus for balancing a mounted wheel as defined in claim 5 wherein said housing has a base including means for vertically adjusting the height of said housing relative to the ground, said mounted wheel being a vehicle wheel raised a short distance above ground to facilitate its rotation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
stopping the wheel and manually rotating the wheel to a position where said arrow is pointed in the same direction as observed in step 5;
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
stopping the wheel and manually rotating the wheel to a position where said arrow is pointed in the same direction as observed in step 5;
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
applying weight to the rear side of the wheel at a point 90* in advance of said predetermined radial direction;
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
applying weight to the rear side of the wheel at a point 90* in advance of said predetermined radial direction;
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus for balancing a mounted wheel as defined in claim 6 wherein said base further includes means for adjusting the fore-and-aft position of said housing relative to the wheel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
76 words
An apparatus for balancing a mounted wheel as defined in claim 7 wherein said apparatus further comprises a bail pivotally connected to said housing and a stylus connected to said bail, said bail being rotatable outwardly to engage said stylus and the wheel at a point near the center thereof to inscribe at least a portion of said indicia thereon, said portion being a circle inscribed concentric with said wheel as said wheel is slowly rotated.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
6 words
repeating steps 4 through 6; and
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
6 words
repeating steps 4 through 6; and
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
applying weight to the front side of the wheel at a point 90* in advance of said predetermined radial direction.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
applying weight to the front side of the wheel at a point 90* in advance of said predetermined radial direction.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
16 words
The method of optically balancing a mounted wheel comprising: 1 suspending the wheel above the ground;
Claim 25
Independent Claim
16 words
The method of optically balancing a mounted wheel comprising: 1 suspending the wheel above the ground;
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of optically balancing a mounted wheel as claimed in claim 9 wherein said farthest position from the center of the wheel in a predetermined radial direction is the lowest vertical position below the center of the wheel and said point 90* in advance of said predetermined radial direction is forwardly of the spindle of the wheel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-29 | 1976-02-28 | 1976-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-29 | 1980-02-28 | 1980-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-29 | 1984-02-28 | 1984-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |