US3911751A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wheel balance machine
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-01-11
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Granted: 1975-10-14
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Expires: 1994-01-11
Abstract
Abstract A wheel-balance machine is provided in which a wheel and tire combination is mounted on a rotatable hub. The hub may be adjusted to be freely rotatable so as to determine and compensate for static unbalances of the tire/wheel combination, and it may be controlled to be rotated at high speed, so as to determine any dynamic unbalances in the tire/wheel combination. A power-driven abrasive wheel is also mounted in the machine, and it is driven rotatably and in a reciprocal longitudinal manner to grind the peripheral surface of the tire, in order to true the periphery of the tire with respect to its axis of rotation. Electric lamp indicators are provided which are selectively de-energized during the dynamic balance test of the tire/wheel combination, and which serve to indicate the angular positions on the tire at which compensating balances should be mounted to offset the dynamic unbalance. Also, a pneumatic bearing is provided which may be inflated to a relatively high pressure to hold the rear end of the drive shaft of the machine on its axis of rotation during the aforesaid grinding step, and which may be deflated to a reduced pressure to permit the rear end of the drive shaft to be displaced radially during the dynamic balance test in the event the dynamic unbalance condition exists in the tire/wheel combination. All of the foregoing operations are carried out in a single machine in an expeditious manner, and without the need to remove the tire/wheel combination from the machine until all the operations have been completed.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald H Shooter
- 👤 Otto F Colbert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 23:33
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M1/00; G01M1/02; G01M1/04; G01M1/045; G01M1/14; G01M1/16; G01M1/30; G01M1/34; G01M17/00; G01M17/007; G01M17/02; G01M17/022; G01M17/024; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S451/00; Y10S451/92
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
A wheel balance machine for testing a tire/wheel combination for dynamic and static unbalances, said machine including: a frame; a drive shaft; a first bearing rotatably mounting one end of said drive shaft to said frame; a drive motor; means coupling said drive motor to said drive shaft; a hub mounted at one end of said drive shaft adjacent said first bearing for supporting a tire/wheel combination for rotation by said shaft about the axis of rotation of said shaft; a second bearing rotatably mounting the other end of said shaft to said frame and adjustable to permit radial deflection of said other end of said shaft upon rotation of said shaft in the presence of dynamic unbalance of said tire/wheel combination, said second bearing means including a pneumatic member and means for introducing pressurized fluid into said pneumatic member for causing said second bearing to hold the other end of said drive shaft on the axis of rotation of said drive shaft for one operating condition of said second bearing, and for releasing said pressurized fluid from said pneumatic member to permit radial deflection of said other end of said drive shaft for a second operating condition of said second bearing; and indicator means coupled to said other end of said drive shaft to indicate angular positions of said drive shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
222 words
A wheel balance machine for testing a tire/wheel combination for dynamic and static unbalances, said machine including: a frame; a drive shaft; a first bearing rotatably mounting one end of said drive shaft to said frame; a drive motor; means coupling said drive motor to said drive shaft; a hub mounted at one end of said drive shaft adjacent said first bearing for supporting a tire/wheel combination for rotation by said shaft about the axis of rotation of said shaft; a second bearing rotatably mounting the other end of said shaft to said frame and adjustable to permit radial deflection of said other end of said shaft upon rotation of said shaft in the presence of dynamic unbalance of said tire/wheel combination, said second bearing means including a pneumatic member and means for introducing pressurized fluid into said pneumatic member for causing said second bearing to hold the other end of said drive shaft on the axis of rotation of said drive shaft for one operating condition of said second bearing, and for releasing said pressurized fluid from said pneumatic member to permit radial deflection of said other end of said drive shaft for a second operating condition of said second bearing; and indicator means coupled to said other end of said drive shaft to indicate angular positions of said drive shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The wheel balance machine defined in claim 1, in which said coupling means comprises a first friction wheel mounted on said drive shaft; a second friction wheel mounted on said drive motor; and pneumatic power cylinder means operable to bring said friction wheels into engagement with one another to cause said drive motor to drive said drive shaft through said coupling means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The wheel balance machine defined in claim 1, in which said first bearing is a self-aligning type.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
306 words
A wheel balance machine for testing a tire/wheel combination for dynamic and static unbalances, said machine including: a frame; a drive shaft; a first bearing rotatably mounting one end of said drive shaft to said frame; a drive motor; means coupling said drive motor to said drive shaft; a hub mounted at one end of said drive shaft adjacent said first bearing for supporting a tire/wheel combination for rotation by said shaft about the axis of rotation of said shaft; a second bearing rotatably mounting the other end of said shaft to said frame and adjustable to permit radial deflection of said other end of said shaft upon rotation of said shaft in the presence of dynamic unbalance of said tire/wheel combination; means coupled to said second bearing for causing said second bearing to hold the other end of said drive shaft on the axis of rotation of said drive shaft for one operating condition of said second bearing, and to permit radial deflection of said other end of said drive shaft for a second operating condition of said second bearing; and indicator means coupled to said other end of said drive shaft to indicate angular positions Of said drive shaft, said indicator means including a drum mounted on said other end of said drive shaft having a plurality of switch actuator buttons mounted thereon and extending along a helical path around the periphery thereof; an electric contact panel mounted on said frame having a corresponding plurality of aligned switch contacts mounted thereon, said panel being movable towards and away from said drum from a stand-by position to a position in which said switch contacts are selectively operated by corresponding ones of said switching actuator buttons; and electrical indicator lamps connected to said switch contacts and operable thereby to indicate angular positions of said drive shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
306 words
A wheel balance machine for testing a tire/wheel combination for dynamic and static unbalances, said machine including: a frame; a drive shaft; a first bearing rotatably mounting one end of said drive shaft to said frame; a drive motor; means coupling said drive motor to said drive shaft; a hub mounted at one end of said drive shaft adjacent said first bearing for supporting a tire/wheel combination for rotation by said shaft about the axis of rotation of said shaft; a second bearing rotatably mounting the other end of said shaft to said frame and adjustable to permit radial deflection of said other end of said shaft upon rotation of said shaft in the presence of dynamic unbalance of said tire/wheel combination; means coupled to said second bearing for causing said second bearing to hold the other end of said drive shaft on the axis of rotation of said drive shaft for one operating condition of said second bearing, and to permit radial deflection of said other end of said drive shaft for a second operating condition of said second bearing; and indicator means coupled to said other end of said drive shaft to indicate angular positions Of said drive shaft, said indicator means including a drum mounted on said other end of said drive shaft having a plurality of switch actuator buttons mounted thereon and extending along a helical path around the periphery thereof; an electric contact panel mounted on said frame having a corresponding plurality of aligned switch contacts mounted thereon, said panel being movable towards and away from said drum from a stand-by position to a position in which said switch contacts are selectively operated by corresponding ones of said switching actuator buttons; and electrical indicator lamps connected to said switch contacts and operable thereby to indicate angular positions of said drive shaft.
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) | 1978-10-13 | 1979-04-14 | 1979-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-13 | 1983-04-14 | 1983-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-13 | 1987-04-14 | 1987-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |