Tandem wheel truing machine

Claim 2

A tandem wheel truing installation for simultaneously truing lengthwise spaced wheels of a vehicle, said installation comprising a foundation, a first wheel truing assembly fixedly mounted on said foundation, track means for guiding said vehicle wheels, a second wheel truing assembly, track means extendable with said track means on said first wheel truing assembly for providing a continuous track along said foundation, means mounting said second wheel truing assembly for lengthwise movement relative to said first wheel truing assembly, and means for maintaining said second wheel truing assembly in a selective stationary position relative to said first wheel truing assembly, whereby said first and second wheel assemblies are spaced complementary to the lengthwise spacing of the vehicle wheels to be trued.

Claim 3

The wheel truing installation as defined in claim 1 wherein said installation includes power means for moving said second wheel truing assembly lengthwise of said foundation.

Claim 4

The wheel truing installation as defined in claim 2 wherein said power means comprises a motor fixed to said second wheel truing assembly, a sprocket wheel driven by said motor, said sprocket engaging a sprocket chain extending lengthwise of said foundation whereby said rotating sprocket engageable with said sprocket chain moves said second wheel truing assembly along said foundation toward and away from said fixed wheel truing assembly.

Claim 5

The wheel truing installation as defined in claim 3 wherein said sprocket chain extends over said sprocket and wherein said sprocket in engagement with said sprocket chain retains said second wheel truing assembly selectively positioned relative to said first wheel truing assembly when said motor is stopped.

Claim 6

The wheel truing installation as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second wheel truing assemblies each comprise a unit including means for Cutting said wheel peripheries.

Claim 7

The wheel truing installation as defined in claim 5 wherein said second wheel truing assembly includes means for permitting limited lengthwise movement of said second wheel truing unit mounted thereon, thereby enabling said second wheel truing unit to position itself correctly so that the drive rollers and idler rollers of the said first and second wheel truing units maintain contact with said wheel peripheries during said wheel cutting regardless of the shape of said wheel peripheries.

Claim 8

The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said means mounting said unit for limited lengthwise movement on said second wheel truing assembly includes a lengthwise movable platform means supporting said second wheel truing assembly, and biasing means applying a predetermined preload force to said platform means thereby applying a preload force between the drive rollers of both said first and second wheel truing assemblies and said wheel peripheries and at the same time said platform means is rendered movable and is controlled by the shape of said wheel peripheries in that if the wheel load decreases on the drive rollers the platform means will move in the direction of the applied preload force in order to maintain the predetermined force and the platform means will move in the opposite direction if the wheel load on the drive rollers increases sufficiently to overcome the preload force.

Claim 9

In a wheel truing installation including a foundation, a fixed wheel truing assembly and a selectively positionable and lengthwise movable wheel truing assembly, said foundation supporting said fixed and said movable wheel truing assemblies, a track system on said foundation, said track system comprising fixed track defining an outer half of a track assembly and being capable of providing the support for vehicle wheels, and a track mounted on said movable wheel truing assembly and defining an inner track half capable of supporting said vehicle wheels, said inner and outer track halves being complementary so that when in overlapping relationship both support the vehicle wheels.

Claim 10

In a wheel truing installation including a foundation, a fixed wheel truing assembly and a selectively positionable and lengthwise movable wheel truing assembly, said foundation supporting said fixed and said movable wheel truing assemblies, a track system on said foundation, said track system comprising fixed track defining an outer half of a track assembly and being capable of providing the support for vehicle wheels, and a track mounted on said movable wheel truing assembly and defining an inner track half capable of supporting said vehicle wheels, said inner and outer track halves being complementary so that when in overlapping relationship both support the vehicle wheels.

Claim 11

In a wheel truing machine including a foundation, a fixed wheel truing assembly mounted thereon, a movable wheel truing assembly having track means of substantially rectangular cross section supported thereon for lengthwise movement therewith with respect to said foundation, and fixed track means of substantially right angular cross section supported on said foundation, the combination therewith of a transition section comprising a member of substantially U-shaped cross section having a base and two upstanding legs with one of said legs being substantially the same height as one of the legs of said right angular track means mounted on said movable wheel truing assembly, said right angular track means of said movable wheel truing assembly being slidably accomodated between the two upstanding legs of said transition member.

Claim 12

In a wheel truing machine including a foundation, a fixed wheel truing assembly mounted thereon, a movable wheel truing assembly having track means of substantially rectangular cross section supported thereon for lengthwise movement therewith with respect to said foundation, and fixed track means of substantially right angular cross section supported on said foundation, the combination therewith of a transition section comprising a member of substantially U-shaped cross section having a base and two upstanding legs with one of said legs being substantially the same height as one of the legs of said right angular track means mounted on said movable wheel truing assembly, said right angular track means of said movable wheel truing assembly being slidably accomodated between the two upstanding legs of said transition member.