US3731540A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for static and dynamic wheel balancing
Assignee: EMANUEL FI S MEC SpA
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Filing: 1971-10-14
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Granted: 1973-05-08
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Expires: 1991-10-14
Abstract
Abstract Wheel balancing apparatus capable of performing static and dynamic wheel balancing in a single operation is disclosed. The apparatus has two mutually perpendicular transducers in a sensor which is readily attachable to the suspension of the wheel by means of a magnet or a clamp. The outputs of the sensors are selectively coupled to an amplifier and to an adjustable circuit which provides a stroboscopic illumination triggered by the vibration of the wheel, a visual display of the amount of imbalance of the wheel indicating the weight required to compensate for the imbalance, and an alarm signal if the speed at which the wheel is driven during testing exceeds a preselected maximum value to which the apparatus has been set by the operator.
Inventors
- 👤 G Emanuel
- 👤 L Bertoni
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:13
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M1/00; G01M1/14; G01M1/16; G01M1/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
An apparatus for staTic and dynamic balancing of a vehicle wheel; said apparatus comprising in combination: sensor means sensitive to vibration of at least one part of the suspension of the wheel under test, said sensor means including two transducers sensitive to vibrations in respective different directions, selector means for selecting an output signal from either one or the other of said transducers, integrator means coupled to said selector means, for integrating the output signal from a selected one of said transducers of said sensor means, amplifier means coupled to the output of said integrator means, for amplifying the output signal from said integrator means, squaring means coupled to the output of said amplifier means for shaping the output signal from said amplifier means, at least one lamp coupled to the output of said squaring means for stroboscopic illumination of the wheel under test, and a filter coupled to said amplifier, said filter having an adjustable low cut off frequency which can be used in the diagnosis of faults in the suspension of the said wheel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
176 words
An apparatus for staTic and dynamic balancing of a vehicle wheel; said apparatus comprising in combination: sensor means sensitive to vibration of at least one part of the suspension of the wheel under test, said sensor means including two transducers sensitive to vibrations in respective different directions, selector means for selecting an output signal from either one or the other of said transducers, integrator means coupled to said selector means, for integrating the output signal from a selected one of said transducers of said sensor means, amplifier means coupled to the output of said integrator means, for amplifying the output signal from said integrator means, squaring means coupled to the output of said amplifier means for shaping the output signal from said amplifier means, at least one lamp coupled to the output of said squaring means for stroboscopic illumination of the wheel under test, and a filter coupled to said amplifier, said filter having an adjustable low cut off frequency which can be used in the diagnosis of faults in the suspension of the said wheel.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
208 words
An apparatus for static and dynamic balancing of a vehicle wheel; said apparatus comprising in combination: sensor means sensitive to vibration of at least one part of the suspension of the wheel under test, said sensor means including two transducers sensitive to vibrations in respective different directions, selector means for selecting an output signal from either one or the other of said transducers, integrator means coupled to said selector means, for integrating the output signal from a selected one of said transducers of said sensor means, amplifier means coupled to the output of said integrator means, for amplifying the output signal from said integrator means, squaring means coupled to the output of said amplifier means for shaping the output signal from said amplifier means, at least one lamp coupled to the output of said squaring means for stroboscopic illumination of wheel under test, means coupled to the output of said squaring means for adjusting the circuit with regard to the diameter of the wheel to be tested and with regard to the desired maximum speed at which the wheel is to be driven during the test, and means for providing an indication when the speed of rotation of the wheel reaches the said predetermined maximum during the test.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
208 words
An apparatus for static and dynamic balancing of a vehicle wheel; said apparatus comprising in combination: sensor means sensitive to vibration of at least one part of the suspension of the wheel under test, said sensor means including two transducers sensitive to vibrations in respective different directions, selector means for selecting an output signal from either one or the other of said transducers, integrator means coupled to said selector means, for integrating the output signal from a selected one of said transducers of said sensor means, amplifier means coupled to the output of said integrator means, for amplifying the output signal from said integrator means, squaring means coupled to the output of said amplifier means for shaping the output signal from said amplifier means, at least one lamp coupled to the output of said squaring means for stroboscopic illumination of wheel under test, means coupled to the output of said squaring means for adjusting the circuit with regard to the diameter of the wheel to be tested and with regard to the desired maximum speed at which the wheel is to be driven during the test, and means for providing an indication when the speed of rotation of the wheel reaches the said predetermined maximum during the test.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for adjusting said circuit include an astable multivibrator and means for adjusting the time constant of the multivibrator to modify the oscillation frequency thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for adjusting the time constant of said astable multivibrator comprise a bank of capacitors and a bank of resistors and means for selectively switching said resistors and said capacitors into the circuit of said astable multivibrator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
171 words
In an apparatus for balancing a mounted vehicle wheel, wherein a lamp is periodically flashed under control of processing means adapted to integrate, amplify and square an acceleration signal generated by a source cooperating with the wheel, the improvement being that the source comprises: sensor means including a first and second elongate flexible strips bearing respective masses at one end and respective strain gages at intermediate positions along their lengths, a plate having two slots at right angles to each other, which receive the opposite ends of the first and second flexible strips, respectively, so that the flexible strips have their longitudinal axes parallel and their planes at right angle to each other, and a casing, which rigidly accommodates the plate and is adapted to be fixed to the suspension of the wheel in such a way that the strips are in predetermined orientation with respect to the wheel at rest; and switching means adapted to connect a selected one of the strain gages to the input of the processing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
171 words
In an apparatus for balancing a mounted vehicle wheel, wherein a lamp is periodically flashed under control of processing means adapted to integrate, amplify and square an acceleration signal generated by a source cooperating with the wheel, the improvement being that the source comprises: sensor means including a first and second elongate flexible strips bearing respective masses at one end and respective strain gages at intermediate positions along their lengths, a plate having two slots at right angles to each other, which receive the opposite ends of the first and second flexible strips, respectively, so that the flexible strips have their longitudinal axes parallel and their planes at right angle to each other, and a casing, which rigidly accommodates the plate and is adapted to be fixed to the suspension of the wheel in such a way that the strips are in predetermined orientation with respect to the wheel at rest; and switching means adapted to connect a selected one of the strain gages to the input of the processing means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-07 | 1976-11-06 | 1977-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-07 | 1980-11-06 | 1981-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-07 | 1984-11-06 | 1985-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |